Have you ever wanted to defined, bouncy, volumized curls?  Do products leave your hair dry, stiff or crunchy?  The S~Factor Technique was developed by naani’s naturals to address the curl concerns of people with types 3, 4 and 5 hair.  This article will help you understand how to use naani products and maximize your curls.

Curls…it's all about layering.  The reason why the No-Poo method is so popular is because it avoids stripping natural oil (sebum) and some product remnants from our hair.  Where OTC shampoos have a tendency to over-cleanse and strip hair, the No-Poo ideology works on the premise that a lil' build-up more closely mimics our hair's natural state.  After all, our hair naturally produces an oil called sebum which encourages growth, seals and protects.  The S~Factor Technique relies on this basic principle to layer our products in a way that Sections, Seals and Separates your curls.

Products Needed
1 ~ 9oz Aromatherapy Sulfates Free Moisturizing Shampoo
1 ~ 9oz Aromatherapy S~Factor Herbal Deep Conditioner
1 ~ 16-32oz Curly Custard Maximum Definition Hairdress
1 ~ 16-32oz Aromatherapy Moisturizing Aloe Vera Jelly or Gelly

Oil and Moisture Phases
After shampooing, towel-dry, then air-dry or blow-dry your hair briefly.  Your hair should be ever-so-slightly damp but not completely dry because you will be adding moisture back in during the Seal phase.  You should think of this process in terms of Oil and Water.  Contrary to popular belief, the two actually do mix.  For us, the oil will be in the form of Curly Custard.  The Custard will work to penetrate your hair shaft and strengthen it from the inside out.  It will smoothe your hairs' cuticle which will reduce frizziness and susceptibility to damage.  

Next we will add water in the form of Aloe Vera.  The Aloe will seal in the Curly Custard by coating it and preventing it from wearing away.  It will work to further separate and define your curly sections while moisturizing your hair.  With these two building blocks, oil (natural butters that best mimic sebum) and water (aloe vera which is a natural humectant/moisturizer), we have the foundating for healthier, stronger, longer growing hair.  The Steps for Type 3-4 are as follows…

To achieve Separation, Sexy, Shiny, Silky S~Curls on Type 3-4 Hair, We Will…
Step 1: S~ection your hair with clips, braids, plaits, etc...

Step 2: S~moothe Curly Custard on your hair.

Step 3: S~eal your curls with Aloe Vera.

Step 4: S~quish the sections to fully incorporate the aloe.

Step 5: S~eparate the sections using a plucking, pulling motion or finger-combing.

Step 6: S~culpt your style

Step 7: S~et  your style.

Step 8: S~leep  properly to preserve your style.

Step 1: Section
We will begin by Sectioning your hair.  The more trouble you have with clumping, curl definition and separation, the more sections you'll need.  You can section your hair by securing areas with clips, braiding, plaiting or just naturally sectioning as you work your way from the back of your head to the front by grabbing small sections of loose hair at a time (the best technique for those with 4a-b hair).

Step 2: Smoothe
Apply Curly Custard to the first section being sure to Smoothe the product through the hair repeatedly from root to tip.  The smoothing motion will incorporate the product while encouraging curl definition.  How much Curly Custard you use will depend on your degree of curl.  Repeat on each section.

Step 3: Seal
Once you have Sectioned and Smoothed, you will now Seal.  The sealing step is important because it will add further definition to your curls.  Where the smoothing step clumped your hair together, this step is sort of like a wet set that seals in the Curly Custard and will give you a more finished look by further separating your curls and preserving your style.  You will be sealing your hair with naani's naturals More Frizzies Aloe Vera Jelly or Gelly.

The difference between the Gelly and Jelly is in the degree of hold.  The Jelly is also alcohol and paraben free.  The more resistent your hair is to clumping or curl definition, the more you will benefit from using the Gelly.  Although the Gelly contains denatured alcohol, it is non-dryiing and will enable even the most Africentric hair types to achieve separation and curl definition with this technique.

We will use the Gelly or Jelly to coat your curl sections.  The aloe will work like a traditional styling gel to set your curls without leaving your hair dry, hard or crunchy.  The more aloe you use during the coating process, the more separation you will achieve.  Aloe dries fast and is a natural humectant that moisturizes so don't be shy with it.  Coating involves applying the product to top and underside of each section without the aid of finger combing.  
To start coating, take an ample amount of the Aloe Vera Gelly or Jelly on your fingertips. Glide the aloe from root to tip on the first section.  Repeat on the next section until you have finished your entire head.

It's important to not that if you completed the Smoothing step without the aid of clips, you will need to envision that your hair is sectioned off in order to coat.  Starting at the nape of your neck, gently separate a section of hair.  Coat the underside with the aloe from root to tip, coat the top.  Gently separate another section.  Coat the top and bottom.  Repeat on different sections until you completed your entire head.

Step 4: Squish
Once you have coated, we will begin Squishing.  The purpose of this step is to make sure that all of the hairs are coated with the aloe.  Squishing is different from scrunching.  Typically when you think "scrunching," it involves mashing your hair together and up towards your head.  Instead of mashing, I want you to clamp your fingers together in the same moition you'd make if you had a sock puppet on your hand.  If you are working with smaller sections, you will be squishing your forefinger and thumb together.  Now Squish your way down each section from root to tip incorporating the aloe.

Step 5: Separate
Next we need to Separate our curls.  In some cases, you will need to go through your hair and Separate the curls by finger-combing or plucking and pulling individual sections out and up.  Whether you pluck or finger-comb is tricky because we've already Sectioned our hair.  Depending on our curl type, finger-combing can actually disrupt the section and destroy all of our work. 

What I've discovered is that in following this technique, finger-combing is best left to those with Type 3 (and some 4a) hair.  Reason being, Type 3's have greater curl discernment and the act of finger combing can actually work to smooth frizzies, separate and elongate curls.  For all others, pluck and pull the sections apart.  

Step 6: Sculpt
Regardless of whether you finger-comb or pluck, Sculpt your hair style as desired.  This is the step where you will add any parts or special styling flourishes that are best achieved on damp hair.  In some cases, you may need to reverse steps 6 and 7 if you prefer to set your hair (dry it), then style.

Step 7: Set
Finally, we Set our hair which is still damp due to the addition of the aloe.  I prefer air drying.  The aloe, as long as you didn't over do it, will dry relatively quickly.  If you're under time constraints, I recommend using a dryer on as low a heat setting as possible.  The addition of heat can break the Seal if you're not careful.

Step 8: Sleep
4a-b clients in particular, to preserve your style, sleep with a satin scarf, pillow or head covering.  The following day, repeat the Seal step.  You may have to Seal (coat) and Squish and Separate (pluck) simultaneously to reinvigorate flattened areas but your bread and butter will be the aloe...trust me.  You will only need to repeat the Smoothe(Curly Custard) step if you want to layer your products further which increases definition, combat dryness or add sheen.  And don't worry, these products are light and non-greasy.  You'll be amazed at how soft and touchable your hair will be even with layering.

Recap, to achieve Separation, Sexy, Shiny, Silky S~Curls on Type 5 Hair....
Step 1: S~ection your hair with clips, braids, plaits, etc...

Step 2: S~moothe Curly Custard on your hair.

Step 3: S~eal your curls with Aloe Vera.

Step 4: S~quish the sections to fully incorporate the aloe.

Step 5: S~eparate the sections using a plucking, pulling motion or finger-combing.

Step 6: S~culpt your style

Step 7: S~et  your style.

Step 8: S~leep  properly to preserve your style.
 
Achieving Curl Discernment with Type 5 and Combination Hair
According to naani's hair typing system, Type 5 hair is best suited for structured hair styles like braids, coils, dreadlocks and twists because they force individual strands to work together.  Such styles protect Type 5 hair, make it easier for natural oils our hair produces to work its way throughout the hair and limit styling damage.  But what happens when Type 5's want to accentuate their s/z/o-curls?  We will operate on our known premise that structred hair styles work best.  In this case, we rely on two-strand twists as our foundation.

To achieve Separation, Sexy, Shiny, Silky S~Curls on Type 5 Hair....
Step 1: S~ection your hair with clips, braids, plaits, etc...

Step 2: S~moothe Curly Custard on your hair.

Step 3: S~ection your hair with two strand twists or braids...

Step 4: S~eal your curls with Aloe Vera.

Step 5: S~quish the twisted sections to fully incorporate the aloe.

Step 6: S~et  your style.

Step 7: S~eparate the twists by unraveling.  Then using a plucking or pulling motion, further separate the sections.

Step 8: S~culpt your style

Step 9: S~leep  properly to preserve your style.

In step 1, we Sectioned our hair.  In step 2, we Smoothed.  In the case of Type 5 hair, we're going to repeat step 1.  In other words, Section, Smooth, Section.  We follow steps 1 and 2 according to the above directions for types 3-4 but after we have smoothed the first section of hair, we are going to plait or two-strand twist it.  The structure of the two-strand twist will encourage Type 5 hair strands to work together and increase curl discernment.  

Keep in mind that the we don't want the twisted sections to be too big, but we also don't want them to be too small as we're going to be unraveling them later.  The twists are merely temporary so you dont have to worry about them being perfect but the more twists you have, the more curls you'll end up with.

After we have sectioned, smoothed and sectioned (twisted) our hair, we will proceed to step 4, Seal.  We will apply the aloe directly to the twists being sure to coat the top and undersides. Next, we will Squish the twists and fully incorporate the aloe.

Step 6 will be to allow the twists to air or heat Set.  Type 5 hair is the reverse of Types 3 and 4.  Once dry, we want to keep type 5 dry until we have to layer and start the process all over again.  And unlike the other types, we should use heat to set Type 5.  In this case, put your dryer on a medium setting.

Once our twists are completely dry, we will Separate them.  Unravel the twists gently.  At no point will you finger comb.  Finish separating all of your twists.  

Step 8 involves Sculpting our hair style.  To increase the volume of your curls, further separate the twists by pulling the clumped sections apart.

Finally Step 9 is about preserving your style while you Sleep.  Be sure to sleep with a satin scarf, bonnet or pillow case.  In the morning, separate (pluck) to reinvigorate flattened areas.  Avoid finger-combing.

Recap, to achieve Separation, Sexy, Shiny, Silky S~Curls on Type 5 Hair....
Step 1: S~ection your hair with clips, braids, plaits, etc...

Step 2: S~moothe Curly Custard on your hair.

Step 3: S~ection your hair with two strand twists or braids...

Step 4: S~eal your curls with Aloe Vera.

Step 5: S~quish the twisted sections to fully incorporate the aloe.

Step 6: S~et  your style.

Step 7: S~eparate the twists by unraveling.  Then using a plucking or pulling motion, further separate the sections.

Step 8: S~culpt your style

Step 9: S~leep  properly to preserve your style.

Ready to Maximize Your Curls?
If you're ready to maximize your curls, what are you waiting for?  Get started by purchasing the following products individually or Save 15% when you order the Type 3-4 MaxiKurl Kit or Type 5 MaxiKurlKit.

Products Needed
1 ~ 9oz Aromatherapy Sulfates Free Moisturizing Shampoo
1 ~ 9oz Aromatherapy S~Factor Herbal Deep Conditioner
1 ~ 16-32oz Curly Custard Maximum Definition Hairdress
1 ~ 16-32oz Aromatherapy Moisturizing Aloe Vera Jelly or Gelly