Aloe Vera for hair care
For generations, the ideal picture of an Indian woman has been one with thick and long hair. Even today, the modern woman dreams of the same. However, the challenges with hair hall have only exemplified over the years. Stress, consumption of junk food, pollution in the cities, hair colouring and straightening have made matters worse. However, there is no need for you to sit at home and lose hope. Instead, you can look for simple home remedies that will aid in hair care.
Among the host of available home remedies, one of the most beneficial for the hair is that of aloe vera. Rich in proteolytic enzymes, it boosts scalp health. The amino acids present in it help to tackle hair fall by providing the required nourishment to the hair follicles. If you are someone who suffers from dandruff, flaking and other irritable conditions associated with a dry scalp, the antifungal and antiviral properties of aloe vera will help you. The fact that aloe vera has rich moisture content will also work in your favour. The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera will also bring down irritation and aggravation of the scalp. Now, for a plant with so many benefits for the hair, the challenge is knowing how to make the most of it. Here, we have uncovered 6 tips to help you with it.
Castor oil and aloe vera
Make a smooth paste from 2 tablespoons each of castor oil and fenugreek powder and a cup of fresh aloe vera gel. Starting from the roots apply it to your hair till you reach the tips. Take special care to ensure that the roots and the tip are well covered. Once you are confident, cover your hair in a shower cap and head for the bed for the night. If you are scared of staining, you may wrap a towel over the shower cap for additional safety. The next morning, rinse off the hair pack with plain water and then use shampoo. For best results apply this pack twice a week. It will also prove beneficial to women battling issues of hair breakage and split ends.
Egg and aloe vera
Eggs are an excellent conditioning agent and best when mixed with aloe vera gel and applied once a week. Take an egg and separate its yolk. To the yolk add 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. For at least 15 minutes use this paste and massage your scalp. Let it stand for 20 minutes before washing it off with water. Once done, use a shampoo for best cleansing. Make sure that you do not use warm water at any stage of the washing as that will cause the egg yolk to cook and result in messy and disastrous results on your hair.
Lemon and aloe vera
This is one of the easiest to prepare a paste and is known to give good results. All you have to do is take a teaspoon of lemon juice and add that to 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel. Being rich in Vitamin C, lemon fosters the synthesis of collagen and that promotes hair growth. While massaging the hair with this paste, start with the tips and proceed to the scalp. As lemon juice is an excellent agent for bringing back the pH level of the hair, it is advised that you use a mild shampoo after you have allowed the paste to stay on your hair for 30 minutes. Use this pack once every week or fortnight.
Fenugreek seeds and aloe vera
Take about 2 teaspoons of fenugreek seeds and soak them overnight. The next morning, grind them to a fine paste and add 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel to it. Blend it to a fine paste. Fenugreek adds moisture to the hair and thereby aids in the treatment of dandruff. Apply this mixture to your hair and let it stand for an hour. If you want, you may use a shower cap to hold your hand meanwhile. Wash your hair with your usual shampoo and use a conditioner afterward. This is recommended once a week.
Honey, coconut oil and aloe vera
Coconut oil and honey help to seal the moisture in your hair shafts. When this is combined with aloe vera, you can bid adieu to all the problems associated with dry hair. Take about 5 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and to that, you add 3 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of honey and blend them to a smooth paste. Massage your scalp with this paste ensuring that all the tips are well covered. Once done, let it stand for 25 minutes before washing it off with shampoo. Make sure that you do not use any conditioner after that. Try to do that once a week for 2-3 months to notice visible results.
Baking soda, honey, coconut milk, and aloe vera
Mix 4 tablespoons of aloe vera, 2 tablespoons of coconut milk and2 tablespoons of honey in a bowl. Start by rinsing your hair with cold water and then using this paste as a shampoo to cleanse your hair. Try to leave it on your hair for a couple of minutes more than your conventional shampoo. Once done, rinse it off with plain water. Now take two tablespoons of baking soda in your palm and add a couple of drops of water to it.
Baking soda is an excellent cleansing agent and will help you to get rid of any grease or unwanted oils in your hair. Once you have covered all your hair with it, rinse it off with cold water. If you are looking for the best results out of it, use this shampoo substitute once a week. This way, one of the shampoo days of the week will be your conventional shampoo and this will be the other day.
By switching to home-based remedies using aloe vera, you are submitting yourself to nature. This will help to undo the effects of stress and pollution and give you the thick, long and lustrous hair that you had always wanted.
