Celebrity stylist and Motions global brand ambassador Ursula Stephen discusses Rihanna, hair care and her keys to beauty with rolling out.
How long have you been with Motions and what made you decide to partner with them?
I’ve been with Motions for the last four years now. Well, they actually came and found me, which I am so grateful for. They loved Rihanna’s haircuts and all her ever-changing hairstyles. They sought after me and found me and offered me to be to global brand ambassador for Motions and I was like, of course, yes. Of course I will do it. I love to talk about hair. I love to educate people on hair care products and styles. I thought it was amazing.
How user friendly is it? Can I buy Motions, take it home and do my own hair and look like Rihanna when I leave the house?
Of course you can. Well, I can’t promise you’re going to look like Rihanna but your hair is going to be amazing. The big thing about Motions, it’s at home hair care. I think that every woman needs to invest in at home hair care because at the end of the day, you spend more time with your hair than your hairstylist does. You don’t want to go home and mess up what she did. You want to go home and keep it going. So, yes, it is definitely a great at home hair care product.
How do you stay relevant in the black community?
Doing things like this. We’re always reaching out in the community and making sure our message is heard and people know about the products so we’re always around. I’m always around, yes.
What are three secrets to Rihanna’s style that no one knows about?
Three secrets? Not giving up. Just really doing her. She does her. We don’t really, she nor I, we don’t think about it. We don’t try do something to make everybody say oh. We actually just do what we feel like doing. That’s it. When we get bored we change it. We don’t let a hairstyle define our personality. We actually wear the hairstyle and make sure that we feel comfortable. I think it’s just about her confidence and not really caring, just doing her.
Did you style Rihanna for the American Music Awards?
Yes, I did.
Now was that planned?
That was planned in Rihanna’s head, not mine. When I got to work I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet because we hadn’t really spoken about it. When I got there she showed me what she wanted to do and I was like a doobie. She was like yeah. I was like oh, OK. Trust me I fought her on it and I did not want to do it. It was all her idea and after a while I stopped fighting her because I realized that she could pull anything off and when we did it was a hit. So she was right.
Most people are afraid to touch their hair. Cutting it, colors or just trying something new.
I think it is really a shame when a woman is afraid to try something new with her hair. It’s bad because it’s holding you back. Everyone knows there is a saying all around the world, “a haircut will change your life” and it absolutely will. At least one time in your life you’ve got to take that chance and do something different with your hair. You have to.
For the average working woman at home, how does she know if a new cut will change her life? Maybe she doesn’t have the face shape. How do we know what works for us?
That’s why you really have to consult with a professional stylist. Sit down with somebody let them know what you like, what your needs are, your lifestyle. You don’t want to get a hairstyle that you can’t upkeep. It’s a matter of really consulting with somebody that can help you to get there.
Have you had anyone stop you mid cut?
Yes! Don’t take me there, please. Don’t bring me back to that moment. Yes, it still happens. When you want to do a new look you have to be ready. You can’t ask your girlfriend. You can’t ask your boyfriend. Not too many opinions. It has to be something you are ready to do. If you have to think about it too much, then you ain’t ready.
How many clients bring in pictures of Rihanna, Beyoncé?
All of them. All of them bring pictures in.
Have you ever had to tell them this isn’t going to work for you?
I mean you have to be realistic with your client. At the end of the day you see artists and they look perfect and beautiful that’s because they have somebody like me standing right there to fix it. So that’s the reality of it. You have to know that’s not going to happen for you. So when you decide to something new a short haircut a new look you always have to consider your lifestyle, your budget, your personality and take what they’re doing and make it your own.
A little birdie told me that you’ve been working with Ms. Tiara Thomas.
Yes, I have worked with Tiara Thomas.
What do you do when you’re developing a new style for an artist?
When I’m developing a new style for an artist a lot of different things are coming into play. They’re a new artist. The label wants them to look a certain way. They want to look a certain way. So it’s a lot of compromise going on. With new artists you don’t want to jump into it with all this crazy hair. You want to kind of start slow. So it’s a build. We’re still trying to figure out what her look is. So it’s a build. It’s definitely a build.
For everyday women out there, I need five don’ts to haircare.
Don’t flat iron your hair every day. It does not need to be silky and smooth and straight or super perfect every single day.
Don’t forget to condition. It is very important as African American women. We have naturally dry hair. We have to always push moisture back in all the time.
Don’t wear a pony tail every day. You won’t have any edges.
Don’t abuse one hairstyle. When it comes to braids, weaves, ponytails and blow outs switch it up because when you start abusing a hairstyle that also causes breakage. Girls are wearing installations but they’re leaving the middle out or the side out. So when you continuously wear that middle part. That middle part is going to break off. So you have all this growth under your braids but this part is going to be broken off. So don’t abuse hairstyles.
Don’t be afraid of color but do up the ante up on conditioners, treatments and at home haircare.
Have you seen any cuts lately that you’re kind of like, I don’t know about that?
No, I’m actually happy with what I’m seeing right now. I’m pleased.
Do you think it would be a good idea to start with a short wig before you make a change?
Absolutely, it’s always a great option if you want to do a short haircut and you’ve never done it before. Go to the wig store and try on a few wigs. It doesn’t hurt. Try it before you make the plunge because you have to be ready for it. It’s a new look and seeing it on a celebrity or in a magazine it looks great but when you actually get a short haircut it’s a different feeling than just seeing it.
Give your three keys to beauty?
Don’t follow a trend. Just because it’s a trend does not mean it’s for you.
Hair should move. I don’t care what hairstyle you’re wearing. Your hair should be soft and touchable.
Do you. Do you.
Is that your motto?
Yes, it’s my motto. It’s Motions motto. You have to do you. You have to feel great when you look at yourself in the mirror. So you have to do you. Don’t do it for anybody else.
