How to Use Spray Aloe Vera for Healthier Hair

Guess what my favorite natural hair product is? It’s spray aloe vera!

I try to buy natural skincare and haircare products as much as possible. Most haircare products are full of preservatives, fragrances, and other chemicals that can actually be very harmful to your hair.

Aloe vera, on the other hand, is very safe to use topically, unless you have a rare allergic reaction. Aloe is a natural moisturizer, which makes it a wonderful conditioner for healthier hair. I primarily use aloe vera on my hair for four reasons:

·       To soften my often hair

·       To moisturize my scalp

·       To detangle my hair

·       To decrease hair loss

Although aloe vera also boosts hair growth for some people, I’ll be honest. I haven’t seen any proof of that yet for my own hair. But aloe vera is still my go-to natural hair product, and it just might become yours as well.

Aloe Vera Spray vs. Gel for Hair

Before using spray aloe vera for healthier hair, I used aloe vera gel. The benefits of using aloe vera gel instead of a spray is that you can spread it through your hair like shampoo, and you can apply a thicker layer of aloe. However, spray aloe vera is much easier and quicker to apply.

So which one is best for healthier hair?

When to Use Aloe Vera Gel for Hair

If you want to replace your deep conditioner with aloe vera, then I suggest using aloe vera gel. You can apply it just like a regular conditioner, and let it soak in the shower before rinsing it out. Some people don’t rinse out the aloe vera at all, but I prefer to rinse it out because the gel can leave a sticky residue behind.

Just be sure to use aloe vera gels that are almost 100% aloe, instead of having a lot of added ingredients that could harm your hair. You can also use aloe vera straight from the plant, although fresh aloe vera gel may leave small flakes and particles in your hair after soaking in.

For more info, check out my post on four ways you can use aloe vera as a conditioner.

When to Use Spray Aloe Vera for Hair

While aloe vera gel makes a great deep conditioner, aloe vera spray is the perfect replacement for leave-in conditioner. It’s less sticky and it doesn’t leave flakes in my hair. If my hair is extra windblown, tangled, or just feeling dry and frizzy, aloe vera spray is the perfect product to spruce it up.

I also use spray aloe vera as a scalp treatment to follow-up my hair-washing routine. After I get out of the shower, I apply it to my scalp before brushing out my hair. For the best results, I apply the aloe directly to my scalp. I normally start by spraying down the center where my hair parts. Then I work down both sides of my head, lifting my hair in sections so I can spray the aloe directly onto my scalp. Finally, I make sure to spray the back of my scalp as well.

Afterwards, I gently brush out my hair to help distribute the aloe more evenly across my head. It’s as simple as that! 

How to Make Your Own Aloe Vera Spray

Although you can make your own aloe vera spray at home, it’s a little bit tricky. That’s because fresh aloe from the leaf is a goopy, jelly-like solid.

But wait…don’t most aloe vera gels actually have the gel component added?

Yep! The inner part of the aloe leaf is up to 99% water! Thickening agents like carbomer and sclerotium gum must be added to create a gel.

Yet, despite being mostly water, the inside of the lead is still a fleshy pulp and not a liquid. So in order to make a spray, once you remove the aloe vera gel from the inside of the leaf, you will need to blend it until it becomes a liquid.

For maximum benefits to your hair, once you blend the aloe vera, you can combine it with argan oil, jojoba oil, or other hair growth oils. Adding hair oils will also help thin out the aloe vera spray and make it easier to apply.

Once you are done making your spray aloe vera, make sure to store it in the fridge so that it doesn’t go bad. Fresh aloe vera has a very short shelf life, so I suggest you make your spray aloe vera in very small amounts so it won’t go to waste. Even refrigerated, it will only last 1-2 weeks. 

Buying Spray Aloe Vera

Making your own aloe vera spray is the best way to go, but sometimes the short shelf life isn’t practical. If you aren’t committed to making a new batch of spray every week or two, then you can buy an aloe vera spray instead.

Although using an aloe spray on your scalp can help you maintain healthier hair, be careful who you buy your aloe from. Many aloe products contain ingredients like alcohol, which aren’t beneficial to your hair.

Personally, I use the spray aloe vera from 7 Minerals. It is 99% organic, with no added ingredients except for Vitamin C and safe preservatives. It’s worked wonders for my hair!