Onion juice is trendy in the beauty community for addressing hair fall problems. However, before you apply it, there are some side effects of onion juice on hair.
Experts have stated that onion juice is great for treating hair loss. It is used for decades, but recently more people talk about it due to social media. A lot of people use it to regrow their hair.
But there is also scientific proof that onion juice is good for hair. It contains sulfur that helps to grow strong, shiny, and thick hair. Also, it stimulates hair growth and prevents hair fall.
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How To Make it?
First, you need to peel the skin and then wash it thoroughly under water. Now chop it into tiny pieces and blend it in a food processor.
Once you are done blending, now extract the juice. You need to put it on a cheesecloth and squeeze the liquid portion.
How to use onion juice?
You can soak a cotton pad with the juice. Once the cotton pad is fully soaked, you can dab the onion juice on your scalp. Cover your entire scalp with the juice. If anything is left, then use your hand to use the juice on your hair length.
Once you are done applying the onion juice, gently massage the scalp with your fingers for 10 – 15 minutes. Then let it sit on your scalp for another 20 – 30 minutes.
After this, wash your hair with cold or lukewarm water and do no use hot water at all. Use a mild shampoo and conditioner.
5 Side Effects of Onion Juice on Hair
It is important to know about all the side effects of onion juice on hair before you start using it. Here are some of the common side effects of the juice:
#1 Might be the cause of itchy scalp
Onion juice is high in sulfur, which might irritate your scalp. Moreover, if you do not rinse it properly after applying it, it will cause continuous irritation.
Hence, it would help if you used a mild shampoo to use onion juice as a pre-hair treatment to avoid it. Also, please do not use it more than once per week.
#2 Hair Fall
One of the side effects of onion juice on hair is hair fall due to sulfur. Even though sulfur can help you get rid of hair fall, it might act the opposite for rare cases.
An excessive amount of it can cause a lot of scratching and itching. Furthermore, this can damage the scalp, follicles, and hair.
Also, if you are continuously scratching your scalp, then it will weaken your hair roots. This will lead to hair loss and damaged hair roots.
#3 Unpleasant Odour of the Juice
One of the common side effects of onion juice on hair is the terrible smell that comes with it. A lot of people tend to avoid it only cause they could not stand the smell of it.
Moreover, the smell is that onion juice has collagen in it, and even if you wash your hair thoroughly, sometimes the odor will stay behind.
Besides, if you use a strong chemical-based shampoo, it can damage your hair.
Hence if you want to try onion juice for your hair, it is best to use fresh juice every time you use it as it has a less pungent odor.
#4 Scalp Eczema
Sulfur can lead to scalp eczema. If you use onion juice regularly, it will lead to a painful and uncomfortable situation for the scalp, and over time, you will have scalp eczema.
Moreover, scalp eczema means inflamed, dry and itchy scalp. Hence to avoid it, do not use onion juice very frequently.
#5 Dry Scalp
One of the side effects of onion juice on hair is that too much of it can lead to a dry scalp. If you use a lot of onion juice, it can absorb all the natural oil and moisture from your scalp. This will lead to dryness of the scalp, and eventually, your hair will have fewer nutrients.
Some other disadvantages of onion juice for hair
Frequent use of onion juice can lead to burning scalp. It will give you the perfect shiny hair and burn your scalp if you use it regularly.
Moreover, constantly using onion juice can lead to various infections. Also, most people do have sensitive scalp; hence it might make the situation worse.
These are all the side effects of onion juice on the hair. If you use it a few times and still have an itchy sensation, it is best to look for other remedies for your hair problems.
How often should I use onion juice for hair growth
For hair growth, you can use onion juice 2 to 3 times a week. If it is not severe, then it is best to use it once a week.
Onion juice hair growth success rate
If you want to know the onion juice hair growth success rate, it will most likely take 15 days to see the results.
Moreover, experts have stated that if you use onion juice twice daily on the scalp, then in 2 weeks, you will see hair growth.
In a study, about 75% of the participants seen hair growth after using onion juice for a month daily, and 87% seen hair growth after using it for 6 weeks.
Furthermore, both men and women participated in this. However, the hair growth rate was slightly higher in men.
Can I use onion juice on my hair daily?
Yes, you can apply onion juice to your hair daily. However, an excessive amount of onion juice might cause scalp irritation. Hence before you start using it daily, start with applying it 2 – 3 times per week.
If you see no scalp itching and irritation, you can use it twice every day. Also, it will take a lot of commitment to apply it twice daily to see a visible result after few weeks.
Can I use Onion Juice as an Overnight Hair Treatment?
It is not advisable to use onion juice as an overnight hair mask as it has a high amount of sulfur. However, it also depends on how much hair you are losing. It is best to talk to a dermatologist if you have excessive hair fall.
But if you want to keep it still overnight, mix it with some other products such as coconut oil, vitamin E oil, etc. In this way, the sulfur will be diluted a little, and it won’t burn or irritate your scalp if you keep it overnight.
Nonetheless, if you are using pure homemade onion juice, we recommend not to keep it for more than an hour.
Onion juice for hair how many days till we see the results?
It depends on how much hair you have lost and your gender.
It will take from 3 – 4 weeks before you see hair regrowth if you are a man.
However, it will take up to 6 – 7 weeks to see regrowth if you are a woman.
You will only see this result if you apply it twice daily.
Applying and Eating onion benefits for hair
Onion is great for hair and can help a lot with hair growth. Here are some of the benefits of onion juice.
#1 Reduce thinning of your hair
Due to high sulfur content, it helps to reduce thinning of hair and also breakage. Sulfur is a vital ingredient for the regeneration of your hair follicles.
#2 Prevent Premature Greying
Onion has powerful and natural antioxidants which help to fight premature greying of your hair.
#3 To treat Dandruff
You are suffering from heavy dandruff issues; then pure onion juice will help to reduce it. Apply it once a week on a clean scalp to treat your dandruff problems.
#4 Nourishment for the Hair
Onion pulp helps to nourish the hair follicles. Also, it restores the nutrients that you might have lost from the scalp.
#5 For Shiny and Smooth Hair
If you use onion oil or paste frequently, your hair will be nourished and give your hair a natural shine. Furthermore, if you continue to use it for a long period, then it might be a permanent feature of your hair.
#6 Too Add Volume
Researches have shown that onion juice or oil adds volume to your hair when you use it regularly.
#7 Prevent Scalp Infections
Onion has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Both of these treats and prevent the scalp from any infections. Also, a healthier scalp is meant there will be less hair loss.
#8 Increases Blood Circulation
Using onion pulp will increase your scalp’s blood circulation. Once blood circulation improves, it will promote hair growth, thick hair, and overall good hair health.
#9 To Treat Lice
Since onion has a pungent smell can fight against lice. If you have lice on your hair, apply onion pulp, keep it for 15 minutes, and wash it off. Do it 2 – 3 times a week so that it can eradicate lice.
Also, regular usage of onion helps to prevent future infestation as well.
Tips before you use onion juice
Firstly, always filter onion juice to avoid all the onion particles. If there is any particle on the juice and gets stuck on your hair, it will be difficult to remove it while washing your hair.
Secondly, if onion juice suits your hair and the only thing stopping you from using it is the pungent smell, you can add a few drops of essential oil to it.
We recommend essential oil, tea tree essential oil, lemon essential oil, and peppermint essential oil.
Thirdly, it is best to avoid any chemical-based shampoo and conditioner when washing off the onion juice. Try to use mild and herbal hair products.
Fourthly, you can add coconut oil, garlic juice, and apple cider vinegar to the juice if you want to add benefits.
Finally, it is important to do a patch test before applying the juice. This will prevent you from allergic reactions.
Homemade Onion Pulp/Juice Hair Mask for Healthy and Smooth Hair
Here is how you can use onion for hair growth:
#1 Onion and Honey for hair growth
To make the juice take ½ cup of onion juice and add 2 tbsp of honey to it. You have to mix it well so that it become one homogenous mixture.
Now apply this to your hair and scalp. Mainly focusing on the roots. Keep it on for about 20 minutes, and then wash it off with mild shampoo.
#2 Curry Leaves and Onion to prevent grey hair
Curry leaves have a lot of hair benefits, such as it helps to make the hair stronger, prevents premature greying, and improves the overall health of the hair.
Firstly take a handful of curry leaves and blend them in a food processor. Make a smooth paste and add 3 tbsp of onion juice to the paste.
Secondly, apply it to the hair evenly and keep it for about 40 minutes.
Lastly, wash it with herbal shampoo and conditioner. Do this twice a month to see results.
#3 Onion and Olive Oil to treat dandruff
Olive oil is a good ingredient to treat dandruff. Also, it penetrates deep on the scalp and hair; hence you will have nourished and hydrated hair.
First, take 4 tbsp of onion juice and add 2 tbsp oil to it. Now massage it on the scalp for 5 – 7 minutes in a circular pattern.
Keep this on your hair for 1 and a half hours and rinse it off with herbal shampoo. Do this 3 times a week to have a dandruff-free scalp and hair.
#4 Onion and Yogurt to strengthen your hair
Yogurt is another great ingredient that helps prevent hair fall, and when adding onion juice, you will get added benefits.
First, in a bowl, add 5 tbsp of yogurt and 2 tbsp onion juice. Mix it well and apply it to your hair and scalp. Please keep it for 30 minutes and then rinse it off with mild shampoo.
You can do this once every week so have strong and bouncy hair.
Final thoughts
Onion is a natural ingredient that is safe to use on the hair. Also, it is quite affordable compared to those chemical hair masks available in the market.
However, due to the sulfur contain there are few side effects of onion juice on the hair. We know that to see new growth of hair, we need to apply it daily. But due to the disadvantages of onion juice for hair, start with applying it once a week.
Some side effects can be itching and burning, and if you do not face that issue, it is 100% safe to use onion juice on your hair and scalp daily.