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! Read More......

P.O.S.H. is all about healthy hair. Weaves can be used for transitioning into your nautral or for playing with color. YES!!! There are good and bad techniques for weaving. Please do your homework on your stylist before allowing her to put your weave in.

The Methods

BONDING - a popular temporary weaving method to add tracks to your hair. Tracks of hair are glued to the roots of your own hair with a special adhesive. This method is the most damaging to your natural hair. Glue is definitely not a way to grow healthy hair.

TRACKS - This method depends on how the stylist chooses to braid the hair. Think of these as singular corn rows braided horizontally across your scalp. Then a track of hair is sewn directly on to the braid. This method is used so when your hair grows out it looks natural and not bulky. Portions at the crown or front of the head can be left out to cover the tracks and blend the hair.

NET/OR CAP - By far the best method!! The hair is braided into a continuous circle around the head starting from the outer edge of the scalp. This technique involves braiding natural tresses under a thin, breathable net that serves as a flat surface onto which stylists can weave extensions. The extensions are sewn onto the cap and not the hair allowing optimal growth. This style can last for up to three months if properly maintained. This style must be dried under a hair dryer to make sure the scalp is completely dry.

We highly recommend the cap method- Las Vegans who want a recommendation please let me know!!

Types of Hair

Remy Hair/Indian Hair - This is the best for your money. This hair is also popularly referred to as ‘virgin hair’, and of premium quality and can be reused for years with proper care. Remy Hair is directly shaved so the roots are matched with roots and ends with ends. Since all the hairs are placed in the same direction, the hairs remain undisturbed , making them more durable and long lasting. This hair is usually not available in stores. Trust us the expense is worth it. You keep the hair forever instead of buying new hair with every weave. It also requires minimal styling which allows your natural hair to grow undisturbed beneath the cap.

Non Remy - This is the regular hair you see available for purchase in stores. When this hair is shaved from the head all pieces are allowed to fall to the floor. So roots are matched with ends. This is what causes the matted bad weave look. The hair is not stored in its natural growth pattern. There are many categories to this type of hair.

Weave Maintenance Tips

1. Please seek out a stylist who specializes in healthy hair and not one giving you that fresh do you wanted. Your best friend isnt a stylist. She should not help you glue tracks in.
2. The best deal is not always the best for your hair - Just because she qouted you a price of $Free.99 doesn't mean she specializes in healthy hair. You get what you pay for and it may not be pretty and rip your hair out.
3. Please consult a stylist before attempting any weave style - Go get a consultation let the stylist tell you what is best for your hair. Let her know the intentions of the weave. If you want to use it to transition into your natural style let her know.
4. Weaves require maintenance- everyone has seen a raggedy weave. Your hair grows!! The super tight braid under the hair begins to sag with new growth and the weight of the hair. Go see your stylist to have her tighten the weave!! This also prevents extra stress and breakage on your hair. Go visit the stylist at least once a month so she can tighten your loose or sagging areas.
5. Weaves should only last 3 months max - Weaves are not a permanent fix. Your hair will become matted if you try to leave it in any longer. This defeats the whole process of growing your hair out.
6. Weave should look natural and not like a wig or bad hat - shop around before you opt for a stylist-- everyone is not blessed with weave sewing talent.
7. Treat the weave like you would your hair - don't get out of practice of caring for your hair. Wrap the hair at night or get a satin pillowcase.
8. Unless you have worn a weave before, let a stylist remove your weave - You would hate to cut your hard grown hair b.c. you can't see it. Let a professional remove the hair
9. Wash your weave- it sounds silly but folks don't do it. You cannot wash it like your own hair. I would call it the squish method where you squish shampoo through the hair with minimal tangling. If you can't wash it Go to the stylist!
10. Deep condition your natural hair - At the end of the 3 months, have your stylist deep condition your hair and cut your desired length of permed hair off. If you are not transitioning please get your ends clipped. Your hair needs moisture and great ends.

Cocoa Diva
I wore a weave to transition into my nautral. Having a weave allowed me to play with color and not deal with the in between stage. I removed my weave every 3 months for maintenance of my hair. I also used the cap method along with Indian Remy Hair. Ladies don't be cheap. I know the hair is expensive but you spend that and more in the store replacing you hair with every new weave. Also its better for growing your hair. It is virgin and untreated so it wont slice your hair.

I am currently a happy natural chick! My hair is longer and more healthy than it has ever been and is well below my shoulders. Don't let folks tell you weaves are not for transitioning. They are! Only if you find the right stylist and know the right questions.


(This is a picture of me with my net and color a few months ago)

Please let us know if you have any questions. Here is to healthy hair !! Read More......

This one is for my ladies....

As a woman I know how it feels to stress over your hair. Ever since I could pick up a mirror, I have been in love with my tresses and on the hunt for the "perfect products" to achieve my perfect style. I wanted long, thick, luxurious hair and was stuck with thin hair that just never wanted to act right. It would obtain length, but eventually split ends would rear their ugly heads and my hair dresser played Edward Scissorhands with my locks. I was fed up and annoyed. I went from permed, to natural, back to permed and my hair has been just about every length and style out there. It is only recently that I have come to be in love with my tresses. And I mean IN LOVE with my hair. Why? Because it is healthy, shiny, and beautiful. My miracle? Protein. I am a huge fan of protein treatments and attribute my hair growth to weekly protein treatments and deep conditioners. Our hair is made of protein, so the only way to make our hair stronger and thicker is to use protein treatments. The protein in protein treatments actually attach to the follicles of the hair making the hair thicker. Other shampoos and conditioners claim to make hair thicker, but in reality they simply add volume to give u the appearance of thicker hair. Protein is the ONLY way to actually add thickness to your hair. I use liquid protein in my hair every week followed with a deep moisturizing conditioner and will use Aphogee Protein Treatments once per month to prevent breakage. Aphogee makes your hair extremely hard so it is important to moisturize and deep condition afterwards. My favorite conditioner is Aveda Damage Remedy Reconstructing Conditioner. Its expensive, but extremely effective. I also follow up with a little Aveda Brilliant Hair Serum. Style as usual and go be fabulous! That's my healthy hair tip for the week! Look for more later! Happy healthy hair growing ladies! Read More......

First we want you to scream....YOU ARE NOT YOUR HAIR!! You are beautiful no matter how you choose to rock your hair!

Welcome my sisters to the dawn of a new era! I know many of you have heard whisperings like this: "Girl, I am transitioning", "Its all about conditioning" "Natural hair is healthy hair" "I wear my hair natural so I can work out".

Do the following terms make your head spin: Twist-Out, Locs, Dreds, Coil-Outs, Shingling?

Confused about how to take care of your hair when you work out (permed or natural)? Well never you fear P.O.S.H Life is here! Let us give you a general overview and any questions you have we are glad to answer!!

All hair is biologially the same, but black hair is naturally more dry than that of other ethnicities. Your hair is made up of the cuticle, cortex, melanin, and sebaceous glands (oil producers). Our hair needs....you guessed it MOISTURE! Relaxers, color, and every day handling robs our hair of the precious moisture we desperately need. Just because we are black doesn't mean we all share the same hair texture. Many of us have a multitude of ethicities in our backgrounds and there may even be different textures of hair on your scalp. There for there is no Magic Potion to determine what products to put on your hair. Determine your hair type here and additional information. http://www.ourhair.net/

Relaxers---Don't get us wrong, you CAN have healthy hair with a relaxer, provided you put forth the effort to take care of your hair. Relaxer does not equal lazy. Relaxed hair is weaker than natural hair and more prone to problems and breakage.

Going Natural - This involves a process called transitioning if you previously had your hair relaxed. This means letting your relaxed hair grow out and not applying chemicals to your hair. The whole process sounds scary I know but there are methods which can assist in this process. You can try a weave, braids, twists, coil outs, twists outs (where the hair is twisted and then let out to make the hair all look one texture). Your stylist can best assess your needs.

• DEEP CONDITION!! We cannot stress this enough. You should try and deep condition your hair at least once a week. Include some olive oil in your regime to seal the cuticle and hydrate!
• PROTEIN IS GOOD FOR THE HAIR- Include a protein conditioner in your regime. Aveda makes a wonderful reconditioner which includes organic proteins. Unlike animal proteins which build up and calcify on the hair with repetitive useage, Aveda's protien conditioner only absorbs what you need and the rest is washed away. Fabulous!!
• WRAP THE HAIR AT NIGHT- Just because you aren't rocking it straight every day doesn't mean you don't need protection while you are sleep. If you opt not to wrap, get a satin pillow case.
• DO NOT TRY AND DETANGLE DRY HAIR- put some oil in, detangle in the shower while washing the hair.
• TRY NOT TO PUT HEAT ON THE HAIR OFTEN - We know you heard us....back away from the flat iron with your hands up! Constant pressing is a definite No No, we don't care if you are relaxed or natural. If you are pressing your hair try and limit your heat useage to a few times a month. Heat breaks the hair down and weakens it. Also, too much pressing can change the curl pattern of your hair.

Products- Like we said above our hair LOVES moisture. Growing your hair out, transitioning, being natural takes finding the potion which fits YOUR hair. We know this can be an expensive venture. We recommend buying sample sizes or trial versions to see if the products work for you.

We Love Carol's Daughter! If you have never tried any of the hair/skin products stop on in to Sephora. They will provide you a small sample to take the products home to test. http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

• Hair Milk - Provides that needed moisture especially during these dry summer months. We can't stress enough how great this product is


• Black Vanilla Leave-in Moisturizer- A great leave in conditioner while rocking that natural. Relaxed kids love it too!
  

Kinky-Curly! Love this products for twisting the hair. Perfect for twist outs and also provides great moisture.

Miss Jessie's -slightly more expensive than Kinky Curly and provides an array of products for twist outs, shingling, and deep conditioning. (Product review forthcoming)

• Curly Meringue


• Curly Pudding
  
• Baby Buttercreme
  

Lastly, this article regarding 20 Things I wish I knew before I went Natural is a cute read!
http://www.nappturality.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=197

Tell us your hair stories. How do you care for your hair? Are you interested in transitioning? Got a product you love? Email us any product reviews you wish to see and we will provide product reviews as we move along. Let P.O.S.H. help!

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