How To Use Bendy Rollers on Short Hair

By: | Last Updated: March 10, 2023

Are you currently rocking a chic bob haircut and looking for ways to curl it without damage using Flexi rods?

Or maybe you are wondering about how you can easily curl your stylish pixie haircut at home using bendy rollers?

If you’ve ever wondered how to use Flexi rods on short hair, you’ve come to the right place.

Hair curling has never been cheaper and easier. Using this effective heatless curling method, you wouldn’t have to go to the salon and spend money. You can easily do this at the comfort of your home for an affordable price.

Do you know what the best part is? It is heatless!

This means that you won’t damage your hair in the curling process.

Just read on for a step-by-step guide on how to use bendy rollers on short hair.


What are bendy rollers?

how to make your hair super curly without heat using flexi rods

Bendy rollers, also known as Flexi rods or soft twist rollers, are another effective tool to achieve heatless curls.

These look like small colorful pool noodles but instead of being hollow, it has a flexible wire at the center. 

What are bendy rollers made out of?

Bendy rollers have three layers, the outer layer is a thin protective waterproof coating, then under that is a layer of foam whose thickness depends on the size of the roller, and lastly, a flexible wire at the center.

10 Easy Flexi Rod Hairstyles To Try 1 – Curling Diva

The foam makes the rod soft which, compared to other heatless curlers, makes it more comfortable to the scalp.

It also has a waterproof outer coating that makes the rod very easy to clean. The wire allows the rod to bend into any shape and retain that form as needed. 


How to use bendy rollers

Bendy rollers are very easy to use.

You only have to wrap a section of your hair around the rod and then bend the rod to secure the curl. Let it stay until your hair dries and when you remove the rods, you already have gorgeous curls.

Easy, right? 

Later in this article, we will talk about the different kinds of curls you can achieve using bendy rollers and a quick guide on how to achieve them. Specifically, you’ll learn how to use flexible rod rollers on short hair.


Different sizes of bendy rollers

Bendy rollers come in different sizes. The different diameter sizes in inches are as follows: 11/16”, 5/8” 7/8”, 1/2”, 7/16”, 3/8”. 

Again, the main rule is to use a bigger roller for large or loose curls and a smaller roller for tight curls.


How is it different from other heatless curlers?

Other heatless curlers such as velcro rollers, Curlformers, and hot rollers are undeniably good counterparts of bendy rollers.

However, unlike hot rollers, bendy rollers may be used without heat.

Unlike velcro rollers and Curlformers, bendy rollers are less prone to hair snagging.

CHECK OUT: 5 Minute Heatless Curls: How To Curl Short Hair Without Heat

Overall, bendy rollers’ main advantage against its competitors is its soft and comfortable material and beginner-friendly design.

Unlike rag curls for short hair where you don’t have much control over how your curls would turn out, bendy rollers are a much better option!


Flexi rods vs. perm rods

The main difference between perm rods and Flexi rods is the material that they’re made of.

Perm rods are made of hard plastic while Flexi rods are made of soft foam which means it is more comfortable for the scalp especially if you prefer to sleep in it.

Since perm rods are shorter, they produce tighter curls no matter what the size is.

Flexi rods give you more control when it comes to the tightness and style of the curl.

Perm rods may be friendly for beginners since it has a clip to help fasten the hair while securing Flexi rods might take some time to get used to.

However, this could also be the perm rod’s downside since it would take more time to unfasten the hair and risks hair snagging in the process.


Pros and Cons of Using Bendy Rollers

Bendy rollers are great tools for curling because they are cheap, soft, and beginner-friendly. It is a heatless curling method but you may still use heat if needed. 

However, because the size and length of Flexi rods are limited, it may not work well for those who have really long hair. 

Also, although bendy rollers are soft, they may still be uncomfortable to sleep on especially if you’re not used to them. 

READ: 10+ Easy Flexi Rod Hairstyles To Try


How do you use soft twist rollers on short hair?

Just like any other heatless curling method, you have to prepare your hair first. Wash it and towel dry it. Leave it damp before starting the curling process.

Materials:

  • bendy rollers (different sizes)
  • wide-toothed comb
  • setting spray (optional)

Procedure:

  1. Make sure your hair is damp but not wet. Grab about an inch-thick section of your hair.
  2. Place one Flexi rod at the root of the hair section and then wrap your hair around the rod. 
  3. Bend the rod to secure the curl. Make sure it sits nice and tight.
  4. Repeat this step to the remaining sections of the hair.
  5. Leave it for more than 4 hours before taking off the Flexi rods. If you’re in a rush, you may blow-dry your hair for a faster drying process. However, be reminded that heating your hair may result in hair damage.
  6. Once you remove the Flexi rods, simply run your fingers through your hair or use a wide-toothed comb to separate the curls.
  7. OPTIONAL: Spritz some hair spray to keep your curls in place.

To control your curls, all you need to know is that you will get bigger curls if you put thicker hair sections for each roller. For tighter curls, simply wrap less hair on each roller.

To achieve a more natural look, you may use different sizes of bendy rollers on different sections of the hair.

If you have enough time, you may leave the bendy rollers on your hair overnight so that you would wake up with gorgeous, damage-free curls.

But if you opt to leave it overnight, make sure to wrap a towel or satin scarf around your head to protect the rollers from sliding away while you sleep.


Tips for Different Curl Styles

If you want spiral curls, you just need to twist the hair section before wrapping it around the rod. 

If you want tighter curls, make sure to wrap your hair around the rod as close to each other as possible.

The color of the roller should NOT be peaking through the in-betweens of the wrap. Also, it helps if you use thinner hair sections for each roller.

If you want loose curls, leave wider spaces between each wrap. It would also be okay to use thicker sections of hair for each roller if you aim for loose waves.

For big and loose curls, use lesser rods with bigger rod sizes on dry hair.

Bigger rods result in bigger curls, thicker sections result in loose curls, and dry hair does not give much definition to the curls. So, if you combine these three together, you will get big and loose curls. 

CHECK OUT: Everything You Want To Know about Curling Short Hair


How do you curl short hair with bendy foam rollers?

Are you currently rocking a bob or a pixie cut? Don’t worry!

Flexi rods will still work well for you. 

You may need to apply a leave-in conditioner before curling so that your very short hair would better stick to the rod. Also, leave-in conditioners help achieve more defined curls.

Since your hair is short, it is advisable to use smaller rods. But, if you want bigger curls, you may still use the bigger rods for as long as you can wrap your hair around them.

Another tip would be to use different rod sizes for a more natural look.

For example, pixie cuts are usually shorter at the back of the head and longer at the top. To adjust to this, you may use a smaller rod for the back part and then a larger rod for the top part.

READ: How To Curl Short Layered Hair

As for the curling process itself, instead of starting at the root and then wrapping your hair around the rod, it would be easier if you start by placing the rod at the tip of the hair section and then roll the rod towards the root.

See how YouTuber Leanne DuBois curled her pixie haircut using bendy rollers.


FAQs on How To Use Bendy Rollers on Short Hair

We’ve compiled some frequently asked questions. If you’ve got a question we haven’t answered here, feel free to leave a comment below!

Can you use bendy rollers on dry hair?

Yes. You may use bendy rollers on dry hair especially if you aim for loose and less defined curls.

For beginners, it is advisable to use bendy rollers on damp hair for easier curling since damp hair sticks better to the rod. 

Do you use bendy rollers on wet or dry hair?

You can use bendy rollers on dry, damp, and wet hair. It’s your choice!

The goal of the bendy roller heatless curling method is to curl the hair while it is damp and then, leave it in that form as it dries. So that when you remove the bendy rollers, the hair will remain in the shape that it was in when it dried. 

If you use bendy rollers on dry hair, you’ll get loose, beachy waves.

If you use bendy rollers on damp hair, you’ll get more defined curls.

If you use bendy rollers on wet hair, it will take a longer time to dry. You might not get the curls you want if you leave the bendy rollers on your hair for only a short period of time. But, if you’re in a rush, you may use a blow-dryer to aid in the drying process.

If you want to curl only the mid-length up to the tips, then you may start curling at the middle part of the hair. Simply place the roller mid-length of the section then wrap the bottom half of the hair around the roller. 

Do not remove the rollers unless the hair is completely dry. 


There you have it! 

I hope we covered everything you needed to know about Flexi rods aka Bendy rollers.

Now you may start this fun and colorful curling experience at home. If we missed anything, feel free to comment below!

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