Willow Sidhe is a nature enthusiast with over a decade of experience creating natural health and beauty products for herself and her family.

In addition to soothing the skin and healing burns, aloe works equally well for cleansing and conditioning the hair. Aloe vera shampoo made with the appropriate ingredients penetrates deeply into the scalp's pores and revitalizes healthy tissue. Then, the plant's natural amino acids work to cleanse the scalp and bring impurities to the surface, where they're rinsed away. Aloe deep-cleans the hair and scalp, and leaves the hair truly clean, shiny and smooth. If you're searching for a treatment for dry hair, look no further than the humble aloe vera plant.

Aloe vera also makes a fantastic conditioner for all hair types. It keeps normal hair healthy and repairs dry, damaged hair. It works so well for this purpose because it has the ability to penetrate the hair shaft. The primary protein in the hair, Keratin, is made of amino acids, carbon, oxygen and trace amounts of other elements. Aloe's chemical make-up is similar and it rejuvenates the hair by treating it with its own nutrients. This improves elasticity and prevents breaking. Aloe vera shampoo, when used regularly, also strengthens the outer layer of the hair, known as the cuticle, and gives the hair a shiny, reflective, more uniform appearance. At the same time, aloe's antiseptic properties also heal the scalp and relieve dandruff flakes.

Choosing an Aloe Vera Shampoo

Numerous brands of shampoo exist with aloe vera listed in the ingredients, but you'll have to be choosy to find something that gives you the true benefits of the plant. I recommend making your own, so you can be sure it contains only pure, natural, soothing ingredients. If this doesn't appeal to you, check your local health food store or well-stocked drug store for a natural brand you can live with. Make sure it contains only natural ingredients. Aloe vera should be first on the ingredients list and the product should contain minimal fillers and chemicals. Jason natural cosmetics makes aloe vera shampoos that contain 84 percent pure aloe vera. Look for something similar.

You can also order suitable products online, or if all else fails, use pure aloe vera gel to wash your hair. It works well, but it won't behave like your normal shampoo. It cleanses gently without producing suds. Make sure to work it in thoroughly before rinsing for the best results.

How to Make Aloe Vera Shampoo

If you're so inclined, making your own aloe vera shampoo yields the best results, plus its much less expensive and better for your hair to use your own homemade version. Don't think that just because a hair care product is made at home that it's ineffective. In fact, when it comes to aloe vera, the gel is most beneficial when its fresh. If you don't have a large aloe vera plant to harvest the gel from, you can always buy organic aloe gel at natural health stores to use in this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups distilled water
• 2 ounces dried herbs (see suggestions below)
• 6 ounces liquid castile soap
• 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• ½ teaspoon jojoba oil (omit for oily hair)
• 40-50 drops essential oils (see suggestions below)

Directions:

1. Bring the distilled water to a boil, and then add the herbs. Cover, reduce heat to low and steep for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat, strain the spent herbs from the liquid and discard.
3. Add the castile soap to the herbal water slowly, mixing gently as you pour.
4. Add the aloe vera gel, jojoba and essential oils. Mix well.
5. Pour the aloe vera shampoo into a plastic squeeze bottle.
6. Use as needed, and shake gently before each use. If you have dry hair, shampoo no more than three times per week.

Suggested Herbs

Use any combination of the following herbs in the above aloe vera shampoo recipe, as long as you don't exceed around two ounces.

• Dry hair–nettle, burdock, rosemary or calendula
• Oily hair–yarrow, lavender, lemon balm or mint
• Blond hair–calendula or chamomile
• Dark hair–sage or comfrey
• Dandruff–rosemary, thyme or any of the herbs for dry hair

Suggested Essential Oils

Use any combination of the following essential oils for making aloe vera shampoo, but do not exceed around 50 drops in total.

• Normal hair–lavender, clary sage or chamomile
• Oily hair–lemon, tea tree or ylang-ylang
• Dry hair–rosemary, myrrh or peppermint
• Dandruff–tea tree, patchouli or lavender

Storing Your Aloe Shampoo

For the best results, keep a small bottle of this shampoo in the shower (enough for 1 to 2 days at a time), and store the remainder in a larger bottle in the refrigerator. If you omit the dry herbs and just use plain water instead of making an infusion, you can store the entire bottle in the shower. If you make the shampoo with the herbs as directed above, however, the mixture will go rancid if left out at room temperature for more than a couple days. In the refrigerator, the shampoo will last about 10 days. If it smells pleasant, it is still good. If it has a sour smell, toss it out and make a new batch.

Treating Dry Hair with Aloe

In addition to using aloe vera shampoo, if you have extremely dry or damaged hair, you may also want to use an aloe conditioner or simply massage aloe vera gel into your hair, allow it to remain for 30 minutes and rinse clean. Do this following a shampoo for the best results. This treatment works especially well if your hair has been damaged by using chemicals.

Remember, aloe's results won't last if you continue your bad hair habits. Loose the blow dryer and switch to all natural hair dye, which won't damage the hair and cause dryness. If you're already to this point, however, aloe vera shampoos and conditioners will help repair your locks and restore them to their former beauty.

Using Fresh Aloe Gel for Shampoo

If you want to make your own aloe vera shampoos, I highly recommend harvesting the fresh gel from an aloe plant. The video below will show you step-by-step how to proceed. If this isn't possible for you, don't feel too bad - just go out and get some organic gel from your local natural foods store.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

RAQUEL MANDURÉ on September 30, 2019:

Please, script by espanish! Tankyou.

Kira on June 25, 2019:

Hi, I was just wondering if the added water, when you don't use dried herbs, is necessary for the shampoo as the mixture seemed liquidy enough without it?

Willow Sidhe (author) on November 19, 2018:

You're welcome!

Sharryl Faith R. Jamile on November 11, 2018:

thanks for it!

Jo on August 31, 2018:

can always try freezing thr batches in an icecube tray and taking 1 or 2 out a bit before you shower

Willow Sidhe (author) on June 14, 2018:

It won't have as much suds as a shampoo made with sulfates, but it does produce gentle suds.

Shannon on May 29, 2018:

Does The also Vera shampoo sudds up.

Newbie on April 26, 2018:

Wanted to check in with you on two ounces of dried herbs. Seems like a lot, a small bag. Was that 2 or .2 oz?

VIKAS JHA from INDIA on January 14, 2018:

nice post, i also blog about hair care backing it up with hair science i thought you would like to visit www.indianhaircare.com

Fiordaliza on October 24, 2017:

Thanks so much I’ll try it look great and simple to make

ysabelle asuncion on August 13, 2017:

thank you for posting this procedure, i would like to try and share to my grand daughter the procedure. Great!

Belle on July 25, 2017:

So if we omit the herbs, it still works?

rocky on January 24, 2017:

can i do a acv rinse after using this shampoo.

plan to use chammomile for the dried herbs section for shampoo

Nick on October 25, 2016:

Thank you for posting this. Do you recommend using a conditioner after this? If so, what do you recommend? Thanks

AmandaC on August 07, 2016:

I just made this recipe! I followed everything exactly and I used (lemon and tea tree oils). I love the scent because of my castile soap its Dr. Bronnors hemp almond. it really cleaned my hair. almost too well. so i definitely cant do this everyday. I need to find a good conditioner. my hair is pretty damaged and felt like straw in the shower after shampooing. i used this 'mostly natural' organic conditioner. Thanks for the recipe!!

Nirav on May 17, 2016:

Hi, I just take the gel, blend it up, without adding any water and strain it and put into a bottle in the shower. But it goes bad (fungus) in a week. Is there any way I can do a large batch and store it without putting in the refrigerator? My husband decides randomly to wash the hair and so I need it in the shower always. Thanks.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on February 17, 2015:

Good information in this hub. Thanks for sharing.

desiree on August 18, 2014:

That's good in hair that aloe vera shampoo

Marie Flint from Jacksonville, FL USA on July 13, 2014:

Sharing on Facebook.

JR Krishna from India on July 13, 2014:

Nice post. I have aloe vera plant at home. I can try this.

Thelma Alberts from Germany and Philippines on July 13, 2014:

Wow! That smoothie sounds yummy to drink. I have to try this but I don´t think I´ll use some of the ingredients like stevia in this recipe. Thanks for sharing this healthy and informative hub. Voted and more.

Phyllis Doyle Burns from High desert of Nevada. on July 12, 2014:

Thank you for this very useful hub. I am going to make my own shampoo following your suggestions. Great hub -- voted up and sharing.

Mary Wickison from Brazil on July 12, 2014:

I have aloe vera growing in my garden and rarely use it. I may be able to make the shampoo but will have to alter some of the ingredients as I don't think they are available to me in my area.

Regarding the smoothie in the video. There is no way I could drink a kale smoothie!

My grandmother use to use aloe vera by leaving it in a jar of water and then drinking the juice. She lived to be 92 so it didn't do her any harm.

Sharing and voting up and interesting.

JessBraz from Canada on February 19, 2014:

Very lovely hub!

I recently attempted the whole "no-poo" craze that's going on.. and I lasted about eight days before I couldn't take it any longer and washed my hair with real shampoo... My hair just got so greasy. I really want to give up chemical laden shampoos. I've tried various brands of "natural"shampoo's, but I've got very long, thick hair and the amount I need to use, it's not very cost effective to only buy natural shampoos.

I use aloe vera on my face every night before I go to bed. It never occurred to me that I might be able to use it in my hair.

I'm definitely going to try this recipe! Thanks for the great information.

Cheers,

Jess.

Melanie Stevens on February 04, 2014:

I personally like to recommend the pro naturals shampoo and conditioner, made from original argan oil!

Ruxana. Ali on December 25, 2013:

Thankyou so much it's really informatics

Lee Strachan from Sydney, Australia on October 21, 2013:

This is great tutorial too!

I have another option for using aloe vera, check out my tutorial on "Fresh Aloe & Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo Bar Tutorial".

Thanks!

Willow Sidhe (author) on May 23, 2013:

@FeeFee - I have never tried a vegetable peeler, but it seems like it would work similarly.

@Lily - I have used all-natural baby shampoo with no additives in place of castile soap before, and it turned out fine. You could also use a natural "shampoo base" sometimes found in craft supply stores.

@sarah - I'm not sure what prated hair is (I googled it, but didn't find anything), but you can use aloe on just about any type of hair. It's completely natural and safe.

@mona - I have updated the recipe above with this information.

irene lubiano on September 20, 2012:

wow i like it! so much!

mona on March 23, 2012:

can u please tell us how long it lasts for - and whether we need to store it in a fridge after making it.

sarah Nabaweesi on March 14, 2012:

can i use aloe Vera on prated hair

Kelly Kline Burnett from Fontana, WI on January 26, 2012:

This is as eco-friendly an article as I have ever read. Fantastic!

lisa martinez on January 25, 2012:

good job ?

Lily on August 19, 2011:

What if one cannot obtain castile soap? (Is it absolutely necessary to have this?)

Is there an alternative (natural, non-chemical) to the castile soap?

FeeFee on July 06, 2011:

i wonder if a vegetable peeler would be easier to use?...i have lots of aloe growing in the back yard and will be trying this

Monika Rumin from Croatia on November 22, 2010:

Great hub, i like it!