The Best (And Worst) Bottled Waters You Can Drink In 2024

1. Drink water.

Though this first tip is more than obvious, a lot of us don't get in the H2O required to be fully hydrated. Drinking water regularly helps regulate your body's internal temperature, metabolize ingested food, flush bodily waste, and produce proper saliva – *basically* everything that contributes to us feeling good.

Aim to consistently drink water – drink a glass upon waking every morning, then from there, try to reach an intake goal. According to Mayo Clinic, women need around 11.5 cups of water per day, but this recommendation can fluctuate based on how much exercise you get and *just* how unbearably hot it is outside.

Having an encouraging water bottle on-hand can help you feel motivated to sip during the day – even when you’re not moving or sweating.

How much water is too much water?

Though it's difficult to drink *too* much to the point of danger, water intoxication can happen. The CDC advises that you don't drink more than 6 cups per hour, due to how the kidneys process fluids. When given an excess amount of water (or any other drink), your body and its electrolyte levels can react negatively in the imbalance. Consult with your doctor if you are concerned about drinking too much water, or want to know what your limit is.

2. Intake electrolytes.

Sometimes water is not enough, based on your health, activity levels, and circumstances. Electrolytes can help. What are electrolytes?

Simply put, electrolytes are substances with a positive (+) or negative (-) charge. Incorporating electrolytes into your hydration routine can help your body maintain its fluid balance. They are super helpful in transporting chemical compounds in and out of the cells in your body, which contribute to hydration levels!

According to Scripps, you can lose up to 40% of your body’s water content during exercise, so if you're keen on running or yoga this summer, it's important to replenish that loss with not *just* water, but electrolytes, too. You can get them naturally through salt water or even pickles!

Are sports drinks good for hydration?

The answer to whether or not sports drinks are good for hydration remains divided. While some sports drinks were created with beneficial electrolytes in mind, many on the market (like Gatorade and Powerade) contain a boat-load of sugar, which can detract from proper hydration. Some of them also market their sodium and potassium levels as a positive thing, when in fact, a lot of people don't really need the extra supplements – a daily intake of sodium and potassium can be easily achieved through food alone.

3. Take some hydration supplements + drinks.

Knowing this, it's crucial to invest in hydration supplements and sports drinks that don't contain a ton of sugar and unnecessary ingredients. Here are some hydration supplements with helpful electrolytes can boost your body’s water intake and retention.

4. Eat hydration-rich foods.

Fruits and veggies carry nutrients and vitamins, but some of them are *especially* hydrating because of their high water content. Fruits like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, and pineapples have a lot of water, so including them in your smoothies or summer dinner recipes can give you a good hydration boost. Cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini and tomatoes are also high in water content – time for a hydrating salad, we say!

5. Stay inside when it's too hot.

6. Dress for the weather.

Pants in this heat are nonsensical, so dress like it's summer. Summer dresses, tank tops, sandals, and shady hats all in light colors will help alleviate the heat your body draws in.

Watermelon Jelly Margaritas

This sip begins with devilishly sweet watermelon jelly that kicks the flavors up a notch. You'll then add your favorite tequila and orange liqueur among *actual* watermelon juice, shake it up, and serve with salt. If you want to feel even fancier, opt to use a funky margarita glass for pouring. (via Brit + Co.)

Think you can handle the heat? Ginger beer and jalapeño slices meet Tito's Handmade Vodka and watermelon juice in this thirst-quenching cocktail. The spice adds an interesting kick to an otherwise basic drink – plus it's perfect for going poolside. (via Tito's Vodka)

Though watermelon is divine on its own, adding it to this paloma cocktail will make you appreciate it *so* much more. Each swig of this refreshing drink brings citrus flavors front-and-center – the watermelon nixes harmoniously with orange and lime juices and everything's topped off with a generous salt garnish. Yummmm. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Juicy watermelon meets a freshly-made mint simple syrup in this cocktail. Infuse it with rye whiskey, and your summer sip is complete! (via Sagamore Spirit)

Seeing that cucumber also holds a high water content – 96% – this watermelon cocktail has *got* to be one of the most refreshing ones out there. We're also awarding it bonus points for being ridiculously easy to make: puree some cukes and watermelon, strain into a glass with lime juice and muddled mint (the best part), and add your fave vodka. We'll let you measure it with the heart, because, well, it's summer! ☀️ (via The Girl On Bloor)

This is a simple mocktail made with fresh watermelon, Spindrift Lemon, and mint, but you can booze things up a bit if you'd like! (via Spindrift)

Something about a margarita just speaks to our souls. The fact that this recipe yields a *big* batch of them sprinkles some (duly needed) unhinged fun into the season! Get all your gal pals to gather 'round the backyard or pool to thoroughly enjoy this sweet sip that's infused with the tastiest jalapeño spice. (via The Endless Meal)

A traditional Shrub Collins entails a simple mix of sugar, gin, and lemon juice. Shrubs were initially a vinegar-based mixture used to preserve fruit, but have since transformed into a versatile drink additive that adds some citrus flavors – *without* the citrus. With this watermelon cocktail recipe, you'll craft your own shrub using watermelon juice, sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Trust us, it's soooo good. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Though this recipe is non-alcoholic, you're just a few shots away from a delightful summer afternoon. 😏 Jasmine tea, watermelon, and mint form the flavor base of this hydrating drink. Getting creative with the garnish will def pay off for The 'Gram. (via Takes Two Eggs)

The No-Sugar Watermelon Highball is like an adult lemonade. It gets is alcoholic kick from Grey Goose Watermelon & Basil that adds complexity to the glass! (via Swoon)

Watermelon + champagne. Who would've thought? Luckily, we did, and these infused drinks are to die for. We're talking watermelon cocktail *slushies* that get topped with sour watermelon candies (hi there, nostalgic Sour Patch Kids!), real fruit slices, and just for the heck of it, obnoxious swirly-bendy straws that remind us of childhood. (via Brit + Co.)

They don't call it a refresher for nothing! This watermelon-y drink is crafted with *just* 4 quenching ingredients, so you can get to sippin' without much hard labor. Lemon, strawberry, and watermelon blend with water and ice for even more hydration. Of course, when you're feeling something stronger, you can drizzle in some of your go-to vodka or tequila! 🥂 (via Rachel Mansfield)

Watermelon cocktails just don't get easier than this. All you need to do to sip your way into summer is combine watermelon juice, vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice into a copper mule mug (the only accepted mule vessel in our eyes), stir, and enjoy! (via Tito's Vodka)

This agua fresca will send you right off into vacation mode once you take your first sip. Agua fresca was made for hydration, and this one gets boosted even more with the addition of watermelon. Whether you choose to spike this concoction or not, you can count on it to be tasty and refreshing. (via Culinary Hill)

If you're more of a wine girly, we understand. Combine some white wine, sparkling watermelon juice (Amanda recommends this one from Trader Joe's), and lime juice for a truly *unforgettable* seasonal bev. (via Amanda Wilens)

You can really use the whole watermelon to avoid food waste. Try hollowing out your favorite fruit to first use it in a lovely watermelon punch, then enlist the remaining parts as an easy-to-use drink keg. (via Brit + Co.)

This easy watermelon drink is packed full of nutrients that will help prepare your body for anything – even if it's just laying out in the summer sun like a little lizard. Watermelon (with seeds that add protein), cucumber, and orange are the main players here, all working together to create a super fresh bev. Enjoy with or without alcohol – your dehydration will be quickly cured. 😋 (via Chef Bai)

Watermelon juice flows throughout this cocktail's tastes, and ultimately pairs with lime juice, vodka, and Spindrift Raspberry Lime to uplift the fruity notes. (via Spindrift)

Say 'buh-bye' to more food waste. Did you know you can actually indulge in a watermelons' rind? This recipe asks that you blend it with the rest of the ingredients, but you can also pickle it or use it like a veggie in savory dishes. Using the rind is a waste-free (and healthy!) way to maximize your fave summer fruit. (via Live Eat Learn)

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.