If your scalp feels dry or your hair needs a little extra conditioning, you don’t necessarily need a complicated hair treatment.
A simple combination of fresh aloe vera gel and a little coconut or olive oil can make a soothing, conditioning treatment at home. The important part is understanding what this mixture actually is: a fresh hair treatment to use promptly, not a shelf-stable oil that should sit in a bottle for weeks.
Fresh aloe contains a lot of water, which makes homemade aloe mixtures more prone to microbial growth. That’s why preparation, cleanliness, and storage matter just as much as the ingredients themselves.
What This Aloe Hair Treatment Is Like
The aloe gives the mixture a light, fresh feel, while the carrier oil adds more richness and helps condition the hair.
Coconut oil tends to feel more substantial, especially on dry or coarse hair. Olive oil has a richer, smoother feel and can be a good choice if your hair already responds well to it.
This isn’t a miracle hair-growth treatment, and there isn’t enough good evidence to promise that a homemade aloe-and-oil mixture will make hair grow faster. Think of it instead as a simple conditioning treatment for the scalp and hair.
What You’ll Need
- 2 tablespoons fresh aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
You’ll also need:
- A clean spoon
- A small, clean bowl
- A clean towel
If you’re using coconut oil and it is solid, warm a small amount between your hands or gently soften it until it becomes liquid. It should be warm—not hot.
Before You Cut the Aloe Leaf
If you’re using fresh aloe directly from a plant, don’t use the whole leaf.
Aloe leaves contain different parts. The clear inner gel is different from the yellow latex found closer to the outer part of the leaf. Aloe latex contains compounds such as aloin, so you want to work with the clear inner gel rather than the yellow material.
Cut away the base of the leaf and allow the yellow sap to drain. Then rinse the leaf well.
Carefully remove the green outer skin and collect only the clear inner gel.
If the gel looks yellow rather than clear, don’t use that portion.
How to Make the Aloe Vera Hair Treatment
1. Prepare the gel
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of clear aloe gel.
If the gel contains large pieces, mash it with a clean spoon until it has a smoother consistency.
2. Add your oil
Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or olive oil.
Mix the two together as thoroughly as you can.
Don’t worry if the mixture isn’t perfectly smooth. Aloe gel contains water, so it won’t behave exactly like a traditional oil infusion.
3. Do a small skin test first
Before putting the mixture all over your scalp, apply a small amount to a small area of skin.
Aloe used topically is generally well tolerated, but burning, itching, rash, and eczema have been reported in some people.
If you notice irritation, wash the area and don’t use the mixture.
4. Apply it to the scalp and hair
Part your hair into a few sections and apply a small amount to the scalp with your fingertips.
You don’t need to soak your hair.
Work any remaining mixture through the lengths and ends, particularly if those areas tend to feel dry.
A gentle application is enough. There’s no need for vigorous scrubbing.
