Clean Beauty Tips & Techniques How to Make an Easy Nourishing Aloe Vera Hair Mask By Starre Vartan Starre Vartan Writer Columbia University Syracuse University Starre Vartan is an environmental and science journalist. She holds an MFA degree from Columbia University and Geology and English degrees from Syracuse University. Learn about our editorial process Updated June 13, 2022 Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Clean Beauty Products Tips & Techniques Overview Working Time: 5 - 10 minutes Total Time: 10 - 15 minutes Yield: 1 hair mask Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $5-$10 Aloe vera is just as beneficial to your hair as it is to your skin: it is a wonderful moisturizer and its anti-inflammatory properties can help calm an irritated scalp. This natural ingredient also contains plenty of vitamins to nourish hair, including A, C, and E. You could make a hair mask out of just aloe vera, but using it as a base and mixing it with some other natural ingredients will make your hair mask even more nourishing and effective. Treehugger / Sanja Kostic What You'll Need Tools Medium mixing Bowl Small heat-safe bowl Large fork Dark towel Wide-toothed comb Ingredients 5 tablespoons aloe vera gel 1/2 ripe avocado 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 teaspoon honey 4 drops lavender essential oil Instructions This mask is easy to make, but preparation is key. Make sure you have all your tools and ingredients at the ready so you don't get stuck with your hands covered in hair mask while looking for a towel. This recipe is best for those with hair that's drier, curly, frizzy, or in need of extra moisture. Double the recipe if you have very thick hair or hair longer than the bottom of your shoulder blades. Halve it if your hair is shorter than your earlobes. Treehugger Tip This hair mask is going to be a bit messy, and due to the oils, may stain clothing or towels. We recommend that you wear an old T-shirt and use a towel that you don't mind getting splotches on. Prepare Your Ingredients Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Get all your tools and ingredients prepared and measured out. Make sure you're wearing what you want to be in when you apply the mask, as things can get messy. Melt the Coconut Oil Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Use the microwave or put a heat-safe bowl in a pot with an inch of water to create a double-boiler. Heat the coconut oil until it is liquid. You don't need it to be hot, just warm. If it gets hot enough to burn your skin, let it cool. Use when it's at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix honey into coconut oil so it dissolves in the warm oil. Mash Avocado Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Using a fork, mash the 1/2 avocado in the main bowl you will use to mix the mask. Keep at it until there are few or no lumps of avocado. Mix Ingredients Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Add the liquified coconut oil and honey mixture to the avocado and mix well with the fork. Then, add the aloe vera gel and mix. Apply Mask to Hair Treehugger / Sanja Kostic This hair mask will be very liquid—consistency will be close to a watery conditioner. Begin applying to the ends of your hair (you can even dip them into the mask) and work your way up. Apply to your scalp last. Wait for the Mask to Work Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Gently twist your hair up if it's long. Wrap it in a towel and set a timer for 20 or 25 minutes. Take advantage of the waiting time and apply a face mask, watch a short comedy, or do something relaxing while your hair mask works. Wash Mask Out and Style Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Using your normal shampoo, give your hair a good wash. If you'd like, you can condition your hair as you normally would, but you probably won't need to. Style as usual. Frequently Asked Questions What can you use as a vegan honey alternative? Vegetable glycerin is a great vegan honey alternative that can be used in DIY hair and skin care. Glycerin is thick like honey, and it's a humectant—meaning it can pull moisture from the air and pump it into your hair. How often should you use this hair mask? This hair mask is all-natural, so it's safe to use every day if needed. Of course, you may only need it when your hair is extra dry or frizzy, like in winter. You should use it at least once a week for best results. View Article Sources Maan, Abid Aslam, et al. "The Therapeutic Properties and Applications of Aloe vera: A Review." Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 12, 2018, pp. 1-10., doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2018.01.002 Liang, Jiaheng, et al. "Aloe vera: A Medicinal Plant Used in Skin Wound Healing." Tissues Engineering Part B: Reviews, 2020., doi:10.1089/ten.teb.2020.0236 View Article Sources Maan, Abid Aslam, et al. "The Therapeutic Properties and Applications of Aloe vera: A Review." Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 12, 2018, pp. 1-10., doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2018.01.002 Liang, Jiaheng, et al. "Aloe vera: A Medicinal Plant Used in Skin Wound Healing." Tissues Engineering Part B: Reviews, 2020., doi:10.1089/ten.teb.2020.0236