Aloe and Shampoo: A good mix?

When you walk through the store, you see a lot of products advertising that they use aloe, especially shampoo. Most of us just kind of assume that “Hey, if it’s got Aloe, it’s gotta be good, right?” whether or not we have any idea what aloe is in the first place, or what it can do for our hair. So, the question is: what exactly does Aloe do for our hair? If it’s so great, then what makes it so great in the first place?

Aloe Vera and Shampoo

Aloe contains some four hundred species. The type most associated with shampoo and other beauty and health products would be aloe vera, although aloe arborescens also sees some use in health and beauty care products.

The main properties of aloe, as it pertains to health and beauty, are that it soothes, moisturizes and cools. When used in foods and medicine, it can help to combat heart burn, indigestion and irritable bowels, and in shampoo and skin lotion, it can result in smoother, softer skin and hair.

This is why aloe vera is so popular in dandruff shampoos. A big problem with dandruff is simply the dryness, the itchiness, the flaking, and this can easily be combated by greater moisture in your shampoo. In fact, it’s probably safe to say that many of the shampoos that use aloe vera got their idea from dandruff shampoos.

If you use shampoo with aloe vera, you’re likely to find your hair getting silkier, bouncier and more appealing, aesthetically speaking. Chances are, somebody was out of everything but their roommate’s aloe vera dandruff shampoo and gave it a try, stumbling upon it’s capacity to improve the look and feel of the hair itself, rather than simply treating dandruff and other conditions.

Can Aloe Really Work Magic on the Hair?

Interestingly, there has been some controversy surrounding aloe vera. Some have claimed that there aren’t enough studies yet to prove that aloe vera does much for hair and skin, but this seems an odd point of contention. You need only try a bottle of aloe shampoo and see for yourself whether or not it works as advertised.

If you’re not sure, you can always just give it another try. Look for two different types of shampoos that are nearly identical, except for the aloe content. Use the one without aloe for a week, make notes on the results and take some pictures, then do the same with the shampoo containing aloe vera. See if aloe makes a difference.

To answer the question of whether or not aloe and shampoo are a good mix, we’ll put it this way: what harm can it possibly do? The fact remains that most people who give it a try can provide anecdotal evidence that aloe really works. Nobody is reporting that aloe harms their hair.

Aloe Helps Different Hair Types

Aloe tends to benefit various hair types in different ways, as well. For instance…

• Dry Hair

If your hair is exceptionally dry, then the main benefit you’re going to get out of aloe vera is a reduction of frizziness. By moisturizing your hair thoroughly, it will stay in place after you brush or comb it in the morning. Frizziness is annoying, and this is a much more effective remedy than, say, trying to comb it down with gel or spray.

• Damaged Hair

Many people have taken to using aloe vera to repair damaged hair. While some people go so far as to use raw aloe vera plants and apply the juices directly to their scalp, you can really get all the benefits a lot more easily by just shampooing and conditioning with an aloe infused brand. Aloe can really help to restore damaged follicles and scalp.

• Greasy Hair
  

Prone to an oily scalp? Aloe can help with that hair headache as well! Because aloe vera is able to give your pores a good cleaning (the pores on your head can get pretty clogged with dirt, debris, dead skin, and even oil), massaging a mixture of the aloe gel found inside the plant and lemon on your head can make you feel like a whole new you! Say good-bye to grease for good!

• Treated Hair

If your hair is permed, straightened or relaxed, then you know that you need to be careful what you do with it. The wrong shampoo on permed hair can lead to bad knotting and tangling. Luckily, the moisturizing effects of aloe vera help to ensure that you can wash your hair without putting it at risk of being ruined by traditional shampoos that tend to dry hair out.

If you’re still not sure, go to the magazines on your coffee table: you’ll probably find at least a dozen samples of aloe-infused shampoos in those magazines. This way you can give it a try without spending a dime, and you can see for yourself whether or not it really works.

Whether or not you have dandruff, overly dry or sensitive hair or scalp, you can still get some use out of aloe vera. All you need to do is give it a try. If it doesn’t seem to make your hair softer, silkier, smoother and bouncier, then no harm, no foul, you can always go back to your old brand.

Now, aloe on its own isn’t the only thing you need to make for an effective shampoo. Some of us like scented shampoos, or we like really tough, industrial strength shampoos to get the oil out. Some like using a mentholated shampoo to cool our scalps off while we shower. But on top of all of that, aloe can be a very helpful ingredient in moisturizing, softening and improving the texture and feeling of your hair. Check out these aloe shampoo recipes to see all the cool ways aloe shampoo can help your hair!