Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Aloe vera is an ingredient in many pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, including hair care products. The aloe vera plant does not occur in the Netherlands, but you can buy it as a houseplant at garden centers. Aloe vera is known to work wonders for your hair - it moisturizes, makes your hair shine and prevents hair loss and dandruff. If you can easily get hold of some aloe vera, read the instructions below to care for your hair cheaply and thoroughly with aloe vera.

To step

1. Cut off two or three large, thick leaves from an aloe vera plant. The thicker your hair is, the more juice you will need. If you have very thick hair, three leaves should be enough.
2. Use a sharp knife to remove the thick, green outside of each leaf. You now expose the transparent, gelatinous inside of the leaf. Proceed with care and cut as close to the outside of the blade as possible so that as much of the jelly as possible is retained. Put the jelly in a bowl and set it aside.
3. Process the jelly. Puree the jelly with a blender. You do not need to add water. Make sure the jelly is well mixed before removing it from the blender.
4. Sieve the mixed jelly into a bowl or container. It is important to do this to remove the white bits from the jelly that would otherwise stick to your hair.
5. After shampooing, massage the jelly thoroughly into your hair. Make sure that your hair is soaked with the jelly from roots to ends. If you are using another deep conditioner or care product for your hair, you can also massage this into your hair.
6. Use heat. Put a plastic cap over your hair and sit under a hair dryer for about five minutes. You can also just let the aloe vera soak in your hair for about five minutes. If you are using a complementary hair care product, follow the directions on that product's packaging instead.
7. Rinse the aloe vera from your hair. After you heat your hair, take off the cap and rinse your hair. Then continue with your normal hair care routine.

Tips

• Aloe vera contains vitamin E, which is very good for your skin.
• Aloe vera is one of the many natural care methods used by girls in the Caribbean, where the plant grows extensively. Aloe vera can be used in both natural and chemically treated hair.
• Aloe vera gel is also great for burns and acne.
• You can also buy the aloe vera plant as a houseplant.
• Since the mashed jelly is quite thick, it will take a while to sieve everything. So it is best to prepare the jelly before washing your hair and let it sift until you are ready to use it.
• The leaves of the aloe vera plant have short, sharp teeth along the edges. Pay attention to this when you cut the leaves.
• It is recommended to use a bowl to bring the leaves in from the outside. The jelly in the leaf will drip when you cut the leaf.
• The leaves of the aloe vera plant give off a foul odor when cut, but only as long as the green outside is still around the leaf. When you have removed it, the smell will also disappear. Do not use oil in your hair after this. This will damage your hair.

Warnings

• Make sure you have properly sifted the jelly before applying it to your hair. There may be many white pieces mashed into tiny pieces, which will then stick to your hair. This will also happen if you have not completely removed the green outside of the leaf before mashing and straining the jelly.
• If you are applying another hair care product in addition to the aloe vera, follow the instructions on that product's packaging instead of the directions in this article. If you are not allowed to use heat with the other product but you want to use heat and aloe vera, apply both products separately.

Necessities

• At least three bowls - one for moving the aloe vera from the inside out, one for the removed green outsides, and one for the jelly from the leaves.
• A sharp knife
• A blender
• A sieve
• A plastic hair cap (optional)
• A hair cap, not a hair dryer (optional)