What is the difference between hair hydration and hair moisture?

Hydration and moisture refer to two different processes in the hair. Hydration is about water — specifically, the water molecules that penetrate the two inner layers of the hair strand (the medulla and cortex) and stay within the hair fiber. It affects elasticity, plumpness, and internal health. Moisture, by contrast, impacts the outermost layer of the strand, the cuticle, and helps with softness and manageability. Products like Hair Balm work on moisture at the cuticle level and help seal hydration in from the outside.

What does aloe vera do for hair and scalp?

Aloe vera is a succulent plant built to withstand dryness, which is part of what makes it such a powerful ingredient in hair care. It works on both hydration and moisture — its fatty acids and amino acids penetrate the hair fiber to support internal hydration, while its moisturizing properties help condition the outer cuticle. It also acts as a natural UV protectant, helps balance oil production and control sebum on the scalp, soothes inflammation and irritation, and is rich in vitamins that support hair and scalp health. Studies are ongoing into its potential to promote hair growth.

Why is aloe vera especially relevant for hair care in summer?

Summer brings increased exposure to sun, wind, salt water, sweat, and chlorine — all of which can deplete the hair and scalp of both hydration and moisture. Aloe vera addresses several summer-specific concerns at once: it acts as a natural UV protectant, helps soothe irritation and inflammation from sun exposure, balances scalp oil production that can go out of control in heat, and helps the hair retain the water and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Getting ahead of these issues — rather than reacting after damage has occurred — is the approach Hairstory recommends.

What are the signs that a client's hair or scalp needs more hydration or moisture?

Signs can vary and often overlap, but common indicators include dryness or dullness in the hair, excessive frizz, lack of volume or limp-feeling strands, and hair that is prone to breakage. On the scalp side, signs include dandruff or flaking, itchiness or inflammation, redness, or — counterintuitively — excessive oiliness, which can occur when a stripped scalp overproduces sebum in response to dryness. The scalp and hair are part of the same system, and a healthy scalp supports healthy hair growth.

Are natural ingredients always better than synthetic ones in hair care?

Not necessarily. A more accurate framework is that not all naturals are beneficial and not all synthetics are harmful. Some synthetic ingredients — such as certain small-molecule silicones — can serve genuinely useful functions without causing damage. Harmful synthetics are things like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, which offer little benefit and can weigh hair down or disrupt the scalp. Hairstory uses as many naturally derived ingredients as possible, but the goal is selecting the best available ingredient for a given function, whether it comes from nature or is synthesized.

How does Hairstory ensure its ingredients, including aloe vera, are responsibly sourced?

Hairstory works closely with development partners to ensure that raw materials — including aloe vera, which is a primary ingredient — are responsibly and sustainably sourced. The brand's sustainability pillars include conscious creation, responsible sourcing, and proactive philanthropy. Hairstory does not over-harvest ingredients or take from the planet in ways that can't be replenished, and the brand aligns all formulations with the standards of international regulatory agencies, including the EU, which maintains among the strictest ingredient standards globally.

How can hairdressers confidently answer client questions about 'natural' ingredients?

A simple, grounded response is to say that not all naturals are automatically good and not all synthetics are automatically bad, but what matters is how well the formulation is designed and what job each ingredient is doing. For Hairstory specifically, hairdressers can feel confident knowing the brand is compliant with international regulatory agencies including the EU, uses naturally derived ingredients where possible, and holds its formulations to high standards of safety, performance, and sustainability.

ALOE UNLOCKED: THE POWER OF PLANTS IN HAIRCARE

Name: Aloe Unlocked: The Power of Plants in Haircare
Uploaded: 2025-12-17
Channel: Hairstory
Description: Hairstory's Wes and Director of Education Nicholas Smith dig into aloe vera as a hair care ingredient — breaking down why it's a perennial summer buzzword and how hairdressers can speak about it confidently when clients ask. Nicholas explains the key difference between hydration and moisture, how...

Learn about the incredible benefits of aloe in haircare and discover why it's a key ingredient in New Wash. Education Director Nicholas Smith will share insights into how one of nature's most powerful ingredients contributes to healthier hair.

Home / Virtual Events / Aloe Unlocked: The Power of Plants in Haircare

Share this video

Hairstory's Wes and Director of Education Nicholas Smith dig into aloe vera as a hair care ingredient — breaking down why it's a perennial summer buzzword and how hairdressers can speak about it confidently when clients ask. Nicholas explains the key difference between hydration and moisture, how each works on a different layer of the hair strand, and where aloe vera fits into both. The session also covers how to navigate client questions about natural versus synthetic ingredients, and how Hairstory approaches ingredient sourcing and formulation standards. Aloe vera is the second most prominent ingredient in all New Wash formulations, and also appears in Undressed, where it contributes natural UV protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hair hydration and hair moisture?

Hydration and moisture refer to two different processes in the hair. Hydration is about water — specifically, the water molecules that penetrate the two inner layers of the hair strand (the medulla and cortex) and stay within the hair fiber. It affects elasticity, plumpness, and internal health. Moisture, by contrast, impacts the outermost layer of the strand, the cuticle, and helps with softness and manageability. Products like Hair Balm work on moisture at the cuticle level and help seal hydration in from the outside.
What does aloe vera do for hair and scalp?

Aloe vera is a succulent plant built to withstand dryness, which is part of what makes it such a powerful ingredient in hair care. It works on both hydration and moisture — its fatty acids and amino acids penetrate the hair fiber to support internal hydration, while its moisturizing properties help condition the outer cuticle. It also acts as a natural UV protectant, helps balance oil production and control sebum on the scalp, soothes inflammation and irritation, and is rich in vitamins that support hair and scalp health. Studies are ongoing into its potential to promote hair growth.
Does Hairstory use aloe vera in its products?

Yes. Aloe vera is the second most prominent ingredient in all New Wash formulations, listed right after water. It also appears in Undressed, where it contributes natural UV protection — making Undressed a particularly useful product during summer months when hair is exposed to sun and environmental stressors.
Why is aloe vera especially relevant for hair care in summer?

Summer brings increased exposure to sun, wind, salt water, sweat, and chlorine — all of which can deplete the hair and scalp of both hydration and moisture. Aloe vera addresses several summer-specific concerns at once: it acts as a natural UV protectant, helps soothe irritation and inflammation from sun exposure, balances scalp oil production that can go out of control in heat, and helps the hair retain the water and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Getting ahead of these issues — rather than reacting after damage has occurred — is the approach Hairstory recommends.
What are the signs that a client's hair or scalp needs more hydration or moisture?

Signs can vary and often overlap, but common indicators include dryness or dullness in the hair, excessive frizz, lack of volume or limp-feeling strands, and hair that is prone to breakage. On the scalp side, signs include dandruff or flaking, itchiness or inflammation, redness, or — counterintuitively — excessive oiliness, which can occur when a stripped scalp overproduces sebum in response to dryness. The scalp and hair are part of the same system, and a healthy scalp supports healthy hair growth.
Are natural ingredients always better than synthetic ones in hair care?

Not necessarily. A more accurate framework is that not all naturals are beneficial and not all synthetics are harmful. Some synthetic ingredients — such as certain small-molecule silicones — can serve genuinely useful functions without causing damage. Harmful synthetics are things like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, which offer little benefit and can weigh hair down or disrupt the scalp. Hairstory uses as many naturally derived ingredients as possible, but the goal is selecting the best available ingredient for a given function, whether it comes from nature or is synthesized.
How does Hairstory ensure its ingredients, including aloe vera, are responsibly sourced?

Hairstory works closely with development partners to ensure that raw materials — including aloe vera, which is a primary ingredient — are responsibly and sustainably sourced. The brand's sustainability pillars include conscious creation, responsible sourcing, and proactive philanthropy. Hairstory does not over-harvest ingredients or take from the planet in ways that can't be replenished, and the brand aligns all formulations with the standards of international regulatory agencies, including the EU, which maintains among the strictest ingredient standards globally.
How can hairdressers confidently answer client questions about 'natural' ingredients?

A simple, grounded response is to say that not all naturals are automatically good and not all synthetics are automatically bad, but what matters is how well the formulation is designed and what job each ingredient is doing. For Hairstory specifically, hairdressers can feel confident knowing the brand is compliant with international regulatory agencies including the EU, uses naturally derived ingredients where possible, and holds its formulations to high standards of safety, performance, and sustainability.