The Facts About Aloe Vera for Hair Growth

Did you know that you can use aloe vera for healthier hair growth? This succulent can help fight toxins in your body, and is loaded with nutrients that are great for your body as well as for your hair.

Often times it is good to be the non-conformist in the group, and the aloe plant is no exception – while most plants do not contain essential amino acids, aloe does. Amino acids are those building blocks of protein that the body cannot manufacture and are usually only found in meat. Aloe vera actually contains 20 of the 22 human-required and seven out of eight essential amino acids, some of which are vital for producing keratin. You can use aloe vera for hair health both topically and by ingesting it.

Aloe vera also has the ability to absorb and remove toxins as it goes through your digestive system, which keeps your stomach in balance. It helps the digestive system and promotes good gut bacteria. Remember that there are many causes of hair loss, which usually work together to set off triggers. To get away from that, the hair needs to be nourished from the outside in. Natural ingredients are best, with no chemicals, toxins or hormones to mess up your system; after all, we are trying to correct an imbalance, not add to it.

Some plants just naturally do their job, such as horsetail or saw palmetto. But aloe vera is particularly outstanding. Here is how it works. First of all it stimulates blood circulation along the scalp. Blood circulation and a healthy scalp are important parts of the hair growth cycle. In the first hair cycle phase, anagen, hair is growing and cells are dividing. In order to do this the follicles must be nourished, and they rely on blood circulation to feed them. Hair grows from the root, or follicle, and the follicle relies on blood supply; if blood vessels are clogged, the blood supply will be cut off and hair growth will go into its resting phase for an indefinite period of time. Circulation will be non-existent and the anagen phase of the hair grow cycle will be interrupted, so you will shed hair.

Secondly, aloe vera is chock-full of nutrients, has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and will slough off dead cells, dandruff and sebum that can clog the hair follicle. Seborrhea, which is an accumulation of sebum on the scalp, contributes to hair loss.

Finally, aloe vera is alkalizing which brings the pH balance of the hair to a better level, promoting hair growth and helping the hair retain water and moisture. That is how aloe vera for hair growth can help you if you have problems with thinning hair.

Aloe vera has anti-pruritic properties, which simply means it lessens itching and dryness of the skin, which can be a symptom of pruritus ailments, like psoriasis of the scalp. Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease, is characterized by the excessive production of skin cells and buildup of dead cells on the skin’s surface. The anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of aloe vera soothes the skin, reduces redness, scaling, itching and inflammation of the scalp. This helps to increase the scalp health and to promote hair growth. It is also extremely moisturizing and penetrates deep into the skin. Aloe vera can also be eaten, and then detoxifies the body from within.

We have done a lot of research at Nutrafol, and much shows that a combination of internal (such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, illnesses) and external (such as environmental toxins) triggers can create a never-ending cascade of free radicals – those rogue cells responsible for aging and diseases.

To work around these factors and maintain good hair health, you can use a natural hair supplement to help get your body back on the right track. Make sure that your hair supplement targets all the different aspects of hair health through a variety of ingredients. Of course, always remember that it’s important to wind down and eat a balanced diet.

Photo credit: Aloe Vera, courtesy of [titanium22 via Flickr]