Why You Should Include Aloe Vera in Your Hair-Care Routine

Aloe vera is commonly used to treat a variety of skin concerns including sunburns, dry skin and acne — but the gooey substance that comes from the aloe plant can also be very beneficial for your hair. “Aloe contains vitamins A, C and E — all three of these contribute to healthy cell growth in hair,” explains Ashley Streicher, the consulting celebrity hairstylist for Garnier. Along with its strengthening properties, she explains that aloe can also help to make hair shinier, soothe the scalp and potentially lead to hair growth.

“When your scalp is clean and your hair is conditioned with aloe, you may see less breakage and overall healthier scalp and strands,” Streicher says. “Healthy, fast-growing hair starts with a healthy, moisturized scalp.”

Streicher explains that anyone can benefit from incorporating aloe into their hair-care routine regardless of their hair type — whether that means applying it directly from the plant to your scalp or using an aloe-infused product. If you don’t have a fresh aloe plant on hand or simply prefer the latter, you can find some of our favorite hair-care products that are specially formulated with aloe, below.