Onions, normally seen as a humble kitchen staple, may have uses other than simply adding flavor to our food. It might sound surprising to some, but onion juice is also a home remedy for hair loss.
Hair loss is very common and may involve bald patches, complete baldness or gradual thinning.
One small study published in the Journal of Dermatology indicated that applying onion juice to the scalp might help hair regrow in some people.
The study involved participants who had alopecia areata, which is a non-scarring, patchy form of hair loss.
Researchers found that hair growth started after 2 weeks of using onion juice, which was applied to the scalp twice daily.
Almost 74 percent of participants had some hair regrowth after 4 weeks, and at 6 weeks about 87 percent experienced hair regrowth. Both males and females participated in the study and the hair regrowth was higher among males.
Although the study did indicate positive results, it was small with only 38 participants.
How to apply onion juice to the hair
For those who want to try using onion juice to improve hair health or promote regrowth, the process is simple.
To make onion juice, people should follow these steps:
Peel about four onions and chop them into small pieces.
Extract the juice out of the onion by either squeezing it or using a juicer.
Another option is placing the onion pieces into a blender and blending into a paste. Place the paste in cheesecloth and squeeze all the juice out.
Apply the juice to the scalp or the hair roots.
A few drops of essential oil may also help decrease the potent odor of the juice. Peppermint, lavender, and rosemary essential oils can be good options to dilute the smell.
Currently, there are no commercial products, such as shampoos, that contain onion juice.
However, commercially prepared onion juice and onion liquid extract are available for those who do not want to make their own.
The Express News
