Onions are well-known for an aroma that will make a strong man cry. But did you know that onion juice can help your hair grow too?
Yes, you read that right! Onion juice is stuffed with hair growth benefits, from fighting hair loss to growing thicker hair! So, knock all your hair potions off the table and make room for an all-natural and inexpensive hair growth remedy! I am going to share with you the benefits of onion juice for hair.
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Benefits of Using Onion Juice for Hair Regrowth
Onion juice has so many benefits when it comes to growing healthy hair. The flavorful juice is pumped full of essential nutrients and vitamins that help your hair grow longer, thicker, and stronger. Here are all of the hair-growing benefits that onion extract has to offer!
Promoting Hair Growth
Onions are packed full of sulfur, which plays a vital role in creating amino acids in our bodies. As a matter of fact, the sulfur in an onion is what creates its tear-jerking aroma.
Keratin, which is what hair is made from, uses up a lot of sulfur in growing hair. By using onion juice treatment, you’re providing your scalp and hair roots the keratin it needs to grow. Another type of hair food that comes from onion juice is biotin, a necessary vitamin for healthy skin, hair, and nails.
The remedy is also said to improve your scalp’s blood circulation, promoting oxygen; both are the first steps your body takes to get your hair growing. So, if you pair some onion juice with a good scalp massage, you’re on your way to longer, healthier hair!
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Treating Hair Loss
As a hair loss practitioner, I have been using onion juice for hair growth for several years. Even though the smell can be a little unpleasant, my clients felt the results surpass the scent.
The juice in an onion doesn’t just help your hair grow, but it’s also an ancient ayurvedic practice known to halt hair loss. Among the many nutrients in onion juice is an antioxidant called catalase, contributing to cell growth and healing.
Also found in onion juice is an anti-inflammatory flavonoid called quercetin. It can prevent your hair from the damage of air pollution and other potentially toxic elements. Combined, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties in onion juice cleanse the scalp, clarify hair, and protect it. This is why it is a great natural method for treating dry scalp, dandruff, and even alopecia, also known as hair loss.
How to Apply Onion Juice for Hair Growth
You can get every one of the benefits you just read in 3 different ways. You can use it all by itself or mix other things to make it part of your regular hair care routine. Here are the top DIY recipes to use onion juice on your hair and help it grow.
1. Onion Rinse
When you extract the juice from the onions using a juicer or blender, you can combine it with water, apple cider vinegar or even a rice water to create a strengthening hair growth rinse. Add baking soda or rosemary oil as a clarifying boost for dandruff or a dry scalp.
Here is a video where I show how to prepare and apply an onion and rice water rinse and explain why using one is such a great idea:
2. Onion Mask
There are two ways you can use onions as a hair mask. You can simmer the onion in oil to release the juices and then strain and cool. Or, you can extract the onion juice first with a blender and then mix it to a good carrier oil like:
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Avocado Oil
3. All By Itself
Soak a cotton pad with the onion juice, and apply all over your scalp until the entire scalp has been saturated. If you can’t stand the smell, try adding lavender, rosemary, or eucalyptus, ones of the best hair oils for hair, for even more hair benefits.
Leave on for up to ten minutes, and then shampoo and condition as usual. When you use this method every other day for a week, it’s been said to take effect in as soon as two weeks!
Which Onions Are Best for Hair Growth?
White and red onions are both good for hair growth. However, each type resolves different hair problems and has different levels of vitamins and nutrients. For example, white onions provide more sulfur than red. So, for new hair growth, white is your best bet.
On the other hand, red onions distribute more juices and contain more antioxidants and flavonoids, meaning they’re technically more nutritious and better for hair loss.
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How Long Does It Take for Onion Juice to Grow Hair?
While some people see results as quickly as in two weeks, the average time it takes for onion juice to grow hair is around 4-6 weeks. Two notable hair growth studies were done with onion juice shows that most test subjects were closer to the 6-week mark.
Throughout your life, your hair goes through its own life cycle, that is different growth stages. In the anagen phase, it grows fast. However, in the telogen phase, the hair goes dormant. During this phase, no remedy you try will grow your hair.
Onion Juice Precautions
To start, if you have an allergy or insensitivity to onions, you should not try this at all. Also, on a sensitive scalp, the sulfur content will cause irritation and some redness.
Secondly, if there are any lesions or scratches on your scalp, the onion juice will sting. This isn’t necessarily bad since onions have healing antibacterial properties, but it may be uncomfortable. This is why onion juice is often diluted with oil or water.
Don’t forget that when applying onion juice, your hair is going to be left smelling like- well, an onion. Further, the antimicrobial properties and sulfur content might cause a stinging sensation on a sensitive scalp.
Onions are packed full of essential nutrients for hair growth and have even been known to fight off hair loss. The biotin, sulfur, and antioxidants found in onions supercharge the hair follicle to grow healthier, stronger hair.
If you can stand the sensation and smell, you can simply juice an onion and apply it directly to the scalp for a few minutes as a pre-shampoo growth booster every other day. In most cases, people see hair growth results in less than six weeks, so it might be well worth it!