Whether you’re wavy or tightly coiled, the way in which you apply your moisturizer can make all the difference between a so-so or fabulous hair day. Most of us know that we should apply product in sections in order to achieve even distribution and results. But how do you determine the ‘right’ size for your section? The next time you style your hair, try this simple method and, we promise, you’ll be amazed at the results:
- Section off the crown of your hair, leaving the lower layer all the way around the base of your head exposed.
- From that lower layer of hair, create one more section, leaving the front-most portion by your ear loose and separated from the rest of your hair.
- If needed, spritz this section with water, even if you just stepped out of the shower. Before you apply your moisturizer, your hair should be saturated with water, but not sopping wet. Keep it that way by misting as needed as you work your way through the sections.
- Rake a nourishing moisturizer through that large, loose section. Not sure which Moxie moisturizer is right for you? Take our Hair Type Quiz to get personalized product recommendations. Your moisturizer should melt into your hair, giving you a feeling of ‘oneness’ between hair and product. Anything less means your moisturizer is not penetrating into your hair shaft and cannot plump, pop, and set the curl. You know you’ve applied enough of the right moisturizer when you start to see the hair grouping together in families or ‘ribbons’.
- Apply a defining product, like Hold Up Defining Serum, to that same section. This will lock in and set your natural texture.
- Now here’s the important part: working in much smaller sections (of no more than 1″ at a time), rake the product through again and, as those ribbons appear within that smaller section, take each one, wrap it one time around your index finger and pull through, smoothing all the way down to the end of the ribbon. The individual ribbons should be very small – no more than 1/8″ in width. Give it a small flick/tug before releasing to set the wave or curl. If you see the hair start to lose definition right away, your ribbon is probably too large. Separate it further until the ribbon stays together on its own.
- Repeat this throughout your hair, working around the perimiter in a crown pattern until all of your hair has been ribboned and defined.
- We recommend diffuse drying your curls or using a hood dryer to set. Using a diffuser helps to distribute heat evenly, which helps to maintain curl formation and reduce frizz. A hood dryer is another excellent option, as it provides consistent heat that helps to lock in moisture while drying your curls uniformly.
Because this method meets your texture where it lives, rather than clumping it in overly large groupings, the definition is much more long-lasting. You’re also training your hair to form into it’s natural growth pattern, which means definition occurs more naturally each time you do it.
For the volume-challenged, this also maximizes lift and fullness. Try it for yourself (or schedule a Styling Tutorial at our shop in Ypsilanti)! We promise you won’t be disappointed.