Whether for a sunburn, an insect bite, poison ivy, or maybe just as an ingredient in your everyday skin/hair care, you’ve probably encountered aloe vera at some point in your life. However, you may never have known exactly what it is.
Aloe vera is a gel-like substance that comes from the aloe plant, which is a succulent that grows in dry, tropical climates. Though the plant does have a nice appearance, people eventually discovered that it could also serve many purposes other than being pleasing to the eye.
Nowadays, aloe vera can be found in moisturizers, shaving creams, sunscreen, tanning lotions, soaps, and various other products for personal care. This is because the ingredient has several benefits for your skin as well as your hair.
In terms of the latter, aloe vera acts as a conditioner that cleanses, repairs, and grows your hair. It contains proteolytic enzymes that help repair dead skin cells on your scalp, which then reduces dandruff and itching as well.
Aloe vera gets rid of unwanted residue from other products and excess oils by narrowing in on your follicles, thus essentially rejuvenating your hair. The gel-like ingredient contains several vitamins that contribute to proper hair growth, and it’s high in collagen, which is a protein with cooling properties, therefore protecting your scalp from sun damage.
Our Blissful Brooklyn Hair Conditioner is made with aloe vera juice.
When applied, aloe vera has been known to promote blood circulation in that particular area, so when treated on the scalp, it nourishes your roots, typically preventing further hair loss and breakage. In addition to doing all of that, aloe vera also leaves your hair with a shiny, healthy appearance and a nice lingering scent afterward.
Similar to its effects on hair, aloe vera also moisturizes and repairs skin while making it visibly healthier. It softens the skin without clogging your pores as many moisturizers do, and it doesn’t leave your skin looking or feeling greasy, making it perfect for those who suffer from excessively oily skin.
The aloe vera extract is also extremely hydrating for very dry skin, and its healing properties help with windburn, sunburn or even minor cuts caused by shaving. The jelly substance is high in antioxidants and various nutritional qualities, so it acts like an extra layer of skin that protects and replenishes the epithelial layer, which are the external skin cells covering your body.
Another benefit of antioxidants in aloe vera include anti-aging results due to improving your skin’s firmness, thus reducing wrinkles, unwanted fine lines, and even stretch marks. These qualities are also what give aloe vera the ability to fight against burns, rashes, insect bites, poison ivy, etc. Aloe vera contains a hormone called Giberelin, which stimulates the growth of new cells, giving aloe vera its ability to soothe the skin, reduce inflammation or redness, and repair dead skin cells, playing a role when used to treat acne as well.
After reading about a few of the many benefits aloe vera could provide, you may be wondering where you could purchase your own so you can implement it into your daily personal care routine as soon as possible!
Fresh aloe can be found in most grocery stores; specifically, Whole Foods is pretty successful in keeping it in stock. Bottled aloe can be found in health food stores like again, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, drug stores such as Walgreens, or can even be ordered on Amazon. Places like Walmart and Target have some brands too, but be wary when purchasing bottled aloe.
You should always double-check the labels for artificial colors or alcohol, as those chemicals would simply make your efforts towards self-care counterproductive! Some trusted brands include Lakewood Organic, Earth’s Daughter and Fruit of the Earth.
If you have the fresh aloe plant, here’s a video tutorial by the founder of Make It Classy on how to properly cut the plant to get to the gel, as well as tips on how to use it for your hair:
You can also find a DIY aloe vera scalp treatment by Victoria here.
You can also purchase a Make It Classy product that provides the same effects as aloe vera does on your skin and hair.
Our Loyal Leah DIY Clay Hair and Face Mask box comes complete with all the ingredients, including aloe vera for nourished hair and skin.