If you have frizzy, brittle hair or are looking for a way to enhance healthy hair growth, this homemade aloe vera coconut oil hair mask is perfect for you!

Aloe Vera is a well-known natural remedy to promote shiny and healthier hair! Combined with powerful, hair-health-improving coconut oil, this DIY hair mask is unbeatable!
Contents
Loaded with minerals, amino acids, vitamins and phytonutrients (which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits), this homemade hair mask prevents hair loss, promotes hair growth and hair strength, repairs damaged hair, can help you fight dandruff, detangles, deep conditions and generally nourishes your (dry) hair!
Ingredients
Affiliate Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission, if you purchase the linked product, at no extra cost for you.
- aloe vera gel
- coconut oil
- essential oils (optional)
Aloe Vera Gel
Note: Please don't use aloe vera leaf juice. We need the gel for your hair problems! The juice is great for drinking though, with many astonishing benefits!
Aloe vera gel derived directly from the plant’s leaves (by you) is your best choice! If you don’t have an aloe vera plant at home (by the way, aloe vera is a fuss-free plant to have at home!), you can also get aloe vera leaves online (affiliate link).
Fresh aloe vera gel is a natural ingredient and generally contains more nutrients (as it’s fresh)! You can also freeze the gel in an ice cube tray to preserve it and have it ready whenever you need it.

Alternatively, you can buy aloe vera leaf gel online. But be careful! Most gels are loaded with preservatives and other not-so-natural ingredients.
You want to make sure to use a pure, 100% natural gel (like this one, affiliate link). They still have some sort of preservative or other ingredients in them, however, they are at least not chemical.
Coconut Oil
Always use cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil as this hasn’t been processed in any way. We want this to be as natural as possible!
You can easily get coconut oil in your supermarket or whole foods market. Or, of course, you buy it online (I preferred this, as I was using coconut oil a lot and wanted to buy it in bulk).
Essential Oils (optional)
I just love using essential oils! They simply add so much more value to our homemade products!
As essential oils are highly concentrated, they always need to be diluted with a carrier oil (in this hair mask, it’s coconut oil) or they might irritate your skin.

The essential oils that you can use in this homemade aloe vera coconut oil hair mask are:
For hair growth: lavender, rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, clary sage, ylang-ylang, tea tree, thyme, sandalwood.
For dandruff and dry, itchy scalp: lemongrass, clary sage, rosemary, tea tree, roman chamomile.
Benefits of Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is packed with 12 vitamins (including folic acid), 20 minerals, 18 amino acids, and over 200 phytonutrients which benefit us in these ways:
- repairs damaged hair
- one of the best natural remedies for hair growth
- improves the overall scalp and hair health
- natural conditioner for deep conditioning
- promotes shiny hair
- helps soothe scalp irritation
- prevents hair fall and promotes regrowth
Moreover, its pH level is very similar to our hair’s natural pH level so our scalp won’t need to try to balance it out (like it would with apple cider vinegar).
As a natural cleanser, it gently removes oils and debris on our scalp which can block our pores.
The aloe vera gel is rich in phytonutrients acting as antioxidants offering anti-inflammatory, soothing, moisturising, and protective benefits for our hair.
Proteolytic enzymes in aloe vera heal and repair damaged hair, thus improving hair health, the health of hair follicles in particular, and boosting hair growth. They also stimulate dormant hair follicles, promoting regrowth.
Benefits of Coconut oil
Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids also called lauric acid. It’s able to penetrate the hair shaft to nourish the hair deeply with vitamins E and K and minerals like iron.
How our hair benefits from coconut oil (lauric acid): it...
- protects the roots of our hair
- reduces protein loss in hair
- helps prevent the hair from breakage
- moisturises your hair
- adds a beautiful and healthy-looking shine
- repairs damaged and broken hair
- promotes hair growth
- protects your hair from heat damage as well as damage caused by seawater and chlorine (in pool water).
As coconut oil contains antibacterial and anti-fungal properties it also helps fight dandruff and may even get rid of lice and other bugs on the scalp.
However, coconut oil is quite a controversial topic and people seem to be fighting about whether it is healthy for our hair or not… So, you might want to do your own research on what you think is true or false!
Coconut oil may benefit all hair types, particularly, dry, damaged, colour-treated and frizzy hair. There are some concerns that it may not be ideal for those with coarse hair—especially when used repeatedly. It apparently dries out coarse hair. For those with fine hair, it might be a bit too heavy.
People suffering from oily hair may also refrain from using any oil because it may contribute to the issue. In this case, maybe start by using aloe vera gel only to bring your scalp back to balance.

Instructions
How to make aloe vera gel?
If you choose to use fresh aloe vera gel and don’t know how to prepare the gel, here’s a great guide that tells you how to do this!
I wash the extracted gel to get rid of any slimy residue and then blend the pieces in a high-speed blender. Then, I strain it through a nut milk bag (or an old T-shirt works, too) to filter out any tiny pieces (otherwise, these may cling to your hair, even after washing it!).
How to make this aloe vera coconut oil hair mask
Ideally, you prepare this mask about an hour to 40 minutes before you want to wash your hair.
In a small bowl, combine aloe vera gel with coconut oil. The ingredients will separate quickly again. So, always stir the mixture before applying it to your hair and scalp.
For a deep conditioning, hydrating mask, use 1-2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. If you have really long hair, you may need to prepare more.
For a scalp treatment—which, in most cases, is enough anyway—you use about ½ tablespoon aloe vera gel and ½ tablespoon coconut oil.
If using essential oils, add up to 4 drops on 1 tablespoon (15 ml) (equals a 1% dilution which is considered safe) to the coconut oil, before mixing with aloe vera gel.
How to use this aloe vera coconut oil hair mask
Step 1. Once you’ve made the hair mask, apply it directly to your dry hair, starting with your scalp. I do this part for part, using only small amounts. Then, I move on to the hair strands.
When doing a scalp treatment only, you obviously don’t spread the mask into your hair. Focus on your head only!
Step 2. This is optional, but extremely beneficial for not only your hair but your whole body: a head massage! To increase blood circulation, gently massage your scalp in a circular motion or gently pull on a few strands of hair.
Step 3. Leave the mask on for at least half an hour up to an hour. To prevent the hair mask from drying out, cover your head and hair with a shower cap.
I sometimes like to spray my homemade rosemary water over my hair, before tucking it away under the cap.
Step 4. Wash your hair, ideally using a mild shampoo or natural hair products, as per usual. After using this DIY aloe vera hair mask you may not need as much conditioner but a little is always a good idea.
How often to use this hair treatment?
This is up to you, your goals, your time, etc. I reckon it’s enough to do a deep conditioning treatment 1-2 times a month. If your hair is reeeaaally dry, you may want to use it once a week.
I personally do the scalp treatment every time I wash my hair (which is only every 5-6 days). Oftentimes, I use aloe vera gel only or combine aloe with my hair oil (recipe follows!).
For best results, use this aloe vera coconut oil hair mask at least once a week for a scalp treatment.

Substitutions
If coconut oil is not your thing, or if you have any concerns, you can absolutely use different oils instead!
These ones are also great for our hair. Just research them before using, if they are beneficial for your hair type! Note that the following links are affiliate links:
Notes to Consider
Some experts are stating that when your hair cries out for moisture, you should give it moisture, not oil. According to them, oils prevent water from getting into our hair which means our hair might look healthy and shiny on the outside (due to the oils), but on the inside it’s still lacking moisture.
In one article, they say that our hair actually needs amino acids when it’s dry or damaged.
Amino acids (which are in aloe vera and apparently also in coconut oil) are referred to as the building blocks of protein and therefore promote hair growth and repair damaged hair.
In my opinion, a good and balanced use of a pure aloe vera hair mask and this recipe with coconut oil (or another oil) is probably the go. I think coconut oil is great for my hair and I feel like it sometimes simply needs that extra nourishment that only the oil can provide.
But, as always, of course, I leave this up to you to decide, and what you think will work best on your hair.
Warnings & Safety
As with all natural DIY recipes, please make a patch test before applying this aloe vera coconut oil hair mask.
Aloe Vera is considered to be generally safe, however, some people do react to this natural ingredient. An allergic reaction to coconut oil is also very rare but does occur.
Essential oil safety: If using essential oils, don't use more than suggested, only use a high-quality essential oil brand, always dilute them, and do your research concerning contraindications (especially when pregnant)!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoon aloe vera gel ideally organic
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- 2-4 drops essential oils optional, see notes
Instructions
How to make
- Ideally, you prepare this mask about an hour to 40 minutes before you want to wash your hair. In a small bowl, combine aloe vera gel with coconut oil. The ingredients will separate quickly again. So, always stir the mixture before applying it to your hair and scalp.
- If using essential oils, add up to 4 drops on 1 tablespoon (15 ml)(equals a 1% dilution which is considered safe) to the coconut oil, before mixing with aloe vera gel.
- For a scalp treatment only—which, in most cases, is enough anyway—you use about ½ tablespoon aloe vera gel and ½ tablespoon coconut oil.
How to use
- Apply the mask directly to your dry hair, starting with your scalp. I do this part for part, using only small amounts. Then, I move on to the hair strands.
- This is optional, but extremely beneficial for not only your hair but your whole body: a head massage! To increase blood circulation, gently massage your scalp in a circular motion for a couple of minutes.
- Leave the mask on for at least 30 minutes up to an hour. To prevent the hair mask from drying out, cover your head and hair with a shower cap.
- Wash your hair, ideally using a mild shampoo, as per usual. After using DIY aloe vera hair mask you may not need as much conditioner but a little is always a good idea.
Notes
- Aloe Vera Gel: It's best to use fresh aloe vera gel extracted from its leaves. You can buy the leaves in some whole food and organic shops or online.
Store-bought gels (in bottles) often contain harmful chemicals and additives (preservatives). Just read through the ingredients list before buying! Your best choice is organic brands that use very few additives (like the one I've linked above, affiliate link).
- Coconut Oil: I prefer coconut oil, but sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil or castor oil are great, too (as mentioned in this post).
- Essential Oils: I love using lavender and rosemary essential oils. But there are many more you can use (as mentioned in this post). Don't use more drops than suggested.
Resources
- https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a25860228/aloe-vera-for-hair-benefits/
- https://wsimag.com/wellness/45892-can-coconut-oil-prevent-hair-fall
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12715094/
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/diet/coconut-oil-health-benefits-nutrition-facts-uses-more/
- https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/why-coconut-oil-is-bad-for-your-hair
- https://hyugalife.com/blog/aloe-vera-allergy-potential-side-effects-allergic-reactions
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