Skip the conditioner. Just use Aloe.

[~marti26.]

I was posting in another thread and it occurred to me that I have never shared this with you guys. At least not directly. I know there is a huge buzz about using aloe vera juice mixed with KCKT, however I have been using just straight Aloe Vera juice on my hair straight as a leave in. LADIES, I cannot tell you how much easier it has made my life.
I have 3 DD's with a lot of hair and my eldest has tiny coils that make my life really hard.

This is an excerpt from my hair blog from several months ago prior to my aloe use: (If you choose not to read this part just know that it takes a looong time to detangle.)

My oldest daughters' hair is very tightly coiled and very prone to tangles. When I wash her hair it is an absolute must that I detangle it while it's still wet. If for some reason I don't get a chance to detangle it then I have to rewet the head of hair before continuing.
Once I've detangled her hair, which usually takes about an hour, I style the hair. This usually takes at least two hours. If I'm low on time there is no quick protective style for her hair. My only choice is a puff. Her hair is too thick for anything else. The problem with that is that even though I've spent an hour detangling her hair, one day or even a few hours in a puff undoes that whole process so the next day I either have to rewet or co-wash the hair and spend the combined 3 hours detangling and styling ir or simply re-puff it and worry about the "worsening by the day" detangling situation that's happening on her head later. I usually go with the latter.


I share all that to say that once I began using The Aloe on her hair I noticed (after the second use) that her hair was dramatically easier to detangle. It took me fifteen minutes to detangle her hair! That has NEVER happened. Well maybe when she was 3 and under. Lol.
Also in using the Aloe Vera Juice I have noticed that it has made all of our hair VERY soft and VERY smooth. The ends of my hair are even smooth. I can clearly tell that the cuticle is tightly closed. Once I apply my moisturizer my hair simply soaks it up like it was perfectly prepared to accept it.

If the Aloe mixed with KCKT or whatever is working for you then go for it, but otherwise this just might be worth a shot. It should save you some money too.
The brand I use is Aloe Gold Whole Leaf Aloe Concentrate. This is the only one I have used so I can't speak on the other brands or the inner gel filet ones.

This is what it looks like: I use the one in the middle.

 

[~~HoneyComb~~]

Great tip, thanks for sharing. I just started using aloe vera juice mixed with distilled water and a tad bit of glycerin in my water bottle and I'm loving it so far.

 

[lala]

Marti, your hair looks healthy and beautiful. I've seen that product before just didn't know how moisturizing it would be. I've seen AVJ reco'd in a lot of my aromatherapy books, but I haven't gotten around to making many of the hair recipes. Thanks for the review.

 

[LoveCraze]

Thanks for posting OP. I too have been using straight aloe vera juice in a spray bottle with a little bit of peppermint essential oil and a few drops of vitamin E. I agree that it does work wonderful as a quick spritz or as a leave in.

 

[Mrs. Verde]

Great tip, thanks!

 

[africanqueen456]

Thanks for the tip....I luv your puff!

 

[bb09]

Your puff is gorgeous! The only thing I don't like is aloe will lighten your hair overtime. If there was a way to avoid that, I might just try it again. Do you mean skip the leave-in con, or do you use aloe to dc as well?

 

[mj11051]

Thanks for the tip, I'm about to co wash my hair and try this today. I'll let you know my results.

 

[iri9109]

i use aloe (gel and juice) but i mix it with water to stretch it out...i might just start using straight aloe juice and mixing the gel with water...

 

[Tiye]

Thanks for posting OP. I too have been using straight aloe vera juice in a spray bottle with a little bit of peppermint essential oil and a few drops of vitamin E. I agree that it does work wonderful as a quick spritz or as a leave in.

My mother does this. It's pretty much the only conditioner she uses other than hot oil treatments. Her hair feels nice.

 

[Leesh]

I use the one in the middle.

OP, Where do you purchase this product?

 

[LadyMacgyver]

I use aloe vera, water, and little oil and I love it. I never used that brand that you posted..

 

[~marti26.]

Your puff is gorgeous! The only thing I don't like is aloe will lighten your hair overtime. If there was a way to avoid that, I might just try it again. Do you mean skip the leave-in con, or do you use aloe to dc as well?

No I don't use it to DC. I still use a regular DC, but I do use it alone as a leave in once I have DC'ed.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

for the past week I was using my AVJ straight up in a spray bottle, then putting on my wig. Left my hair moist for hours. But, over time (over the course of a week) my hair started to turn hard. I still liked it though.

I still prefer mixing some WGO and a dollop of condish in it.

 

[~marti26.]

OP, Where do you purchase this product?

I purchase it from a store called Nature's Market right near my house, but I see that the Aloe Life site sells it for the same price I get it at the store for. Just so you guys know, it is more expensive than some other AVJ but this is a concentrate.

Here is the descriprition on the site: Aloe Gold Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice Concentrate is the highest quality Aloe Vera in a bottle providing maximum benefits when taken daily. It is a 3:1 concentrate containing yellow sap (we remove 3 quarts of water from 4 quarts of aloe to equal one quart of Aloe concentrate) with solids averaging 14,500 per bottle. Benefits include help with digestion and absorption when taken before meals, energy, Immune System Support, Anti-Inflamatory support for the tissues and joints, Allergies, Liver Support, Bowell distress, skin. The high quality formula contains no water and there is no high heat or oxidation used in processing keeping all essential nutrients and polysaccarides intact providing maximum immune system support. The gold is the best choice for people with irregular sugar metabolism and Candida (yeast) infections. Instructions: 1-2 OZ daily, special applications 3-8 OZ. Discount on orders of 4 or more!

 

[~marti26.]

for the past week I was using my AVJ straight up in a spray bottle, then putting on my wig. Left my hair moist for hours. But, over time (over the course of a week) my hair started to turn hard. I still liked it though.

I still prefer mixing some WGO and a dollop of condish in it.

That sucks. I wouldn't want hard hair. Did you apply a moisturizer after or were you using it as a moisturizer? I only use mine as a leave in after washing and DCing or after a cowash.

 

[alisia]

Thanks for the recomendation OP. But im wondering if anyone else have noticed aloe lightening thier hair, and is there a way of preventing this, i love my natural jet black hair!

 

[faithVA]

Thank you for the tip. I just finished up the last of my Kimmay Tube Leave in and wasn't going to continue with it. So glad to know I can use the rest of my Aloe Gel and see if this works.

 

[~marti26.]

Thanks for the recomendation OP. But im wondering if anyone else have noticed aloe lightening thier hair, and is there a way of preventing this, i love my natural jet black hair!

I haven't noticed any lightening, but I probably haven't used it long enough to tell. If I do notice it I'll let you guys know.

 

[divachyk]

Would this work for a relaxed head?

 

[Ivonnovi]

What is KCKT?

I have aloe gel on hand, but I'm sure I should be concerned about the quality of the Drug Store brands right?

 

[Yoshi3329]

What is KCKT?

I have aloe gel on hand, but I'm sure I should be concerned about the quality of the Drug Store brands right?

KCKT = Kinky Curly Knot Today.

 

[empressri]

i use aloe gel in my own oil blend on my scalp and that business made my hair softer and easier to detangle. i use the lily of the valley gel, dont like the juice.

 

[lolascurls]

Thanks for posting, OP! I've also been using Aloe vera juice as a spritz for the past 3 months and my hair loves it! Now I am diluting it with water to make it last longer! I used it to take down twists and detangle and it is AMAZING! I spray it on the section and leave for 30secs to 1 min! The hair soaks it up and untangles (you know how hair in kinky twists can be tightly kinked on itself)! Great and alot cheaper than mixing with other products!

 

[My Friend]

OP....I love your puff! When you flat iron it, are you bsl, mbl?

 

[mj11051]

Last night I co washed and used the aloe juice as a leave in. Today I took my big twist down and retwisted my hair in small twist. My hair is well moisturized and soft and my twists looks fabulous. Thanks OP for the tip.

 

[~marti26.]

Would this work for a relaxed head?

Absolutely! My cousin has started using it and she is transitioning. Both textures of her hair have seen the benefits of using it. It is much softer and much smoother. She LOVES it.

 

[~marti26.]

OP....I love your puff! When you flat iron it, are you bsl, mbl?

Thanks! I'm about an inch away from BSL. Wow I've never said that before! Lol. So exciting!

 

[~marti26.]

Last night I co washed and used the aloe juice as a leave in. Today I took my big twist down and retwisted my hair in small twist. My hair is well moisturized and soft and my twists looks fabulous. Thanks OP for the tip.

You're welcome. I'm so glad you liked it. I saw the even better results after using it once and washing it again. I don't know why it seemed better after that because I hadn't even applied the aloe yet (the 2nd time) but noticed that detangling was MUCH easier.

 

[thecurlycamshow]

I used to mix my aloe juice with water but my hair was drying out. Now I mix it with a little conditioner and it works very well.