Beauty Benefits of Aloe Vera 

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant of the Liliaceae family. A typical Aloe Vera plant has a thick trunk, which stores water. The top of the trunk produces large fleshy leaves, which store water and gel.

We can get so many benefits from Aloe Vera. It contains vitamins, enzymes, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, bioflavonoids, salicylic acid and allantoin which are vital nutrients that help to eliminate dead skin cells and maintain healthy skin.

Aloe vera is full of vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, minerals, mucopolysaccharides and polysaccharides. Aloe also has anti-inflammatory properties. The gel can protect skin from UVB damage. It's also a natural antibacterial agent, which makes it good for acne-prone skin, as well as psoriasis.

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with thick, fleshy, semi transparent leaves. It is mostly known for its ability to soothe burns and other skin conditions. But its benefits don’t stop there! Aloe vera also helps fight infections, increase immunity and reduce inflammation.

In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, aloe vera gel is used as a laxative and an anti-inflammatory agent. In fact, it was used as a remedy for constipation by the ancient Egyptians as well. In addition to fixing digestive issues, aloe gel has so many other uses – from easing sunburns and soothing eczema to even battling cancer.

Is Aloe Vera Good for Hair?

Aloe vera itself is natural, so you are getting the benefits of the plant without any chemical additives or artificial ingredients. Many products that are made with aloe vera are effective against dandruff because it has antifungal properties. A few drops of aloe vera gel mixed with coconut oil makes an excellent moisturizer for both the scalp and the hair.

Here are some hair benefits of aloe vera:

1. Aloe vera is used as a hair conditioner because of its softening and moisturizing properties. It helps to keep hair hydrated. This ultimately helps to reduce hair fall and dandruff. 

2. It also gives hair a natural, subtle sheen that makes hair look fuller and provides a healthy shine. Aloe vera cleanses the hair shaft efficiently, removing all the extra sebum and residue from other hair products. 

3. Since it acts as a good hair moisturizer, it gives your hair additional strength and shine. Unlike other chemicals in hair products, aloe vera is gentle and preserves the integrity of your hair. 

4. Aloe vera gel can easily be obtained from an aloe vera leaf. Simply carefully remove the outer skin of the leaf and wring out the gel. This gel can be applied directly to the hair to thicken the hair strands.

5. Aloe vera contains Vitamin A, C and E which contribute to cell turnover, promoting healthy cell growth and shiny hair. Vitamin B12 and folic acid in aloe vera can keep your hair from falling out. However, there are very few studies that point towards the fact that aloe vera is beneficial for preventing hair loss. 

6. Aloe vera is a popular product that people use on their skin after sun exposure. This is because of its high collagen content and cooling effect. The vitamin content in aloe vera suggests that it might work to repair sun damage to your hair as well.

How to Use Aloe Vera for Hair?

Aloe Vera can be used to treat several hair issues including dandruff, dry scalp, hair loss, split ends and frizzy hair. Aloe Vera can help in soothing your scalp, encouraging hair growth and improving the health of your hair.

Aloe Vera is good for strengthening the roots of the hair. When applied to the scalp, it can stimulate the production of cells that repair damaged areas of the scalp. This helps strengthen the roots of your hair thereby preventing baldness.

To get rid of dandruff, you can make an aloe vera and yoghurt hair mask. Choose full-fat, plain, unsweetened Greek yoghurt. Mix 2 tablespoons of yoghurt with 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Apply this mask on your scalp and hair roots and let it dry for 15 minutes. Wash it off using an SLS-free shampoo. For best results, use it once a week.

Potential Risks

The various vitamins and minerals present in Aloe Vera gel are believed to boost the immune system, prevent cancer growth, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, regulate blood pressure, detoxify the body, promote weight loss, boost the production of HGH (human growth hormone) and even help to relieve pain.

However, while using aloe vera topically, it is highly recommended to perform a patch test first because some people are allergic to it. Rub a small amount of aloe vera on the inside of your wrist and wait up to 2 hours to see if your skin reacts poorly. This will let you know if you have aloe sensitivity.

You should also be careful with topical aloe vera if you are using any hydrocortisone cream on your skin. Aloe vera can increase the amount of cortisone that your skin is absorbing when the two are used together.

Take Away

Aloe vera has amazing benefits for our health, it has been known to fight acne, relieve stress, reduce inflammation, treat diabetes, reduce ulcers, improve digestion, lower cholesterol levels, cleanse the liver and purify the blood.

The plant has several beauty benefits too. It helps with hair care by nourishing it and preventing hair loss. It is used in some hair care products because it stimulates hair growth.