Aloe Vera Juice Vs Aloe Vera Gel

I am super excited to write this post because honey* let me tell ya, aloe vera juice* has been giving my hair life lately. Allow me to speak freely with ya’ll, I was in a rut, a bad one, my hair was dry, lifeless, just an over all bleh. I go through these dry spells sometimes, and its often because I stray from what I know works for my hair and do other things that are just all wrong.

Have you ever had that old faithful Holy Grail thing that always works wonders for your hair and for some odd reason you forget about it and move on to something else? That is how I am from time to time. Now I do realize that it is human nature to always want to try something new, we get bored and do out of the ordinary things in the name of trying the next big thing.

The thing about hair is, it doesn’t ‘think’ like we do, it responds to great products in the same manner even if we use those same products over and over again. Aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel* can be considered holy grail status for any regimen regardless of curl type or if your hair is relaxed or natural, because both are chalk full of some amazing things.

This post is really about the differences between the two but it is really hard to explain those differences without running into some reasons why they are very beneficial for your hair. As always when dealing with something natural we have to start with its origin, and the aloe vera juice* and gel come from a plant, the plant is a member of the lily and onion family.

That is actually a great thing, did you check out our Onion juice post yet? If not check it out here. Ok back to the matter at hand, the plant is a native of northern Africa the leaves which aren’t typical leaves are very thick and fleshy and look similar to cactus.

There is a bit of confusion between aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel and at this point it is probably best that we explain the two. The gel refers to that substance found in the fleshy portion of the leaf, it literally looks like a gel, its gooey and sticky and takes a bit of getting used to if you ever attempted to taste it in that raw state.

The juice is also found in the leaf, but instead of that inner fleshy portion the juice is just under the skin of the leaf and it is very bitter. Many believe that raw aloe vera is the most beneficial, and if you are from the Caribbean you will hear stories of mommys cutting a piece of the aloe plant extracting the gel and using it on Saturday morning on their little daughters in the name of deep conditioning*. Those mommys shall remain nameless.

Aloe vera gel* is pretty pliable, so other than hair it is used for burns, scrapes and skin irritations including eczema and psoriasis. Aloe vera juice is often taken as a drink and is believed to be great for many stomach issues including ulcers. It is also a minor diuretic and a great detox and both can be used on your hair to keep your strands healthy.

Which is better for your hair, gel or juice?

Neither is better really, they are both great, but they serve different uses due to their natural composition. Honestly depending on what you need it for you might find yourself with both the gel and the juice in your stash.

Aloe vera juice* like the gel, is sold commercially so it isn’t hard to find, Walmart has huge tubs of it in the produce isle now making it very accessible for the general public. The juice is the ultimate moisturizer filled with vitamins* and minerals, making it perfect for use on your hair.

To use the juice on your hair all you need is a spray bottle and you can dilute it with a bit of water if you like or just spray it undiluted directly on your strands.

The aloe juice reduces frizz by helping the cuticles to lie flat allowing your hair to appear naturally shiny. You will notice the strength in your strands after just one application.

The gel on the other hand is great for styling because of its composition, you can use to slick your edges, or create a sleek style but the value of the gel like the juice makes it just as healthy when used daily with the same benefits as described above.

We don’t know about you but it really isn’t enough to just say, they both moisturize the hair, reduce frizz you know the typical stuff, kind of like your average conditioner commercial right? We need to know whats in them that makes both the gel and the juice really great, well allow us to educate you.

Key ingredients in Aloe Vera

►Polysaccharides (carbohydrates) and fatty acids – Act as natural humectant that traps and holds moisture
►Vitamin A*, B vitamins*, folic acid, and vitamin C* – all great for hair growth, scalp healing and hair strength
►Protein (lectin) – adds layers to the hair for strength, great for women with relaxed hair
►Enzymes and Amino Acids – great for growth, and hair repair and strength

On top of these few things we mentioned there are a ton of mineral components including, calcium, zinc, magnesium* copper, iron and potassium* that make this plant complexed and perfect for your hair.

With all that said, the real issue is not necessarily the juice versus the gel, the bottom line is that they both give exactly the same benefits when used in your hair. What you have to consider before purchasing is what you are going to use it for.

If you are looking to make your own spritz for you hair then the juice would be the sensible option. On the other hand if you want to use it added to your deep conditioner* then the gel would make more sense because its less likely to make your conditioner too runny.

So rather than put the juice up against the gel, the real issue is the juice and gel in their purest form versus what you actually get commercially.

There is no denying that packaging the product will come with some additives for preservation and so not only does that impact the product itself but also how it would perform on your hair versus if you just picked the leaf from a plant that you had at home.

Even though something might be marketed as a 100% pure, it is highly unlikely that it is since it would mean that the extract would never last more than a couple of days sitting on a shelf for us to use whenever we please. Obviously something was added to prevent it from going bad.

If you are interested in producing your own Aloe Vera, it really is as easy as just getting the seeds or a part of an existing plant, going outside and planting it yourself in a place where it can get plenty of sunlight. There are a ton of resources online that can guide you on how to do just that. When the plant is mature just hack a leaf off whenever you please for fresh aloe vera juice* or gel!

2 great ways to incorporate the gel and juice into your regimen

1. Pre Poo treatment

1/2 cup of Aloe Juice or Gel mixed with 1-2 table spoons of your favorite oil. Section the hair and apply the mix to each section prior to shampooing, leave on for 20 minutes, then shampoo and condition as normal

2. The Kimmaytube leave in 

2 tablespoons of your preferred leave in conditioner* / moisturizer (silicone free)

2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice*

2 teaspoons of clear castor oil*

2 teaspoons of Jojoba Oil*

You can make enough to last you a couple of uses, just keep it in the fridge to preserve it. You hair loves cold product anyway. Well that’s all folks comment below and let us know if aloe vera is a significant part of your regimen and which do you prefer?