Wash Day | Quick Flexi-Rod Set

Birthday Style! :-)
This was a relaxer prep kind of wash day. At 16 weeks post relaxer, I decided to flexi-rod set my hair. And, with a solid 2 inches of new growth, I tried setting the rods a different way than I have previously. I like my hair to be set or straightened in some way before I relax it because I find it is easier to work with that way. This fact combined with Divachyk's (of Relaxed Thairapy) awesomely inspiring roller sets lately got me to go for it. This probably could've went very bad, but my theory was if naturals can get amazing roller sets, I should be able to, too. Should is the key word in that sentence :) 

{1} Divided hair into 8 sections and detangled.

{2} Pre-poo - applied PM Tea Tree Moisturizing conditioner and coconut oil to each section and braided. Put on a plastic cap & scarf for a few hours.

{3} Shampooed with ORS Creamy Aloe. Since my next wash day would be a relaxer day, I wanted to make sure I got my hair really clean. (I'm still out of my Shea Moisture Deep Cleansing shampoo unfortunately).

{4} Deep conditioned with L'Oreal Damage Erasing Balm and Aubrey Organics GPB conditioners. Protein centered conditioners in prepping for relaxing. My hair is not at all protein sensitive either. It eats it right up. I kept this in overnight, too. 

{5} Rinsed with cool water follow by my Apple Cider Vinegar & Aloe Vera Juice rinse. I let this sit for a few minutes before I squeezed out the excess and towel wrapped my hair.

{6} After about 20 minutes in the towel, I let my hair air dry for awhile. Not completely, just because I don't like to comb my wet hair. 

{left} moment when I realized I had SO much hair left & a small area to roll it in; {right} finished

{7} Section by section, I started applying my leave-ins (Elasta QP H2, Aussie Curl Definition + Soft Feel Serum), added some more water and put in the flexi-rods.  

{8} I put the rods in horizontally, instead of vertically like I did the last time. I've seen a number of ladies use a lot less rods with great success this way. I wanted to try it since it would take less time, but my inevitable problem was securing them tight enough to set & smooth my new growth. I also added some Eco-styler gel before putting each flexi-rod in. 

{9} Put on my bonnet dryer for awhile. Not sure how long because, of course, I fell asleep under it. 



{10} Took out the rods in the morning and separated the curls some. 

My curls were kind of fuzzy and my new growth was quite fluffy, but guess what? I loved this set anyway! My solutions for the fluffy new growth was just to pin my hair up different ways, use a banana clip, head scarves, and headbands. The curls were so soft and they lasted so long! The picture below is of my curls after 4 days and the one at the top of this post is of my curls after 7 days. In the past, I probably would have considered this a fuzzy fail; I had a hard time keeping my new growth taut and wasn't consistent in smoothing alllll my hair on the rods. But I embraced it and I will just have to keep practicing this method until I get it right. It was so ironic to me, too, for two a couple reasons. One is because someone who is natural (and really wants me to go natural) told me my hair gave her hair envy. I took that as a pretty big compliment. Perhaps that wouldn't have happened if I didn't choose to rock my big, frizzy curls confidently. Also I have always made sure I have a fresh relaxer and some kinda straightened style in time for my birthday. I haven't done much celebrating yet, but this year on the day of - I was rocking 7 day old curls lol! Talk about how things have changed! For the better, might I add. 



How was your wash day this week? Be sure to check out other Wash Day Experiences at SavingOurStrands and JustGrowAlready!


23 comments:

  1. I like how you jazzed up the curls by adding a scarf. SO cute!

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  2. Happy belated birthday Melanie! Your curls look great and you preserved them very nicely.

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    1. Thanksss Jas! I don't think I've ever preserved curls this well without actually re-rolling them.

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  3. Happy belated bday! Yoyr curls are amazing, I cannot believe how good the 7 day old curls look. It's amazing how we have changed the way we think of things (hair). I think am definitely due a flex rod try.

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    1. Thank you, Yvonne!! I was shocked at how much curl I still had on day 7, too. And I agree, never thought my mindset about hair would change so much just from deciding I wanted it to get longer.

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  4. Sooooo love the way you styled your curls!! Happy Belated Birthday=)

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  5. I love how you rocked your curls!

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  6. Your curls looks great, very pretty!

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  7. Happy belated birthday~I love the curls!!!

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  8. Winning set! 7 days wow... how did you preserve the curls for so long?

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    1. Thanks, Danielle! I pineappled every night, put some product on my fingers, and separated/fluffed the curls in the morning.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. HAPPY BELATED BDAY!!!! Thank you for the shout out. You look like a true doll. A few of us flexi queens should team up. I already mentioned to Tomes Edition. Hopefully you would be done too.

    Your hair looks amazing! I am a horizontal roller. I tried vertical this past wash day and failed. Teach me the art of vertical rolling please. I felt clumsy and it just took far too long.

    Divachyk | Relaxed Thairapy

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    1. Thank you much!! I would totally be down for that! Just let me know the details when you decide.

      I will gladly teach you the art of the vertical and you please teach me the horizontal. I felt the exact same way!! Like next time, I will definitely go back to my vertical. Lol!

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  10. oopsy type -- hopefully you will be "down" (not done) too.

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  11. WOW! This looks so great on you! I've only tried a flexi rod set once. My new growth was an absolute joke, especially around my hair line. But the curls looked awesome! I wore a scarf as a headband to hide the edges and went with it. I got a lot of compliments, but haven't had the nerve to try again! Plus sleeping on them was not something I'd look forward to.
    Yalanda @ Laugh Anyway
    http://welaughanyway.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you, Yalanda! It sounds like we've have very similar 1st time flexi-rod experience. I forced myself to keep trying until I liked the results because I just love the look of the curls ladies' get with them. I definitely hate sleeping in them, too, but you should totally try again!

      And thanks for stopping by!

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