You can have healthy and bouncy hair if you use expert-approved ingredients such as coconut oil and onion juice to care for your crowning glory.
Environmental pollution, poor lifestyle, and age-related factors result in dandruff, hair loss, premature graying of hair, hair thinning, etc. When you experience hair loss due to these causes, you can reverse it with a proper hair care routine involving coconut oil and onion juice.
These two miracle ingredients promote hair growth, exhibit antimicrobial properties, and provide anti-inflammatory benefits to the scalp.
Article Contents
Coconut Oil and Onion Juice to Control Hair Loss
Using onion and coconut oil regularly helps moisturize and nourish your hair and scalp.
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is one of the fatty acids present naturally in virgin coconut oil, which helps hydrate and strengthen your hair. Onion juice is rich in sulfur, which also encourages hair growth.
Benefits of Using Onion Juice With Coconut Oil
Coconut oil and onion juice, when used together, provide substantial benefits for hair growth.
When used in the right proportion together, both ingredients offer miraculous results in terms of improving hair health, growth, regrowth, and strength and in fighting scalp disorders and infections such as hair loss and dandruff.
As coconut oil can easily penetrate the hair shaft, it can aid in the absorption of onion juice for it to nourish the scalp well. Moreover, coconut oil is a great companion for onion juice as it helps to remove some of the itching that onion juice causes to the scalp.
Not just that, coconut oil and onion juice are inexpensive and can replace costly hair treatments. In fact, these two ingredients are used in many herbal shampoos. (1)
How to Use Onion Juice and Coconut Oil to Fight Hair Loss
Method 1
- Mix 2 tablespoons of onion juice and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, and add a few drops of essential oil such as tea tree or lavender oil.
- Gently apply the mixture to your scalp and hair, and massage it with your fingertips.
- Leave it on for 30–45 minutes.
- Wash your hair with a good-quality shampoo.
Method 2
- In a pan, mix some onion juice and coconut oil, and heat the mixture.
- Once hot, remove the pan from heat. Let the mixture cool down and come to room temperature.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle and use the oil within the next 6 months.
- To use the mixture, apply the oil to your scalp and hair. Leave it for 1 hour, and then wash it off with a good-quality shampoo.
Method 3
- Combine 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel, and boil the mixture for a few minutes.
- Let the mixture cool down, and then add 2 tablespoons of onion juice.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and apply it to your hair and scalp.
- Leave it on for 1 hour, and then wash your hair with a good-quality shampoo.
Onion Juice for Hair Loss
Onion juice is an excellent remedy for hair growth and reducing hair problems. You can prevent hair loss and other hair problems by regularly applying onion juice to your hair and scalp. It will result in increased hair volume and healthy hair.
Onion contains several beneficial components that are exceptionally good for your hair, including sulfur, quercetin, folic acids, and biotin. (2)
Onion juice contributed to the reduction of hair loss in the following ways:
1. Anti-inflammatory
Onions exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (3) due to their high amounts of quercetin. (4) It helps fight free radicals, air pollutants, and toxins that cause damage to hair cells and consequently hair loss.
A study done on mice affirmed that the quercetin in onions is useful in treating and preventing alopecia areata. (5)
2. High in sulfur
Onions are rich in sulfur, which aids in the regeneration of follicles and promotes hair growth. Sulfur also helps curb hair thinning and breakage. (6)
3. High in antioxidants
Antioxidants are needed to fight free radicals. Onions are abundant in antioxidants that reverse the hair graying, regulate the hair growth cycle, boost enzyme function, and stop hair fall. (2)
4. Antibacterial
The antibacterial properties of onion help prevent scalp infections that impair hair health and growth. (7)
5. Antidandruff
Onion juice possesses antimicrobial properties and helps to get rid of fungi and bacteria from the scalp, thus helping control dandruff. (8)
6. Blood circulation booster
Using onion juice frequently on the scalp can also improve blood circulation, increasing oxygen and nutrient supply to the follicles and thus facilitating healthy hair growth. (9)
7. Full of flavonoids
The flavonoids present in onions are essential for achieving healthy and shiny hair. (10)
Are These Claims Backed by Science?
A study was conducted to test if onion juice is beneficial in the treatment of alopecia areata in comparison to tap water. The participants were divided into 2 groups: 23 participants were treated with onion juice and 15 participants were treated with tap water.
The participants applied the treatment twice a day for 2 months. Regrowth of hair occurred after 2 weeks of treatment with onion juice. At 4 and 6 weeks, hair regrowth was observed in 17 and 20 participants, respectively. Meanwhile, in the group who applied tap water, hair regrowth was observed in only 2 patients at 8 weeks of treatment.
The experiment confirmed that applying onion juice to the scalp can be an effective therapy for patients with alopecia areata. (11)
How to Prepare Onion Juice for Hair Loss
- Peel 6–8 onions and wash them gently.
- Wipe them dry with a paper napkin.
- Cut them into small pieces.
- Grind them well in a blender to get a smooth paste.
- Filter it with a muslin cloth and pour the juice into an air-tight container. This onion juice can be used immediately.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Hair Loss
Coconut oil is a powerful ingredient that helps keep the hair scalp free of bacteria and fungi because of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
As coconut oil is rich in lipids, (12) it helps in lubricating the scalp and hair, which need proper hydration (13) for healthy hair growth. (14)
All these characteristics aid in fighting hair loss and maintaining a healthy scalp and hair.
Coconut oil benefits the hair through the following ways:
1. Rich in fatty acids
Pure coconut oil is replete with fatty acids, namely, lauric acid, which can penetrate the hair shaft and deeply nourish the hair and scalp. (13)
2. Antimicrobial
The antimicrobial action of pure coconut oil kills bacteria inhabiting the scalps. For this reason, coconut oil is used for treating scalp diseases such as dandruff.
When coconut oil is applied to the scalp, it creates a barrier that blocks bacteria and irritants from causing damage. (12)
3. Moisturizing
Due to its nourishing properties, coconut oil is deemed one of the best moisturizers.
It adds extra shine to hair and makes it easily manageable by acting as a lubricating agent. Because of its unique lipid structure, it is better able to enter the hair than other oils.
Coconut oil also helps to reduce protein loss. (13)
4. Anti-inflammatory
It has been shown that applying pure coconut oil can help lessen the severity of scalp disorders and improve skin barrier capacity. As coconut oil has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, it is a boon to those with scalp-related disorders such as dandruff. (15)
General Queries Related to Onion Juice
Can onion juice be used as an overnight pack?
Though onion juice can be left in your hair overnight, it is highly recommended to leave it on for a maximum of one hour when using it for the first time.
Is onion juice safe for everyone?
Onion juice is generally safe for everyone. However, some people with sensitive scalp can experience redness and itching. Thus, it is highly recommended to perform a patch test before using it on your scalp.
How long can onion juice be stored?
Onion juice can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 days.
Final Word
You can transform the quality of your hair with a regimen that includes a healthy, nutritious diet, regular hair oiling, positive lifestyle changes, and a great hair care routine.
Coconut oil, when used with onion juice, can bring a lot of improvement in the health of your hair and can prevent hair problems such as hair thinning, hair loss, dry scalp, and dandruff, among others.
Just make sure to conduct a patch test to check for any allergies before using this remedy.
References
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- Hosking A-M, Juhasz M, Atanaskova Mesinkovska N. Complementary and alternative treatments for alopecia: A comprehensive review. Skin appendage disorders. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6388561/. Published February 2019.
- Dorsch W, Ring J. Anti-inflammatory substances from onions could be an option for treatment of COVID-19-A hypothesis. Allergo journal international. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7573243/. Published 2020.
- Lu TM; Chiu HF; Shen YC; Chung CC; Venkatakrishnan K; Wang CK; Hypocholesterolemic efficacy of quercetin rich onion juice in healthy mild hypercholesterolemic adults: A pilot study. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26385226/.
- Wikramanayake TC, Villasante AC, Mauro LM, Perez CI, Schachner LA, Jimenez JJ. Prevention and treatment of alopecia areata with quercetin in the C3H/HEJ mouse model. Cell stress & chaperones. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3273564/. Published March 2012.
- Bragulla HH, Homberger DG. Structure and functions of keratin proteins in simple, stratified, keratinized and cornified epithelia. Journal of anatomy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2736122/. Published April 2009.
- JH; K. Anti-bacterial action of onion (allium cepa L.) extracts against oral pathogenic bacteria. The Journal of Nihon University School of Dentistry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9354029/.
- Ashique S, Sandhu NK, Haque SN, Koley K. A systemic review on topical marketed formulations, natural products, and oral supplements to prevent Androgenic Alopecia: A Review. Natural products and bioprospecting. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7648777/. Published December 2020.
- Vazquez-Prieto MA, Rodriguez Lanzi C, Lembo C, Galmarini CR, Miatello RM. Garlic and onion attenuates vascular inflammation and oxidative stress in fructose-fed rats. Journal of nutrition and metabolism. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163016/. Published 2011.
- Bassino E, Gasparri F, Munaron L. Protective role of nutritional plants containing flavonoids in hair follicle disruption: A Review. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7013965/. Published January 14, 2020.
- HK; SKEA-O. Onion juice (allium cepa L.), a new topical treatment for alopecia areata. The Journal of dermatology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12126069/.
- S; JSKVGVM. Coconut oil and immunity: What do we really know about it so far? The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32602684/.
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- Monselise A, Cohen DE, Wanser R, Shapiro J. What ages hair? International journal of women’s dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419032/. Published February 16, 2017.
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