Hair loss can be really scary, it can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications, but there’s no need to panic. Instead, you may search for some natural remedies to help you with this.
Onion juice has been known as an effective remedy for alopecia areata, which as an autoimmune kind of condition. If your hair loss is due to bacterial or fungal infection, as well as free radical damage. The sulfur compounds and quercetin, which is an antioxidant that can be found in onions can also help to make your hair stronger. If you apply the juice directly to your scalp, onions can also spur the activity of your natural antioxidant against hydrogen peroxide that causes hair graying.
If you worry too much about hair loss, we will be showing some interesting titbits to lessen and finally get rid of your anxiety. Losing about a hundred strands of hair a day is natural. In England and Ireland, rubbing an onion on your scalp has been considered as an amazing remedy for baldness.
Human hair growth happens in 3 phases: active, resting and shedding phase. In the first phase, the hair shaft actively grows and then it rests for a little while. By the shedding phase, the hair falls out, which eventually completes its own life cycle. This is an endless process, and other active hair strands take their place.
Based on a study, onion is loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds that can actually help in struggling against loss of hair. However, if you suffer from hair loss due to alopecia, most of the hair in the shedding phase is not replaced as quickly or sufficiently with new hair. The results are people who are suffering from thinning of hair, bald spots, and even visible scalps. This situation can usually occur because of different factors such as heredity, stress, hormonal imbalance, anemia, vitamin deficiency, or even an autoimmune condition just like alopecia areata, wherein your immune system attacks the hair follicles.
But medical science doesn’t have yet the exact reasons or a definitive cure for this condition. However, the humble onion does. With the help of its curative and antibacterial properties, onion has the capability to cleanse and nourish the scalp and can also help new hair growth. When you massage it into your scalp, it can help with blood circulation and even maintain the follicles healthy.
1. Promotes the growth of hair in Alopecia Areata Patients
When the onion juice was massaged into the scalps of alopecia patients, hair growth was stimulated after around 4 to 6 weeks, almost 86.9% of alopecia areata patients in this study have experienced new growth of hair.
In an experiment conducted to an alopecia areata patient, onion juice has been applied on their scalp and massaged on the areas where the hair grows minimally. After working with this kind of method for around twice a day for about 4 to 6 weeks, the above-mentioned result happened. Male patients have benefitted more than women.
The rich layers of the onion are packed with two beneficial chemical groups which have been known as the flavonoids and the sulfur compounds like alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxides or ACSOs.
2. It can fight against Hair Loss due to inflammation
Aside from giving onions their unique color, the flavonoids in onions have important anti-inflammatory properties that fight hair loss by reducing free radical damage. It can also help to lessen the loss of hair by fighting against free radical damage.
Quercetin, which is higher in the red onion can cure alopecia areata and even prevent it from happening all over again. It is loaded with bioflavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties and has the ability to prevent hair loss due to an inflammatory response in the body, which are probably caused by strong medication such as antidepressant, chemotherapy or an infection.
In animal studies, quercetin has been found to be effective not only in treating alopecia areata, but also in preventing it from happening again.
3. It can fight against Hair Loss due to Infection
Sometimes hair loss can also be a direct result of both bacterial and fungal infections in the scalp. ACSOs can also make onions, rich in sulfur, which is both antibacterial and antifungal and can help combat hair loss. In addition, dandruff which can be caused by such infection can also be a reason for hair loss. You can use onion juice is a home remedy for dandruff, as well.
4. It makes the hair stronger by enhancing hair protein
Onions contain sulfur that has the ability to help in developing keratin, which is the building block of the hair that eventually makes it stronger.
The right amount of sulfur can help in regenerating hair follicles and even stimulate the regrowth of hair. Keratin, which is the hair protein, is also made of a sulfur-rich amino acid called cysteine. The cysteine molecules which provides hair its additional strength connect with each other through strong disulfide bridges which provides hair its additional strength. The sulfur compounds that can be found in onion provides this essential element of the hair. The magnesium, calcium, and potassium in onions also improve the circulation of the blood and even reduce inflammation.
Onions are loaded with biotin or also called Vitamin B7, which has been considered as a hair growth vitamin. On the other hand, the lack of this vitamin has been thought to be the cause of having brittle hair, there is a very weak evidence that biotin can help in enhancing the growth of hair.
5. It prevents graying of hair
Most salons use Hydrogen peroxide in order to bleach your hair. Our body also has the ability to produce hydrogen peroxide in a natural way, but when its levels go up, it builds up near the roots of your hair. This not only bleaches your hair, as we have thought of before, it can also harm your hair shaft through oxidative or free radical damage.
While catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and even superoxide dismutase are enzymes that your body produces in order to break down the extra hydrogen peroxide. Onion has the ability to increase the activity of all three in order to battle against hydrogen peroxide damage. As a result, it can provide protection against the graying of the hair due to free radical damage.
6. It is safer than anti-hair loss medicines
Many hair loss medications often contain steroids. But the onion juice is completely safe and effective compared to some medicines that can actually give you painful periods or even cause weight gain.
Another positive effect of using onion and garlic juice is the negligible side effects. Steroids can cause hormonal imbalance, as well as painful periods in most women.
Prednisone, is a commonly used steroid in the treatment of alopecia, which can actually result in weight gain and severe mood swings, a huge price to pay for a lustrous mane. Onion juice on the scalp has not shown any kind of side effects unless you are allergic to it. For you to find out, do a skin patch first.
These are Three Onion Juice Recipes for Hair Care:
Onion and Honey Hair Pack
Juice or grate at least two medium-sized onions and add around 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix the two ingredients and make a firm and not a runny one.
Repeat this two to three times per week. Dip a cotton ball in it and apply it on your scalp. Massage gently and leave on for twenty minutes. Rinse it off with the help of water or a mild shampoo.
Onion Juice for Dandruff
Steam an onion in an 8 oz. of water until soft and let cool. Add rum and cover mixture to sit overnight. Strain liquid and discard onion in the morning.
You can actually use this for at least 2 to 3 times a week. Massage a small amount of it on your scalp and leave on for fifteen minutes. Wash off with the use of mild shampoo.
Onion Juice for Hair Rinse
Chop around 4 to 5 pieces of onions. Boil them in one liter of water. Cool the mixture and strain the liquid. After shampoo, rinse your hair with the mixture. This mixture can be used each time you shampoo your hair.
Tips:
Onion juice has a strong smell; so just add some drops of your favorite scented oil. You can mix it with peppermint oil which has also proven benefits in regenerating hair.
Store the onion juice and its preparations in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to seven days.
Give it three months to notice the full effect.