Can You Use Onion Juice and Garlic for Hair Growth?

Your hair needs to be nurtured with good ingredients to maintain its glory, and onions and garlic are an age-old remedy to help you achieve this.

Ancient Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have recorded the multiple benefits of onions and garlic for the body.

This article will give you enough reasons to make onion juice and garlic a part of your hair regimen.

How Onion Juice and Garlic Are Useful to the Hair

Raw garlic is rich in sulfur, which is essential for hair care as it is the foundation of keratin, the protein needed for good hair growth.

Garlic is also abundant in vitamins and minerals that provide nutrition to the hair follicles. The vitamin C in garlic boosts collagen production and is vital for healthy hair growth.

The selenium in garlic promotes blood circulation to the hair follicles so they can produce healthy hair. The calcium in garlic helps in strengthening the structure of the hair.

Use garlic in hair masks and oils with onion juice, coconut oil, fenugreek, etc., to nourish your hair. (1)

Onion juice, like garlic, is also abundant in sulfur and is helpful for hair growth. It provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits because it has high amounts of quercetin, which fights against free radicals, air pollutants, and toxins that cause damage to hair cells leading to hair loss.

Many hair care companies produce onion juice and garlic juice for the public to purchase, but you can also easily prepare them at home and use them to get healthy tresses.

Benefits of Using Garlic Juice for Your Hair

1. Helps treat alopecia areata

Garlic has fantastic properties that promote hair growth. It contains calcium, zinc, selenium, and other minerals that boost hair health. Its antimicrobial properties are suitable for the scalp and prevent dandruff. (2)

A research study has shown that the continuous usage of garlic gel on the scalp added to the efficiency of using topical betamethasone valerate for the treatment of alopecia areata. (3)

2. Fights dandruff and fungus infections

The components in the garlic have antifungal and antimicrobial properties that protect the scalp from fungal infections and keep it clean so that hair growth can happen naturally. (4)

3. Maintains scalp pH

Like onions, garlic is also rich in sulfur, which stimulates hair growth and maintains the pH level of the scalp. Applying garlic juice nourishes the scalp and makes the hair robust and shiny. (1)

4. Protects from UV rays

UV rays harm your hair and damage the hair follicles. Research confirms that garlic contains antioxidants that serve as a protective layer against UV damage and pollution.

It also cleanses the hair follicles and prevents clogging, thus reducing damage. (5)

5. Prevents hair loss

Garlic is rich in vitamin C, which is essential for hair growth and collagen production.

The high amounts of selenium in garlic help in improving blood circulation to the hair follicles so that they are well nourished, preventing hair loss and breakage. (1)

Precautions When Using Garlic Juice on Hair

• Pungent smell: Garlic juice has a pungent smell that does not go away easily. It is recommended to wash your hair 30 minutes after applying the liquid.
• Sensitivity: If you have a sensitive scalp, apply garlic juice cautiously as using this liquid on exposed skin can cause skin irritation.

How to Prepare Garlic Juice?

1. Take a handful of garlic cloves, wash them, and pat them dry.
2. Lay the garlic cloves on the cutting board and remove their skin.
3. Grind them to a paste in a food processor.
4. Pass the garlic paste through a mesh to extract the juice.
5. Store the extracted juice in an airtight container.

Benefits of Onion Juice for Your Hair

1. Stimulates hair growth

Human hair is made of keratin, a protein that has high sulfur content, and onion is abundant in this mineral. Therefore, it is beneficial for your hair strands as it adds strength and elasticity to them. In its absence, your hair can turn brittle and fall off easily.

Studies conducted on the benefits of onion juice versus tap water for hair regrowth have shown that consistent application of onion juice among the participants resulted in a higher percentage of hair growth in comparison with those using only tap water. (6)

2. Improves blood circulation

Another reason onion juice has become a popular remedy to achieve hair growth is it contains flavonoids and quercetin, which are helpful in improving blood circulation to the scalp, leading to hair growth. (7)

3. Strengthens the hair

Hair quickly absorbs the harmful UV rays, dust particles, free radicals, pollution, etc. These factors deteriorate the protein in the hair and make it weak. To make matters worse, scalp dryness, dandruff, and other problems can ensue.

Onion juice is rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals and protect you against factors that cause hair aging. (8)

4. Tackles scalp disorders

Onion juice has antimicrobial and antifungal properties that treat dandruff and other hair and scalp-related issues that lead to hair fall and breakage. (9)

5. Reverses premature graying

Onions contain vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants, including catalase, that reduce the hair’s oxidative stress that is responsible for premature graying of hair.

6. Acts as a hair conditioner

Regular massage with red onion juice nourishes the scalp and conditions the hair, preventing dryness and frizz, thus improving hair growth.

Precautions When Using Onion Juice on Hair

• Pungent smell: Onions are known to produce a strong odor. Hence, it is advised to wash your hair after 30 minutes of applying onion juice.
• Scalp irritation: Onion juice is highly potent. To avoid irritating your eyes and scalp, mix it with coconut oil or almond oil to get the best benefits.

How to Prepare Onion Juice at Home?

1. Peel 2–3 medium-sized onions, and rinse them with water to get rid of dirt.
2. Dry the onions using a fresh towel.
3. Cut the dried onions and put them in the juicer.
4. Start the juicer and extract the juice using a strainer or sieve.
5. Wash the juicer immediately to remove the pungent smell.

Note: Avoid bottled onion juice because it may contain preservatives and chemicals.

How to Use Garlic Juice and Onion Juice on Hair

1. Blend 10 garlic cloves and 1 medium onion and blend them together to make a paste.
2. In a pan, heat 6 tablespoons of coconut oil.
3. Add the extracted garlic-onion juice and boil on low flame for 5–10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.
5. Once cooled, apply it to your scalp and hair in circular motions for 10 minutes.
6. Store the oil mixture in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Precautions When Using Garlic and Onion Juice on Hair and Scalp

If you are allergic to garlic and/or onions, do not apply them directly to your hair and scalp. Instead, patch test the juices first on the bend of your elbow to see a reaction.

If you have a sensitive scalp, the onion juice may cause irritation. It is better not to let the onion juice rest on your scalp for more than 30 minutes.

If you experience redness or inflammation, immediately stop using the remedy.

How Long Will It Take to See Results?

It takes a regular application of twice a week for 2–3 months to get results.

Hair Masks Made With Garlic and Onion Juice

Try the following hair mask recipes using garlic and onion juice:

Garlic juice + castor oil + curd

1. Combine 1 tablespoon of extracted garlic juice and 2 tablespoons of castor oil.
2. Add curd to this mixture and mix them well.
3. Apply this mixture to your hair and scalp, and wash it off after 30 minutes with gentle shampoo and conditioner.

Garlic + aloe vera + olive oil

1. Combine 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon of extracted garlic juice, and 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
2. Apply the mixture to your scalp, and leave it on for 30–45 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with a mild shampoo and conditioner.

Onion juice + castor oil

1. Blend 2 tablespoons of onion juice with 5 tablespoons of castor oil.
2. Apply the mixture to the scalp before a hair wash.
3. Keep the mixture on your hair for 30–45 minutes only as the pungent onion juice may cause irritation to your eyes and hands.

General Queries Related to Garlic and Onion Juice for Hair

Final Word

Similar to your face and skin, your hair requires moisturization and hydration.

If your hair lacks hydration, it’s time to apply an onion and garlic hair mask. This hair mask contains a lot of nutrients and can greatly improve the condition of your scalp and hair, especially if you want to prevent hair fall and add sheen to your damaged hair.

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