The Benefits of Using Onion Juice and Olive Oil for Hair

Onion juice and olive oil may be messy ingredients, but both possess redeeming qualities that make them a must-have in your hair care regimen. Onion juice mixed with olive oil, coconut oil, or any other oil can lead to silky, smooth, and bouncy hair.

Onion juice is packed with sulfur antioxidants, which are necessary for good hair growth, (1) while olive oil will hydrate your strands and leave them silky soft.

Oleuropein, a compound in olive oil, has been found to induce hair growth. It is easily absorbed into the skin and protects it from the harmful UV rays. (2)

This article will provide a deeper understanding of the benefits of using onion juice and olive oil together and how they nourish and strengthen your hair strands.

Benefits of Onion Juice and Olive Oil for Hair

These are the things onion juice and olive oil can do to your locks:

1. Olive oil helps control hair fall

Oiling your hair with onion juice and olive oil injects your hair and scalp with nutrition that gives your hair a healthy look. It acts as a barrier against hair loss.

In one study, olive oil was shown to be well absorbed by the hair and helped reduce the combing effort on wet hair, leading to less hair fall. (3)

2. Olive oil encourages hair growth

When used in the right proportions, onion juice and olive oil can promote hair growth and keep your hair strands growing well. The oleuropein in olive oil is easily absorbed by the scalp and has been proven to induce hair growth. (2)

3. Onion juice gets rid of scalp bacteria and fungus

The antioxidants in onion juice fight the free radicals present in the hair for fast hair recovery.

Being antimicrobial and antifungal, onion juice fights scalp infections and dandruff. Moreover, it augments blood circulation in the scalp, which in turn helps improve hair growth.

Thus, onion juice stimulates the scalp, nourishes the follicles, and contributes to hair regrowth. (4)

4. Onion juice helps produce strong hair

Onion juice contains sulfur, which helps activate dormant hair follicles and stimulate blood circulation in the scalp by delivering more nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles. (5)

When the hair follicles are well nourished, they can produce strong and healthy hair.

Does Science Back Onion Juice and Olive Oil as a Hair Remedy?

A study was conducted on the efficacy of using onion juice for hair growth compared to tap water on participants with alopecia areata, which is a patchy hair loss condition.

The participants were divided into two groups: the first group of 23 participants used onion juice, and the second group of 15 participants used tap water. Both the groups used the treatment twice daily for two months.

After 2 weeks of using onion juice, hair regrowth started in the first group. At 4 weeks, it was observed in 73.9% of the participants, and at 6 weeks, it was observed in 86.9% of the participants. In the tap water group, hair regrowth was seen in only 13% of patients at 8 weeks of treatment.

In conclusion, using onion juice provided much better results for hair regrowth than tap water and was an effective hair therapy for people with alopecia areata. (1)

How Can I Make Onion Juice at Home?

Onions are a vegetable packed with nutrition and vitamins. It contains powerful antioxidants and flavonoids that can do wonders for your hair.

Here’s how you can make this excellent oil in a jiffy.

Ingredients:

1. 2–3 medium-size onions
2. Knife for chopping
3. Juicer machine
4. Glass jar

Directions:

1. Peel the onions and wash them under running water to remove any dust and dirt from the vegetable.
2. Take a paper napkin and pat the onions dry.
3. Dice the onions into cubes using the knife.
4. Put the onion quarters into the juicer and switch it on. It will smash the vegetable, and the juice will be extracted easily. Add the other onion quarter and repeat the same process.
5. Strain out the juice into an airtight glass jar for storage.
6. You might have to wash the device with hot water and scrub it a little to remove the foul smell of the onions.

How to Blend Onion Juice With Olive Oil and Use It on Your Hair?

Once you have extracted the onion juice, it’s time to blend it with olive oil to make an excellent hair mask.

1. Take 2 tablespoons of onion juice and mix it with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
2. Apply the mixture to your hair by gently massaging the entire area for around 10 minutes.
3. Leave the mixture on your hair for 30–45 minutes.
4. Wash it off with a mild shampoo, and don’t forget to condition your hair.

How Many Times Can You Use This Hair Mask in a Month?

You can use this hair mask treatment twice a week. You will notice a difference in your hair after at least 3–4 weeks of regular use.

Other Ingredients That Can Be Used With Onion Juice and Olive Oil

a. Blend it with honey for a nourishing hair mask

1. Combine 2 tablespoons of onion juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1 tsp of honey to make a paste.
2. Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with a mild shampoo and then apply a conditioner.

b. Blend it with yogurt for dry and frizzy hair

To make your tresses look manageable, you can use a combination of olive oil, onion juice, and Greek yogurt.

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of onion juice with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of yogurt to make the mask.
2. Apply the mask to your scalp and hair and massage for 10 minutes.
3. Leave it on your hair for 30 minutes before washing off with a mild shampoo and conditioner.

Side Effects of Using Onion Juice

Though onion juice and olive oil are widely used to encourage hair growth, there are side effects that you need to be aware of:

1. It can lead to scalp eczema

Onion is rich in sulfur, which can cause scalp dryness. If used excessively, it can lead to skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and eczema, especially in people with already dry and itchy skin. (6)

2. It has a pungent smell

Onions have a distinctive smell that is not easy to get away with, even after using shampoo.

And using too much shampoo to get rid of the scent may cause loss of hair sebum and oil and render the hair dry, undoing all the good that was done by using olive oil and onion juice. (7)

General Queries Related to Onion Juice and Olive Oil for Hair

Final Word

Onions are a staple of the diets of many people – the good thing is they can also add much-needed moisture to the hair when combined with olive oil and applied to your hair strands.

However, do not consider onion juice and olive oil as a magical treatment. You must use it regularly as part of your scalp and hair care regimen to see considerable improvement.

Discontinue use if you experience skin allergies or dryness due to the high sulfur content of onions.

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