Aloe Vera gel for hair care regimen

In our previous post, we looked at the benefits of Aloe Vera as natural skin care gel. We now look more deeply at the benefits of this natural gel in hair care and how to incorporate it in your hair care regimen.

Benefits

Ø      Dandruff, seborrhea and psoriasis treatment – Due to its antimicrobial, soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera gel is great in relieving and eventual healing from scalp scaling. It soothes the itch and hydrates the sores enabling repair and fast recovery from the damage caused.

Ø      Promoting hair growth - Aloe Vera gel is rich in gibberellins, nutrients and growth hormones that easily penetrate the scalp. These nutrients stimulate the growth of healthy hair cells thereby promoting growth of new and existing hair as well as slowing down or preventing hair loss.

Ø      Nourishing and moisturizing the hair – Aloe vera gel is rich in amino acids, vitamins, niacin and polysaccharides. These nutrients are easily absorbed by the hair and scalp promoting soft, healthy, beautiful and manageable hair.

How to use

If using plain and pure aloe vera gel for shampoo or treatment, it means you might require a lot of it. For these purposes, you can mix it with your regular shampoo or treatment.

Ø      Shampoo – To prepare an aloe vera shampoo, mix 1 part of aloe vera gel with 4 parts shampoo. Shampoo your hair normally with warm water.

Ø      Treatment – Mix 1 part honey, 1 part shea butter and 1 part aloe vera gel. Slightly warm the mixture then massage it in to wet, freshly shampooed hair. It is advisable to shampoo your hair with warm water to open up pores and hair follicles for easier absorption. Wrap your hair with a warm towel for 30 minutes; you can sit it under a hood dryer for 15 minutes. Wash it off with warm water. Your hair will love it.

If you choose to use your regular conditioner, mix 1 part aloe vera gel, 1 part honey and 4 parts regular conditioner. Follow all the other steps as above.

Ø      Leave in conditioner – apply a small amount of aloe vera gel into freshly shampooed hair. Apply on the scalp and on the hair from root to end. Massage it in to distribute it evenly. You can also use a wide-tooth comb to run small amounts through your hair. Style the hair as desired.

Ø      Moisturizing - Rub a small amount of aloe vera gel on your palms and apply to your hair with special attention to dry ends. You can do this two to three times a week and apply to your scalp once a week. Some people report that it also helps to hold their hair in place.

Tip: The skin and scalp absorb 80% of what you put on it. We do recommend purchasing pure natural Aloe vera gel as opposed to purchasing it as a component in shampoos, treatments or conditioners. Organic, pure and unaltered aloe vera gel is safe for all ages and scalp and hair types.

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Extracting aloe vera gel – DIY

Growing your own aloe vera plants in your own compound is easy as it only requires fair weather; warm sun and watering. Aloe vera plants do not flourish in cold temperatures. An aloe vera plant takes about 4 years to reach full maturity. Be sure to plant yours in a large pot as the plant grows to a height of up to two feet.

Extracting aloe vera gel – DIY

To harvest, choose an outer leaf which is healthy. Try to pick a leaf that is closest to the ground not to irritate the plant so that it can continue thriving. The thicker the leaf, the more gel you will extract.

Once you have dismembered the leaf from the plant, place it upright in a jar in a slightly tilted position to drain out the bitter dark resin/sap. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes. This step is important because the resin can irritate the skin if it ends up in your gel.

After the resin has drained, wash the leaf and place the aloe leaf on a chopping board. Cut off the tip and the pointed rough edges on either side of the aloe leaf. If the leaf is very and thick, you can chop it into smaller pieces to make peeling and removal of the gel easier. Cut both sides of the leaf lengthwise. Separate the front and back of the leaf from the inside.

Scoop out the muscilage and the clear inner (transparent) gel. A spoon will scoop out the aloe vera gel well. When scooping it out, it is important to press down lightly but firmly so as not to press out any remaining resin.

Place the gel in a blender and blend it. If you need to store it, add a few drops of vitamin E and a small amount of citric acid powder and blend. This will help prevent discoloration and preserve the gel for a longer period. If you do not have citric acid powder, you can simply crush a vitamin C tablet into powder form or use a drop of grapefruit seed extract. Finally, blend the mixture and strain it through a thick sieve: a fabric one will strain out the fine fibers in the gel well.

Pour the gel into a clean glass jar and cover/seal it. If the gel has foam on top, don’t worry, it will settle down. Store the aloe vera gel in a refrigerator preferably in a dark brown or green glass jar to keep out the light. Avoid exposing it to too much direct light or sun.

Tip: Fresh aloe vera gel has the best healing properties. Prolonged exposure to the air or light normally weakens these properties. It is therefore not advisable to harvest many aloe leaves all at once or store the gel for prolonged periods of time.

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Aloe 80 Organics Skin Soothing Aloe Vera Gel - 16 oz (Google Affiliate Ad)

Benefits of Aloe Vera as a natural skin care gel

In our previous post, we looked at the ‘what’ of the Aloe Vera plant and the general benefits of its gel. Today we look at the detailed benefits and common uses of this natural gel in skin care; the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of Aloe Vera gel.

Skin healer – Aloe Vera gel has antibiotic and antimicrobial properties hence great for use as an antiseptic ointment. It provides a solution to many skin problems from blemishes, acne, shingles, eczema, herpes, rosacea to rashes with no side effects as it is raw and organic. Applied to wounds, cuts, burns, insect bites and stings, it accelerates healing by promoting formation of new tissue and growth of blemish-free healthy skin. This is because it contains gibberellins, growth hormones that stimulate growth of healthy skin cells, and limits formation of scar tissue.

Skin Repair – Aloe Vera gel is exceptionally rich in amino acids, vitamins A, B12, C, E, F and niacin and polysaccharides. These nutrients give it the hydrating properties and quickly penetrates the skin leaving the skin soft, supple and deeply moisturized hence improving the skin’s texture and firmness. It counteracts the effects of weather or age especially wrinkles.  

Skin Soother – Aloe Vera gel has soothing properties similar to menthol making it a great skin soother. Its hydrating properties make it a good moisturizer as it leaves a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture. It works wonderfully on sunburns and other damage like burns, scalds and chapped or cracked skin. Hydrated skin is soft and recovers fast from damage.

Shaving Gel – Aloe Vera gel has anti-inflammatory properties hence when used as a shaving gel; it leaves the skin smooth giving you that needed close shave. Due to its hydrating nature, you can also apply as an aftershave to prevent razor burn.

Strains and muscle pains – Aloe Vera gel is absorbed quickly by the skin and reduces inflammation and pain. It is effective on strains, sprains, muscle pains and arthritic pain. It is also a great compress for tired and puffy eyes.

Makeup remover - Aloe Vera gel is a perfect alternative to oil based make up removers.

Scalp and hair care – Aloe Vera gel is a good treatment for dandruff, seborrhea, psoriasis and hair loss that results from these scalp conditions.

How to use Aloe Vera gel

Cleanse and dab your skin dry with a clean towel. 

If using aloe gel, soak in cotton ball to apply. If using a fresh aloe leaf, peel the skin and apply directly on the skin. Let it dry out before rinsing with warm water.

For skin healing, use daily; 2-3 times a day for a start. When the skin improves, reduce to at least 3 times per week till it completely heals. 

For general skin care, use it alone or along with your favorite oil or butter to keep the skin moisturized and soft.

To apply on scalp and hair, rub or comb small amounts through your hair. Style as usual.  

For strains and sprains, apply aloe gel with a cold compress to the sore area 2-3 times a day.

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Natural Skincare with Aloe Vera Gel

What is aloe vera?

Aloe vera is a stem-less plant with thick, green and succulent leaves that is said to have originated from the tropical and sub-tropical Africa. Today, the plant grows in various parts of the world and due to its adaptable nature; it flourishes in most places with fair weather. The gel extracted from the aloe vera leaves is believed to have rejuvenating, healing and soothing properties. It is therefore taken as juice, as dried extract capsules or applied as a topical lotion for its benefits.

Aloe Vera plant

Benefits of aloe vera on the skin at a glance

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel (the clear inner gel) is easily absorbed by the skin hence it is non greasy. It is ideal for all skin types, including sensitive, acne, rosacea and eczema prone. Aloe vera gel has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that are active on acne causing bacteria. It also has astringent and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritated skin and heal broken or chapped skin. It has hydrating properties that help in healing scars, balancing skin moisture and stimulating the growth of new skin.

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