Labor Day weekend is almost upon us…the last summer soiree, the last summer bbq, the last summer 3 day weekend.

A lot of people are hitting the road or the friendly skies for the last hurrah; what are you and your hair packing? Aside from a bathing suit, little white dress, strappy sandals and chic wide-brim hat – don’t forget about your hair!
The following steps will protect your hair until you get home from a day trip or back to your hotel room if vacationing.

1. Before diving in, completely wet hair with water and Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner.
2. Apply a thin layer of Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner.
3. Dive in!
4. Immediately rinse hair thoroughly with water and rehydrate with Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner until you are able to shampoo and condition later that same day.

After a day of sun and swimming, I recommend doing the following to take care of your hair and scalp:

1. Shampoo twice with Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo SLS Free.
2. Follow with Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner under a conditioning cap and apply heat for deeper conditioning.
3. Rehydrate with Leave-In Conditioner and style as usual.

Remember to moisturize daily with Hair Nourishing Cream or Nourish & Shine to restore and maintain moisture balance (for your hair and your skin).

The goal is to hydrate, hydrate, and then hydrate some more!

Transitioning to college is also a great time for also transitioning to natural hair. Many find that it’s a lot easier to make the transition from relaxed to natural while your life is already in an exciting, transitioning phase. College is a time where you establish new parts of your identity, new friends, new interests – a time of completely figuring out who you are in your skin!

Before you get started, answer these questions as you create your “natural hair plan”:

Q:  How long do you want to transition?

A:  long-term as you grow out your relaxed tresses or short-term by removing your relaxed ends

Q:  How are you going to transition?

A:  braids, weave, roller/rod/straw sets, two strand twists/twist outs, the big chop

Q:  Which products will I need to maintain my transitioning hair?

A:  moisturize, hydrate, nourish, protect

Enjoy the journey as it unfolds!

Do you have any personal tips for our new transitioners?

1. Wash hair with Moisture Nourishing Shampoo or Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo.
2. Follow with Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner.
3. Using a paddle brush while conditioner is still in the hair, brush from ends to roots. Rinse completely clean.
4. Using Curl Defining Cream (available in 6 oz. and 16 oz.) pull through hair from roots to ends while scrunching the hair with your hands.
5. Dry hair using a diffuser, a hooded dryer, or air dry.
6. For second and third day curls, mist Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner to
7. re-activate curl pattern.

Receive $5 off and FREE SHIPPING on your 16 oz. Curl Defining Cream purchase.

Use Coupon Code: CDCSUMMER

(NOTE: This offer is valid through our website and Retail Orders ONLY. Offer expires 8/30/12.)

La La Vazquez Anthony has landed the September 2012 cover of Juicy Magazine and Jane Carter Solution graces the pages inside!

Juicy Magazine’s First Annul Style Issue hit stands August 14th; everything from beauty, hair, style and fashion is packed within this issue. Starting with exclusive photos of LaLa’s Hollywood home and closet. The former MTV VJ and stylista chats about her style transformation, sneakers vs. heels and what makes her feel sexy… 

“I love a pair of thigh-high boots! I think they make everyone feel and look sexy. I love that and I’m willing to do that with a great dress or even shorts. It will give you a super edgy feel.”

Make sure not to miss the Jane Carter Solution column this month with hair care tips and techniques!

Pick up your copy today.

Accepting what you cannot change sets you free.

Living life in the present moment requires you to accept life on life’s terms; in peace with the past and present. No matter how much structure we create in our lives, no matter how many good habits we build, there will always be things that we cannot control — and if we let them, these things can be a huge source of anger, frustration and stress. The simple solution: learn to go with the flow.

Why waste time in futile attempts to change what you cannot, when there are so many things you can change? Focus on what you do have the control to change:

• What you do – your behavior, how you spend your time, habits, the choices you make, impulse control, your integrity
• What you know – what you read, what you are willing to understand, how you use your talent, what you question, your self-image
• What you think – your values and goals, what you believe, the assumptions you make, what you value, who you trust, compassion, empathy and understanding of others
• What you hope, dream, and aspire to – your goals, hopes, aspirations, your role model, 

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.

Smile, breathe and accept that it is what it is!