6 Benefits of Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera for Hair Backed by Science
Healthy, strong, shiny hair indicates good health and good hair care habits. Including natural products like coconut oil and aloe vera for hair is one of the good hair care habits you can have.
Coconut oil and aloe vera for hair have been used since ancient times and are a part of traditional medicine. According to a research study, coconut oil is one of the best natural hair care products. It reduces the loss of hair proteins and helps to get shiny, tangle-free, strong, and healthy hair.
A study addressed aloe vera as a miracle plant and elaborated its medicinal benefits as well as its benefits for hair. Another study reported the use of aloe vera in treating and preventing dandruff.
Benefits of coconut oil and aloe vera for hair
After going through several scientific research papers published in well-known journals, here is a list of major benefits of coconut oil and aloe vera for hair:
1. Healthy Hair Growth
Coconut oil mixed with fresh aloe vera pulp, applied to the hair, promotes healthy hair growth by nourishing the hair cells with vitamin A, C, B12, and folic acids. Healthy hair means stronger hair that is not frizzy and tangled. You may notice an improvement in both the quality and quantity of hair.
2. Natural Hair Conditioner
Coconut oil and aloe vera are natural conditioners for hair. They provide essential proteins to your scalp and hair follicles, thus nourishing and healing the damaged hair.
3. Shiny and Silky Long Hair
Coconut oil, along with aloe vera, reduces protein loss and protein breakdown from your hair. This not only helps in repairing the damaged hair but also gives strength, shine, and natural silkiness to your hair, making your hair look less frizzy and dry.
4. Dandruff-free Hair
Coconut oil and aloe vera mixture are known to treat dandruff (a common condition that causes the scalp skin to flake). Scalp inflammation and fungal infection are two common causes of dandruff. Coconut oil and aloe vera mixture have anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Hence, they are beneficial in the treatment of dandruff.
5. Prevents Hair Fall And Hair Thinning
Aloe Vera is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folic acid. It contains seven out of the eight essential amino acids and 20 other amino acids. Applying such a nutrient-rich mixture to your hair prevents hair thinning, strengthens hair roots, and prevents hair fall.
6. Natural Hair Styling Gel And Serum
Aloe vera, being rich in vitamins and minerals, acts as a natural serum and nourishes the hair. It is also used as a styling gel, especially for dry and frizzy hair.
Coconut oil and aloe vera can be applied to any type of hair, from oily to dry, frizzy, and curly hair. Now that you know how beneficial coconut oil and aloe vera for your hair. Let us understand how you can use coconut oil and aloe vera for hair.
The best way to use coconut oil and aloe vera for hair is by making a mixture of these two ingredients. A paste-like mixture of coconut oil and aloe vera gel for hair is popularly known as a hair mask.
A hair mask can be made by mixing two tablespoons of fresh aloe vera pulp and one tablespoon of virgin coconut oil kept at room temperature.
Follow the below-mentioned steps to apply the hair mask prepared:
- Divide your long hair into sections
- Apply a towel around your neck to prevent your clothes from staining
- Apply the hair mask beginning from the mid-shafts of your hair up till the hair roots
- Coat the entire divided hair sections with the hair mask in a similar fashion
- You may use a comb to detangle your hair and to ensure even spread of the hair mask
- Gently massage the scalp with the hair mask
- Apply a headcover (shower cap or towel) to prevent your masked hair from drying and becoming hard
- Wait for at least 30 minutes before washing your hair
- Repeat this once every week to get the desired results
References -
G. S. Vala, P. K. Kapadiya, December 2014; Medicinal Benefits of Coconut Oil -https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Debjit-Bhowmik-3/publication/304253232_Aloe_Vera_The_Miracle_Plant_Its_Medicinal_and_Traditional_Uses_in_India/links/576ad9d108aefcf135bd4f10/Aloe-Vera-The-Miracle-Plant-Its-Medicinal-and-Traditional-Uses-in-India.pdf
R. Rajeswari, M. Umadevi1, C. Sharmila Rahale , R.Pushpa, S. Selva Venkadesh; Aloe Vera: The Miracle Plant Its Medicinal and Traditional Uses in India -