Rapper Cardi B said, “The secret to silky smooth hair despite frequent dyeing is onion juice.” Cardi B said that she uses it as a treatment by rinsing her hair twice with onion-boiled water. The use of onion juice on the hair is said to have its roots in Ayurvedic customs and Dominican culture. Does it really work? Health media ‘Everyday Health’ recently introduced the relationship between onion juice and hair.
“Onions are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, which have antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects,” said Kerry Yates, publisher of the online magazine Color Collective. This makes it a potential solution for mitigating fungal infections. The 2020 Journal of Pharmacy and Biology focused on the antifungal and antibacterial potential of onion extract and onion essential oil.
For two months, some of 38 women and men applied onion juice to their scalp twice daily, while the control group used tap water. In this study, 20 out of 23 participants (87%) who used onion juice had hair regrowth over 6 weeks in the area where they had lost hair. However, in the tap water group, only two people found a similar phenomenon. Onion juice may help promote hair regrowth in people with alopecia. However, the sample size of this study is small and further studies are needed.
William Gaunitz, a trichologist, a hair and scalp expert and founder of Advanced Tricology, Arizona, said the results of the study “may be beneficial for people suffering from hair loss due to inflammation.” This is because onion juice is high in sulfur content. However, he said, “it will not work for all types of hair loss, such as nutrient deficiency and hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia.”
Beware if you are allergic to onions
Naturally, Eights recommends, “If you are allergic to onions, use onion juice topically.” He continued, “even if you don’t have allergies, wash off the onion juice completely to avoid irritating your skin.”
Onion juice treatment, like this!
Gaunitz advises not to boil or heat onions. This is because the medicinal effect comes from the raw onion itself. William Yates, a surgeon at the New Jersey Hair Restoration Center, recommends applying onion juice to your hair as follows:
– Peel and finely chop 3-4 onions.
– Extract onion extract by squeezing.
– Apply the juice to the scalp using a cotton pad. You can add a little lemon juice to counteract the onion smell.
– After massaging the scalp, leave it on for regarding an hour and then rinse. Then, wash your hair once more with your usual shampoo.
– However, if you are wary of making your own DIY onion juice, opt for a topical hair care treatment such as shampoo, conditioner, or oil with onion juice.
“Onions can be powerful antioxidants, but a lot of hair loss is hereditary,” says hair loss surgeon William Yates. To prevent hair loss, he advises to focus on “getting enough nutrients by reducing your intake of processed foods and choosing a diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals.” He particularly noted that “protein-rich foods and a Mediterranean diet can be particularly beneficial.”
He also said, “Using onion juice on the scalp can reduce dandruff, reduce hair loss, and increase luster overall, but more research is needed, so it is better to consult with your dermatologist and doctor before use.”
Reporter Sejin Kim joyer@kormedi.com
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