Updated: October 9, 2022
Have you seen the recent trend of people using Okra in their hair for growth? If you’re curious about the benefits of okra for hair, and whether it’s a trend to watch or to skip, we’re here to tell you more!
Okra is a plant that has green seed pods and it is said to originate in West Africa, Ethiopia, and South Asia. Okra is most often used in cuisine because of how packed it is with vitamins and nutrients!
However, in this article, we’re going to be talking about how you can use okra on your hair to reap these benefits! We’ll also be answering the question about whether okra works for hair growth!
What is Okra?
Okra is a plant that is cultivated in tropical and warm areas around the world. The plant goes by many names which include okro, bhindi, ochro, and ladies’ fingers.
The nutrient-rich part of the plant is its green seed pods. In addition, these okra pods are rich in mucilage, gel, or slime which provides physical benefits to natural hair!
7 Incredible Benefits of Okra Gel for Natural Hair
- It hydrates and moisturizes the hair
Okra is essentially made up of 90% water, which is great to impart moisture and hydration into your natural hair. Okra is also 2% protein which is beneficial to maintaining the moisture-protein balance of natural hair! - It is antioxidant
Okra is rich in polyphenols which are antioxidants, and fight damaging causing free-radicals in your hair and scalp. This is because okra is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9, E, and K! - It promotes scalp health
Because okra is vitamin-rich and antioxidant, it helps combat scalp irritation and dandruff caused by dryness, toxins, or vitamin-deficiency. It is also rich in minerals like zinc and magnesium which prevent hair loss. - It simplifies detangling
Okra is rich in mucilage or gel which cut the detangling process in half! This is because of how much slip okra gel provides, and how much it reduces friction. This is how okra gel makes natural hair so much easier to manage! - It promotes hair shine
Okra gel is extremely hydrating and can boost the overall moisture content of natural hair. As a result, it can improve dry, dull-looking natural hair and boost its overall appearance! - It provides curl-definition
Okra gel is a great way to define the curls on your natural hair without using harsh chemical gels. If you wanted to seal your twists, rock a sleek bun, wash and go, or any other curly style – okra gel is a great way to gel curl definition! - Okra promotes hair growth!
Here at Hibiscus Roots, when we talk about promoting hair growth, we mean improving scalp health and length retention. When your hair and scalp are healthy and nourished, you will need to trim your hair less often due to breakage or damage. So yes, with this in mind, okra gel does promote hair growth!
How to Make Okra Gel for Natural Hair
What you Will Need
- 5-7 pieces of okra
- 2 cups of water
- 5 drops of lemon or lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Slice the okra into smaller pieces.
- Pour the water into a pot with the okra and bring it to a boil.
- Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat and let the okra simmer.
- You will notice the okra begin to form a gel and become sticky. Once this happens, turn off the heat.
- Once the gel cools, strain the gel using a stocking and into a jar.
- Now okra can smell a little funky, so feel free to add about 5 drops of your favorite essential oil into the mixture!
You can store okra gel for up to 3 weeks in the fridge without a preservative. However, to extend its shelf-life you can add 20 drops of Cosgard, or Geogard 221.
How to Use Okra for Natural Hair
1. As a pre-poo or detangler
We have a dedicated post on the benefits of pre-poo treatments for natural hair here. Okra is a great detangler because of how much slip it provides to natural hair. Add olive oil, or any other oil to the okra gel to boost its moisturizing properties!
2. As a styler
Okra gel gives a light-medium shiny hold with this recipe for your sleek natural hairstyles. It can be applied as the fourth step of the LOC or LCO method and you can trust that your hair remains healthy!
3. As a shampoo
If you add okra gel to Castille soap or your African black soap recipe, you can add enough slip to give your shampoo extra hydrating and conditioning properties.
featured image: source
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