There are all sorts of crazy trends out there that supposedly help give you healthy hair. One of the more unusual sounding remedies is adding onion (yes, the vegetable that we allow to make us cry in exchange for its sweet and flavorful addition to a meal) to your hair care regimen.
photo of onions with colorful background
It's no surprise that the onion is not exactly the first superfood that comes to mind for most people. They make your eyes water, they smell unpleasant for the most part, and they don't really exude moisturizing elements like an avocado for example. However, studies show it may be good for your hair, especially in the area of growth. How does onion help hair growth? Well, let's take a look at this sometimes stinky little vegetable.
The main way onions help with hair growth is that the juice from onions can aid in circulation improvement when applied directly to the scalp. Onions are rich in antibacterial properties, as well as Sulphur, which can help remove scalp infections, parasites, and other issues that are standing in the way of a healthy scalp.
A healthy scalp is the beginning of hair growth. Your hair will not growth at a normal or accelerated rate if the scalp is unhealthy. Onions are also loaded with a natural antioxidant called catalase. While this antioxidant doesn't play a role in hair growth, it can prevent premature graying which is a nice benefit of onions for hair. When it comes to hair growth, the unique properties found in onion juice may just be the answer you have been looking for.
This isn't a matter of hearsay either. There is actual science to back up the healing powers of this unlikely hair friend. According to a study completed in 2002, The Journal of Dermatology found there is a direct correlation between applying topical onion juice for patients suffering from alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease which causes patchy hair loss in both men and women, when applied twice a day. The study showed that 86% of the participant group showed increases in hair growth when used within the six weeks of the study.
While eating onions may add flavor to your meal, the best way to use them for your hair is as a topical treatment. You can simply cut up an onion and either grate the juice into a bowl using a hand grater or you can use your blender. Once you have enough juice for your needs, apply it to your scalp and massage it in circular motions. The smell will be strong and your eyes will water doing this treatment. There are a few ways to cut the smell. You can dilute the juice with a little bit of water or you can add a little bit of honey to your juice. The honey will not only help with the smell, but it will make it a thicker consistency that will be easier to apply. Make sure you wash your hair after any onion treatment to avoid funny looks from the people around you!
Onions are a food that most people either love or despise. When you use them to help with hair growth, it is hard not to love these little stinkers!
We know curlies will go to great lengths for their hair... is onion juice a step too far for you? Let us know in the comments.