Aloe vera is a plant with a gel-like substance inside leaves commonly used in many beauty products. Apart from its cooling and soothing properties, it has a lot of healing benefits, too. The gel has a lot of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. Metaphorically speaking, aloe vera should be as much an essential ingredient in your skin and hair care routine as left-handed shears in a left-handed barber’s professional tool kit.
The best part about aloe vera is that it is affordable and accessible. And if you grow aloe vera at home, all you need to do is cut the fresh leaf and scoop out the gel. Read on to learn how aloe vera can strengthen your hair and smooth your skin.
Aloe Vera For Hair
1. Conditioning
Conditioner is one of the most critical products for keeping your hair healthy, shiny, and soft. It smoothens the surface of the hair, detangles it, and moisturizes it.
Aloe vera is an excellent conditioner due to its high moisturizing properties. In fact, aloe vera is even better than some of the best hair care products since it makes the hair soft and shiny without using any chemicals or harsh ingredients.
Follow these steps for or an excellent conditioning treatment:
- Mix one teaspoon of aloe vera gel with two teaspoons of honey.
- Apply the mixture to your damp hair and leave it for 20 minutes.
- Use a shower cap so that the mixture can work on your hair while you’re in a shower. Rinse it off with shampoo as usual.
- Enjoy your silky smooth hair after using this natural treatment!
2. Hair Loss
Hair loss can be caused by several factors, including stress, hormonal changes, thyroid problems, and more. It can affect women of all ages, making it difficult to find a permanent solution to the problem. For women who experience hormonal disbalance and wish to maintain strong and healthy hair, bioidentical hormone therapy for women could be an effective solution.
Additionally, you can use aloe vera as well because it helps prevent hair loss by stimulating blood flow to your scalp and nourishing it from within. It also reduces inflammation in the scalp, thereby preventing dandruff and other scalp conditions that result in the loss of hair strands.
To try this remedy at home, mix one teaspoon of aloe vera juice with two tablespoons of coconut oil to make a thick paste. Apply it on your scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water.
3. Hair Growth
Aloe vera is rich in potassium which has been proven to stimulate cellular growth through increased protein production in your body. It helps in stimulating new cell growth in your scalp resulting in thick and long hair strands.
To try this remedy, just mix one tablespoon of aloe vera gel with two tablespoons of castor oil and apply it all over your scalp. Make sure to cover your hair with a shower cap before leaving it on overnight for better results. In the morning, wash your hair with warm water and shampoo as usual. By applying this once a week, you will surely see your hair regaining its health and thickness and notice a considerable amount of growth after already a few applications.
4. Color Protection
If you love colors in your hair, you know that color-treated hair requires extra care and protection from the elements. While you can use a regular conditioner to keep your color-treated hair looking good, aloe vera works wonders too.
After shampooing, apply aloe vera gel to your damp hair and let it sit for a few minutes. Wash it off with cold water to seal in all the moisture and protect your hair color.
5. Split Ends
Split ends are a common problem among women who color their hair and spend a lot of time under the sun. Aloe vera contains proteins that help repair dry and damaged ends of your hair shafts. It also contains lignin, which makes hair stronger and prevents further damage.
If you want to try this out on your split ends, just mix half a teaspoon of aloe vera gel with a tablespoon of olive oil. Apply the mixture to the ends of your hair and wrap your head with a warm towel for 15 minutes. This will soften your ends and give them a healthy glow after conditioning.
Aloe Vera For Skin
1. Sunburn
If you have sensitive skin, you know how much it hurts to get a sunburn. It not only causes pain but also makes your skin sensitive to light for many days to come. Aloe vera can help soothe the pain and irritation associated with sunburn.
All you need is to extract some fresh aloe vera gel from an aloe vera plant and mix it with a few drops of jojoba oil. Apply this mixture to the affected areas and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off.
2. Scars
Aloe vera is well known for its ability to heal scars and minimize their appearance. If you have scars from bruises, acne, cuts, or wounds, you can try using aloe vera gel on them.
For best results, take fresh aloe vera gel and rub it directly onto your scar. You can leave it on overnight and wash it off with warm water in the morning. You will notice reduced redness and swelling on the scar after just one application.
3. Rosacea
Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition that affects mostly adults. It causes blotchy redness on your face, which can make you uncomfortable and is difficult to conceal. Rosacea is usually caused by different triggers, including allergies, stress, alcohol consumption, etc. Aloe vera gel comes in handy here, too!
Apply freshly extracted aloe vera gel directly to your face, and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water. This will reduce inflammation and redness on your face as well as hydrate your skin from within.
4. Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, you know how difficult it is to find makeup products that actually work for you since most of the products tend to make your skin look even more greasy. However, aloe vera is an excellent option! It helps control excess oil production and prevents further breakouts by balancing out your natural oils and boosting collagen production in your skin.
To use aloe vera for oily skin, mix one tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel with two tablespoons of witch hazel extract and apply it directly on your face before going to bed. Wash off with warm water in the morning.
5. Dry Skin
Moreover, aloe vera is beneficial not just for oily skin; it works great for dry skin, too! It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce itching and irritation on your sensitive skin, leaving it feeling moisturized and supple.
Mix one teaspoon of fresh aloe vera gel with two teaspoons of rosewater to create a smooth paste. Apply this mixture on your face and neck before going to bed at night. Wash it off in the morning with warm water to reveal hydrated and supple skin.
Conclusion
Aloe vera gel helps in improving blood circulation and nourishing your scalp. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help in relieving burns or rashes on your skin. It works as a natural moisturizer and can be used even for massages. Using aloe vera regularly will help in reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars on your skin.
It is pretty hard to overestimate the benefits of incorporating aloe vera in your beauty routine! And now you know why.