The P.O.S.H. Life (Pursuit of Strength & Health)

Its the dead heat of summer and P.O.S.H. knows you are looking for ways to keep your tresses looking shiny, healthy, and beautiful. Any hair combing, brushing, straightening, or blow drying has the potential to weaken hair. Your hair grows the fastest during the warm summer months. P.O.S.H. has tips to help keep your hair strong and healthy, encourage hair growth, and to prevent breakage during the summer months. These tips apply whether you are relaxed or natural. Let your hair soak up that summer sun girl!!

1. Keep your hair Clean - With increased heat, our bodies and scalp tend to sweat more . As our bodies sweat, so does our scalp. Increased sweat contains salt which dries out the hair and scalp and can make the scalp feel "dirty". So, during the summer, it might be best to increase the number of washes from once a week to two or three times a week and allow it to air-dry.

2. Try Co-Washing - This means washing your hair with conditioner. Shampoo can be very harsh on your hair and even the most moisturizing shampoos can dry the hair out. Every other wash try just cleaning your hair with conditioner. Trust us, your hair will be just as beautiful, shiny and strong as if you used shampoo.

4. Condition, Condition, Condition! - The heat dries your hair...you know this. Time to deep condition your hair. You should try to deep condition your hair with every wash. Slather that conditioner on and sit under your dryer for 20 minutes with a shower cap on . If you don't own a personal dryer leave the conditioner in a littler longer or condition immediately in the shower, apply the plastic cap and allow the warm shower water to heat the hair while you bathe. Leave in conditioners with sunscreen are always an added plus.

5. Enlist in a weekly protein treatment - Your tresses need protein to grow strong and healthy. Aveda makes a GREAT damage remedy protein conditioner. Your hair holds on to the protein it needs and the rest washes away. Aphogee also makes good protein washes. Be careful when selecting a protein treatment . Too much protein can break and damage the hair. You can get too much of a good thing.

6. Getting frequent trims to lose the split ends is also a good idea in summer. If you are not properly caring for your hair during the summer the split end monster will get you!! Trim those ends to let your beautiful hair show! For great ends you should trim the hair about 1/2 an inch every 4-6 weeks. Even hair in great condition needs "dusting" (trimming about 1/8 of an inch) every 4 weeks for healthy growth. Judge the growth and condition of your own hair before trimming.

7. Arm yourself with an Anti Humectant - Everyone hates the frizzies or reversion. To fight these enemies try out an anti-humectant which help repel moisture from your hair. Aveda makes a wonderful Anti Humectant with their Brilliant line. They have a pomade and a shine gloss. These products are super concentrated so a little will go a long way!

8. No More Heat!!- Put down that ceramic iron and blow dryer. Summer is a time to let your natural beauty shine! Try air drying your hair or enlist the simple yet elegant ponytail. Dress up your tresses with ornamentation. Enlist in a flower or hair clips to add that ummph you were looking for. Plus, you will be relived that you do not have to run from humidity or worry about sweating out your hair at the club.

9. Protect your hair in the water - Avoid damage when swimming. Before jumping in the pool or ocean wet your hair completely with natural water. Then slather your hair with conditioner. This will help protect your hair from the damages of sea water or chlorine. Your hair will soak up the conditioner instead of the chlorine water. When exiting the pool or ocean always make sure you rinse the hair well. You can have that sexy windblown look after you rinse the drying chlorine and sea from your hair.

10. Simple is Better - let your hair work its own magic. The less you manipulate your hair, the more it will grow. Keep your hair hydrated and be good to your hair and it will be good to you!