Why You Need Aloe Vera For Locs
Plants have been used for many centuries for their medicinal and commercial value. Most foods were gotten from plants. Likewise, many health and beauty products were derived from them – the organics. One of many examples is Aloe vera, a cactus-looking plant known for its health, beauty, skin, and medicinal benefits. It is grown and cultivated in Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and India.
Seeing this plant's usefulness, it is no surprise that it works perfectly for the hair, especially for locs. Read below for many interesting things to know about the plant in hair care and maintenance.
What are the Benefits of Aloe Vera for Locs?
Aloe vera is a beneficial plant and it is organically used in many beauty and health products. Its wide usage is because it contains several active ingredients, such as salicylic acids, amino acids, saponins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, and vitamins. Interestingly, these are enriching elements that the hair needs for growth.
If you keep Faux Locs or Soft Locs, you need Aloe vera for good hair maintenance and care. Below are the top benefits of using this plant on locs.
Helps in Conditioning the Scalp
One of Aloe vera's many benefits is acting as the perfect conditioner for the scalp. It adds moisture to the hair and the scalp so that they would be easy to work on, especially if you want to rock a nice faux or butterfly loc. This plant adds oil to the root of your hairs, acting as a sealant to promote the easy creation of locs. In short, with Aloe vera and any natural oil you find, you can keep a well-conditioned scalp and never lose hair to dryness any longer.
Keeps the Scalp Clean, Calm and Healthy
While keeping the scalp conditioned, Aloe vera nutrients are great cleansing agents. They clean and calm the scalp so that you can keep healthy hair. Likewise, they are rejuvenating agents – building broken roots to help you keep locs better.
Gets Rid of Dandruff
There is no scalp cleansing with Aloe vera without noticing how much work they do to get rid of itchy dandruff. For some reasons, especially dryness, dandruff flakes may appear around the scalp. However, with aloe vera, these flakes will disappear and prevent a future buildup. In turn, you will have a good base to wear good locs.
Moisturizes Dry Locs and Scalp
Aloe vera can also take the work of a moisturizer. It can hold moisture, particularly in summer or dry climates. Further, it can trap moisture in humid conditions. Overall, while locking moisture, the locs will remain neat and natural.
Improves Hair Thickness
The base for every healthy hair is a healthy scalp. As long as the scalp is well-conditioned and moisturized using a good substance like Aloe vera, keeping neat, beautiful locs shouldn’t be difficult. Additionally, this plant aids in thickness – although the thickening process isn’t on the spot. However, applying the gel or juice makes locs thick and strong.
Reduces Frizz
Aloe vera nutrients help in nourishing the scalp. During the enrichment process, there is an automatic effect on the locs – they become less vulnerable to frizz and breakage. The reason is that the locs are getting enough moisture to get to the scalp – a nourished scalp means healthy locs.
How To Apply Aloe Vera
Aloe vera can exist in two ways – a gel or a juice. The form it appears determines the method of application.
Aloe vera gel is often applied on locs via a natural shampoo. It helps in locs retwisting and frizz taming. On the other hand, Aloe vera juice is applied directly to the hair and scalp to help moisturize.
To make an Aloe vera gel at home, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Peel away the green part of the Aloe vera leaf using a peeler or knife.
Step 2: Scoop the juice inside the Aloe vera leaf with a spoon and pour it into a blender. Try not to scoop the green part with the juice.
Step 3: Blend the gel until it looks liquified.
Step 4: Filter the gel out
Step 5: Dispense the gel into a container
Step 6: Start using the gel on your locs.
Once your gel is ready, apply rose water on your hair first before the aloe vera gel. After doing that, protect the locs with a plastic cap and leave for about an hour or more.
After the time elapses, use water to rinse your hair. Then, apply shampoo to your hair and rinse. Do this once or twice monthly to keep your locs fresh and healthy.
On another occasion, if you would like to use Aloe vera juice as a moisturizer, here is what to do:
Get the aloe vera plant and scoop out the juice. Apply directly to your hair and scalp. Leave for a few minutes. Afterward, apply any natural oil blend to seal in the moisture. Rinse after about an hour. Do this twice every month to moisturize dry locs.
If you must apply aloe vera overnight, ensure to have done it an hour before bedtime so that the moisture would evaporate and you won’t have to cause a mess.
Can Aloe vera Cause Build Ups?
The effect of Aloe vera on locs depends on the extract’s form.
If you apply commercial gels with aloe vera ingredients and other additives, you may have a small amount of buildups.
If you apply raw aloe vera gel but do not strain your locs appropriately, you may discover small buildups.
If you apply Aloe vera juice, you shouldn’t have any residue or buildup on your locs.
Other Helpful Products For Locs
Aloe vera is one of the many products to use to maintain locs. However, other products exist, and you should also consider using them. Below is a description of the popular ones.
Water-Based Moisturizer + Emollient Oil
Most people think oils can act as a moisturizer. That notion is false. If you want to use oils on your locs, apply a water-based moisturizer first. This moisturizer will lock water in the locs so that it can hold emollient oil and enrich the hair and scalp.
If you can’t find emollient oil, any other type of essential oil is good for the cause.
Refreshing Spray
A moisturizing refreshing spray can also be the perfect natural scalp moisturizer. This refreshing spray often contains rosewater and peppermint, two important ingredients that nourish the scalp. You only need to spray little amounts of the substance on your locs daily to have healthy hair.
Good Conditioners
Finally, good conditioners can replace aloe vera. However, you should invest in natural or organic products because many contain aloe vera and other useful ingredients for hair growth. Leave-In conditioners also belong to this category as they can provide the necessary nutrients to prevent breakage or frizz.
Other things you should consider doing to keep healthy locs are getting salon hydration treatments regularly (once every three months), increasing water intake, and avoiding shower caps. It would be best if you prioritized wearing satin scarves since they can lock moisture.
Lastly, you should avoid using wax, brown gel, heavy cremes, and cream-based products with unhealthy constituents. They can damage your locs and even harm your natural hair.