Check out the newest installment in CurlyNikki’s reader Q&A series:
READER QUESTION: Have you ever tried Curlformers? How do you use them and do they really work?
CURLYNIKKI’S RESPONSE: I use Curlformers with great success to stretch my hair in order to bun or chunky twist for extended periods of time. Although it leaves me with scalpy, Shirley Temple curls (think old school press and curl), I truly appreciate how straight it gets my hair, especially the edges and roots, with NO HEAT! It’s almost bizarre.
If you remember, I like to keep my hair in a stretched state because it reduces tangling, single strand knots and breakage. I also like twisting on dry, previously stretched hair because the results appear much fuller than they would on wet hair. I like the Curlformers better than magnetic rollers because they’re easier and quicker to put in and the somewhat smooth results are a great primer for a dry set (bantu knot-out, twist-out, braid-out, pin curl or Twist-n-Curl). Sleeping in them is hell and I’m thinking I need to modify my routine so that I put the rollers in early in the morning and take them out before bed. The bonnet dryer is always an option but I hate sitting still for that long.
Click on to see my step-by-step notes and photos on how I use the Curlformers and style my hair afterwards. If you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comments section!
Nikki “CurlyNikki” Walton is a successful psychotherapist and creator of one of the most credible online sources about natural haircare, maintenance, and decoding the psychological ties between black women and their hair. Visit her at her blog CurlyNikki or follow her on Twitter @CurlyNikki.