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Aloe vera gel has become a popular hair treatment for natural, wavy, or curly hair, but you may be wondering whether you should use it daily. Keep reading to learn whether using aloe vera gel every day is safe and healthy for your hair.
Important Note: We are talking about aloe vera hair gel. You should never put general-purpose aloe gel on your hair, as that often has alcohol in it.
What Is Aloe Vera Gel?
Using aloe vera gel as a hair treatment can strengthen your strands, add moisture and hydration, and remove dandruff. But, if you’re using aloe vera every day, it could lead to problems with your hair, including damage to your hair follicles, excessive dryness, and hair breakage.
You may have heard of aloe vera gel in the context of haircare or skincare, but what exactly is it? Well, aloe vera is a succulent plant that produces a gel that has numerous health benefits.
Aloe vera gel contains many nutrients, including:
- Fatty acids
- Amino acids
- Vitamins
- Minerals
Using aloe vera gel several times a week can improve your hair health, add volume and definition, and promote hair growth. But, using the product every day can harm your scalp and hair health.
In this article, we’ll reveal why you should avoid using aloe vera gel daily. We’ll also explain how often you should use aloe vera gel on your hair to reap the benefits of the plant and improve your hair’s health.
Can I Use Aloe Vera Gel Daily?
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While aloe vera gel is good for your hair occasionally, there are a few problems with using it every day. If you use aloe vera gel every day, it can cause damage to your hair follicles, reduce your hair’s volume, and cause excessive dryness and hair breakage.
Damage to Your Hair Follicles
In small doses, aloe vera can add moisture and hydration to your scalp and hair. But, if you use aloe vera every day, the extra moisture will weaken your hair follicles.
Weakened hair follicles can cause:
- Excess frizz
- Visible lack of shine or dullness
- Your hair won’t hold a curl but will hang limply
- Excess split ends
- Rarely, pieces of your hair can fall out
Lack of Volume
Aloe vera gel is ideal for curly, wavy, or natural hair types because it provides volume and definition if you use the product as an occasional hair mask or conditioner.
But, if you use aloe vera every day, the gel will begin to weigh your curls down and cause you to lose volume. The result will be hair that is brittle or stiff to the touch, and hair that is unable to hold a curve or a wave.
Excessive Dryness
In small doses, aloe vera gel can be used to fight dryness. But, if you use it too regularly, it can cause your hair follicles to lock out moisture, causing dry and stiff hair.
If your hair becomes excessively dry, it will cause:
- Brittle or crisp hair textures
- Excess split ends or hair breakage
- Dandruff
- Excess frizz
A Buildup of a Dandruff-Like Substance
Aloe vera gel, as it breaks down or is washed out of your hair, leaves behind a buildup of the product. The buildup can appear like dandruff because it will be visible throughout your scalp and hair.
If you use excess aloe vera, your hair and scalp will be unable to properly absorb the gel, causing increased amounts of dandruff-like buildup to appear. Pieces of the unabsorbed product will just sit on your scalp and hair strands, unable to be washed out.
Hair Breakage
Applying aloe hair gel every day will slowly wear your hair down because of the excess oil and moisture. Your scalp and hair will be unable to absorb all of the product, leading to hair breakage.
Hair breakage can cause split ends and hair texture that is brittle or stiff to the touch. It can also cause your hair to be unable to hold a wave or curl, and in rare cases, it can even lead to hair loss or fallout.
Benefits of Using Aloe Vera Gel on Your Hair
While you should avoid using aloe vera gel daily, we recommend using the product on your hair a maximum of two to three times a week to get more of the treatment.
If you use aloe vera gel several times a week, it can lead to healthier hair. The benefits include:
- Increasing hydration and moisturization in your hair and scalp
- Adding volume and definition to your hair
- Reducing dandruff, frizz, and itchy scalps
- Accelerating hair growth
Aloe vera hair gel can allow you to hold curves and waves for long periods. If you use aloe vera as a hair mask, it can also clean, condition, and detangle your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the use of aloe vera gel on hair.
How often should you use aloe vera gel as a hair treatment?
To reap the benefits of aloe vera gel, use it on your hair one or two times a week. For excessively dry hair, you can apply the product two to three times a week. This will cause the product to seep into your scalp and hair, adding moisture and hydration, but without drying out your hair.
What are the benefits of using aloe vera gel on your hair?
If you use aloe vera gel two to three times a week, it will add volume and definition to your hair. It will also reduce dandruff and itching on your scalp and will strengthen your hair follicles and strand. If you have wavy, curly, or natural hair, aloe vera gel will allow you to better retain your curls.
How long should aloe vera gel be left in your hair?
If you are using aloe vera gel as a hair mask, you should leave the product in your hair for at least 30 minutes to an hour, but preferably, as many hours as you can. You can even leave the product in your hair overnight. After it has time to seep into your scalp, hair follicles, and hair strands, you should completely wash the product out of your hair.
Should you put aloe vera gel on dry or wet hair?
If you are using aloe vera as a conditioner, you should apply it to your wet hair after shampooing. To use aloe vera as a hair mask, dampen your hair with water before spreading it all over your scalp and hair strands, from your roots to your tips.
How long does it take for aloe vera gel to improve your hair?
Once you start using aloe vera gel on your hair several times a week, you should see the results after a few weeks. You will need to use the product as a hair mask or conditioner regularly to get the full benefits, but you can also use the product for added moisture and hydration whenever your hair or scalp needs it.
So, Should You Use Aloe Vera Gel on Your Hair Every Day?
Using aloe vera gel on your hair as a treatment can improve your hair and scalp health. But you shouldn’t use the product every day. Instead, use aloe vera gel two to three times a week, or whenever your hair needs a moisture boost, or add definition to hold your curves or waves. Happy styling!