Aloe Vera is a cactus like plant (succulent) with a gel like pulp that is thought to have several healing properties and beauty applications as well. Since the first century AD, Aloe Vera has been used for all sorts of medicinal purposes and as a cosmetic agent.
The plant and the pulp found within its fronds is thought to have soothing and nourishing impacts on the skin removing imperfections, imparting natural moisture and having a beneficial effect on aging skin. Is aloe good for the hair as well? Can aloe vera shampoo help with hair loss?
Possible Benefits of Aloe Vera for the Hair
When the frond of the aloe vera plant is split open, the gel extracted and applied directly on to the hair and scalp one can visibly see the benefit for the hair: the hair appears shiny and conditioned as a result of the application. It is also thought that this can help with certain types of hair loss problems.
Supposedly, an enzyme contained in the gel can help to stimulate the scalp and trigger the growth of hair. It is also claimed that aloe has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that could help with certain types of hair loss. Some people also claim that this is a natural solution for dandruff problems and curbing dandruff could also have a positive impact on hair loss problems. The fact that this is a wholly natural way to treat the hair makes it even more appealing.
What About Aloe Vera Shampoo?
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the use of aloe for natural cosmetic purposes. But what about those products – shampoos, conditions, hair packs and so on – which claim to offer all the same benefits? The efficacy of these may be a little more difficult to establish, simply because most commercial products contain fillers, stabilizers, detergents, preservatives, etc. There may be only a small proportion of aloe in the product; so the efficacy may be moot.
The solution could be simply to grow the aloe vera plant at home. The plant is easy to grow in a pot or in a flower bed practically any place that has reasonably warm and sunny climate. It is a hardy plant that takes little looking after. Periodically, a frond can be cut off, the sticky gel scooped out with a spatula and applied directly to the hair and scalp. It is easy enough to do and you don’t have to spend a penny on commercial products.
