Shelf Stable Flaxseed Gel

**likelikepenny** · March 26th, 2017, 09:53 AM

Does anyone know how to make flaxseed gel shelf stable?

I've been using it as my go-to gel and leave in conditioner but I worry about it going bad and the hassle of refrigerating it.

**parkmikii** · March 26th, 2017, 10:51 AM

My only idea would be to use distilled water in the mixture or some sort of preservative compatible with gels.

**pandabarrier** · March 26th, 2017, 12:03 PM

I don't know. I've never made flaxseed gel. Could you freeze it in ice cube trays and defrost it as needed, so that the flaxseed gel you made doesn't go bad?

**pandabarrier** · March 26th, 2017, 02:02 PM

likelikepenny I found this article about preserving homemade gels:
http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.co...-gels.html?m=1

**Reyesuela** · March 27th, 2017, 05:41 PM

For water-only, parabens or EDTA are actually the safest. I use EDTA.

**likelikepenny** · March 27th, 2017, 06:27 PM

I've found EDTA is a chelating agent, although in this thread it's speculated that it's not used in high enough concentrations to actually chelate, rather just enough to combat hard water etc. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ad.php?t=75414

Any opinions?

**Reyesuela** · March 27th, 2017, 08:48 PM

Standard usage is .2%. It's fine.

**SplitMends** · March 28th, 2017, 02:51 PM

That's good to know. I love flaxseed gel but rarely make it as I know it won't keep.

**Reyesuela** · March 29th, 2017, 08:03 PM

It's really cheap to buy, too.

**Anshul585** · April 24th, 2017, 11:50 PM

likelikepenny I think citric acid can do the job. Its compatible with gels I think. I never tried it but I think it would be good to store the gel for a month minimum.