Most people’s favorite time of year is here – summer!  With it comes the daily abuse of damaging chlorine water, drying sea salt, and ever-damaging sun rays… not to mention all of the grief we give our hair from daily styling faux pas.  On its own, Summer is not kind to our hair, between the heat and the humidity; it is next to impossible to style hair in anything other than a frizzy pony tail.  Chlorine and salt water dry, discolor, and damage hair.  Chlorine binds to the hair, filling in gaps in the hair shaft. Mineral deposits in salt water make hair brassy and brittle.  Both severely dehydrate hair.  And did you know that fine, kinky/curly hair tends to be much drier than straight hair.  Just because the heat is rising, doesn’t mean that you have to sentence your hair to 3 months of *bad hair days*.  By following a few easy summertime hair care tips you can wear your hair in virtually any style.

1~Prevent static electricity by using a rinse-out conditioner after you shampoo. It will add moisture and shine, and leaves your hair more manageable.
2~If you normally use hot hair tools daily (such as curling irons or hair dryers) try to give your hair a break during the summer. The less heat that you apply to your hair, the better off you will be.
3~For sun exposed hair or hair that has been sun damaged perform a regular deep conditioning treatment to help it retain its moisture.
4~Jojoba oil applied to the ends of your hair will help soften your hair. Use the Jojoba oil either pre-shampoo or apply to dry strands for protection during the day.
5~For extra conditioning, apply a deep conditioner to damp or dry hair and wrap with either plastic wrap or a shower cap right before bedtime. Rinse it out in the morning for hair that is extra soft and has added shine.  Use a quality conditioner with moisturizing ingredients to deep condition her hair on a weekly basis during the summer. Look for ingredients such as wheat germ, jojoba oil, coconut oil, silk amino acids, etc.
6~A hat is the best option when it comes to protecting your hair from the sun.  Hats are increasingly becoming a natural part of a ladies wardrobe…enjoy wearing them!
7~Over-shampooing and under-conditioning are common causes of dry and frizzy hair, especially in the summer months. Shampooing more than once a week is not recommended. On your “shampoo-less” days, simply do a conditioning rinse: rinse hair to remove styling products (this is when using the right products that are water soluble comes in), apply an ample amount of conditioner, comb through, rinse, and proceed with styling. This will pump much needed moisture back into your hair, rinse away unnecessary dirt and oil, and give you a fresh, clean start without stripping away essential nutrients.
8~Wash your hair immediately after swimming. Use a shampoo that is designed to rid the hair of chlorine. If you have lighter hair, use a hair care product that will help keep your locks from turning green.

These are just a few simple tips to help keep your hair looking its best all summer long!  Add a little serenity to your life by listening to some soft music, sitting in a soak bath while conditioning your hair, lower the lights and/or use candles.  When you become serene, life’s little bumps in the road are easier to handle.

Inner Beauty becoming Outer Beauty

If we are not feeling beautiful about who we are on the inside, how can we expect someone to see the beauty from the outside.  Daily stress can take a tole on a person which in turn can lead to negative feelings and an outward projection disrupting our own beauty.  For those prone to blemishes and acne breakouts, stress will definitely only compound the issue.   Take a moment each day, even if it is only 5-10 minutes, to envelop yourself in a serene moment.  This can be done by simple measures of lighting a candle, listening to soft music, aromatherapy, and more.  Try a therapeutic bath once a week.  Keeping yourself centered and less stressed will only increase the inner beauty and releasing it to an outer beauty.

We will be linking to several sites that provide *serenity* periodically.  First up, is a Women-Owned business who is just starting up.  Please check out  Joy of Serenity and let me know what you think.  While the site is still being built, I thought I would post it here…so check on it often and let them know you were sent by us.