Best Aloe Vera Gel For Hair [Review] in 2022

Now you know why aloe vera is known as the wonder plant. Using pure aloe vera gel in your hair routine or even skin routine comes with many benefits and seriously improves the condition of your hair. It comes packed with nutrients and vitamins.

Whether you love a good ol’ DIY or want to go more natural with your hair care then purchasing aloe vera gel is a great way to start. Aloe vera gel can benefit any hair type but especially curly hair as it is the driest hair type of them all.

Due to the texture, natural oils cannot reach the ends of curly hair, so using super moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, honey, coconut oil, etc to attain and retain moisture within the hair strands.

Aloe vera gel is also beneficial for all hair porosities as it is super lightweight and won’t weigh hair down. It creates a seal over the ends, making it extremely beneficial for retaining moisture in coarse hair but it is light enough to not buildup on low porosity hair.

The best aloe vera gel for ultimate benefits is organic, natural organic aloe vera gel. You’ll want to watch out for companies packing their formulas with preservatives and chemicals that are either too harsh or just don’t benefit the hair.

In this buying guide, I’m here to guide you through how to find the best aloe vera gel for hair and how to use it on hair to reap the benefits. So stay tuned, your healthy, luscious locks await.

Aloe vera gel is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. It originates from Arabian Peninsula but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates all over the globe.

In layman’s terms, aloe vera is known as the “wonder plant.” Many uses are made from the gel obtained from the plant’s leaves, and it has serious benefits on hair and skin. It has been used for centuries for its healing properties.

Each aloe vera leaf is made up of three layers. The inner gel actually contains 99% water, which is why aloe vera gel is so hydrating and helps with moisture retention. Plus, the rest of the plant is made of the amino acids glucomannans, sterols, lipids, and vitamins.

Fun fact of the day the middle layer is actually made of latex!

What does aloe vera do for your hair, and what are the benefits of using it? Well, aloe vera works wonders for both the hair and skin. It is packed with essential minerals, nutrients, and vitamins that nourish the hair from the inside out.

It is much more than a cute plant on your windowsill. It has been used for centuries for health benefits and medicinal purposes; it is best known for healing burns, skin irritation, and wounds but has become so much more in recent decades.

It is rich in fatty acids as well as nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and is known to improve the overall health of your hair, as well as promote healthy hair growth of your hair itself. Adding earth aloe gel to your routine comes with many benefits.

Aloe vera topically treats skin, hair, and nails with its extremely restorative ingredients. But here are the top benefits:

Aloe Vera Is Extremely Hydrating:

Aloe vera gel is made up of 99% water and packed with nutrients for the hair. It is both an emollient and humectant, so it helps retain moisture within the hair follicle. It is ideal for the curly hair type as it is so hydrating and moisturizing.

By aloe vera gel is a humectant, meaning it works with the environment to draw moisture from the air and keep hair hydrated. It also creates a seal over the end of the hair to lock in moisture and help retain moisture in the cuticle– perfect for those with high porosity hair.

Due to its moisturizing properties and nourishing vitamins, aloe vera juice and gel can help promote healthier hair the vitamins hydrate and restore damage within the cuticle. If you suffer from dry, brittle ends, then aloe vera can help restore this lacking moisture.

It also moisturizes the scalp too, not just the hair. It helps unclog pores so moisture can really penetrate into the scalp and offer all the yummy goodness to improve the overall condition of the hair, so it is hydrated and restored.

Helps Aid Natural Hair Growth:

Aloe vera gel is rich in vitamins and enzymes, which have the ability to draw dead skin cells away from the scalp, unclog the follicle and promote a healthy scalp environment.

These same enzymes then work to lock in moisture into the hair while stimulating the hair follicle. This can massively help with hair loss and cell regeneration which helps repair the hair from within.

If you mix aloe vera gel with coconut oil, you can have the ultimate benefits on hair growth as coconut oil repairs the hair and scalp within and helps with protein loss.

Aloe vera gel even contains a chemical that is very similar to keratin that works to rejuvenate the hair to strengthen the hair strands from within and prevent breakage.

This helps you achieve those luscious long curls you’ve been dreaming of!

Cleanses The Hair:

Suffer from a greasy scalp? Well, another cool benefit of aloe vera gel or juice is that you can leave aloe vera gel on your scalp, and it will work to cleanse and unclog pores filled with oil. It is great for those looking for a mild, natural cleanser.

For example, for some curlies, sulfates are far too harsh for hair, so switching natural is ideal, and aloe vera is the suitable ingredient for the job. Mixing aloe vera gel and apple cider vinegar is a great way to cleanse the scalp and remove buildup.

It will leave hair looking soft and shiny.

Helps Heal Dry & Itchy Scalp:

Using aloe gel as a scalp treatment is also extremely beneficial for tackling dry and itchy scalp. Its anti-inflammatory ingredients can help reduce dandruff by deeply conditioning and unblocking hair follicles that may be blocked by excess oil.

Using aloe vera on your scalp a few times a week is highly beneficial for treating dry scalp. Massaging it into your scalp on its own or mixed with tea-tree or peppermint oil can help stimulate blood flow and tackle a problematic scalp.

When your scalp is dry, dandruff is likely to follow. So by treating your dry scalp with aloe vera gel and massaging it into the scalp should help with this issue. Applying aloe vera to naturally curly hair will help remove dead skin cells by balancing out the pH on the scalp. This also helps fight scalp inflammations too.

Balances The pH of The Scalp:

Aloe vera gel works wonders for balancing the pH on natural hair. Aloe vera is slightly acidic, so it can balance the scalp and hair after using hair products that are alkaline in nature, like shampoos and styling products.

Over time these products can cause damage to the hair because the pH is unbalanced. Aloe vera can restore this balance and promote healthier and happier hair. Pairing with apple cider vinegar is great for oily skin and scalp as it can rebalance this pH as well as cleanse.

Helps Tame Frizz:

Aloe vera gel can help cure frizzy hair in a flash. It helps improve the overall condition of the hair and prevents dryness-related frizz as it deeply hydrates, which is yet another reason why it is so beneficial for curly hair as it helps tame frizz at the root.

It gives curls shine, and a soft texture as well as makes frizz more manageable. It also creates a film over the ends of your hair to help prevent humidity-related frizz. It forms a seal over the hair, which helps attain and retain moisture within the hair.

Can Be Used As A Styling Gel:

For my curlies out there looking for a light hold without it weighing down your natural hair, then aloe vera gel will be your best friend. It is a great DIY hair gel recipe for curly hair and those looking for something not too heavy, a natural finish, but a hold that will last for days to come.

Aloe vera gel alone has some great benefits for your hair. The main one is that it strengthens hair; it has many active ingredients to strengthen your strands. It can also protect your hair from UV damage; it forms a seal over the cuticle, which can help protect it from UV and heat damage.

It is a brilliant moisturizer and scalp conditioner, but it also offers light hold, making it a brilliant gel for curls. Any hair type can benefit from using aloe vera as a hair gel, especially if you’re looking for a light hold on the hair.

There are a few ways you can use aloe vera on hair, as a gel, as a scalp treatment, as a conditioner, or even as a cleansing treatment with apple cider vinegar to unclog the hair follicles and remove excess oil from the scalp.

You can either buy aloe vera gel online, or if you want that extremely natural DIY and benefits from the rich ingredients inside the gel, then you can buy an aloe plant itself and use the gel inside the leaves. You just need to first know how to get the goop out:

How To Remove Aloe Vera Gel From The Plant:

You’ll want to remove 2-3 leaves from the plant at once, remove the thicker leaves from the outside and inspect them for any mold and ensure they are healthy. Don’t touch the roots. Just remove these leaves from the plant directly.

Slice open the leaf by cutting off the ends and spiky sides and then split it down the middle. Scrape the insides into a bowl and separate the gel from the chunks and then blend or use a milk nut bag to collect the gel and pop it in a storage gel.

Pree Poo Treatment For Curly Hair:

Aloe vera is extremely hydrating, which is extremely beneficial for curly hair. It can hydrate, moisturize, and deep condition curls while also protecting them during the shampooing process and helping to retain moisture.

Aloe vera is also a great detangler, so by using this as a pre-poo treatment in sections, it provides slip and makes the curly detangling process much easier for curls. The yummy goodness can even improve the condition and leave curls healthy.

You can use aloe vera in your DIY detangler or even as a DIY leave in conditioner. 

• – Start by opening the leaf and chopping it into chunks; you’ll want to split each aloe square in half to get to the yummy goodness. If its easier to apply, you can also blend the gel, so it is much easier to use on your curls in sections

• – Use your hands to massage the gooey aloe goodness into your scalp, and then work in sections to massage it into the ends. You can even add a few drops of castor oil, coconut oil, or argan oil (depending on your hair porosity) for extra goodness.

• – Leave the treatment on your hair for 30 minutes and then shampoo and condition your hair like usual.

Using Aloe Vera As A Detangler:

Aloe vera is also a great natural detangler. It eases through tangles by improving the condition of hair and creating a natural lubricant for hair, creating the slip needed to detangle even the most stubborn of knots within the hair– aloe vera is a great DIY detangler!

It will add a slippering coating to your hair, making it much easier to remove tangles through brushing or combing. It also helps improve elasticity and strengthen the hair from within so it detangles with minimal breakage.

So for curly hair or thick hair, aloe vera can be extremely beneficial when it comes to detangling.

• – Cut the aloe vera leaf-like usual but strain so you’re left with aloe vera juice. Part your hair into four sections or more if you have extremely thick hair. Focus on one section and spray the aloe vera juice generously onto the ends of your hair.

• – Use a detangling brush or wide-tooth comb and gently smooth out strands and detangle any knots. Or you can leave it on hair for 30 minutes and detangle as best you can beforehand and after– this is great for stubborn knots.

Using As A Hair Mask:

Aloe vera can also be used as a DIY hair mask for damaged hair. It can be blended with coconut oil which is an emollient that can help retain moisture, help with protein loss and strengthen the hair from within. Shea butter is another brilliant ingredient to use for moisturization.

Olive oil for high porosity or argan oil for low porosity hair is another ingredient you can mix in to create this hair mask. Argan oil is a penetrating oil, so it can work to repair everything within the cuticle, while olive oil is deeply hydrating too.

• – Cut and scoop out all of the contents of the aloe vera gel like before and blend the contents in a blender, adding three tablespoons of olive or argan oil. These ingredients are godsends for locking in moisture within the strands.

• – You can either add a tablespoon of castor oil, coconut oil, or shea butter to the mix for a little extra hydration mix and then strain the mixture to remove any clumps and then pop into a jar or spray bottle- depending on consistency.

• – Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse off and then shampoo, condition, and style as usual.

DIY Aloe Vera Gel:

For curly hair, using aloe vera as a gel is extremely beneficial. It provides a light hold while offering all of the juicy benefits of hair strengthening, moisturizing and hydrating. It provides a light and non-greasy hold to the hair.

•  1/2 cup aloe vera gel
• – 20-30 drops of your chosen essential oil

If you’re using aloe vera gel straight from the plant, the first thing you’ll need to do is blend it up until it forms a spreadable gel; I like to add my essential oils to the blender, so it’s easy to mix. Aloe vera makes a great DIY hair gel.

It should be quick a thick consistency, but it should still be easy to use; adding the essential oils to the mixture should help thin the consistency slightly to make it easy to spread.

If you prefer to use store-bought aloe vera, it should be stabilized to extend shelf life, it should last at room temperature for at least three months, but fresh aloe vera should last a week or two if refrigerated.

The top thing I get asked is, does aloe vera help aid hair growth? While yes, there are many benefits of aloe gel aiding hair growth by improving the condition of the hair, but there is actually no scientific evidence to support this.

But the best way to aid hair growth is to be consistent; aloe vera can massively improve the condition of the hair, which over time can help aid with hair growth. It unclogs hair follicles and improves the condition of the scalp that can help make hair grow faster.

It can work to promote the growth of your hair by relieving the inflammation of the scalp and keeping the hair moisturized. Hair will appear to be longer as well as it can help nourish the ends of your hair, so split ends are less visible, and hair is stronger.

Hydration is key for healthy hair and building a healthy skin barrier; it won’t speed up the rate that your hair grows as that’s down to your DNA, but it will improve the overall appearance of your hair so that it looks visibility stronger and hence longer.

It won’t snap off or split when it gets to a certain length, as the natural hair is strengthened by the yummy goodness of the aloe vera gel. The nutrients and vitamins will strengthen the hair from within to improve its condition and overall appearance.

Applying aloe vera gel and leaving it to sit on your scalp and ends for 20-30 minutes once a week can help improve the condition of the hair and promote the growth of hair as it improves the overall environment and condition of the hair. 

How long to leave aloe vera on hair?

When it comes to leaving aloe vera on hair as a treatment, you should leave it on your hair for around 30 minutes. But that being said, you can leave aloe vera on your hair for as long as you’d like; it will only benefit for up to 30 minutes after, though.

You can also use aloe vera as a hair gel for curly hair, so you can leave it on your hair until the next wash day. It is super lightweight and does not leave a greasy residue on the hair; it can be used on either hair porosities too.

How how do you cut the aloe vera plant for hair?

When cutting an aloe leaf from the plant for your hair, it is best to remove the entire leaf and keep the plant looking good. Cut the leaf as close as possible to the main steam and harvest the leaf as close as possible to the bottom of the plant.

Older leaves tend to be thicker, so pick 3-4 leaves from the outside of the plant; they are the ripest and best for nutrients. Slice the leaf in half and scoop out the gel from the inside and cut into cubes, and then cut in half.

For the juice, you should squeeze the cube through the muslin cloth to squeeze the liquid out of the gel. For the gel, you should blend the cubes in the blender for a well-blended gel and apply directly to the scalp and ends of the hair, and massage in.

How do you store aloe vera gel for hair?

Aloe vera will last a few weeks after you have blended and stored it in a jar if refrigerated. If you want to preserve the aloe vera for longer, you can freeze it and then defrost it when being used. You should keep it in an airtight container.

Create enough for a couple of uses; then you should never need to worry about it going bad. 

So there you have everything you need to know when buying the best aloe vera gel for hair. Anyone can benefit from using aloe gel in their hair care routine, whether you have curly, straight, wavy, coily, thick, or thin hair.

Whether you want to improve the health of your natural hair, benefit from the detangling properties or protect your luscious locks from damage, it is a great natural alternative to unlock the ultimate capabilities of your hair.

So choose any of the aloe vera products I have selected for you today, whether that is the aloe vera gel or an aloe plant– aloe vera can be used in both your skin care and for all hair types. So give it a try today; you’ll love the results!