The benefits of Aloe Vera for hair can be traced to its 75 known nutrients, but it is hypothesized that Aloe Vera, or aloe barbadensis, contains over 100 traceable nutrients. It should come as no surprise that Simply Organic Beauty would take advantage of this awesome plant as an ingredient in many of our products.

1) Promotes Hair Growth

According to University of Hawaii researchers, we can trace the use of Aloe Vera for hair loss back to the ancient Egyptians. In fact, Aloe Vera contains enzymes that directly promote healthy hair growth. These proteolytic enzymes are able to eradicate dead skin cells on the scalp that could be clogging the hair follicle, not allowing for the proper penetration of nutrients in the hair.

Conditions like seborrhea, which occurs from an accumulation of sebum on the scalp, can contribute to partial baldness. Aloe Vera’s keratolytic action breaks down the sebum and dead scalp cells, allowing for further hair growth. Also, Aloe Vera’s alkalizing properties can help bring the scalp and hair’s pH to a more desirable level, resulting in further hair growth promotion, while helping the hair retain water and moisture.

2) Alleviates Itching

Aloe Vera has antipruritic properties that can alleviate itching and dryness. Pruritus ailments include vexing skin and scalp issues, like psoriasis and eczema. Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease characterized by the excessive production of skin cells. Recall, Aloe Vera’s enzymatic properties enables it to destroy excessive dead skin cells, while conditioning the skin and scalp.

Since excess skin cell production is at the heart of Psoriasis’ existence, you could see why Aloe is able help eliminate this issue. Aloe can also reduce the redness, scaling, itching and inflammation of scalp psoriasis, which directly benefits the hair, as well.

In a study reported in Archives of Dermatology, more than 80% of the psoriasis patients treated with Aloe Vera showed improvement.

When coloring hair, it is advisable to use hair colors or lighteners that contain Aloe Vera to prevent irritation. O&M Pearl Lightener is enriched with the soothing properties of Aloe Vera, so it is gentle on the hair and scalp.

3) Calms Inflammation

Historically, one of the primary uses of Aloe Vera has been to reduce redness and inflammation both internally and externally. In fact, Aloe Vera has long been used on burns and external wounds as an antiseptic to reduce swelling and eliminate bacteria.

The ingredients responsible for this calming property is Bradykinase, and analgesic anti-inflammatory enzyme, as well as salicylic acid, which is an aspirin-like compound with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial properties.

4) Reduces Dandruff

Because of the aforementioned enzymatic breakdown of dead skin cells from Aloe Vera, this multifunctional plant has also been used for the treatment of dandruff. There could be many underlying causes of dandruff (like the previously mentioned conditions), but most doctors attribute its existence to malassezia, a fat-eating fungus that can live on the scalp.

Luckily, in addition to breaking down the dead skin cells, Aloe Vera also has anti-fungal properties. This is because fungus thrives in an acidic environment, and the alkalizing attributes of Aloe Vera counter a proactive fungal environment, disallowing further growth and buildup.

To prevent any bacteria and fungus from thriving, wash hair and scalp regularly with shampoos formulated with Aloe Vera, like Oway Soothing Hair Bath, to take advantage of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

5) Conditions Hair & Scalp

In addition to soothing and eradicating any skin and scalp problems, the benefits of Aloe Vera for hair as a great conditioning agent is amazing. The gel-like substance of the Aloe barbadensis leaf gives it a similar chemical composition of keratin, the naturally occurring protein in hair cells. This structural similarity allows for easier penetration along the entire length of the hair shaft.

We can credit these penetration properties to the lignins found in Aloe Vera, the major structural material of the cellulose content. It has been proven that the skin can absorb the benefits of Aloe Vera up to 7 layers deep.

Since our scalps are more absorbent than our skin, can you imagine the conditioning benefits available to the scalp? The combination of Aloe Vera’s 20 amino acids (which are the building blocks of hair and scalp) also adds both strength and luster to the hair. So when you’re styling any type of hair, look for serums or sprays, like O&M’s Atonic Thickening Spritz, that contain Aloe Vera.

Benefits of Aloe Vera for Hair Summarized:

• Relieves Scalp Itching
• Reduces Scalp Redness & Inflammation
• Adds Strength & Luster To Hair
• pH Balancing
• Promotes Hair Growth
• Heals Scalps Affected By Psoriasis & Seborrhea
• Easily Penetrates Hair & Scalp
• Anti- Fungal Properties Alleviates Dandruff
• Helps Hair Retain Water & Moisture