The Philosophy Behind STEPS: Form, Motion and Gloss
Every hairstyle begins with an idea. Before technique and product come into play, there is a creative intention: a vision of shape, movement, texture and finish. These choices determine how hair looks, moves and expresses personality.
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND STEPS: FORM, MOTION AND GLOSS
With STEPS, Natural Original introduces a creative collection built around this way of thinking. Developed from the artistic vision of International Art Director Andrius Mašauskas, STEPS explores how three fundamental elements — Form, Motion and Gloss — can be used to build and refine a look. Rather than putting products at the centre, STEPS starts with creativity and connects the desired result to technique, effect and product.
Hair as visual architecture
For Andrius Mašauskas, hair is a material that can be shaped with precision and purpose. Shape, proportion, structure, movement and balance all contribute to the final expression of a hairstyle. Changing one element can influence the entire composition. This philosophy forms the foundation of STEPS. Styling becomes part of the design process, with Form, Motion and Gloss representing three different ways of influencing the hair and creating the desired expression.
FORM: Building shape and structure
Form creates the foundation of a hairstyle. It determines the silhouette, gives direction to the hair and provides structure and definition. Depending on the desired result, form can be strong and clearly defined or subtle enough to support the hair’s natural character. Within STEPS, products associated with Form become creative tools for building structure, control and shape. The desired result always comes first.
MOTION: Creating movement and expression
Where Form provides structure, Motion brings hair to life. Movement creates softness, flexibility and texture and changes the way a hairstyle behaves. By working with the natural qualities of the hair, professionals can determine how much movement and freedom a look needs. Within STEPS, technique and product work together to create movement that supports the overall composition.
GLOSS: Refining the finish
Gloss influences the way light interacts with the hair. It can emphasise shape, enhance colour and texture and create anything from a subtle natural reflection to a highly polished finish. Within STEPS, Gloss is therefore more than a finishing touch. It is a conscious design element that helps complete the relationship between shape, movement, texture and light.
From creative vision to product
STEPS changes the order in which we think about styling. Instead of starting with a product, the process begins with the desired look. From there, the professional determines which effects are needed and which products can help create them. This creates a natural connection between look, effect and product. Products become creative tools rather than isolated solutions, giving professionals greater freedom to combine Form, Motion and Gloss within a single hairstyle.
Three elements, endless possibilities
The strength of Form, Motion and Gloss lies in the way they interact. A defined shape can be softened by movement, texture can be enhanced by the right finish and gloss can strengthen the architecture of a carefully constructed form. Over the coming weeks, we will explore the STEPS signature looks and reveal how these three elements are translated into effects, techniques and products. Together, they represent the Natural Original approach to professional styling: creative vision first, with the right tools to bring that vision to life.
