The Benefits of Aloe Vera for Hair

Throughout history, humans have used a variety of herbs and plants for medical and beauty purposes. One that is frequently used is aloe vera, a tropical plant that contains a jelly-like substance packed with water, vitamins, and amino acids. The question is, does aloe vera for hair make any difference? Can it possibly be used as a hair loss treatment to promote hair growth? Find out everything you need to know right here!

What is Aloe Vera?

As briefly touched upon, aloe vera is a tropical, cactus-like plant that loves hot and dry climates, making it native to places like the Saudi Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar, and sub-Saharan Africa. [1] It has thick, green, slightly spiked leaves that taper inwards and point upwards. Sometimes, the leaves are more greyish, and they can have pinkish spots.

The most interesting part of aloe vera isn’t usually visible, as it’s what is inside those fleshy leaves that really counts. When cut open, aloe vera has a clear gel made up of water, vitamins, minerals, lipids, sterols, glucomannans, and antioxidants. [2] It is this part that makes it so beneficial in health and beauty.

How Aloe Vera for Hair Works

The aloe vera plant can be very beneficial for both your scalp and hair in several ways. Here are some of the benefits:

It Strengthens Hair

All of the essential nutrients within aloe vera help boost your stand’s strength, leading to strong, healthy hair. The vitamins help nourish the hair, while the humectant properties of the aloe vera plant ensure the strands (and scalp) are well hydrated and moisturised.

It Can Protect During UV Exposure

UV rays can harm your skin and strands, leading to dryness and irritation. Aloe vera can help protect against that, with a study showing that aloe vera can reduce skin redness after UV light exposure. [3] This makes it a great addition to a hair care routine before heading out into the sunshine.

It Boosts Shine

Aloe vera has a very high water content and has humectant properties, which means it draws moisture out of the air. Plus, it’s a natural cleanser, cleaning the hair and scalp without stripping too many of the oils and leading to dry ends. This leads to well-hydrated hair that is much shinier and healthier looking.

It Can Reduce Itching

Research has shown that aloe vera can reduce itchiness on the skin, including the scalp. This can treat scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, giving the area a chance to heal and grow healthier hair. Some ways it does this is by balancing the pH level of the scalp and removing dead skin cells.

It Detangles

Many hair types get tangled quite quickly, making the strands hard to handle. Aloe vera can help with that by adding hydration to smooth it out, making the hair easier to brush through.

It May Boost Hair Growth

While there is no definitive proof that aloe vera causes growth, there are some properties that point to its ability to do so. Aloe vera removes dead skin cells and treats inflammation, which can help stimulate growth. There are also some suggestions that aloe vera can boost blood flow to the scalp. [4] Add to that the many vitamins and fatty acids the gel contains, and you have a natural remedy that may lead to longer, healthier locks. You could use a hair track app to monitor how much aloe vera helps grow your own hair.

Are There Any Side Effects?

The benefits of aloe vera are clear to see: it can boost shine, prevent UV damage, reduce itching, and strengthen the stands. What about potential side effects? Aloe vera gel is not safe for everyone to use. Here are some side effects you might encounter:

• Itching
• Burning
• Redness
• Hives
• Dermatitis
• Stinging

If you experience any of these, stop using it immediately, as the irritation may only get worse and damage your scalp even further.

It is best to perform a patch test before using aloe vera for the first time to prevent any of these symptoms from affecting your entire scalp. To perform a patch test, apply a tiny amount to a single area of your skin, such as your wrist. Then, wait 24 hours before inspecting your skin for any unpleasant symptoms. If your skin is fine, it’s likely safe to use; if you notice any skin reactions, wash it off and do not continue use.

How to Use Aloe Vera for Hair

Do you want to use aloe vera for hair growth? Here are some simple ways to do just that, whether you have an aloe vera plant ready or not.

Use a Product Containing Aloe Vera

Arguably, the easiest way to use aloe vera on your scalp and hair is by purchasing a hair care product that contains aloe vera as an ingredient. There are many aloe vera hair products available, so you should not have much trouble finding a hair mask, shampoo, conditioner, or oil that includes it! Simply use it as the product instructs and reap the benefits.

Use Your Own Plant

If you have a fresh aloe vera plant, you can skip the shampoos and hair masks and use aloe vera as nature presents it! To do this, cut a leaf from the plant and then scoop out the gel with a spoon. Once you have the aloe vera gel, spread it along your hair and scalp as you please. Let it sit for a while, say 30 minutes, before washing it out. You can repeat this process as and when you need to for the most nourishment.

Mix With Another Oil

Some people like to mix aloe vera with another oil to create their own hair-nourishing treatment. The best oils to use alongside aloe vera include coconut oil, castor oil, argan oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil. All of these oils have their own unique properties, so choose one that is best suited to your problem areas.

What Else is Aloe Vera Used for?

The healing properties of aloe vera are not just for the hair and scalp – it can be used in a myriad of ways.

Treating Skin Conditions: Aloe vera is often used to treat a range of skin conditions, including eczema, burns, and fungal infections.

Balancing the Diet: Aloe vera contains a lot of great vitamins and fatty acids; as such, it makes a great addition to a healthy, balanced diet.

Improving Digestive Health: People with stomach issues such as IBS may find relief by consuming aloe vera.

Treating Minor Wounds: It can also be used in healing, with many people using aloe vera to treat sunburn and minor wounds.

Better Treatments for Hair Loss

While aloe vera can be great for healthy hair, it will not magically grow new strands if you’ve experienced hair loss. If your hair is falling out, you need a more effective, targeted solution like the ones listed below.

Minoxidil or Finasteride

Minoxidil and finasteride are hair loss medications. Minoxidil is a topical medication you can buy over the counter that helps reduce hair loss by stimulating blood flow to the scalp. Finasteride is an oral medication typically prescribed for prostate issues, but it can work to prevent hair loss in men by reducing the production of DHT.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

This is a non-invasive hair-boosting treatment that involves low-level lasers that target the hair follicles to stimulate new growth. The goal here is to put the hair into the anagen (growth) phase. It has very promising results for those with androgenetic alopecia.

PRP Injections

PRP – platelet-rich plasma – injections use a person’s blood to stimulate healing. This can be used to stimulate new growth. It’s not quite as scary as it sounds, as it’s a non-surgical procedure and uses your body’s own natural healing properties. It can stimulate new tissue formation, and the growth factors can help boost new hair growth.

FUE Hair Transplant

A FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair transplant might not be as straightforward as applying a topical product, but it can do wonders for androgenetic alopecia. It’s a minimally invasive surgery that uses a micro punch tool to extract single hair follicles and transplant them to another area, where they will start to grow over time. For those who want a serious and highly effective solution to hair loss, it’s a great choice.

Is Aloe Vera Good for Hair? In Summary

It’s clear that, yes, aloe vera for hair is worth using thanks to the array of natural ingredients such as vitamins and amino acids. However, that doesn’t mean it will magically grow new locks, as there is not yet any research to say it’s a good solution for hair loss.

If you are experiencing hair loss, consider a more targeted approach. We offer no-obligation consultations here at Harley Street Hair Clinic, so get in touch today to get started on your hair restoration journey. If you want to learn more about our practices, head to our patients gallery!

 

Sources:

1. https://greenhouse.ucdavis.edu/files/botnot_01-01.00.pdf
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6349368/#:~:text=4.1.,%2C%20enzymes%2C%20and%20mineral%20elements.&text=The%20alcohol%20insoluble%20residues%20obtained,22:1%20in%20the%20gel.&text=Most%20investigators%20agree%20that%20acemannan,and%20the%20gel%20extraction%20process.
3. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-to-know-about-aloe-vera-sunburns
4. https://www.verywellhealth.com/aloe-vera-for-hair-growth-8584823#:~:text=Aloe%20vera%20may%20help%20promote,nourish%20the%20scalp%20and%20hair