Aloe Vera Benefits For Skin And Hair:
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So many products we see today contain aloe vera. From moisturizers to toilet paper and everything in between, many products boast of the fact that it includes this miracle plant. Moreover, the health, beauty, and nutrition industries are flooded with products containing aloe vera. Check out ways to use aloe vera for acne. Although aloe vera has been popular in India only over the last few years, it has actually been around for thousands of years and has some beautiful nicknames across various cultures including ‘the burn plant,’ ‘the medicine plant,’ ‘the silent healer, and a great nickname from Japan – ‘isha irazu’ literally meaning ‘no need for a doctor.’
An Ancient Remedy:
The benefits of aloe vera have been known since ancient times. There is also evidence of its use. For example, Aristotle advised Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra to secure its aloe harvest for his troops. It is also well known that the great queen of Egypt, Cleopatra used aloe to keep her skin soft and beautiful.
Mahatma Gandhi too mentioned aloe vera and its benefits while fasting. Christopher Columbus once said, “Four vegetables are indispensable for the well-being of man. They are wheat, grape, olive, and aloe. The first nourishes you, the second raises the spirit, the third brings you harmony, and the fourth cures you.
Fast forward to the 21st century and people the world over grow, eat, blitz, blend, drink, and apply aloe vera to their body as a way of gaining optimum health, both inside and out. Modern Science validates the ancient wisdom of aloe vera while thousands of aloe-based studies have documented numerous areas of support provided by aloe vera.
The Aloe Vera Plant:
Although the aloe vera plant looks like a cactus, it is, in fact, a perennial plant in the Lily family, related to onions, garlic, and asparagus. There are over 400 species of aloe vera in the world, but only four to five may be used – The best being Aloe Barbadensis Miller. This is a subtropical succulent plant that can store a lot of water. In its leaves, there is a viscous jelly which in addition to water contains a unique mixture of substances.
Aloe Vera Benefits For Skin And Hair:
Succulent and transparent, the moist, thick sap squeezed from aloe vera leaves has natural soothing properties that are rapidly absorbed into the skin or digestive system. However, aloe is most popular for its benefits to the skin. This is because its gel contains a special substance called lignin that helps it to penetrate deep inside the skin.
While oil-based substances tend to stay on top of the skin and water-based substances penetrate only till the second layer, aloe penetrates down to the seventh and final layer of the skin providing nourishment right where it is needed. This penetrative quality, along with its rich composition, gives aloe diverse skin and hair care applications.
Antiseptic:
Aloe vera is used to treat sunburns and skin abrasions. It is also a natural alternative to antibiotics
Anti Allergen:
It helps prevent prickly heat, itching, itchy scalp, and other histamine reactions. It is particularly good for the eye area, as other products often cause an allergic reaction
Keratolic Agent:
Aloe vera helps replace damaged skin with new skin cells
Natural Cleanser:
It is a good alternative to detergent-based soaps and shampoos
Best Moisturiser:
Aloe vera penetrates deep into the skin and restores lost liquids. Apart from this, aloe has excellent antiageing qualities as well
Homemade Aloe Vera Packs For Skin:
1. Aloe Vera Face Pack To Get Rid Of Loose Skin:
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera
- 1/2 egg white
- 1 spoon almond powder
- Soak the almond powder in milk overnight
- Add aloe vera and egg white in the almond paste
- Apply all over the face and neck; you can apply it to your hands too
- Wash off with lukewarm water after 20 mins
2. Aloe Vera Face Pack For Tan Removal:
For oily skin
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera, fresh coconut water
- 1 tablespoon Fullers’s earth (Multani Mitti)
For dry skin
- 1 teaspoon oatmeal powder should be added with the above ingredients
3. Anti Pigmentation Aloe Vera Face Pack:
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon papaya paste, almond powder
- Mix and apply all over your face and neck
- Slightly rub off the pack with milk (dry skin) or rosewater (oily skin) after 15-20 minutes and rinse with water.
Home Remedies With Aloe Vera For Hair:
1. Hair Mask For Dandruff:
- Two tablespoons fresh aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Two tablespoons yogurt
- Olive oil Mix and massage this paste into your scalp for 15 minutes
- Wash it off with warm water after 30 minutes
- You can use this hair mask once a week
2. Mask To Prevent Premature Greying:
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon or more curry leaf juice
- The paste of 1 red hibiscus flower
- Mix and massage all over the scalp
- Wash off with water boiled with hibiscus leaves
- Rinse with plain water
3. Hair Mask for Growth And Nourishment:
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon fresh coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Mix and massage this mixture into the scalp and hair for 15 mins
- After 30 minutes, wrap a hot towel around your head
- Leave it on for 15 mins more and wash off with luke water and a mild shampoo
4. Aloe Vera Hair Oil Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon fresh onion juice
- Olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil 1 teaspoon each
Procedure To Apply Effectively:
- Mix all the ingredients and massage them into your scalp
- Bend down and comb your hair from the back of your neck to the forehead for three-four minutes
- Tie your hair and wash it with warm water after an hour
- Condition your hair with conditioner if required
Word of caution:
The rind of the aloe vera leaf is a strong laxative and is best avoided. Avoid using chemical-based products with aloe vera on the skin. Due to the high amount of lignin in aloe, those chemicals penetrate the skin as well.
One cannot make a good product of bad raw materials. Therefore, beware of buying aloe vera that contains no aloe. In lab tests, several generic store-brand aloe vera gels don’t appear to contain any aloe at all! Therefore, it is good to find products with aloe vera as the main ingredient.
Is aloe vera shampoo good for hair?
In fact, aloe vera works wonders on all hair types. If you have damaged hair, using an aloe shampoo will restore damaged follicles and scalp. For those who are prone to an oily scalp, buy aloe vera shampoo to wash away dirt, debris, dead skin, and oil clogging your follicles.
What can I mix with aloe vera for my hair?
Aloe vera gel and lavender oil for hair growth: To use both together you need to mix 1/2 a cup of aloe vera gel and 15 drops of lavender essential oil in a bowl. Apply it on the entire length of your hair and on your scalp after a hair wash. Do it regularly for better results.
How can I use aloe vera on my hair?
You can directly apply the raw aloe vera gel to your hair and scalp. Work it in with your hands into your scalp, hair, and ends. To help seal in the moisture, apply a few drops of castor oil and massage in. Leave the aloe vera in for about 30 minutes and then rinse off.
What can I mix with aloe vera for hair growth?
You can use Aloe vera gel and honey together for hair growth. You need to mix two tablespoons each of aloe vera gel and honey, and a tablespoon of yogurt to make a hair mask. Apply from hair roots to tips and massage gently after 10-15 minutes.
