I decided to try flexi-rods on my natural hair this weekend and here's the process and products used by my stylist:

Step 1. washed with Miss Jessie's Creme De La Curl and Creme De La Curl.

Step 2. deep conditioned with Miss Jessie's Recovery Treatment as I sat under a steam dryer.

Step 3. Detangle and curl hair using blue flexi-rods in spiral pattern . The stylist used a little foam setting lotion to help hold the curl and papers for smooth ends.

Step 4. Set under dryer for 1 hour until hair was dry. Curls were a little soft so she lightly spritz them.

Step 5. Separate curls by dividing each curl into 3 to 4 sections. This gives your look volume and allows you to hide any parts created by the rollers. The stylist placed a small about of Miss Jessie's Buttercreme on her fingertips as she was doing this to add moisture.

This is supposed to last 1 week, 2 if I am careful when I sleep. Throughout the week I will sleep with a bonnet cap or satin pillow case. You can finger curl any curls the are getting frizzy by using a light moisturizer. Just be sure your are going in the direction of the curl.

Here's the end result two days later.

I like the outcome, and this is definately a style I will rock in the winter when I can't wash 'n go as much. I also think this style will be cuter as my hair gets longer. I'm loving my natrual hair color in this picture.

As for the products used... I'm not sure what it was, maybe the shampoo, but my scalp is hella dry and flaky.

I’m finding that there are quite a few ladies that are forgoing chemical strengtheners and embracing their natural hair. Reasons range from a quest for healthier hair to saving money. I chose to leave the relaxers alone because I was developing an extreme case of dry and itchy scalp that was more painful than uncomfortable. I started out taking a break and wound up embracing a new lifestyle. Learning to care for your natural hair can be quite frustrating but view it as a journey to a new you. There will be times you will feel like running back to the creamy crack but chalk it up because the end result is unbelievably freeing and rewarding. I did my Big Chop (cut off relaxed ends) after a year of transitioning. Here are a few things I learned along the way.

Transitioners: you are growing your relaxer out. Your hair has a distinct line where the natural hair meets the relaxed hair, the line of demarcation. This line is extremely fragile and should be treated as such.

Recommended care routine: get in the habit of adding moisture to your hair, when you do the big chop this will be essential. Skip the shampoo and wash your hair with conditioner about once a week, deep condition often and use a sulfate free shampoo once every two weeks.

Recommended styles: Any style that minimized combing is best since combing stresses the line of demarcation. Flexi-rod set, braids, twist, bun, and even a wash ‘n go if you have a medium curl pattern. After your new growth gets more than and inch or two long I wouldn’t recommend flat ironing in an effort to blend hair, you’ll find yourself doing it too often.

Products I relied on during my transition. These are not the same products I am currently using.

Brushes & Combs by Sally Beauty
Blow Dryers & Irons by Ion

A couple of nights ago I washed and deep conditioned my hair then decided that I wanted to wear it straight. Avoiding using too much heat I blow dried (skipped the Fhi iron) my hair until smooth using the one with a comb attachment then did a basic set using the purple flexie rods. After tossing a turning all night due to how tight I did my rollers I was pleased to see the smooth, bouncy curls I unraveled in the morning. It was so big and full, felt like I was channeling Dianne Carol as I left for work. And then it hit me, It's humid as HELL out here and it's about to rain!

The #1 rule to straightening natural hair is: pay attention to the weather!! No matter how much product you use, mother nature will win. This is what happens when you don't take in o account your three block walk from the car to your job:





Hot....





MESS!

Yes, this is how I looked when I got home from work. No, I did not exaggerate my hair for this picture. No, I had a big meeting that day so I could not stay in my cube all day and Yes, I know it wouldn't look so bad with just a headband instead of two bobby pins and a clip from the bottom of my purse.

Lesson Learned! oh and excuse the bathroom, I'm getting rid of the wallpaper this weekend, yuck.

This past Tuesday I decided it was time for me to debut my natural hair to the world. I twisted it the night before so I could wear it big and curly, like a curly 'fro. Didn't receive much feedback from my co-workers but people on the street loved it. To my surprise, I liked it to. I felt like I was wearing a built-in statement piece, like a beautiful necklace or some bad ass shoes. I tend to walk with my head held high regardless of how I'm looking or I'm feeling. So I know since I was feeling good about how I looked, I was exuding all kinds of confidence in my walk! HA! So two days later, I LOVE my new accessory.

Ok, I’ve done it! I’ve joined the growing ranks of African American women letting go of their chemical straighteners. Although my decision was based on the quest for a healthier scalp, I’ve really enjoyed the learning process I have undergone about what I was putting my hair through to keep it long and flowing. Not going to lie, I miss my long thick hair that seemed to grow and grow but I do not miss the painfully itchy dry scalp I experienced as the result. I would literally get sores of dry patches that begged for oils but using them would completely weigh my hair down.

Well fast forward to a year later and here I am all chopped off. As for my husband, he absolutely loves it! He’d much rather see my natural hair rather than the dry patches I would have along my hair line. He has been extremely encouraging through the whole process. I tried weave as one of my transition styles and he even helped me cut my weave out after only three days of itchy torture. Got to love that!