aloe vera for 4c hair
Another week, another insider DIY hair care tip on 4chairstyles.com.
As a girl with the 4c hair type, you and I both know that the most important natural ingredient for your natural hair is moisture. And a lot of times the harsh weather, the chlorine in the water, and the products that we use can lead to dry hair and hair loss.
Thankfully, a natural resource such as aloe vera is accessible for most of us ladies. The succulent plant is known to be filled with lots of nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that increase moisture and promote healthy hair growth.
Is aloe vera good for 4c hair?
Yes, aloe vera is good for any particular hair type, including natural 4c hair, because it is a natural moisturizer that can help hydrate and nourish your hair.
The aloe plant contains proteolytic enzymes, which repair dead skin cells on your scalp. That helps keep your hair follicles active and in turn, causes better hair health.
In addition, aloe vera gel has humectant properties that help you retain moisture. That prevents an itchy and dry scalp and helps with skin irritation.
By using fresh aloe vera gel on your 4c hair you clean your hair shaft effectively and also help with your ph balance. This increases the blood circulation to your scalp resulting in more hair growth.
Can I use aloe vera gel on my 4c hair every day?
I would not suggest using pure aloe vera gel on your hair every day.
While it may be safe for your hair, overexposing your skin to aloe vera could lead to unwanted side effects such as allergic reactions or even seborrheic dermatitis, a common scalp condition that causes inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff.
Instead, you want to use it once, a maximum of twice a week to reap all the benefits of aloe vera.
If you are new to it, start with a patch test to see how your natural hair reacts to it. If you experience any dryness or irritation, reduce the frequency or discontinue using it altogether.
Of course, pay attention to the product itself and make sure you use a good quality, pure aloe vera gel and not one that contains any chemical or synthetic ingredients.
How do you use aloe vera on 4c hair?
The good thing about aloe vera is its versatility. You can pretty much add it to any natural hair regimen. Because of its many health benefits, it makes a great addition in any form, whether that’s as a hair gel, raw, or processed.
Here are a few ways you can use aloe vera products:
- Pre-poo: Here you use the plant before shampooing your 4c hair. This will remove product buildup and dandruff on your hair, while also moisturizing it. Simply apply it to your hair, massage your scalp and leave it in for ten minutes. After that, you can shampoo or co-wash your hair as usual.
- Deep-conditioner: Mix aloe vera gel with other moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil or castor oil. Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp, then cover your hair with a shower cap. Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it out.
- Leave-in conditioner: Mix aloe vera juice with your favorite leave-in conditioner and pour it into a water spray bottle. Apply the mixture to the areas that need some extra help, such as your edges, bald spots, or dry spots. This will unclog your hair follicles and provide them with the nutrients needed to grow your hair again.
As you can see you can pretty much use aloe vera at any step of your 4c hair care regimen, depending on your natural hair needs.
You can also decide to directly apply the natural aloe vera gel to your hair. Simply squeeze out the raw aloe gel straight from the plant and rub it onto your hair strands and scalp.
Below you will find two ways in which I use aloe vera for natural hair growth.
1. Aloe vera hair mask
Aloe vera hair masks are probably the most common homemade aloe vera recipes. Of course, there are many different natural ingredients you could include to give your natural hair a boost. However, I like to keep my DIY haircare recipes simple and only include ingredients I can find in most grocery stores or on Amazon.
- 1/2 cup of aloe vera gel (pure or boxed)
- 2 tbsp. of yogurt
- 2tsp. of honey
This easy hair mask is a great conditioner because it is very hydrating and helps with frizzy hair.
2. Aloe vera hair oil
I personally enjoy using Aloe Vera as an oil. Given that I tend to get allergic reactions from most essential oils that include castor oil, making self-made aloe vera oil has proven itself as a great alternative.
When applied as oil to specific problem areas you allow the enzymes in the plant to repair dead skin cells and unclog your hair follicles, which brings about new growth. That’s why I decided to create my very own aloe vera oil at home and am sharing a detailed tutorial on how to make aloe vera oil for hair growth.
- 1/2 cup of fresh aloe vera gel
- coconut oil
- extra virgin olive oil
The method we are using is very straightforward and you can try it out for yourself right away.
How to make aloe vera oil for hair growth:
- Rinse the Aloe Vera Leaf
- Cut the aloe leaf into small pieces
- Pour some organic coconut oil into a small pot
- Add some Extra Virgin Olive oil to the pot
- Insert the pieces of aloe vera
- Boil the mixture for about 10 minutes
- Let the oil mixture cool down for 10 minutes
- Once cooled down, pour the oil without the leaves into a mason jar
As you can see, making aloe vera oil is super quick and easy. Once the oil is cooled down you can keep it stored in a dry space. No need to keep it refrigerated.
Can aloe vera be left in 4c hair?
It is safe to leave aloe vera in your natural hair as a leave-in conditioner for example. It can help with moisture retention and an itchy scalp. You can also leave it overnight as a deep-conditioning treatment, which is then rinsed out the next morning.
However, you do not want to leave in large amounts of pure aloe vera gel for longer periods of time as it can lead to side effects. You will get the best results from using aloe vera as a treatment with your deep conditioner on wash day.