8 Amazing Homemade Aloe Vera Recipes for Natural Hair

4. ALOE DEEP CONDITIONER (PROTEIN)

About the Recipe

This recipe is specifically for people who need more protein in their hair. Be sure to read through our post on protein, as many children process protein just fine and don’t need a protein treatment. Some people might also have protein sensitivities. In addition, doing a protein DC on top of a protein-based co-wash can cause issues, so just be certain that a protein DC is really what is needed before trying it out.

Ingredients

1/4 cup aloe gel

2 T coconut oil, melted

1 T honey

1 large avocado, ripe

Method

Blend all ingredients until smooth. If you are using an avocado that is stringy, try to remove the strings before blending. Apply to hair according to our instructions for deep conditioning.

Our Notes

I’ve never used this mix on Boo’s hair because she absolutely does not need it. I have, however, used it on my own hair because if anyone does need it, it’s me. I love it. And it’s cheap, much more cost-effective than the keratin treatments found at most stores. I highly recommend removing the strings out of the avocado before blending because once I get them in my hair they are very difficult for me to get out. And if you’re applying to curly hair, you can believe that it would be that much harder. Some people have added a raw egg to the recipe for even more protein. If you choose to do so, be sure to make sure that the coconut oil is just melted (not hot) and to rinse with cool water so you don’t actually cook the egg while it’s in the hair.

5. ALOE SHEA MOISTURIZER

About the Recipe

I’ve only made this once and we loved it. The reason I haven’t made it more is because I only bought a wee bit of shea butter (to work on this recipe) and haven’t bought anymore since. I really need to get on it, but I haven’t found the time to work mixing products into our regular routine. As luck would have it, we’re pretty stocked up with moisturizing products, so it will be a while before those run out. But when they do, no doubt I’ll be coming back to this. It’s a very inexpensive way to keep hair moisturized without having to spend an arm and a leg on name-brand products. Again, proportions will likely need to be altered to suit your child’s hair needs.

Ingredients

1/2 cup shea butter (yellow or white; I used yellow)

1/4 cup aloe gel

1 T coconut oil, melted

Method

This method requires a bit more finess, especially if you’ve never worked with shea butter before. You need to soften the shea butter before, without melting it. Roughly 15–30 seconds in the microwave should be fine. It’s perfectly okay to melt the coconut oil all the way. If you accidentally melt the shea butter all the way, too, it will still work it just needs more time to set. Once the shea butter and coconut oil are workable, mix all ingredients together in a bowl, either by hand, or with a hand mixer on low. I like to use a recycled hair product container to store the finished product, so once everything is mixed, add it to your container and then store in a cool, dry place until the mixture has completely settled. Then use as a leave-in moisturizer after detangling and before styling.

Our Notes

I’m a huge fan of shea butter and coconut oil used together. This is another one of those recipes where you can swap out the coconut oil for your personal favourite (olive oil or glycerin would work equally as well). The aloe adds a humectant component to the mix, as well as all of the regular healing properties of being antibacterial and antifungal. The mixture is not intended to be rinsed out, so apply sparingly at first until you figure out how much your child needs.

6. ALOE HAIR SPRITZ

About the Recipe

This is actually one of my favourite go-to mixes for maintaining afros and using to keep braids/twists moisturized when the weather is dry (either winter months or Santa Anas). It also works great as a leave-in detangler for my own hair (although not enough slip for Boo’s hair).

Ingredients

1/2 cup aloe gel

1/2 cup distilled water

2 squirts of your favourite leave-in conditioner (we use Kinky-Curly Knot Today, but use whatever you have that you like)

Method

I add all ingredients to my spray bottle and just shake to mix. It takes a bit for the aloe and conditioner to mix completely, but they should both eventually blend. You want the mixture completely blended so that it will spray easily.

Our Notes

We will cut the aloe gel down to 1/4 cup during the summer months (or when it’s humid) because the 1/2 cup makes Boo’s hair swell too much. You will likely have to experiment with proportions and make adjust according to both your child’s hair and the weather where you live.

7. ALOE GEL FOR EDGE CONTROL

About the Recipe

We use this recipe for Boo’s edges, but it can also be used for achieving “slick” looks, like for buns for ballet or other times when a less fuzzy look is needed. We live with fuzzies as part of life, but if the edges are drying out we’ve found this mixture to be a great way of holding in moisture will protecting them from breakage. Can also be used for twists and braids. The point of this mixture is to make the originally harvested aloe gel thicker, more like store-bought aloe gel. It also has added oil to help counter the astringent properties of the aloe vera.

Ingredients

1/2 cup aloe gel

3 T jojoba oil

3 T glycerin

1/4 t xanthum gum

Method

I mix this with my hand mixer on low. The xanthum gum is what will add thickness to the recipe, so adjust how much you use to get the consistency you want.

Our Notes

The original homemade aloe gel will work just as well as this recipe. However, we’ve added more oil and some glycerin to the mix as well as the xanthum gum, which gives the aloe more of a gel consistency. Thickening the consistency of the gel makes it easier to control the application and get the aloe exactly to the areas to which we need it. The added glycerin also helps seal in the other elements.

8. ALOE HAIR SERUM FOR BLOWOUTS

About the Recipe

I’ve only ever used this particular recipe on my own hair, for no other reason than the fact that Boo has never had her hair blown out before. I’ve also used it before flat-ironing my hair. Don’t tell Boo. She hasn’t seen me do either of those two things. Ever.

Ingredients

1/2 cup distilled water

1/2 cup aloe gel

2 teaspoons grapeseed oil

4 drops of your favourite essential oil, for smell

Method

Mix ingredients together. Blending will ensure good combining, but is not necessary. I use my 1‑cup chopper for it and it blends all the ingredients just fine for me. I apply it to damp hair, mostly on the ends, before blow-drying. I do not apply near the roots, as it will make my hair greasy.

Our Notes

Grapeseed oil has a very high smoking point (420º F), so it makes it a good protectant agains the heat of blow-drying. Because this is actually going to stay on my hair after blow-drying, I prefer that it smell good, hence I add a few drops of essential oil. You can adjust that to preference (or leave it out).

All of these recipes are very basic. I like to try things out for the first time without too many bells and whistles so that I know that the base mixture, at its core, works. Once you find your base levels that work for your little one, adding essential oils and other items to get the recipe just right should prove to be quite easy. Hopefully these recipes give you a good base from which to begin your own homemade hair product journey using aloe vera.

Do you have an amazing aloe hair recipe that you love? Share it with our community by leaving your favourite in the comments below!