Aloe Vera Gel for Hair: Benefits, Uses and Best Recommendations

Aloe vera gel is a great natural product for dry hair recovering and infusing moisture into the hair. It also helps with softness. If you have dry and dull hair, these aloe vera gel recipes are perfect for your hair.

Aloe vera gel is a common ingredient in the household but did you know you can use it for hair care as well.

Aloe vera gel is a powerhouse of natural nutrients and vitamins that does wonders for the skin and hair. It is 100% natural and one of nature’s best gifts.

When I was a kid, a herbalist mentioned the benefits of aloe vera gel to me and I began growing it at home. It was one of the few plants that I managed to keep alive.

It grew fast and was easy to harvest the gel to use on my hair. This was long before aloe vera gel became common for hair care.

The gel harvested proved to be an excellent conditioner that left my hair super soft.

What is Aloe Vera Gel?

Aloe vera gel is aka Aloe barbadensis, Aloe frutescens, and Aloe arborescens among other names.

It is obtained from a cactus-like plant that thrives in hot and dry climates.

The aloe gel is the clear, mucus-like substance found within the leaves of the aloe plant. 

Aloe vera gel is obtained by splitting open the leaves and scraping out the clear substance within. Sometimes, the gel is further filtered for purity and clarity.

The consistency is thin and mostly odorless.

Aloe vera gel is made up of around 96% water, some organic and inorganic compounds, amino acids, and vitamins A, B, C, and E.

Aloe vera gel is used in skincare as an insect repellant, to treat psoriasis, acne, burns, and rashes due to its antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Aloe vera gel can also be taken internally as a treatment for several health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, stomach ulcers, fever, constipation, hemorrhoids, and much more.

However, always consult with your primary care physician before you start consuming medicines internally.

Majestic Pure Aloe Vera Gel

Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel for Hair

I have received a few emails asking about the benefits of aloe vera gel on hair and if it’s worth including in your hair care regimen.

Below is a breakdown of the many benefits of aloe vera gel for hair:-

1. Aloe Vera Gel Repairs Hair and Encourages Growth

Aloe vera gel contains 20 of the 22 essential amino acids. These amino acids help repair damaged hair, soften dry hair, and encourage healthier hair growth. 

2. Prevents Dandruff and Scalp Itching

Aloe vera gel contains an enzyme known as proteolytic that helps alleviate itchy scalp and reduce the incidence of dandruff.

Additional enzymatic properties in aloe vera gel also help alleviate other scalp issues like psoriasis and eczema, and conditions the scalp for an optimal hair growth environment.

Incorporate the recipes below along with a scalp massage brush in your hair care regimen for dandruff and you should see an improvement from the first application.

3. Reduces Excessive Shedding

If you’re suffering from excessive shedding, aloe vera gel can help alleviate shedding.

Use it in a mix of coconut oil and vera gel as a pre-poo to maximize this benefit. 

4. Aloe Vera Gel Soothes Scalp Irritation

Aloe vera gel’s antiviral, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties help soothe any scalp irritation caused by excessive scratching.

BTW, you should avoid scratching your scalp as much as possible. 

If your hair is relaxed, aloe vera gel is particularly beneficial in helping your scalp recover after those chemical treatments.  

5. Ideal for Dry & Dull Hair

Aloe vera gel is perfect for dry hair and makes a great conditioning agent in addition to making it easier to detangle hair.

It penetrates into the hair shaft when added to hair products and helps maintain moisture in the hair for longer.  

Additional beneficial properties in aloe vera gel for hair include calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. 

How Do You Apply Aloe Vera Gel on Hair?

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 5 drops of vitamin E oil

If you don’t like coconut oil, you can replace it with wheat germ oil, hemp seed oil, castor oil, or grapeseed oil.

Directions

• In a plastic bowl, measure in the aloe vera gel, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil.
• Mix thoroughly and apply to dry hair in sections like you would a conditioner.
• Loosely twist each section as you finish applications.
• Once completed, pin up the twists and cover with a disposable cap or cling film.
• Leave in for 45 minutes then proceed with the rest of your regimen. You can adjust the recipe for the length of your hair.

This is the most common recipe I use on my hair and I use it as a pre-poo treatment sometimes as well.

 

artnaturals Aloe Vera Gel

DIY Aloe Vera Gel Detangler

This recipe is a gentle and natural detangler, which you can apply after shampooing before deep conditioning.

Ingredients

• Distilled water or bottled water
• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel
• 2 drops of vegetable glycerine
• 5 drops of lavender or ylang-ylang essential oil
• Spray bottle like this one

Directions

• Open the spray bottle and fill it up (80%) with distilled water or bottled water. You can also use rose water.
• Add the aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerine, and lavender or ylang-ylang essential oil.
• Close the spray bottle and shake well.
• Spray generously to detangle your curls before deep conditioning.

If you want to preserve the aloe vera gel mix, you can add a few drops of vitamin E oil, Abyssinian oil, lemongrass oil, or star anise seed oil as a mild preservative.

With a pH of approx 6, you can also use this mix as a leave-in conditioner to close your cuticles or daily spray to refresh your hair. 

How to Use Fresh Aloe Vera on Hair

Fresh aloe vera gel is the gel you scrape out yourself from the split leaves instead of buying a commercial product.

Harvest the leaves, split open with a knife and scrape out the gel with a clean spoon.

Use it the same way as prescribed in the recipes above. Store any unused gel in an airtight container like this one and use it within a few days (7 days maximum).

You can add a few drops of vitamin E oil, Abyssinian oil, lemongrass oil, or star anise seed oil for preservation purposes.

Do not use lemon juice as a preservative as it has a tendency to dry out hair and/or lighten the hair.

Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly

Aloe Vera Gel for Hair Growth

There’s a lot of misconception that aloe vera gel can help hair growth.

While aloe vera gel is great for moisture, softness, and shine, it cannot by itself facilitate faster hair growth.

It will, however, eliminate hair enemies like dryness and breakage, which is part of what leads to hair loss, and help you preserve your curls.

For more detailed information on the kind of products and practices that do facilitate faster hair growth, you may be interested in Healthy Hair Care Series Book 2.

Book 2 – The Ultimate Hair Growth Guide: Stop Hair Loss. Regrow Bald Spots. Fill in Thin Areas goes into greater detail about hair growth techniques that actually work.

Best Pure Aloe Vera Gel for Hair

Most of the aloe vera gel brands on the market have a few additives included for preservation, texture, etc.

While there’s nothing wrong with this and they can still be used on hair, you should know they aren’t 100% aloe vera gel. Some of the best brands include:

• Amara Organics Aloe Vera Gel
• ArtNaturals Organic Aloe Vera Gel
• Aubrey Organics Pure Aloe Vera Gel
• Green Leaf Naturals Aloe Vera Gel
• Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly
• Majestic Pure Aloe Vera Gel
• NaturSense Aloe Vera Gel

How to Grow Aloe Vera

As I mentioned earlier, I used to grow my own aloe vera when I first discovered its benefits for hair.

It’s one of the few plants I managed to keep alive because it’s so easy to grow and grows quite fast.

Below is a step by step process for growing your own aloe vera plants:

If you want already grown plants for you to continue nurturing at home, you can buy aloe vera plants HERE. 

Reference – Aloe  Vera: A Potential Herb and its Medicinal Importance: Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research