Protective Style Prep

 I love styling my hair. I love discovering new products and new methods of getting my hair to behave the way I want it to behave. I also love watching it grow and move through the different phases of each style. 

The love of my hair leads me to wash and style frequently in an effort to maintain its health and beauty; and as much as I love the process I sometimes need a break. Lately I've been looking at my hair and feeling like it isn't growing as quickly as it did the first time I was natural. I get my hair straightened and trimmed every three months and I've been able to clearly see growth, but when my hair is in its natural coily state it just doesn't seem like I've made much progress in the area of length retention.

In short I've come to a point where I am overly concerned with my hair and picking apart every little aspect of it. As they say "a watched pot never boils" so I've decided to tuck my hair away for a while to give myself a mental and physical break from my hair.

Preparing My Hair

To prepare my hair for long term styling (I plan to keep my braids for at least four weeks) I wanted to be sure to infuse moisture into my strands while also strengthening my hair for my first attempt at a home blow out.

Shampoo & Condition

I began by first shampooing my hair twice with Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Shampoo. I chose this shampoo because I would be applying heat and I wanted the additional infusion of keratin to protect my strands from the blow dryer. After shampooing I applied my moisturizing conditioner (Aussie Moist 3-Minute Miracle) and thoroughly detangled using my paddle brush. I rinsed after 3 minutes than applied my Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask and sat beneath my steamer for 30 minutes.

I allowed my hair to cool down after steaming, then rinsed and proceeded to moisturize and prep for blow drying.

Moisturizing & Blow Drying

To moisturize my strands I used my Jane Carter Solutions Curls To Go Untangle Me Leave-In Conditioner as well as the Mist Me Over Hydrator from the same line.  Where I would typically use a quarter-sized amount and simply finger comb the product throughout my strands, this time I sectioned my strands into four quadrants and added a quarter-sized amount to each section. I then brushed the product through with my paddle brush to ensure even distribution. Because I intended to use heat to stretch my hair for the braiding process I also applied a dime sized amount of Kera Mineral's Smoothing Leave In Conditioner to each section as a heat protectant.

I used a combination of the tension method, the comb method, and the flat brush method to blow dry my hair and ensure maximum straightness. Working with small one inch sub sections within each quadrant I applied the tension method by gently pulling the section downward and running the blow dryer (with concentrator nozzle) downward to stretch and dry the section. Once the section was about 90% dry I then used my flat brush to apply greater tension and further straighten each section. I honestly could have stopped here but I ran the blow dryer one last time down my strands and chased it with my wide tooth comb simply to be absolutely positive that my hair was dry, stretched, and thoroughly detangled. 

This entire process took me about 40 minutes and I realized that my hair is not nearly as coarse and unmanageable as I have always thought it to be. I have always been somewhat intimidated by the density, thickness, and tightly coiled nature of my strands, and assumed that because it didn't 'look' easy to manage in the same way as my relaxed hair that it would be difficult to blow out and straighten the way I did my relaxed hair. I was clearly wrong and have a new understanding of my hair and what it is capable of.

Once my hair was completely dry I added a dime sized amount of Jane Carter Solution Curl Defining Cream to each quadrant for extra moisture then secured each section with a ponytail holder to keep it stretched and prevent tangling. Due to my preparation the braiding process was quick, easy and virtually painless. 

How do you prepare for a protective style?

#Shorthairdontcare - My New Look

 

After several months of debating and countless hours scouring the likes of Instagram, Pinterest and Google for the perfect short crop I finally visited my stylist and had my hair cut. Since starting this blog I have essentially come full circle with my strands - starting at APL after going back to a relaxer from natural hair, growing to MBL, cutting into a Bob, letting the bob hit shoulder length, then chopping it all off.

I have received nothing but positive feedback on my new style, and because it is a cut I have rocked in the past (prior to going natural) I knew it was something I could look good in and be confident about. Even my Mom, who is always completely distraught when I do anything more to my hair than trim the ends, was full of compliments and told me how pretty she thought the cut was. I have gotten several "Halle Berry" references which have been ego boosting :-) (Who doesn't want to be compared to Halle Berry???) and although it has only been a few days I am enjoying the style and not regretting the change at all. 

My confidence with the style comes from having thought long and hard about the decision and choosing a style that I know suits me and that I will not have any issues maintaining. In fact, I went so far as to have my stylist schedule me to relax every four weeks so that I can be sure the style always looks fresh and I feel good wearing it. My stylist also equipped me a few simple styling techniques, having my watch the way she curled each section and gave tips on different looks I could try. Along with the tips she provided the same salon brand foaming wrap lotion and wrap paper she uses to mold and set short styles beneath the dryer. I also purchased a hooded dryer as well as a 1/4 inch flat iron and look forward to my next wash day and re-creating the look on my own. 

I have unfortunately had a few people see my new style and shake their heads while sadly asking "Why did you cut off all your hair?" My response has been "because I am on a hair journey." At one point in my journey length was my focus and once I met my goal I realized how boring that was for me - I basically lived in buns and my hair actually suffered because of it and resulted in the need to cut. It was definitely fun to play with length and to watch my hair grow to lengths I had no idea I could reach, but my styling also became boring and wash days took longer. At this point in my journey I am all about effortless style and minimal wash days. 

I am hoping to keep this short crop for awhile, I would love to play around with the different styles I can achieve while keeping the back tapered and letting the top grow - I am particularly interested in reaching a length where I can wand the top section and rock sort of a chic, curly mo-hawk. As always the health of my strands is my number one priority, so I also look forward to trying new products and starting again from ground zero.

Things to Consider Before a Drastic Haircut

Sometimes a girl just needs a change. Your signature or tried and true look can start to take the turn from fab to drab, leaving you looking and feeling less than spectacular. If you are fed-up with your current style and thinking about changing your look with a new haircut, before you pick up the scissors or head for the salon consider the following.

 

Can you maintain the style?

Depending on your choice of haircut, maintenance outside of the salon can prove to be difficult. For example, short crops with tapered edges often require more frequent relaxer sessions (think every 4 weeks vs. every 12). Although there is the obvious trade-off on weekly wash-days when it may take all of 45 minutes (including a 15 minute DC & 15 minutes under the dryer) to wash and style your strands, having to visit the salon more often or purchase a home relaxer kit every month may be cause to re-think your style choice.

 

Do you have the proper styling tools/products?

Shorter hair styles often require different sets of tools and products to maintain the look outside of the salon. For example a short, close crop (a la Halle Berry) would require a good foaming wrap lotion, head wraps to hold the mold, a hooded dryer to form the mold, and a 1/4 inch flat iron to curl and sculpt the style to your liking. If you do not already have the necessary styling tools and products on-hand to maintain your style, or find it may be too expensive to purchase new items, the style may not be the one for you.

Will the style suit your lifestyle/personality?

Do you workout often and find yourself sweating out your style as soon as you achieve it? Are you pressed for time & prefer a style that is more "wash & go" rather than wash, condition, deep condition, moisturize, dry, & style? Are you fun, funky and flirty or conservative and structured? The answers to these and many other lifestyle questions should be considered before you make a decision.

What are your hair goals?

A hair journey can be frustrating at times and we can often feel as if the goals we have set are impossible to reach. If your reasons for cutting your hair are due to the frustration of feeling like you aren't getting anywhere in your journey, I would suggest re-evaluating your hair care practices rather than cutting out of frustration and later regretting your decision. 

Are you absolutely sure about this?

Often times the decision to change our hair can be an impulsive one - born from the frustrations of life & situations we cannot control. If you have not spent at least 90 days pouring over hair styles, trying on wigs, trying different styles with your current length, and looking at women with similar features rocking a similar look, then I would classify the desire to cut as an impulsive one that should be evaluated further.

I love to change my look and I have about 3 styles I rotate throughout a five year period. Although each look is tried and true and I know I will like the way I look, I always consider the five points mentioned above before moving from one style to the next.

What do you consider before changing your look?

14 Day Wand Curls on Blow-dried Hair

 

 Since I cut my hair to correct the light damage I got from constantly wet-bunning I haven't been following the typical "healthy hair rules". I still deep condition, pre-poo and protein treat my hair on a regular basis but the common no-no across all healthy hair sites is consistent heat use. I am a huge supporter of finding what works for you and sticking with it, so if consistent heat use has your hair growing like a weed then I don't suggest making a change, but I do tend to feel a bit guilty and like I am abusing my strands to some extent when months pass and I haven't taken a break from the flat iron.

So in an effort to ease my guilt I decided to switch things up and ditch the flat iron for what I feel is a less-damaging heat styling tool. I actually stumbled upon this style accidentally one lazy weekend when I didn't feel like spending an hour and a half flat ironing my hair. I went through my typical wash-day routine & made it through to the blow out stage before I realized I didn't feel like putting in the time and effort to style my hair. I had no clue what I was going to do with my hair the next morning, and only had about an hour before Church service started so I grabbed my curling wand and hoped my hair wouldn't turn out a complete mess.

I sectioned my hair into fours (just like when preparing to relax) and worked through one section at a time wrapping 1.5-2 inch sections around the wand and holding them there for about 20 seconds. Because I was going for a more uniform and neat look I wrapped each section in the same direction rather than alternating directions and the entire process took about 35 minutes.

 I loved the finished look and got several complements on the results but I was not sure how to maintain the look throughout the week. My first thought was of the pineapple method but I wasn't sure it would work on my shorter hair or on wand curls, but I knew if I simply put on my bonnet I would wake up with crushed curls, so I gave it a shot. I flipped my head over, secured my hair with a ponytail holder, wrapped my silk scarf around my edges and put my bonnet on top. In the morning I was pleasantly surprised to find my curls were completely in-tact and looked just as good as the day before. It took some doing to get my strands to "lay" the way I wanted them to, but after walking around with my silk scarf loosely tied around my head (think Tu-Pac) for a few minutes my hair laid nicely. I moisturized my hair on the third day by scrunching the product into my hair to prevent disturbing the curls and continued to pineapple each night for 7 days. On the eight day since my hair still looked perfectly fine I decided to give the style a go for another week. I did lightly re-touch some areas with the wand where the curls had completely fallen, but I am thinking this may be my go-to style for the Fall.

I love my hair with some texture and the curling wand on blow-dried hair gives me that perfect slightly wavy texture that I adore. Several co-workers actually asked if I was natural so I was excited to find a style that mimics natural textured hair without actually having to deal with the hassle of my being natural. Aside from the great texture this style allows me to go two weeks without putting heat on my hair, and once I do wash my hair again knowing that I won't be doing double duty with the harsh blow-dryer followed by a flat iron makes me feel a lot better about my hair care practices.

 How are you currently styling your hair?

Refreshing my Color at Home

 

This Summer I had my stylist color my hair red using a low volume developer to mitigate the affects of the dye. As we all know reds tend to fade quickly and since my Summer dye-job my hair has faded from a vibrant deep red to a warm reddish-brown. Because I love the shade of reddish-brown my hair has morphed into, instead of having my stylist re-dye my hair I am opting for a temporary red rinse to bring back some of the vibrancy my strands have lost.

Things You Will Need

• Semi-Permanent Rinse 
• Moisturizing Shampoo
• Moisturizing Conditioner
• Vaseline
• Olive Oil (Optional)
• Protein Conditioner (Optional)
• After Color Sealer (Optional) 
• Rubber Gloves
• Relaxer Brush (or Color applicator brush)
• Color mixing bowl
• Processing Cap

 I first washed and conditioned my hair per my usual wash day routine. I applied a generous amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to my dry strands, covered my hair with a plastic cap and allowed the oil to sit for about 45 minutes. I then shampooed using my Kera Minerals Sulfate-Free Shampoo followed by a quick 2 minute condition using GVP Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm. After t-shirt drying my strands for about 5 minutes I sectioned my hair into fours then applied my Kera Minerals Smoothing Deep Conditioner, covered my hair with a plastic cap and allowed the conditioner to sit for about 2 hours. (I would normally only condition for 15 minutes but because I no longer have a hooded dryer and was caught up doing other things I left the conditioner on longer.) I rinsed the conditioner in warm water to keep my cuticles open in preparation for the color application.

Before applying the dye I protected my hair line and forehead with Vaseline to prevent staining on my skin in case the dye was runny. Using Adore Creative Image Semi-Permanent Rinse in Intense Red I applied the color using an applicator brush (similar to what you would use for a relaxer) beginning at the root and combing the color through to the ends. The application process mirrored that of the relaxer process only I applied the color to the entire length of my strands. I allowed the color to sit for about an hour under a plastic cap to make sure I got the shade of red I was looking for, then rinsed with cool water and followed with another quick shampoo. To seal in the color and make sure my strands were thoroughly conditioned after the process I applied Ion's After Color Sealer and allowed it to sit for five minutes before rinsing with warm water. Once the process was complete I styled my hair as usual.

For those of you with dark hair a rinse may not work for you because it does not truly soak into the cuticles, but rather deposits on top of the strands. I would suggest trying a deep shade of red and allowing the dye to sit a little longer than instructed and also using a hooded dryer to encourage the dye to deposit fully onto the strands. Because my hair had already been lightened by my stylist using permanent color the dye took easily and showed up clear and vibrant.

Have you tried a semi-permanent color at home?

#SpringWetBunChallenge

Classic.Simple.Beautiful is now on Instagram. 

Join me in the Spring Wet Bun Challenge as I try to beat the boredom of buns by switching my styles daily for the next few weeks. 

#CSB #springwetbunchallenge

Choosing the Right Red (Hair Color)

Spring is almost here and for many the new season represents an opportunity to experiment with color - typically a shade of Red. Before you run out to your local beauty supply store and pick up a box off the shelf, it is important to understand a few hair color basics.

Permanent Vs. Semi-Permanent Color

Permanent color contains an oxidizer (such as hydrogen peroxide) and ammonia. The purpose of these chemicals is to open the cuticles and lift the natural color from your strands so that the color you desire can be deposited. Semi-Permanent color on the other hand does not contain bleach or ammonia which means the color is not deposited within the cuticle layer, but outside and on top of your natural hair color. 

When it comes to the decision to color your hair red your natural hair color will make a big difference in the end result when using a semi-permanent vs. a permanent color. To further clarify the idea take a red crayon and make a mark on a black sheet of construction paper. The red mark is only visible from certain angles where light is adequately reflected (as with semi permanent color on dark hair). Now take a white sheet of paper and make a mark with a red crayon; the red mark is clearly visible from all angles (as with permanent color).

Skin Tone & Personality

Skin tone and personality should play an important role in the shade of red you choose. For example, I have warm undertones to my skin and my stylist has done a variation of red shades with my hair throughout the years. I have had Copper, Auburn and even Red Blonde just to name a few. One thing my stylist keeps in mind is my personality when choosing a shade, she knows that I am quite reserved so although I may be able to pull it off in regards to skin tone, a Fire-y Red may not suite me.

At Home vs. Professional Color

I have yet to experiment with at-home color but know several women who have successfully colored their tresses at home. Color can be done safely at home, but I would caution against simply going into the store and picking up a box. Do you research first and narrow down the brand and shade prior to entering the store. Once you are in store look for a box in your brand of choice showing a model containing similar skin tone. This will give you an idea of what you can expect the color to look like on you. 

I prefer to have my color done professionally simply because I fear damage and realize that box color does not always give you the end results you are looking for. Most professionals have an understanding of what colors to mix or intensifiers to add to create the end result you want without causing brassiness and/or damage.

Maintenance

Red hair is notorious for fading quickly, almost after the first shampoo. As a result it is important to use shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated to maintain color vibrancy. As with all hair dyes dryness is a natural by-product so be prepared to deep condition religiously. Hot oil treatments, hair masks, and reconstructors are great ways to make sure your hair's moisture levels remain optimal.

I am having my hair colored in about 3 weeks (approximately 4 weeks post relaxer) and I have already discussed the above topics with my stylist. I showed her a picture of the shade of red I wanted and her initial answer to my request for color was no. We had discussed my current hair goals and she indicated she would not do anything that might impede my progress. When I went back for my relaxer last weekend she told me she had given my request some thought and suggested we do a darker shade of red using a low-volume (20) developer to give me some color but prevent damage. She then indicated that if I still wanted a lighter shade we could gradually lighten the hair over time, each time using a low-volume developer to prevent damage.

How do you decide on hair color?

How To Make & Install Clip-In Extensions: A Pictorial

After what seems like ages, I finally finished making my clip-in extensions (Yay!). It actually was not as difficult or time consuming as I initially thought, it was just tedious and took a little getting used to but once I got it down it was smooth sailing.

What You Will Need

• Hair extensions: I purchased two bags and only ended up using one (well a combination of the two bundles, but I could have gotten away with just one bundle). One was 12" the other 14".
• Scissors
• Wig Clips: I initially purchased 5 packs of 2 but ended up going back and purchasing 4 more packs. As it turns out since I did not use every weft of hair I could have gotten away with only 8 clips (or 4 packs).
• Needle and thread

Measuring & Sewing Your Wefts 

• To create the clip-ins start by threading your sewing needle. I used about a 12" piece of thread just to ensure I had enough the first go around. Once your needle has been threaded tie a small knot at the end to secure the strand.
• Before you begin cutting and sewing your wefts you want to measure the diameter of your head to ensure the wefts actually fit. I recommend doing this once your hair has already been braided (if you are using the braid method) because your head is a bit bulkier with loose hair.
• To measure your head simple start with one end of the weft at the base of your head and stretch the weft straight across (from ear to ear). Once you reach the opposite side of your head use your finger as a marker to hold the place where the weft ended.
• I doubled my wefts for a fuller effect (which may be why I only needed one bundle). To do this simple keep your finger in the same position you measured and fold the shorter end of the weft across the remaining length of the hair and cut where the shorter weft stops. 
•  Once your weft is sized and cut, using your needle and thread sew the weft together at the base (where the actual track is). Secure the stitch by creating a small knot in the end of the thread and cut any excess string.
• Repeat the above steps for measuring and sewing the wefts moving up from the nape of your neck to the top of your head.

Adding the Clips

• Once your wefts are measured and sew together (if you are doubling) you can begin adding your wig clips.



The clip should look like this once sewn on

• The clips I purchased had four holes straight across the top, I sewed them onto the weft using only the first hole and the last hole.
• Before you begin sewing make sure the clip is facing you and the bar/back of the clip is facing the weft. 
• Thread the needle through the clip, and the weft, looping it through the first hole twice to secure. Move along to the second hole and loop the thread through twice. Tie a small knot in the thread to secure it, then cut the excess.
• For smaller wefts I used two clips, one on each end, and for larger wefts I used three clips: one on each end and one in the middle. 

  

  Short wefts have two clips, longer have three

  
  
  
  

Installing Clip-Ins

• Because I wanted my clip-in extensions to serve as a protective style I created a "U" part at the top of my head using the center of my eyebrows as a guide; securing this section with a claw clip I then proceeded to braid the remaining free hair.
• If your hair is long and thick like mine you may find it a bit difficult to braid the hair in such a way that relieves the bulk and prevents the braids from dangling down your back poking through your extensions.
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  Back view

  

  Front leave-out

  
  

Installing the clips

• Starting at the base of your head/nape of your neck apply the extension by sticking the clip (open) into the braid and closing it to secure the extension. 
• Continue adding the clip-ins until the only visible section of your hair is the section left as a leave out.
• Release the leave out and style according to your extensions to blend.

After all clip-ins are installed

Finished Look

Blend the leave-out with the extensions careful to cover any visible tracks

I am absolutely in love with these extensions and so glad I forged ahead and completed them. I spent a total of $70.00 on two bundles of hair, wig clips, and a needle and thread; that is about 1/3 the price of the clip-in extensions I have seen online. This was also my first time wearing extensions and I can easily see how so many women are "addicted to weave". They are super easy to install and turn a drab hair day into a fab one within minutes. I feel pretty glamorous wearing them and have received tons on compliments. Aside from that no one has been able to tell I am wearing extensions.

Clip-in extensions are a great way to jazz up your look this Fall while protecting your hair and helping you reach your hair goals.

Have you tried clip-in extensions?

Clip-In Hair Extensions For Protective Sytling

For the past few weeks I have spent some time on Youtube looking at hair extensions, particularly clip-ins. I have never worn weave before (aside from kinky twists and braids) and thought it might be nice to try something different. Aside from the ability to switch up my looks I was intrigued by the idea of taking my protective styling to the next level without completely loosing access to my hair and scalp.

Three Options for Protective Styling with Clip-Ins

1. Braided Method: This method is similar to that of a sew-in in that I will braid about 3/4 of my hair and apply the clip ins to the braids leaving out a small section to hide the tracks.This will allow me to really hide my hair and give it a break for at least two-weeks at a time if not longer depending on how often I choose to re-braid. I would have zero manipulation on the hair other than the days I wash and re-braid. This method may be best used during the tail end of my relaxer stretch (around the 8 week mark) as this is when my hair becomes the most difficult due to the new growth.
2. Wrap Method: This method involves wrapping the back of my hair from the tips of my ears to the nape of my neck, covering it with a wig cap and clipping the hair onto the cap. The hair from the tips of my ears to my hairline will remain lose to cover the extensions. Since I do not know how to braid I am leaning towards this method both for convenience and for the fact that I will still have complete access to my free hair beneath the wig cap. I can easily moisturize and seal at night and re-wrap. However, with this method there will still be some manipulation since I will have to wrap and unwrap the hair each day.
3. Standard Method: This method is the normal application of clip-in extensions, leaving all of your hair free and simply blending it with the clip ins. You simply part your hair starting at the nape from ear to ear and apply the clip ins moving up the hair until you reach your desired fullness. This method will probably work best when my hair is freshly relaxed, so from zero to 8 weeks post I could wear the clip ins this way without worrying about using excessive heat to blend the style.

Styling Your Clip-Ins

Clip-in extensions not only offer the chance to reduce the level of manipulation and exposure of the hair, but they also offer infinite styling possibilities depending upon the length of hair you use to create the clip ins and your own hair length. These are a few of the many styling options I cannot wait to try:

• Side braids
• French braids
• Fishtail braids
• High buns
• Ballerina buns
• High ponytails
• Loose waves
• Wand Curls

From what I hear clip in hair extensions can be quite pricey and I am not interested in paying hundreds of dollars for hair, so I have decided to make my own. Before beginning the process I did some how-to research on Youtube and found the process LOOKED quite simple. Wrong. I spent all of Saturday measuring, cutting and sewing the wefts together and haven't even attempted to sew on the clips. The process is taking so long I am actually thinking of putting it off until the Winter and rocking flex rod sets for the next few months; but since I have already purchased everything I need I will press on.

Have you tried clip-in extensions?

Tips for a Successful Flex-Rod Set

For years I have tried, with little success, to set my hair on flex rods. Each time I tried I was usually armed with a new product or more flex rods hoping that the results would be something like Tracee Ellis Ross, but what I usually ended up with was more of a Chaka Kha- thing. Don't get me wrong, Chaka Khan had some banging hair days, but that look was vastly different from what I was aiming for. I wanted smooth defined, bouncy curls like the women on Youtube, but I could never seem to get my hair to come out like theirs. 

After years of trying and failing I finally figured out how to get the perfect flex rod set using the following techniques and tips:

1. Start on soaking wet hair and keep a spray bottle handy. When hair is wet it is easier to smooth and the smoother the hair goes onto the flex rod the smoother the end result of the set. If the hair starts to dry out spritz it with water using a spray bottle until it is wet, then proceed to roll.
2. Size does matter! The reason my flex rod sets came out so frizzy and puffy was because I was using  a rod that was too small. I had been using the 11/16 inch (or blue) flex rods not knowing that these rollers were not suitable for my hair texture or length. My hair is extremely thick and BSL and based upon my experience using them I would say these are best suited for ladies with thin and short hair. In favor of the blue rods I opted for the purple and grey rods (I am not sure of the diameter), these rods are much thicker and definitely more suited for my hair type.
3. Sectioning is important. Over the years I have tried everything from rodding tiny 1 inch sections to huge sections and the end result was always the same: Flex Rod FAIL. This time around I sectioned my hair based upon the diameter of the flex rods, meaning the section of hair I placed on the rod was no larger than the actual rod itself.
4. Technique, Technique, Technique! The method used to set the hair on the rod will determine the shape of the curl. Slanting the rod at a 45 degree angle and pulling the roller down slightly to create space between each section of hair on the rod will create a spiral effect.
5. Tension. Tension is possibly the most important part of achieving flex rod success because the results you receive all hinge on whether or not you used the right amount of tension. The size of the rod also comes into play here as I have found that larger rods allow you to create more tension on the hair, creating a smoother end result. When rolling the hair onto the flex rod hold it as taut as you can without hurting yourself or damaging your strands; holding the hair taut will help it lie smoothly on the rod and eliminate frizz and bulk.
6. Use heat to dry. I have tried letting my rod sets air dry and because my hair is so thick I would either have to walk around all day with rods in my hair or risk damp hair during take down after a few hours. This time I sat beneath my hooded dryer for about one hour first, then let it air dry for another hour. The use of heat not only sped up the drying time but I believe it contributes to the smoothness of the end result as well.

By following the method above I finally achieved a beautiful flex rod set that I am hoping will last one week. If this proves to be successful and I am able to achieve at least five day curls I may go back to roller setting after washing instead of heat styling with every wash, at least every-other wash.

What tips do you have for a successful flex rod set?

Protective Styling Options

I hate protective styling. With a passion. Maybe it is because the only "protective style" I ever do is a bun and I literally wore my hair in a bun for my entire sophomore year of college, but I hate them nonetheless. 

All summer I have suffered through the wretched bun protective style, and although I made it from BSB to BSL (just touching the strap) I am wondering if I would have made my length goal without bunning?

I like wearing my hair out and free, or at least styled, and to me a bun is not a hair style. Whenever I wear a bun I feel unkempt, dusty, ratchet...(LOL a little dramatic I know) the point is I don't feel as glamorous when my hair isn't styled.

The theory behind protective styling in the world of healthy hair is that bunning or tucking your ends protects them from the elements (i.e. weather and harsh fabrics) and subsequently helps you retain length. A pretty sound theory, and I can't argue with the idea of limiting our strands' exposure, but for me, protective styling seems to serve a different purpose. I have noticed when my hair is out I am constantly inspecting my ends, twirling my curls, or simply running my fingers through it and enjoying the silky feel. I have serious hand in hair syndrome, a habit I picked up while being natural.

Protective styling is a great way to keep your hands out of your hair, but if you are like me and hate the idea of constant bunning but prefer not to hide your hair for weeks at a time with weaves and braids you may need some additional options. 

Below are a few summer styles for both work and play:

Side-Braid

Side-braid with fringe

Simple updo

Elegant Bun

Curly side bun

Try these classic, simple, and beautiful alternatives to your every-day buns.

What is your favorite simple protective style?