Hair Oils That Work: Onion Oil

Healthy, strong and beautiful hair is probably coveted by everyone, but our lifestyle and environment can create a lot of stress. This can end up making you lose hair and it could look dull and lack-lustre.

One of the most touted remedies to improve hair health is onion oil. It’s been used as a natural remedy mainly for thinning hair. But, does it really work? Let’s find out!

Does onion oil work for your hair?

There's some evidence (mostly anecdotal) that using onions as a topical hair treatment can aid with hair loss as onions have been linked to stronger hair roots, faster hair development, and an overall enhanced appearance of your mane since they are high in nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin B6, potassium, and a variety of other chemicals.

According to several studies, using it as oil can be a powerful antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and fungicidal therapy for your scalp and hair. But, because there isn’t a lot of concrete research, it’s hard to say for sure if it, indeed has these benefits. However, there is strong anecdotal evidence to suggest some benefits that have been mentioned below.

What are the benefits of using onion oil?

Onion oil may help your hair in the following ways:

• Improves your hair’s growth cycle - Onion oil may assist to optimise the hair development cycle by stimulating particular enzymes on your scalp. This can lead to quicker hair growth and less hair fall, resulting in healthier-looking tresses.

• Great for dandruff - Onion oil offers a variety of antibacterial and antiseptic characteristics that may help to prevent dandruff and cure other scalp illnesses.

• Works on thinning and breakage - Onion oil, which is high in sulphur, may help to prevent hair breakage, split ends, and thinning and this occurs because sulphur has the ability to build connections in your hair that are necessary for strand strength.

• Prevents premature greying - Onion oil contains enzymes that can help reduce free radical damage in your hair and postpone premature greying.

• Conditions your hair - Using a conditioner before washing your hair might help to guarantee that your shampoo doesn't dry out your scalp and onion oil can be utilised as a natural conditioner in this situation.

• Balances your scalp’s pH - A nourished and balanced scalp is essential for good hair, which onion oil may aid with by keeping your scalp's pH levels.

How, exactly, do you use it?

Onion oil can be used normally or as a hot oil massage treatment for your scalp.

Taking a few drops of oil, massage it into your scalp for no more than 15-20 minutes to utilize onion oil without using heating. To truly get the oil into the scalp, employ a circular motion while applying light pressure and allow 3-4 hours for the oil to soak in before washing with a light shampoo. For optimal results, do this twice a week and see how your hair fairs.

Mix onion oil with a carrier oil like olive or almond oil, heat it to a moderate temperature and massage it into the scalp and hair lengths while performing a hot oil therapy. Keep it overnight and wash it in the morning with a moderate, sulphate-free shampoo. For beautiful, thick hair, finish with a conditioner and repeat before each hair wash.

Here are some things you should keep in mind before you start using onion oil

• It’s pungent - If the scent of onion oil is too strong for you, add a few drops of any aromatic essential oil to conceal it.

• Do a patch test - Make sure you're not sensitive to onion oil before applying it to your hair. Before applying it to your hair and scalp, do a 24-hour patch test on your inner arm.

• Sensitive skin and onion oil - Avoid keeping the oil on your scalp for an extended period of time if you have sensitive skin and you should only consider an oiling session with a mild massage followed by 3-4 hours of masking.

• Massage, but don’t overdo it - Do not over-massage your scalp with onion oil because it has been found to create irritation, especially if you scratch your head frequently.