THE MMARA 7
BUILDING A ROUTINE
No matter where you are on your hair journey, figuring out what your hair needs is challenging! The MMARA 7™ serves as a template that addresses various techniques to help you achieve your healthiest hair. Best of all, this routine can be used by EVERYONE. Once you’ve learned the MMARA 7™, take our quiz for curated ingredient recommendations and then simply select a product from our shop for each step!
Step 1: SCALP CARE
Say what? Isn’t washing enough? Well, that all depends on how often and how well you do it. A healthy scalp is integral to supporting healthy hair and yet it is often ignored. Each hair comes from an individual follicle on the scalp. Along with the hair, follicles contain sebaceous glands which produce sebum (your natural hair oil). Naturally, your hair is set up to keep itself moisturized; however, our environment, hair products and infrequent cleansing can result in blocked or clogged follicles. When blocked, the follicle struggles to produce your healthiest hair possible. While the scalp massage during shampooing may be enough for some people to keep their follicles free and clear, others may need more exfoliation to support healthy hair growth.
Step 2: CLEANSING
Whether your hair is natural, texlaxed, relaxed, dyed or otherwise, water is actually your best friend! One of the best ways to inject moisture (a.k.a water) into your hair is when you shampoo it. Did you know if you are washing your hair less than once a week you probably need more moisture! Washing at least once a week helps keep your hair’s moisture in check by exposing it to water regularly and also by stripping away pore clogging buildup! But not all shampoos are created equal and not all shampoos are for everyone. With the MMARA quiz, you can find the right shampoo based on your hair type.
Step 3: CONDITIONING
Other than washing regularly, conditioning is the next most critical step to keeping your hair’s moisture and protein in balance. When we wash the hair, we strip away oils, dirt and other build up that has accumulated on our scalp, leaving our hair shaft in need of attention, and thats where conditioning comes in! Conditioning gives your hair back the moisture or protein it needs to thrive. Now, we all know there are conditioners for days and much like shampoo, not every conditioner will work. Because conditioners (even more so than shampoos) are likely to contain varying levels of protein, this step is one of the most critical to get right.
Step 4: STRENGTHENING
While most women are aware of the need to maintain a certain level of moisture for optimal hair health, the need for protein to balance the moisture tends to be forgotten. Fortunately, hair product manufacturers ARE aware of the importance of maintaining a balance between moisture and protein and generally put both moisturizing agents and protein sources in formulations across categories, from shampoos to conditioners to moisturizers. This is good because it means that without trying our hair is getting some of what it needs. However, too much or too little protein can negatively impact your hair’s health, creating a number of challenges. And when protein is in many different products, it can be hard to customize the amount you need for your hair. So this step is not just about including protein, but also understanding how much and what types of protein work best for your hair.
Step 5: MOISTURIZING
Didn’t we just talk about moisture in Step 2? Yes, we did. It’s so critical, we talk about it all throughout the 7 steps. While washing weekly and following with a conditioner (rapid, deep and/or leave in) help boost moisture, using a moisturizer between washes will help make sure daily manipulation and exposure doesn’t dry out your hair. In our community, this is usually where grease or mineral oil tend to wrongfully insert themselves.
Step 6: TREATMENTS
As you learn more about your hair and how it reacts to the right products, your hair challenges and needs will change. Treatments should be used as a boost to one of the 7 steps (e.g., hot oil treatment for extra moisture) or to help treat a specific issue (e.g., scalp treatment to combat dandruff). Pick the treatments that are right for you when you need them. Here are some of the most popular treatments to considering incorporating into your routine:
Hot Oil Treatment – Used on their own or sometimes added to conditioners, hot oil treatments help nourish and add extra moisture to hair.
Gloss Treatment – A temporary treatment that adds extra shine and conditioning (and sometimes color) by smoothing the cuticles along the hair shaft.
Hair Masks – From off the shelf to homemade recipes, hair masks can treat a plethora of issues including, thinning hair, dandruff, dullness, frizz, hair growth and hair damage.
Curl Treatments – Typically, ultra moisturizing formulations to help restore and define curls.
Deep Conditioners – While we advocate for weekly conditioning, some women prefer or simply choose not to. Deep conditioners can be a treatment for women that fall in that category, giving your hair a moisture boost when needed.
Steam Treatment – Used with or without product, steam treatments can help boost moisture and improve elasticity by aiding in the absorption of conditioners and support scalp health by unclogging follicles.
Step 7: STYLING
Much like treatments, styling products will vary. No matter what products you use, technique matters most. Some products can help protect your hair from the rigors of styling while others will help you achieve your desire look. Some of the most popular styling products include: heat protectant sprays, hair glosses, edge control gels/creams, oils, balms, lotions and curl definition creams. Whatever products you choose, just be mindful of their ingredients and how they interact with your hair.
What makes the MMARA 7™ unique is not only finding out the perfect products for your hair, but knowing how and when to use them. While the steps are the same for all of us, the products and frequency of use will vary based on your hair’s unique makeup. Take the MMARA™ quiz to get product recommendations and a curated routine!