Onion Hair Growth

Have you ever heard of using onion in your hair?

Or better still, the benefits of onion hair growth and if this is even possible? Well, we will explore this topic together. I am actually doing a personal experiment using onion in my hair care to see if there will be some onion hair growth!

Let’s begin!

The Onion – what is it?

 

Is it a fruit or a vegetable? It is a vegetable, according to Wikipedia:

‘The onion (Allium cepa L., from Latin cepa “onion”), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable and is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. Its close relatives include the garlic, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion.'[1]

The onion plant has hollow, bluish-green leaves and the onion is produced from the bulb at the bottom of the plant once it matures. It is made up of short stems surrounded by leaves housing another bulb at the center. Onions are produced worldwide.

The flavor of the onion can sometimes be pungent and even strong to the point of making your eyes get ‘teary’. This smell and taste are caused by the sulfur compound – allyl propyl disulphide. This causes your eyes to be irritated and makes you cry whenever you are peeling an onion. This can also be considered a good way to ‘wash’ the thin, epithelial layer of the eyes. You can minimize this effect by keeping the peeled onion under cold water for a few seconds before cutting it.

Onions have a lot of health benefits on a whole. They are a good source of vitamin C and B6, iron, folate, manganese, and potassium. There are two phytochemical (plant-derived nutrient) compounds in onions – allium and allyl disulphide – these compounds convert to allicin when the onion is cut or crushed due to enzyme activation. The onion also has some amount of polyphenols (another phytochemical in onions) and an antioxidant flavonoid called quercetin (which has proven anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic functions) and this gives onions the reputed health claims.

Benefits Of Onion Juice For Hair Growth

There are several benefits to using onion juice as a way to help your hair growth or even regrowth. There have been people who ‘swear’ by it and present photo proofs, which is always a source of instant belief. Here are some reasons why onion juice is wonderful for hair growth. Onion juice:

• helps hair growth because it kick-starts the antioxidant enzyme catalase. It is the enzyme that helps to break down hydrogen peroxide and optimizes the hair growth cycle.
• helps to provide nourishment to the hair follicles with its sulphur content, which stimulates the regeneration of your hair follicles. Sulphur also helps to reduce hair loss, hair thinning, and hair breakage.
• helps to reverse premature graying and slow it down as well because of the antioxidants present.
• has antibacterial properties that help to keep your scalp healthy, thus making it easier to see more hair growth.
• helps to control dandruff and dry scalp issues.
• helps to stimulate the scalp to improve the blood circulation, and then bringing more nutrition to your hair follicles.

Disadvantages

As with so many things, there are plusses and minuses. I will highlight a few negatives about using onion juice in your hair care.

Using onion juice is:

• pungent and it might not be a ‘bearable’ smell for you once applied to your hair.
• may be uncomfortable if you have a very sensitive scalp.
• a possible source for an allergic reaction, so please check in with your medical advisor.

These are a few that I found and judging by this, I would say that the good outweighs the bad!

Recipes for Onion Hair Growth

Basic Onion Juice Hair Tonic

1 red onion, finely chopped

1 lemon, freshly squeezed

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons mustard oil

Method

Mix the onion and lemon juice together and blend. Use cheesecloth or a nylon strainer to filter the liquid so there are no pieces in it. Then add the honey until it is thoroughly combined. Then add the mustard oil. Pour into a clean bottle and shake vigorously.

Once combined, apply the tonic liberally to the scalp. Cover with a plastic cap and allow to penetrate for about 30mins to one hour. Rinse, deep condition, then style as usual. Repeat every two days for at least one to two months to see noticeable results.

Simple Onion Juice 

I onion finely chopped

Method

Blend the onion to produce its juice. Strain through cheesecloth or a nylon strainer. Apply the juice to the scalp. Massage in completely. Cover hair with a plastic cap for 30 mins to one hour. Cleanse, condition, then style as usual. Repeat every two days for at least 1-2 months to see noticeable results.

You can add known oils like:

• coconut oil – anti-bacterial properties and highly penetrable as an oil
• castor oil – thickening agent
• olive oil – moisturizing agent

The addition of these oils will act a double agent in super-charging the onion juice.

You can also add other fruits/vegetables like:

• ginger – anti-inflammatory properties and increases blood flow
• garlic – a source of minerals such as calcium, sulfur, and zinc
• lemon – a source of vitamin C which helps with the production of collagen
• potato – a great source of vitamins B and C, and the minerals iron, zinc, and niacin

You can create your own recipe to suit your taste, the key ingredient is the onion juice which is what you need to help make things happen.

My Personal Experiment For Onion Hair Growth

SO, of course, in my country, there is a saying, “Curiosity kills the cat”! Well, this ‘cat’ is very curious about onion hair growth, and I hardly think it will ‘kill me’.

My Onion Hair Growth Tonic

• 1 medium red onion – chopped into small pieces
• 1 finger ginger – chopped into small pieces
• 3 table spoons olive oil
• 3 table spoons mustard oil
• 1 lemon – juice and strain the seeds and pulp
• 2 table spoons honey

Method

First, I blend the chopped onion and ginger together, then strain to have the liquid free of pieces. Then, I simply mix all the liquids in a spray bottle or any bottle with a point so that I can apply to my scalp without making a mess. I refrigerate the tonic once made. I make enough to use for about 2 weeks. Then I make a new batch and continue.

I have started using my own super-charged onion tonic for hair growth. Here is my routine:

• apply onion tonic on dry hair – ensuring that all my scalp area has been given some of the tonic
• saturate the hair a little – not too much as then it will not be very comfortable as you allow 30-60 mins to go by ( it is very runny so it will drip)
• cover with a plastic cap and allow tonic to penetrate for 30mins – one hour
• cleanse the hair using a conditioner (co-wash) after the desired time
• apply a deep conditioner of your choice
• cover with a plastic cap for about 15 mins – 30 mins
• rinse thoroughly
• style as usual

My usual style these days, are two-strand twists. I divide my hair into small sections, gently comb out, and then apply some homemade shea butter to the full length of the hair, divide into two sections and then twist from the root to the end. I end up normally with about 10-12 twists.

I keep my twists in for two days and then I do the onion tonic routine again. I might redo the twists and re-moisturize with some water using a spray bottle and then apply some shea butter before re-twisting.

I have been doing this for a week now. Have I seen any MAJOR growth? NO, not yet, but I sure am hopeful. I figure I will do this for at least 1-2 months in order to come to a conclusion based on facts.

My Final Thoughts On Onion Hair Growth

If you can stand the smell of onions in your hair for one hour every two days, then by all means, give it a try. What’s the worst that can happen? Your hair will grow, and you will be happy you did. And if nothing happens, then you have learned the importance of being patient and giving things a good try before ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water’!

Please let me know how it goes for you if you are adventurous enough.

 

REFERENCES:

[1] Wikipedia