Gorgeous, healthy tresses are what all women desire, but nothing fuels that desire more than when she is a bride-to-be. The extensive search of all the products and masks that work towards hair growth begin! And so does shelling out money on expensive salon treatments and branded products. More often than not, it’s not these costly things that will boost hair growth, but some simple strategies like yoga inversions, right kind of hair vitamins, tackling the problems specific to your hair like split ends and using ingredients that directly improve hair density. And we will be discussing one such product that has been touted since centuries to grow hair – Onion Juice!
You have probably heard about this innocent, staple food & the magic it does on your hair. It is on every blog of kitchen ingredients, DIY masks for hair growth.
Onion Juice For Hair Growth
How does onion juice help with hair growth?
There are a number of reasons why onions can help with hair growth. Here are the primary ones:
Onion Juice is rich in Sulphur. The dietary sulphur helps with regeneration of hair follicles & is a major component of amino acids, a.k.a proteins! Our hair is also made of a kind of protein called keratin, which is sulphur-rich.
When onions are applied on hair, they raise the level of sulphur & hence, keratin production. Eating onions also provides this dietary sulphur to your body.
Onions are full of antioxidants, mainly flavonoids and quercetin. Free radicals are a major cause of baldness and hair thinning. Directly supplying your scalp with antioxidants will help fight these radicals and bring back the lost hair.
It is antimicrobial and antifungal. This is particularly useful for those who suffer from scalp infections and persistent dandruff. It also helps in clearing the white flaky buildup on your scalp giving it, opening hair follicles and strengthening them. It basically acts like a DIY clarifying shampoo.
Onion juice improves blood circulation in your scalp. Some women don’t suffer from hair loss, but still don’t experience any hair growth. This could be because of poor circulation to your scalp. Onion helps stimulate the scalp, nourishes follicles and regrow hair.
How to use onion juice for hair growth?
Onion juice only needs to be applied on the scalp and not roots. So, a medium-sized onion would suffice, no matter what the hair length. Start by grating the onion. Cut the onion in half, it grates quicker this way. You can also grind it. Take a sieve, pour the pulp in it and press using your fingers.
You can take a spray bottle and pour the juice in it. Section your hair and start spraying. You can also use a nozzle bottle, cotton or simply your hands to apply it. Massage a little bit as you are putting it on.
That’s it! Simple and easy-peasy. You can apply onion juice as it is or mix it with other ingredients. Here are 5 DIY masks with onion juice for hair growth:
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Onion Juice + Oil. Mix equal quantities of onion juice with one of these three kinds of oil – coconut, castor or olive. Apply this mixture and massage your scalp to stimulate hair growth for a few minutes. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes and wash off with mild shampoo and conditioner.
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4 tbsp Onion Juice + 1 egg + 1 tbsp Castor or Olive Oil. Mix all the ingredients together, whisk it properly. Wear a shower mask to prevent the egg from dripping onto your clothes. Wait for 30 minutes and wash with cold water & mild shampoo. Don’t use hot water to prevent the egg from ‘cooking’
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4 tbsp Onion Juice + 2 tbsp Honey. Whip the two of them together and massage it in with your fingers. Leave it on for around 45 minutes and wash off with slightly warm water & mild shampoo.
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4 tbsp Onion Juice + 1 tbsp Ginger juice. Some people swear by this mask as the ultimate hair regrowth one. Nevertheless, we do recommend not letting this mask sit for long on your first try. Let it sit for only 10 minutes and wash off. If you don’t notice any hair fall or redness, you can leave it for half an hour the next time.
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4 tbsp Onion Juice + 2 tbsp Curd. Adding curd to onion juice moisturises your scalp while balancing the pH. Apply this mask on your hair and wait for about 45 minutes. Rinse it off with a mild shampoo.
How long should you leave onion juice on your hair?
When you start, apply onion juice only for about 30-45 minutes on your hair. If that works fine, without any side effects, proceed to leave on for about an hour or two and then, overnight. Not everything works for everyone. Just because someone used it overnight and had good results doesn’t mean you will too! Trial and error is the best way to find out what works for you.
Can we apply onion juice overnight?
Yes, you can. Apply onion juice on your scalp and oil your hair length. Wash your hair the next morning with mild shampoo and conditioner. However, too much sulphur can irritate your scalp. So if it dries out your scalp or causes more hair fall, we recommend you only leave it for an hour or so before washing!
Another trick is to wash your hair with only plain water after applying onion juice. Oiling your hair and washing it with shampoo the next day. Even this method ensures that you receive maximum benefits out of the pack without leaving it on overnight.
How often should you apply the juice for hair growth?
Well, some say to use it thrice a week, others just once a week and some even use it daily. According to the research we have conducted, we would recommend that you start with once a week, for 2 weeks and gradually start increasing the frequency. Remember, overuse of anything makes it lose it’s worth! So, do as you please, as you can see from the reviews of onion juice on YT and Quora, it works differently for people.
How to fend off the smell of onion mask from your hair?
One major thing that troubles anyone thinking about using onion juice for hair growth is the ‘smell’. Adding a bit of lemon juice to the mixture can help mask the smell. You can also go for a hair rinse like an ACV rinse, coffee rinse or lemon juice hair rinse to further lessen the odour.
Any side effects of onion juice hair masks that I should know of?
Though rarely reported, onion juice can cause redness or irritation in some people. This can be counteracted a little by adding oil or yoghurt, but if the redness persists, discontinue using onion juice completely. To be safe, do a patch test before starting using onion juice for hair growth!
Does onion juice really give real-time results?
One small study done in 2002 and published in the Journal of Dermatology showed that onion juice can help with hair regrowth. 74% of the participants experienced hair growth in 4 weeks and 87% in 6 weeks after applying onion juice twice a day. However, only 38 participants were involved and no follow-up was done!
There are also plenty of videos on Youtube where women claim they have seen visible results from it. Furthermore, read these answers on Quora and you will know that yes, real-time results do happen with onion juice when used consistently.
There are no short-term remedies to improve hair thickness. Everything takes time! – whether you invest in salon haircare or decide to do it at home! It will take continuous effort of at least 2 months to see a noticeable difference. Combined with the right kind of hair care, you will get the hair of your dreams just in time for your big day!
