TLDR 👀
Aloe vera is renowned for its proven benefits in wound recovery and burn healing.
While it may be packed with all the ingredients to help soothe and nourish the scalp, it’s yet to be proven to stimulate hair growth.
Does Aloe Vera work for Hair Loss?
We’ve talked about apple cider vinegar and coffee for hair loss. Now, let’s chat about aloe vera - is it the next top natural hair loss treatment? Here’s what the science says.
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is a succulent plant that grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid areas.
Its juicy gel is most widely known to soothe sunburn and aid wound healing, but it’s also been used as an alternative to mouthwash, heartburn treatment, moisturiser, and as a natural laxative.
Speaking of getting things moving, let’s get to the point.
Does Aloe Vera cure hair loss?
Aloe vera has been shown to help heal wounds by stimulating your skin’s natural collagen production. That, coupled with its ability to supply the skin with amino acids and vitamins E and C - which are essential for healing - explains why it’s such a popular topical gel for burns and sores.
In fact, Aloe Vera has been shown to:
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Soothe
sitchiness if you have eczema or dermatitis -
Strengthen and repair hair
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Gently and effectively clean oily hair
All the collagen stimulation and nourishment that comes from aloe is good for your skin and scalp in general, but can it make your hair grow?
Because of all the nutrients it provides the scalp, Aloe vera helps reduce hair breakage and consequently reduces hair loss.
Currently, there just isn’t enough research to say for sure that it can make your hair regrow faster.
So it’s a no-go for Aloe. As cool as it is, it won’t magically bring your hair back, but it makes for a lekker sunburn soother.
Are other hair loss treatments better?
Finasteride & Minoxidil
When it comes to effective hair loss treatment, the winners have to be finasteride and minoxidil.
Finasteride targets hair loss by blocking DHT - the hormonal prime suspect behind your fallen strands. You can read more on that here.
Minoxidil complements finasteride and we often prescribe the two in conjunction. While finasteride can limit the actual hair loss itself, minoxidil gets to work stimulating new growth.
PRP & low-level laser therapy
Ever heard of a vampire facial? That’s what PRP is to your scalp.
AKA Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy, PRP uses micro-needling and plasma from your own blood to encourage stem cells in your follicles to grow into hair. The tiny punctures in your scalp left by PRP also aids the absorption of topical hair loss treatments.
Low-level laser therapy applies light stimulation to your follicles, improving circulation and consequently stimulating hair growth.
These procedures can have great impacts on your mane, but some guys won’t see any benefit. They’re best combined with topical finasteride and minoxidil.
Hair Transplant
During a hair transplant, a surgeon will remove strands of hair from lower down on your head and place them in follicles where you’ve lost hair in the hopes that they take root and grow.
A transplant is usually a last resort hair loss treatment. It’s expensive, painful, and if you don’t opt for the right surgeon, you could be left with a whack hairline.
All of these treatments have been shown to be effective hair loss treatments, and that’s more than can be said for aloe vera.
The Takeaway
Aloe is a great plant for your skin and scalp in general, providing loads of nutrients and collagen-stimulating properties.
It can make for healthier, stronger hair, but it’s not a hair loss cure. Your best bet is finasteride and minoxidil to slow loss and boost growth. Start your custom hair loss treatment here.