Mythbusters: Is Aloe Vera Good For Hair?
Aloe vera is widely known to be one of the most versatile ingredients out there. Women from all ages, even from centuries ago, often use aloe vera as an all-around fix for any beauty issue whatsoever. And that includes hair issues, from hairfall to extreme dryness.
In today’s ZALA Mythbusters, we’ll explore the answer to the question: is aloe vera good for hair?
History of Aloe Vera for Hair
Aloe vera, as mentioned above, has been used for all kinds of things way back during the olden times.
In 50 B.C., aloe vera was heavily promoted by Dioscorides, a naturalist and physician under Nero’s empire who wrote several books on pharmaceutics. According to his book, aloe vera was one of the plants that could be used for its healing properties. Skin irritation, wounds, sunburn, and hair loss were just some of the things that Dioscorides claimed aloe vera could help with.
Aloe vera was also used in Oriental medicine, especially in China and Japan. The latter considered it as a “royal plant” and even used it as an elixir.
Benefits of Aloe Vera for Hair
The plant itself consists of more than 90% water and it also contains plenty of vitamins such as A, B, C, and E as well as amino acids and proteins with a chemical make up similar to keratin. It can heal various issues thanks to its antibacterial properties, and thanks to its water content, it’s also very moisturizing and hydrating, hence its widespread use in many hair and skin products.
Here are just some of aloe vera’s benefits for your hair.
Helps with itchy scalp and dandruff
Aloe vera’s anti-inflammatory properties can greatly help solve the problem of dandruff and itchy scalp, as found in a 1998 study.
Leaves hair smooth and shiny
Aloe vera has a lot of vitamins that are beneficial for healthy, beautiful hair. A, C, and E are all responsible for promoting cell turnover, which results to healthier and therefore smoother and shinier strands.
Makes hair more elastic
Thanks to the keratin-like makeup of aloe vera, it can instantly make your hair more elastic and thus less prone to breakage.
Promotes hair growth
Did you know that aloe vera can also increase your blood circulation? This, along with its other healing properties, helps promote faster hair growth.
Cleans oily hair
If you’re suffering from oily scalp and hair, you should try using aloe vera as shampoo. Aloe vera can not only clean your hair thoroughly, it can also help reduce extra sebum on your scalp. Also, aloe vera is very gentle on your scalp, which means that it won’t strip off too much of the necessary oils on your head.
Risks Of Using Aloe Vera
As with everything, using aloe vera for your hair also comes with some risks. For one, aloe vera is known to be an irritant or allergen for some people. If, after using aloe vera, you experience red, dry, scaly skin, you should wash it off immediately and consult a doctor just to be sure.
Aloe vera also has to be washed thoroughly if you’re going to apply it to your hair. It can be quite hard to rinse off, which causes irritation in some people.
Is Aloe Vera Good For Hair?
So, is aloe vera really good for hair? In a way, yes, aloe vera is very good for your strands, thanks to all its healing properties.
However, if you’re unsure of any allergies you may have, you should probably do a patch test first. Also, although you can apply aloe vera extract directly on your hair, remember to wash it thoroughly afterwards so you don’t experience any irritation. Lastly, keep your expectations realistic! Aloe vera may be an amazing natural ingredient, but it’s not a miracle worker. Can’t expect results overnight!
Have you tried using aloe vera on your crowning glory? How was it? Let us know in the comments below!
And for more mythbuster articles, don’t forget to check out our ZALA blog!
