Tag Archives: Curlformers
February 10, 2012 

Hair Boredom: What To Do When You Need Something New

Hey y’all! I got a few posts out this week, but still feel neglectful :( I had an assignment due for one of the classes I’m taking this semester (I’m finishing up a post-grad certificate in Health Promotion), so I had to devote a lot of research and writing time to that.

TGIF in a major way though! It’s shaping up to be another busy weekend, but I’m looking forward to catching up on some sleep and FINALLY doing something with my hair! It’s been draped up in a tired bun for the past few days, so I can’t wait to wash and make it look half-decent.

Can’t lie though – I’ve been getting increasingly bored with my hair. My usual two-strand twist-out is getting PLAYED out, so I need something new, and fast. Part of this yearning for newness likely also has to do with the fact that the days are getting longer, which means spring is just around the corner (even though we’ve been enjoying a crazy mild winter in Toronto). With spring comes all things fresh and new, and I always get the urge to switch things up once winter thaws out. But what to do?

Photo souce: Party Over Hair

I’ve been dreaming about twists for a while now. Thick kinky twists, small Senegalese twists…this style is so easy yet so versatile. I’d love to rock some super-long twists to get the best of both worlds: I can take a hair break AND still have crazy style options? Where do I sign up?

Photo source: Popstar

Even further back than the twists, I’ve had colour on my mind. I usually go light for the spring/summer, but skipped 2011. I’m craving some multi-dimensional pops of colour, and Tanika Ray has always been my hair dye dream girl. I’ve coloured before with no real damage, so I’m not afraid to take that leap. Some sunshiny-bright hair would definitely give me a new look, so maybe that’s the way to go…

Maybe I just need to do a quick lil’ flat iron and rock some straight locks for a while? I haven’t straightened my hair in a few months, so maybe that’s the change I need. The only thing that annoys me about straight hair is having to wrap it at night…sometimes a girl just wants to throw it in a bun and jump in the sack! I can’t be bothered with the extra work at times – but it definitely allows me to keep my ‘do looking fresh for a LONG time. A good wrap at night = no need to do any touch-ups with the flat iron. I got a great trim at my last hair appointment and I’ve been working hard to protect my ends, so it would be nice to see how much length I’ve gained/retained…

With my favourite cup - one that I got at my 3rd birthday party!

Makeup-less...but I could have at least put a lil Vaseline on my lips :/

With the little sis!

…or maybe I just need to stop being lazy. If I put in more effort, I’m sure I could make the most of what I’ve got! I was (at one point) pretty creative with updos (like the top photo – loose flat twisted front into a low bun) – if I took the time, I’m sure I could come up with something cute! I could also pull out some heat protectant serum with my trusty blow dryer and do a blown-out wash n’ go (like second photo) or blow my hair out prior to twisting. Or, I could take my own advice and get busy with my Curlformers (used in third photo)! I’ve been meaning to rock with them as of late, so I need to be like Nike and just do it. Maybe the only change I need is to make some more time for myself and explore something other than a bun or a twist-out. Could the answer be so simple?

Anyone out there also stuck in a hair rut? Do you have any big plans for a new spring style? Have an idea for a style I should try? Let a sista know!

December 8, 2011 

Bee’s Favourite (Hair) Things: Curlformers!

I’m back to let y’all know about another one of my favourite hair tools – the “hair curling revolution” known as Curlformers. I had never used anything like Curlformers in my life, but once I got the hang of them, I never wanted them to go away! Let me start by showing you an “after” pic, and then I’ll explain more about how I love these funny little things so…

Bee in Fall of 2009

Do you see those lovely ringlets? Let me tell you. Whenever I did a Curlformers set, I was NEVER disappointed (welllll, that’s a lie – but I’ll get to that later). First, let me answer the important questions:

What are Curlformers?

Curlformers are unique hair curling tools that look like mesh spirals:

Using a colour-coded system, Curlformers generally come in combos of short/long and narrow/wide, so you are able to get tighter or looser curls, keeping the length of your hair in mind. Salon kit packs (24-46 Curlformers) also come with a funky looking hook, which you use to pull your hair through the Curlformer.

How do you use Curlformers?

I won’t lie – the first time or two that I used the Curlformers, I nearly threw them away in a fit of tears. Me being a generally clumsy and awkward person, I just couldn’t get the hang of the Curlforming process. But I finally did, and if I can get it, you can get it. Trust me.

You use Curlformers after washing, conditioning, THOROUGHLY detangling your hair, and applying your choice of setting product. Split your head into four quadrants, and within each quadrant, you will section off small parts to be curled. For me, “small” meant no bigger than the width of my ring finger, but trial and error will always help you.

The key to Curlformers is that your hair is curled inside the tool, not on top of it like traditional rollers. Here’s the quick process:

Insert the hook into the Curlformer.

Twist the root of your hair. Just the root!

Place the hook around the root of your hair (where you twisted), and while holding on to the top of the Curlformer, gently pull the hook (and your hair) through the Curlformer.

Sound complicated? It might be at first. Check this great video by Mae of Natural Chica to see it in detail (go right to 2:55 for the hooking process). Trust me – you will get the hang of it!

YouTube Preview Image

Once you have your whole head set, you might look something like this:

Now what do you do? You let it dry. COMPLETELY. There’s nothing worse than setting your hair and getting impatient. You’re left with damp, limp, frizzy, pitiful curls. If you’re lucky enough to own a hooded dryer, use it! If not, you can blow dry (not my favourite for the whole head), or you can plan to spend a day at home and let them air dry. For me, I would pick a Saturday when I had nothing to do outside the house, wash and set in the morning, and wear them all day. For good measure I would sleep in the Curlformers, and take them out the next morning. They’re not the most comfy things to sleep in, but you can work it. 99% of the time I air dry. I’m completely dry in about 24 hours, but you have to do what works for you. Again, it’s all trial and error.

Once you’ve sufficiently dried your Curlformer set, it’s time to take them out and rock your spirals! The take-down is easy:

Pinch the root of your hair with your thumb and forefinger of one hand and hold it taught. With the other hand, pinch the top of the Curlformer and simply slide it down your hair.

And that’s it! Shake the curls out to cover your parts, and you’re good to go!

Lawd PLEASE forgive me for these bathroom photos…lol! These were just for my personal documentation back in 2009. If I had known they’d eventually be on my blog, chiiiiile…

Tips?

  • Ensure that your hair is wet enough to have enough slip to slide through the Curlformer. I would always have to re-wet my hair as I went along, as dry hair will not slide through and set smoothly.
  • Try NOT looking in the mirror! Because of my poor coordination, I found it easier to Curlform my hair without looking in the mirror. I have a bad habit of telling my hubby to go left while pointing right when he’s driving…so I have some directional issues.
  • If you start removing your Curlformers and realize your hair is not dry, dampen it with some water and setting product, and re-curl it. You may have to get the blowdryer out to speed up the process, or spend a bit more time at home. For me, detangling and drying, even more so than any setting product, is the key to smooth, long-lasting curls.
  • Don’t make your sections too thick – you’ll know, because your hair will not slide through the Curlformer. Plus, it’ll take forever to dry!
  • It takes time at first, but you WILL get it! And it WILL be worth it! My quickest set (not including wash/detangle time) has been around 45 minutes. Two episodes of Martin on DVD and I’m done.

Where can I find Curlformers? And how much are they?

I bought my Curlformers here in Toronto at Sally Beauty Supply for -gulp- $69.99. Yes, I paid that much. But 2 years later, I still have them, they’re still intact, and they still work perfectly! You may find a better deal on eBay, but other online vendors I’ve seen are around the same price as Sally. Overall, I have to say Curlformers were definitely worth the investment for me!

Have you tried Curlformers? If yes, did you love them as much as me? If you’re curious, but wary because of price/time/any other concern and want some more info, let me know!