You don’t have to limit your fun flirty looks to Valentine’s Day
Try out this heatless flexi-rod set on your curls! My fine 3c curls had no problem taking on this style–it was so easy to do. Best of all, it doesn’t call for using damaging heat tools. The end result will leave you with soft, fluffy curls that will demand all the attention in a room.
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What You’ll Need:
1 to 2 packages of flexi rods (I used Hot Tools Pro Curls Spongy Rod Rollers 5/8 Diameter, 7 3/4 Long”>
This works best on curly hair that is finer in texture.
1. It’s important to know that less is more for this style to be successful–washing and styling factor into this. After washing my hair, I make sure to use lightweight products in my styling process. In the days leading up to this style, I used:
2. I let my hair air dry and add absolutely no products to my hair for the next couple of days.
3. By the 3rd or 4th day, I gently detangle any knots until I serve up Diana Ross realness!I find that when my hair dries, my stretched look is flat and the final look doesn’t come out the same. That’s why I can’t stress it enough, less is more!
4. Using my comb, I section off the top half of my hair and secure it with my elastic. Next, I make 1 inch sections and spray it with water. I also run my comb through again to make sure that it’s not tangled.
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5. Using a flexi-rod, I wrap each section from the ends up to my roots and bend them to secure. Repeat this process on the entire head. Lastly, wrap a silk scarf over the flexi-rods and leave on overnight.
6. In the morning, I remove my scarf and unravel each flexi-rod. Using my Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste, I add the tiniest amount to help separate my curls and give it a more piecey look. Don’t be afraid to separate each curl a few times to make it more natural.
7. I use a pick at the roots to fluff and add extra volume.8. Lastly, I use my hands to gently shake out the roots. This makes my hair softer and loosens up the curl pattern. You can also spritz your curls with a flexible hairspray but I didn’t feel the need to.
I have a head full of soft, beautiful curls that will make your date do a double take! Complete the look with a classic cat eye and a bold red lip that will be sure to have all the attention on you.
We’re deep into the cooler months and, for naturals, that means just one thing: Silk press season. Like clockwork, social media is a buzz with viral videos toting tips, tricks, and hair flips, among other enticing smoothed styles. Whether it’s a sleek middle part style or bouncy waves, there’s no denying the main character energy ignited with each look.
I can attest firsthand to the freeing feeling that soaping away buildup to emerge with a sleek look brings. My curls are tight and plentiful, but you’d never know as I always wear my hair straight. I’ve gotten my silk press routine down to a T and often opt for a siny bone-straight look. But come wash day, it’s my curls, kinks, and coils that make me smile the most. My silk presses aren’t just a process to straighten my hair. Instead, it’s a reminder of how appreciative I am for my crown full of curls.
Like most Black girls, I grew up wearing ponytails and twists weighted down with bobos and barrets. I have countless memories of sitting between my mom’s knees as she raked through my curls and saturated them with globs of Luster’s Pink Moisturizer, never forgetting to tell me how fast my hair “drinks this stuff up.” At that age, straight hairstyles were reserved for special occasions, like church or school picture day, and were done with a hot comb and thick layers of grease. But as I got older my desire for longer-lasting straight styles increased and I begged her relentlessly for a relaxer.
The answer was always the same flat no so my hair was kept in braids and twists. Her decision to keep my hair natural stemmed from two main issues. First, there were the dangers of perming virgin hair and how doing so too early in the growth process can alter the texture and growth rate drastically. Second, was the financial obligation bi-weekly relaxers came with. But in my senior year of high school, she finally gave in and during my college years, I was devoted to relaxers. It was a weird victory— sure my hair was pin-straight but I couldn’t help but notice it never looked as good nor full as my natural hair roller wraps. I knew I didn’t love the look the perms delivered but I continued to use them for management’s sake. Relaxers meant I could easily style my hair and most importantly, that I didn’t have to worry about it frizzing up.
However, a turning point came when I moved to New York. I didn’t always have the money to get my hair done and had to quickly learn how to do it on my own. This resulted in the ultimate happy accident. I began growing out the years of permed hair. The process was trying, but through it, I gained so much more than a healthy head of hair. I began experimenting with ingredients to help my hair retain moisture and learning different techniques to straighten it. As the months went by, I watched the ragged permed hair slowly grow out, leaving behind loose curls. I’ll admit those first few years were a struggle, seeing just how much my curl pattern had changed. But it also helped me remember what my hair could be. In the years that followed, I learned how to wash, condition, treat, and nourish my hair— and in turn, watched my curls transform from loose and stringy into tight ringletts and coils.
This tale isn’t a new one and has remained a double-edged sword within the natural hair community. Many Black women have experienced vitality after ditching their relaxers but have also felt the sting of natural hairstyling— be it lengthy wash days or product formula inconsistencies. After some time, the fantasy of the big chop and twist-out faze that caused the natural haircare industry boom began to wear off, and women slowly began going back to relaxers. The decision typically led to a familiar crossroads, having to choose between what made sense for your hair and what “looked good.”
Going natural isn’t for everyone, and, at the time, I didn’t think it was for me, either. Despite perming my hair late into my teenage years, straightening my hair was the only style I knew how to do. Before my first relaxer, I’d spent years using electric hot combs, curling irons, and heavy products like curl wax and hair polisher to tame my curls. The result lasted no more than two days and turned my hair into a greasy mess—meaning I’d have to wash and redo my hair sooner rather than later. It ultimately led to heat damage and manipulating my curls.
But getting a perm for the first or 70th time didn’t give me the results I longed for either. After leaving the salon, my hair looked incredibly thin due to how straight it was. I’ve always had very thick hair, so seeing it look flat was disheartening. Even when I settled on curls or a roller set, they never provided the voluminous look I preferred. My new growth was always nice and thick and when I started growing out my perm, I noticed it stayed that way. The fullness I tried so desperately to hide as a child was back and I wasn’t about to make the same mistake.
Over the years, I’ve honed my skills and can easily transform my hair from springy coils to smooth, shiny strands— so much so that most people, including stylists, believe my hair is relaxed. My process involves a lot of conditioning products, clarifying ingredients, and heat protectants. Each layer ensures my curls are deeply moisturized and heavily protected before I begin heat styling. Through it all, I’ve learned to embrace my texture and to lean into the frizzy days. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when my silk press is on point, but I’ve learned to love the days it fades just the same. Seeing my curls revert is the epitome of bliss.