Aloe Vera Water Detox Review

Hey guys!

I hope you all have a Happy 4th! 

I wanted to do a health related post because I haven't done one in a while ;)

I'm about to talk about something that tastes great, supports immune system, aids in digestion and weight loss, lowers cholesterol, detoxes, reduces inflammation, and much more. 

ALOE VERA WATER 

This stuff is awesome. 

Not all benefits have been scientifically proven. If you're concerned about drinking aloe vera water do your research and talk to your doctor :)

For me, I reach for this when I am feeling gross, like I need to remove some toxins from my body, when in feeling bloated or.. yes.. My digestive system isn't working as it should. 

Let's just say you want to be near a bathroom when drinking this stuff.
It can help with constipation, hydration, vitamin and mineral intake, healthy gums, healthy skin, and hair growth as well. 
Information from:  http://skinnywithfiber.org/14-really-important-health-benefits-of-aloe-vera-juice/

This particular brand is available on the Boxed website.

You get a pack of 12 drinks for $15.99. They are sweetened with honey, pure cane sugar and natural grape flavor. They contain aloe vera pulp, and taste really good.

The pulp can be hard to get by at first because it's like drinking slimy chunks.. But once I got used to them I would just chew them because they really don't taste bad.

I highly recommend this for all of you who want to just try something new and good for you. This is especially good for those of us with digestive issues like me!

Thanks for stopping by :) Give this a try and let me know what you think!
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Hair Care

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

About five years ago I cut my hair off to my jawline (you have to try it once..), immediately I wanted it back. I get asked all the time if I wear extensions & how I got my hair to grow back so fast, but honestly it's taken this long! I get my hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks :) I used to ask for a "germ-sized trim" when I was still trying to grow it out haha!!

Not only has it taken years, but I've done some damage along the way. I've tried to lighten my hair multiple times & damaged it, which probably slowed growth. But here are some things I think have helped my hair grow and stay healthy recently:

First, Brazillian Blowout! I have only had two in my life so far. The first one I got a few years ago, & I just got one again last month. I would highly recommend getting one! For me, they help to straighten my curls a bit, make my hair shiny, soft, healthy, protected, & lock in color. The biggest thing I noticed it that my hair isn't frizzy! 

I got my last Brazilian Blowout at Jagged Edge Salon. The whole process took about two hours (on my ridiculous amount of hair). 

My sister gets her Brazilian Blowouts from Maleri Miller Parker & both do a great job, we had the same results :) 

My hair is so much easier to do now, & when I straighten it the style lasts longer. If you're trying to grow out your hair or repair some damage I would suggest finding a salon near you that does Brazilian Blowouts. They last up to 12 weeks. The picture above was taken right after getting a blowout.

Shampoo & Conditioner:

Because my hair is so long, it gets dry pretty easy at the ends. I only wash my hair twice a week, sometimes three if it gets oily. 

I change shampoo & conditioner all the time, but since my hair has been red I started using Bain de Terre Color-Protecting shampoo & conditioner.
I also use Joico Color Infuse Red products to keep my red color vibrant between appointments. I use the color infuse once a week (*The color of my hair is Joico 5XR).
Since my Baine de Terre products are almost gone I purchased the Redken Color Extend Magnetics shampoo and conditioner at Ulta, I'll let you know if I like it!

Deep Conditioning: 

I've used Coconut Oil for a long time now on my hair. I just melt it in the sink and apply to dry hair. If you can apply heat or leave it over night that's the best. Remember to look for unrefined, organic coconut oil.

I realize that drugstore products are not the best for your hair, but I actually really like the Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Strength Reconstructing Butter with phyto-keratin complex. 

I just recently bought the Not Your Mother's Intensive Hair Unit Renewal Treatment and I really like it! Plus it smells good. It has carrot root extract to help repair damaged hair. 

I alternate using one of these once a week. 

Smooth & Shine:

In the past I've used the Brazilian Blowout product until I ran out. I've been using the Rusk Shine Enhancing Lusterizer for a while now. It helps with shine, strengthening with proteins, and protective UVB inhibitors. 

I have recently been using Not Your Mother's Smooth Moves Frizz Control Hair Cream (Ulta in-stores). This helps to de-frizz, straighten, and shine hair. I put these on towel-dried hair. 

Oils & Protectant: 

OGX Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum is awesome! It smells so good too. I use this every single day on the ends of my hair to smooth. This helps repair, resurface, and mend split ends with coconut oil and silk proteins. 

Moroccon Oil Treatment is more expensive, so I use this just a few times a week, and always after I wash my hair. This also helps restore hair, smooth, and shine.

To protect my hair from heat I use Kevin Murphy Damage Manager. This protects hair up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit.

Red Hair Maintenance: 

Besides the Joico Color Infuse products, I have been desperate for a root cover recently. I found this Beyond the Zone Colour Mousse in racy red at Sally's Beauty Supply and it seems to work pretty good, but it did not last 2-3 shampoos on my hair. I applied to dry roots, brushed it in, then blow-dried to seal the color in.

Dry Shampoo: 

Because I only wash my hair two times a week, sometimes the roots can get oily while the ends are dry. Rather than having to wash my hair and go through that whole process I use a dry shampoo. There are tons of great dry shampoos out there, and I really like this one by Tresemmé and the Not Your Mother's brand.

Vitamins:

I know this seems random, but what you put in your body has an effect on your hair. Of course you should eat healthy, but I also recommend vitamins. I take like, 50 vitamins every day haha (exaggeration, slightly)! Of the ones I take I think these have an effect on my hair. 

Melaleuca Vitality Multivitamin and Mineral for women. I noticed this has Biotin in it, which can help with brittle nails and hair growth. I take this every day. 

Cod Liver Oil has Vitamin A which can help with new cell growth and health especially for the eyes and skin. But there are many other benefits to this vitamin, read here. It really doesn't say anything about hair, but I have been taking this for about a year now, so maybe it has played a role in the health of my hair. 

Omega-3 Krill Oil has many amazing benefits as well, especially for heart health. I'm also not sure this played a direct role in my hair health, but it's worth a try :) 

Keratin: 

Lastly, I want to mention something I think had a huge effect on my hair. I don't currently have this product because too much keratin can actually damage your hair (said the lady at Ulta). But this is the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin!! When I tried to lighten my hair last summer, I had just got my hair to the length I wanted it to be and then lost about two/three inches to damage from the highlights. This seriously was a miracle on my hair, well this & dying it darker. I went through two bottles of this ;) Highly recommend!

Thank you so much for reading!! I hope you enjoyed and maybe learned something! I'm definitely not a hair expert, but I've pretty much had long, curly, thick hair my whole life! It's a love/hate relationship.. :) Follow Pretty & Put Together on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and like us on Facebook to stay updated on the latest posts! 

You Drink What?!

Yes. I am one of those people who drinks APPLE CIDER VINEGAR! 

Why are so many people into this craze?

Every morning after I get ready and right before I eat I drink apple cider vinegar. There are so many great things in this stuff! Despite all the hype about this, some of it's claimed affects haven't been proven. What we do know about apple cider vinegar is that it contains a ton of vitamins and minerals, it can be used for weak bones, losing weight, muscle cramps, stomach aches, sore throats, cleaning out your sinuses, and high blood pressure. It can also help rid toxins from your body, slow aging, reduce cholesterol and help with infections. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a toner for your skin to prevent/rid of acne(I have yet to try this one) when combined with water. It can be used for soothing a sunburn, mosquito bites, dry scalp issues, and so much more (Web MD). Again, some of its affects haven't been medically proven. But with all of its amazing ingredients why not give it a try?

What to look for at the grocery store: You want to buy the organic, raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized kind containing "the mother." The 16 oz bottle you see here costs about $5.00 and lasts me a long time (I found one double this size for the same price on Amazon). It does not need to be kept refrigerated. This is naturally gluten free and will give you the most health benefits. The bottle says you can drink it up to three times daily but I only drink it once per day.
This is how I drink it: I pour 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass and pour a little water in it (about 1 part ACV and two parts water). I only pour a little water in it so I can drink it faster. Let me tell you now... This stuff does not taste great! The first few times I drank it I was having to choke it down but I have become much more used to it now. I really don't mind drinking it! Like I said you can drink this up to three times per day in 1-2 tsp servings mixed with water but instead of doing that I just drink 1 tbsp in the morning instead of a tsp per serving.

If mixed into a drink with 1-2 tsps honey it is said to help with weakening bones. Bragg also has their own little recipe on the back of the bottle. Since I have been drinking this I have noticed clearer skin, digestion, growing hair, and it has soothed my sore throats and stomach pains. Use this stuff for whatever you like, I couldn't see the harm in trying something so healthy!

Let us know if you have tried this and what it has done for you!

Thanks for reading!