Coconut Oil Hair Treatment

Both of us have long hair, and spend a lot of time in the sun and water during the summer.  Hot weather really can take a toll on your mane, so last summer we began weekly coconut oil hair treatments.  The coconut oil seal split ends naturally and revives dry ends, and best of all, it's an ingredient most of us already have in our kitchens!

The beauty is in the simplicity, but if you want, feel free to mix essential oils in with the coconut for the added aromatherapy.

• Start by brushing your hair out with a natural fiber bristle brush.

• Sweep the ends to one side and take a dollop (for us about a tablespoon, less if your hair is finer or shorter) of coconut oil and massage it into the ends, being sure to cover all of the lower and dry areas.   

• I'll then either braid or fishtail my hair and forget about it until the morning.  Finally, the next day, upon washing your hair, you'll notice your tresses are moisturized and lush!

DIY Spearmint Toothpaste

If you haven't heard, fluoride is now officially classified as a neorotoxin by the most reliable peer reviewed medical journal in the nation and has been linked to lower IQs and neurological impairment. Why then, is it in almost every toothpaste on grocery store shelves? 

A few months ago we got fed up with the slim natural toothpaste selection and decided to make our own. Our friends and family swear by the stuff and can't get enough so we figured it was time for a blog post! 

Here is our recipe:

1 cup melted coconut oil

1 1/4 cups baking soda 

Spearmint essential oil to taste

Mix until smooth and use as regular toothpaste. The baking soda taste takes some getting used to, but it is a fantastic whitening agent and your mouth will never feel cleaner! 

Happy brushing,

The Juice Sisters

P.S. Here is a great article on fluoride

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/12/fluoride-and-the-brain-no-margin-of-safety.aspx#!

Juicing 101: an Introduction to Green Juice

Juicing is an awesome way to incorporate a wide variety of fruits and veggies into your diet. One of our favorite ways to get  a huge boost of leafy greens is to make a green juice! Here is one of our favorite green juice recipes. 

Basic Green Juice

6 green apples

2 cups kale

2 cups spinach 

1 small lemon

2 generous inches of ginger

A Purifying Home Facial

Everyone loves a clay mask, are we right?  Here at The Juice Sisters, we have a take on the traditional clay mask that we really enjoy: French green clay and colloidal silver.  The silver adds a ton of clarifying and anti-microbial benefits to the already wonderful green clay, helps replenish collagen in skin, and repairs tissue damage. Our clay is from a local grocery store, but can most likely be found at any Whole Foods type of market. We make our colloidal silver at home (more on that in a later post!), but you should also be able to get some at a health food store or online.

First begin by gathering your ingredients:

1.  One tablespoon of green clay

2.  Colloidal silver

If you like a thicker mask, use less silver, but if you prefer a thinner mask, add the silver accordingly.  Spread an even layer over your face so that it will dry evenly.  The extra should keep for a few days in the fridge.

Relax and wait for the mask to dry.   Rinse with warm water and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

We hope you enjoy!

xoxo,

The Juice Sisters

A Beginner's Guide to Juicing

Juicing is a great way to enhance your heath and wellbeing.  If you are strategic about the veggies and fruits you include in your juices, it can be a way to add a variety of nutrients to your diet.  While there are many great reasons to begin this healthy practice, it can sometimes be intimidating at first.  From selecting a good juicer (another post, we promise!) to choosing the ratios of produce to include in your recipe, there can be a large learning curve.  We've done the hard work for you and outlined four practices to help eliminate some of the trial and error early in your juicing life. 


1.  Start with fruits and vegetables you already like. 
Downing an entire glass of a veggie you don't like isn't a friendly way to start.  If you start with the fruits and vegetables you already enjoy, you can slowly add in darker, vitamin-rich greens like Swiss chard and kale.

2.  Add citrus to neutralize bitter greens.
Juicing lemons, oranges, or any other citrus helps cut the bitter taste of dark, leafy greens giving them a more palatable flavor.

3.  Generally a ratio of 80% veggies and 20% fruit makes a healthy, tasty juice.
Too much fruit in your juice will lend to a high sugar concentrate, so stick to mostly veggies with fruit thrown in to sweeten and flavor.  Alternate juicing high water content fruit and veggies with more dense produce so that it is easier on the juicer, and will allow the juicer to extract the juice and nutrients more effectively.

4.  Juice seasonal, organic produce whenever possible.
It is important to eat seasonal, organic produce if you can.  If you can't get your hands on any, make sure you thoroughly wash and peel anything with a skin.  The skin of various fruits and veggies can hold a lot of nutrients, so whenever possible, go local, seasonal and organic to be able to enjoy the full nutritional value.

Best of luck finding your juicing groove!
xoxo,
The Juice Sisters

Sea Salt & Rose Hair Tonic

This is a great way to revive and refresh your 'do after a day in the sun, or when you're in between washes.  We like to spray a little at the roots of our hair, and massage it down toward the ends.  You can even twist your hair up in a bun and spray with tonic to create nice beachy waves!

3 tablespoons organic sea salt
10 drops rose essential oil
10 drops spearmint essential oil
8 oz filtered water

Combine all ingredients in a cute spray bottle of your choice!  Beware, the sea salt causes a slight lightening of the hair, so if your hair is color treated, use sparingly.

Much love,
The Juice Sisters

Why Juicing?

We've learned the food you consume has the power to dictate the happiness and health of your entire being.  It fuels your body by giving you energy, building cells and blood, and even influences your moods and thoughts. So what better place to start than juicing?

melon, beet, apple, spinach & carrot with lavender 

Juicing is also a great way to cleanse and detox, which helps reset our digestive systems and give them a much needed break.  In daily life, juicing is the perfect way to ensure the consumption of a healthy amount of fruits and veggies.  We are vegetarians, so we usually consume as much fresh, locally grown veggies as we can get our hands on, but juicing adds variety because we juice veggies that we might not be able to easily incorporate onto our plates.

When we juice, we feel clear-headed, strong and fresh, and we hope you do, too!