| How to Shampoo Braids and Locs
Prep Your Hair For Volume When You Wash Your Hair
Refresh Your Hair Between Shampoos or Sets
How to Blow Dry Without Drying Hair Out
How to Layer Products
How to Inhibit Reversion
Curl-up Quick
Show Off Long, Curly Locks with Styling Smarts
Extend the Life of a Straw Set
Roller Setting the Right Way
Avoid Frizzies and Flyaways in Any Weather
How to Create a Perfect Wrap
Flat Iron with Finesse
Make a Quick Day-to-Night Style Change
Transition Your Hair with Ease
Look Put Together Every Day
Make the Most of Your Bangs
Fingerwave Your Way to Gorgeous
Give Hair a Break From Heat Styling
How to Do a Perfect Comb-Out
How to Keep Relaxed Hair Healthy
How to Loosen Up Your Natural
How to Shampoo Braids and Locs
Product Recommendation: Lavish Conditioning Shampoo
Braids and locs can be shampooed in the same way: use a stocking cap, avoid disturbing them and dry thoroughly.
What's easiest: Letting your stylist do it.
- Apply Lavish Conditioning Shampoo to the scalp and massage it well without disturbing your hair
- Rinse 5 minutes, or until water runs clear
- Place a stocking cap or mesh scarf over your hair, then apply shampoo over the cap
- Lightly massage your scalp and rinse again for 5 minutes
- Sit under a hood-style dryer with the cap in place until hair is completely dry
- Apply a light oil to remoisturize
Prep Your Hair For Volume When You Wash Your Hair
Product Recommendations: Weightless Conditioning Shampoo and Weightless Detangling Conditioner
Shampooing and conditioning correctly can leave your hair much fuller and bouncier.
What's best: Using Motions Weightless products.
- Rub Weightless Conditioning Shampoo between your palms first, then distribute evenly
- Rinse with water that's tepid, not hot
- Apply Weightless Detangling Conditioner in the same way, only avoid applying it to the root area
- Rinse with cool water to seal the cuticle
- Avoid over-rinsing; leaving a little conditioner in your hair is fine
- Towel-blot hair; don't rub vigorously
Refresh Your Hair Between Shampoos or Sets
Product Recommendation: Moisture Plus After-Shampoo Conditioner
If you wear your hair natural, you can refresh it between shampoos or styling appointments by using conditioner only or "co-washing" your hair.
What's smart: Co-washing in hot, humid weather.
- Rinse your hair with warm water, as you gently fingercomb it
- Divide your hair into sections. Then apply a small amount of Moisture Plus After-Shampoo Conditioner to each section, working it in from roots to ends
- Alternately, dilute conditioner with water in a spray bottle and mist hair thoroughly
- Wait a few minutes while conditioner penetrates
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water
- Towel-blow or "squeeze" hair; avoid rubbing it
How to Blow Dry Without Drying Hair Out
Product Recommendation: Nourish Leave-In Conditioner
If you have dry hair, condition it frequently and blow dry correctly. To avoid over-drying, allow your hair to partially dry before blow drying, and use lower heat settings.
What's safest: Have your professional stylist do the blowdry or show you how.
- Divide your hair into 4 sections and apply Nourish Leave-In Conditioner throughout hair
- If hair is wet, gently comb from the ends upward, using a wide-toothed comb
- Take smaller sub-sections to blow dry
- Run the brush or comb down the section, and follow it with your blower
- Turn the comb or brush slightly to create moderate tension on the section
- If you use a concentrator attachment, avoid holding it too close, and always keep it moving
- Dry both the top and the bottom of each subsection
- Complete all four sections in this manner
How to Layer Products
Product Recommendation: Light Styling Foam
What order do you follow if you use a leave-in conditioner, a styling product and an oil moisturizer or sheen spray? It depends on the look you want but always start with the leave-in conditioner.
What's important: Immediately follow it with Heat Seeker Protecting Spray if you are blow drying or iron styling.
- First apply Nourish Leave-In Conditioner and a moisturizing lotion or Heat Seeker Protecting Spray
- When you want sexy volume, apply Light Styling Foam to the roots only, then blow dry
- When setting, smoothing or iron curling, apply styling products like foams or hair lotions from roots to ends
- Apply a hairdressing at the scalp if desired
- When styling is completed, use Motions spray sheens, pomades or hairdressings to detail, finish and add shine
How to Inhibit Reversion
Product Recommendation: Original Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion
Working out is great for you body, not so fabulous for your hair. If you perspire when you exercise, combat reversion upfront with an anti-humectant.
What works: Try working out just before shampoo time.
- Clip your hair away from your face, but not too tightly
- If you use a headband, make certain it's made from soft, absorbent cotton or silk
- After exercising, towel blot your hairline gently, then smooth hair while applying Original Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion or a hairdressing
Curl-up Quick
Product Recommendation: Light Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion
When you want to add a little oomph to your style, reach for a curling iron and try these quick tips.
What's modern: Have 2 or 3 irons in different sizes, so you can mix it up.
- First, work through Heat Seeker Protecting Spray and Light Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion before you blow dry, press or flat iron hair
- Take a section and begin curling at the nape
- Insert the iron half an inch from the scalp, hold, then turn it to feed in the ends
- Place a comb at the base, between the iron and the scalp, if you need to protect your scalp
- Control the ends! Put a tiny amount of Light Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion on your fingertips and use them to smooth the ends over the barrel. You can also use end papers
- For a speedy style, flip up ends only. Or, hold the iron vertically and add a few spirals
- Finish by smoothing ends and strays
Show Off Long, Curly Locks with Styling Smarts
Product Recommendation: Oil-Free Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion
If you have long hair that's naturally curly, never rub hair with a towel. Shake it out with your fingers, then get ready to style.
What gets things going: Work Oil-Free Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion through by hand.
- After shaking out your hair, divide it into four sections
- Take small subsections, and fingercomb through a dime-sized amount of Oil-Free Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion
- As the curl softens, shake or scrunch the section
- Repeat on each subsection
- Let hair air dry partially before blow drying
- Always use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer
Extend the Life of a Straw Set
Product Recommendation: Moisture Enhancing Hairdressing
Shorter hair and naturals look sassy with a straw set but not if it droops or frizzes after a few days.
What's cool: Get hair deep conditioned in the salon before your professional straw set. Curls will look healthier.
- Check coils for any fuzzies or debris before slipping on a sleep cap
- Keep room temperatures cool so your scalp doesn't sweat at night
- In the a.m., take a pea-sized amount of Moisture Enhancing Hairdressing, rub it between your palms and palm roll coils to refresh them
- Spray with a light oil to keep hair moist, such as Marula Natural Therapy Hair and Scalp Oil
Roller Setting the Right Way
Product Recommendation: Weightless Clear Hairdressing
Hairdressings help maintain roller-set styles, while adding shine. If you set your hair first, smooth Weightless Clear Hairdressing over the surface to finish.
What's sensible: Pre-planning the direction you want your hair to move.
- Divide your hair into 4 or 5 sections
- Take subsections for rollers
- Never take partings wider than the roller's diameter
- For volume, position the roller directly between two partings
- Turn the roller under for hair that turns under
- Direct rollers straight back for off-the-face styles
- Use zigzag partings, not straight lines, if you want hair to blend with no "splits"
Avoid Frizzies and Flyaways in Any Weather
Product Recommendations: Hair and Scalp Conditioner and D.P.T. Deep Penetrating Treatment
Dry indoor heat can cause flyaways, while humidity causes hair to frizz.
What's proactive: Use Hair and Scalp Conditioner and D.P.T. Deep Penetrating Treatment to inhibit tress troublemakers before they appear.
How to Create a Perfect Wrap
Product Recommendations: Foaming Wrap Lotion - Regular Hold and Foaming Wrap Lotion - Extra Firm Hold
To do the wrap, smooth your hair around your head in a single direction. Use Foaming Wrap Lotion - Extra Firm Hold, and the style will last as long as a week.
What adds extra volume: Wrap rollers in a single direction just on top and hold them in place with a net during drying.
- After shampooing, mist-on Nourish Leave-In Conditioner or comb an oil moisturizer through hair
- Use a wide-toothed comb and direct all your hair down from a central point on top
- Comb through a generous amount of Foaming Wrap Lotion - Regular Hold or Foaming Wrap Lotion - Extra Firm Hold, depending on your style needs
- Using a rattail comb, begin at the crown and comb hair clockwise
- Continue combing and smoothing, as you work across the front
- Strive to create a cone shape and work around your head, combing hair so it "wraps" around in a circular pattern
- Re-smooth the top and front hairline, then secure with wrap sticks or long hair pins
- Dry under a hooded dryer or slip on a scarf and let dry overnight
Flat Iron with Finesse
Product Recommendation: Heat Seeker Protecting Spray
Today's high-tech flat irons can straighten any curl pattern but they require careful use.
What's tricky: Irons heat up to 450-degrees but even the curliest of hair doesn't need that much heat. Get an iron with a thermostat control and use the lowest setting to do the job, usually 380- to 400-degrees Fahrenheit.
- Always start with Heat Seeker Protecting Spray, misted-on all over hair
- Take partings about the size of the base of the flat iron
- Partings should be clean, straight and fine - don't take too much hair at once
- Use a slow, pulling motion to get a smoothing, silkening effect
- Re-mist each section with Heat Seeker Protecting Spray as you work
- Do the area closest to the scalp twice, then pull the iron down the strands
- Flick up ends a bit; don't pull the iron straight down. Hair will look more bodified
- Finish with a hairdress or a sheen spray
Make a Quick Day-to-Night Style Change
Product Recommendation: Sculpt & Twist Molding Crème
Look sophisticated by day, sassy or sultry at night by mastering the art of the style shift.
What's fun: Using hair accessories to spark up a hairstyle after a long day.
- For instant volume on relaxed hair, part off the front near the recesses, brush hair straight back, hold behind the crown and push forward a bit. Then slip in a jeweled hair clip
- Spiral a ribbon through your natural coils. Just one or two on the heavy side of an asymmetrical style looks balanced. Or, add a single, side braid for a fresh change
- Use Sculpt & Twist Molding Crème to create new, subtle details. It's got holding power, but is flexible enough to play around with in case your change your mind
- Apply a small amount to your fingertips and bend your hair as you like. Pinch ends to add separation, break-up or side sweep a fringe. Curve the sides of a bob onto your face
- Change your part from one side to the other. Suddenly, hair looks new!
Transition Your Hair with Ease
Product Recommendation: Smoothing Shine Serum
Transitioning from relaxed to natural? How long it'll take depends on your hair's length and condition, and how much you're willing to cut.
What's essential: Mist hair with water to determine the line of demarcation between natural roots and relaxed hair.
- If your relaxed hair is damaged, consider a loose weave when transitioning
- Ask your professional stylist about straw sets and different types of twists. They can make the two textures look similar, while hair grows out
- Deep condition every time you shampoo
- Never put stress on the line of demarcation. Keep hair well moisturized and use Smoothing Shine Serum before and after styling
- Roller set your hair, adding more tension when you reach the natural texture
- Use hard plastic rollers; spongy ones absorb moisture from your hair
- Do not use heat to straighten natural curl to match relaxed hair. Ask your stylist for options, including one of the new short cuts
Look Put Together Every Day
Product Recommendation: Oil Sheen & Conditioning Spray
To help your hair look more polished and salon fresh every day, pay extra attention to details.
What stands out: How ends look.
- Use a hand mirror to check your hair from every angle
- After styling, use pomade or Oil Sheen & Conditioning Spray to smooth your hairline
- Hold the can 10 to 12 inches from your head and mist-on evenly, then smooth ends and edges
- Add extra spray or a touch of pomade to your fingertips and smooth any edges, frizzes or flyaways
Make the Most of Your Bangs
Product Recommendation: Light Hold Working Spritz
Bangs or even a partial fringe can make your style so much more flexible.
What's hot: New fringes that are cut around your brows, rounded out to frame them or angled from left to right.
- Long bangs are the most versatile because you can slick them back, sweep them to one side or tuck them behind your ears
- For bold, blunt fringes, keep the edge sharp by combing straight down and misting on Light Hold Working Spritz
- Use the working spritz to detail ends of bangs. Pinch them to create separation, hold them to the side with a comb while they dry for a soft sweep or add air flow from your blower to direct them any which way
Fingerwave Your Way to Gorgeous
Product Recommendation: Shine Enhancing Pomade
Only your stylist can create a head full of Hollywood-worth waves, but with a little practice, you can create a fingerwave or two at the side for a modern take on the look.
What makes it easier: A friend to lend a hand.
- Comb Light Styling Foam through damp hair and follow with Shine Enhancing Pomade
- Starting at the part, create the open end of a wave with comb. Comb in a "C" or half-moon shape that curves off and away from the part, then toward your face
- Place your index finger at the bottom of the curve, then use the comb to push in a the ridge underneath your finger
- Put your middle finger on the center of the ridge and move your index finger below it. Here's where a friend helps
- Now, comb hair away from the ridge, moving in the opposite direction as before
- Practice makes perfect. Try making one big side wave to start
Give Hair a Break From Heat Styling
Product Recommendation: Marula Natural Therapy Hair Strengthening Moisturizer
Daily heat styling can take its toll on fragile, relaxed or curly hair. Keep it strong with Marula Natural Therapy Hair Strengthening Moisturizer, and give it a break once in a while.
What's well advised: If you have to look a certain way at the office, skip heat styling on weekends.
- On Friday night, shampoo your hair, work through Marula Natural Therapy Hair Strengthening Moisturizer and twist it up. Pin in place, then let big braids or twists dry naturally
- Enhance your wet-setting skills - ask your stylist to show you how to wet set hair at home
- Learn some slick tricks with a silk scarf and cover your hair for a day
- Get a salon style that lasts at least a week
How to Do a Perfect Comb-Out
Product Recommendation: Marula Natural Therapy Hair Treatment Balm
Part of restoring your hair's healthy shine is to use treatment products and roller set your hair when you can. Now, you just have to master the comb-out.
What's clever: Just follow the lines of the set when you brush out curls.
- After brushing, dry-mold hair by retracing the lines of the set with a comb
- Add backcombing if desired, then make certain you connect all the lines so the shapes from the rollers blend well
- Smooth over the surface, especially if you added any backcombing
- Use a rattail comb to define lines or strategic areas
- Smooth with a pomade such as Marula Natural Therapy Hair Treatment Balm or use Oil Sheen & Conditioning Spray, paying attention to edges and your hairline
How to Keep Relaxed Hair Healthy
Product Recommendation: Marula Natural Therapy Hair and Scalp Oil
Anytime you get a chemical service, ask your stylist what your hair needs to stay healthy.
What's natural: Add protein if hair is weak and replenish moisture if it's dry.
- Follow your stylist's advice on how often you should get a relaxer touch-up. Don't try to sneak one in at home
- Even if you want to grow your hair, get regular trims. Cutting off just ¼-inch keep ends healthier looking
- Get regular deep-conditioning treatments
- Any time your hair feels brittle or scalp feels dry, mist-on Marula Natural Therapy Hair and Scalp Oil for added moisture and shine
How to Loosen Up Your Natural
Product Recommendation: Hair and Scalp Daily Moisturizing Hairdressing
Versatile naturals can be styled for any type of curl. The size of the rollers determines the curl size.
What helps: Apply Motions Hair and Scalp Daily Moisturizing Hairdressing and curls will last up to several days.
- If desired, press your hair or smooth it with a flat iron
- Iron curl hair for an evening look
- Twist or braid hair and sleep on it overnight for long-lasting spirals
- Or, apply a light gel, braid your hair, then unbraid it when dry
- Mist long hair with heat-protecting spray and set on rods for carefree curls
- The tighter the curl, the longer your look will last
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