Aloe vera

What it is

Aloe vera gel is the inner leaf gel of the plant, mostly water and polysaccharides. The bitter outer latex contains anthraquinones and is a different, more irritant material.

What the studies show

• A systematic review of 16 controlled trials of herbal hair-loss remedies lists aloe vera among herbs with promising results, with design limits and variable outcomes. The aloe-specific trial could not be checked. Allam 2025
• A hair-growth trial of aloe alone could not be found. Web pages claiming specific anagen percentages were unsourced and are ignored.
• In 702 patch-tested people, there was no contact sensitization to aloe leaf extract, powder or gel. Reider 2005
• One case report describes allergic contact dermatitis to aloe vera. Ferreira 2007

Side effects and safety

Contact allergy is rare. Commercial gels often include fragrance, preservatives and alcohol, which tend to cause more reactions than the plant itself. Do not drink latex products.

Bottom line

For growth, the evidence is weak. Aloe is a decent, inexpensive moisturizing gel for a dry, tight scalp, or a base for a curl-definition gel. Choose a short-ingredient gel and check for fragrance.