Aloe vera is the key to your curly hair routine if you are looking to combat dull, lifeless curly hair. If you need something to help combat that dry itchy scalp or you’re trying to find something to help grow your natural hair then aloe vera should be part of your natural hair regimen.
This prickly plant is jam-packed with so many vitamins and nutrients and the benefits are endless. So, let’s learn more about how this plant can help.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. The plant is stemless or very short-stemmed with thick, greenish, fleshy leaves that fan out from the plant’s central stem. The margin of the leaf is serrated with small teeth.
You can actually find aloe vera at some grocery stores in the produce section. Alternatively, you can find the plant at your local nursery or the nursery section at Home Depot.
Aloe Vera Juice for Natural Hair
Aloe vera juice is the liquid made from the aloe plant, often used to mix into drinks for health benefits. But lucky for us, we can also use the juice for our hair. Here are some of the ways that aloe vera and aloe vera juice can benefit your natural hair.
Benefits of Aloe Vera for Curly Hair
1. Helps Natural Hair Growth:
The translucent gel inside the aloe vera plant contains vitamins and enzymes that have the ability to do away with dead skin cells from the scalp which can clog the hair follicle. These same enzymes help lock moisture in your hair while also stimulating the hair follicles. They also help with cell regeneration which helps repair your hair.
Aloe vera contains a chemical that is similar to keratin which can rejuvenate your hair, preventing breakage. This will help give you the long locks you’ve always wanted.
2. Heals Dry Itchy Scalp:
Having a dry itchy scalp is the worst. Most times when our scalp is in this condition, dandruff is sure to follow. If you find yourself dealing with dry scalp simply apply the aloe vera gel onto your scalp and gently massage thoroughly.
The gel will get rid of the dead skin cells, cleanse the scalp, and balance out the ph. The ph balancing qualities in the aloe vera gel will give your hair the shine you’ve always dreamed of and can reduce or even eliminate dandruff altogether!
3. Maintains the pH balance of the scalp:
Out of all of the benefits of aloe vera for natural hair, pH balance is one of the most important as mentioned above. If the pH balance of your hair is not level, it can cause some of major hair issues. Aloe vera can help maintain the pH balance of your hair.
The pH of your scalp is 5.5, which makes it fall on the acidic side. The pH level in aloe vera gel is 4.5. Many commercial hair products, especially shampoos, contain surfactants that can alter the pH of your scalp and hair because they are alkaline in nature.
This can cause damaged and unruly hair. Aloe Vera helps restore your scalp’s pH balance, which promotes healthier and better hair
ALSO READ: Ph Balance and Natural Hair
4. Combats Frizzy Hair:
Using an aloe-based leave-in conditioner can cure frizzy hair in a flash. An aloe vera treatment can help give shine and soft texture that makes frizzy hair manageable.
Simply get some aloe vera gel and apply to your hair before you step out. This settles the hair as it works like hair gel and also forms a protective layer to prevent dirt, etc. to settle on the hair.
Some aloe vera conditioners you can use to tame that frizz are:
Jason Conditioner Hair Smoothing Aloe Vera 84%
Mill Creek Organic Aloe Vera Conditioner
Organic Doctor Aloe Vera Conditioner
The moisturizing effects of aloe vera work better when used in combination with other ingredients. Below are some homemade recipes for you to try:
Homemade Aloe Vera Conditioners
DIY Aloe Vera Gel Leave-in Conditioner Recipe
Ingredients:
– 4 oz water
– 4 oz aloe vera gel
– The essential oil of your choice. Peppermint oil or jojoba oil is a great option
- Combine
Add water and aloe vera gel to a small bowl & stir lightly
- Bottle up for easy application
Pour contents into a spray bottle and shake
- Add essential oils
Add 10 drops of an essential oil and shake lightly again.
- Use daily or as often as needed to restore softness
Aloe Vera Gel Pre-Poo or Deep Conditioner
Step 1: Mix together thoroughly equal parts of aloe vera gel and olive oil.
Step 2: Comb this mixture through your hair, leaving it in for about 30 minutes.
Step 3: Thoroughly shampoo the hair to remove product and follow up with leave-in conditioner
And of course, our go-to natural hair guru Naptural 85 has a tutorial for you if you need a visual.
Not a DIY person? Here are 3 Aloe Vera Based Products To Help Enhance Your Curls
Hydratherma Naturals Aloe Curl Enhancing Cream
Trelux Hi Definition Curl Enhancer Styling Gel
Wonder Curl Get Set Hair Jelly
Do you use aloe vera for your natural hair?
Do you have a homemade aloe vera conditioning recipe you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Until next time….
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Hello! My name is Nicole and I am a naturalista located in the Mile High City! Being able to inspire, encourage, and motivate others to be who they are naturally is what I strive to do each every day. I enjoy natural hair care because it is a great way to learn, share experiences, engage, build confidence, and create a connection with one another.
I use Aloe Vera as the liquid in the LOC method. In your DIY recipe #2, can coconut oil be used instead of olive oil???
Hi Dawn! That’s a great liquid for the LOC method. And yes you can definitely use coconut oil. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for the tips! Can they all apply for locs?
Oh yes most definitely!