Ancient Egyptians called Aloe Vera the “Plant of Immortality.” Its Sanskrit name translates to “Youth Gel.” Healing Spears? Prickly Panacea?
This succulent plant, a North African native and member of the lily family, has been helping human bodies for ages. Modern science is finally telling us why.
Cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, Aloe Vera could be called a miracle plant. It is known to speed wound healing, clear skin infections and sunburn, boost the immune system, aid digestion, and has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial abilities. It may also be useful for leveling out blood sugar and lipid levels and treating osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and epilepsy.
Wow. Who knew? We did.
What is in it?
Aloe Vera’s meaty leaves – thorn-studded and bitter-tasting to defend against animals and insects – hold a thick, translucent gel. Besides water, it contains a protein made up of 18 of the 20 amino acids found in the body; calcium, copper, magnesium, zinc; vitamins A, B, C, E (Aloe is one of the few natural vegetarian sources of Vitamin B12). It also contains a complex carbohydrate that allows nutrients to reach skin cells and relieve them of toxins, and proteolytic enzymes that repair them. Aloe Vera initiates the synthesis of elastin as well as collagen – proteins essential to healthy skin – and is similar in chemical makeup to keratin, the primary protein of hair. It also boasts a pH level close to the natural pH level of hair.
What does aloe vera do for hair? Aloe vera benefits
Aloe Vera is an effective treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) and significantly reduces itchiness, scaliness, and the size of areas affected, thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of its fatty acids. SD can, in some cases, lead to temporary hair loss, which is one reason Aloe is associated with hair growth; another may be its ability to stimulate blood circulation and improve delivery of oxygen and nutrition to hair follicles. It has also been shown to be an effective treatment for psoriasis with more than 80% of patients in one study showing improvement.
The skin on our scalps is significantly more absorbent than skin elsewhere, which is one reason Aloe Vera is perfectly suited to hair care. It has been proven that skin can absorb its goodness up to 7 layers deep.
While it may not be the magic elixir to reverse baldness as some claim, Aloe can do amazing things for the hair you do have: it increases moisture levels and boosts retention to prevent brittleness and breakage. It’s also a very effective yet gentle cleanser that lifts excess sebum and residue from hair products while keeping the cuticles smooth and properly closed. Who needs detergent?
The skin on our scalps is significantly more absorbent than skin elsewhere, which is one reason Aloe Vera is perfectly suited to hair care.
And that, naturally, brings us to Hairstory New Wash. If you look at the ingredient list, you’ll notice that Aloe Vera leaf juice is second only to water in the formula. Aside from its healing properties, it forms a basis for the blend of cleansing agents that includes oils of Jojoba seed, Sunflower seed, Peppermint, and Evening Primrose, and other saturated cleansers – a modern invention founded on centuries of experience and evidence.
Aloe is why so many people praise New Wash when they are relieved of scalp issues when nothing else works, from occasional dandruff to painful psoriasis. It’s also the reason that people undergoing chemotherapy find it so soothing and give it credit for healthy new growth.
There are a dozen reasons to choose New Wash over traditional shampoo, and Aloe just might be the number one.
