You’re probably aware that you can use a vast amount of products in your store cupboards to benefit your hair. But onions? Surely this vegetable drawer staple can’t have any benefit to your hair? Well actually, it does! Onions are great for just about every part of your body – hair included. Let’s have a look at how to make onion mask for hair growth.
What’s so good about onions?
These staple vegetables, added to a huge variety of dishes, can help benefit your hair enormously. When taken internally, onions can help boost the immune system, improve blood circulation, and fill the body with much needed vitamins and minerals.
Onions contain folic acid, carotene, potassium, manganese, phosphorous, zinc as well as vitamins C, E and B.
All these nutrients add up to make a superfood for the hair which can prevent hair loss by nourishing the follicles and improving circulation to the scalp.
How to make an onion hair mask
There are a great many different ways you can make an onion mask – some recipes call for different ingredients to be added that help the onions’ natural defences, while others are plain and simple.
Have a try of the recipes below, until you find the one that suits your hair the best. If you are not too keen to make your own hair mask, have a look at our selection of over-the-counter masks.
1. Simple onion mask
Take 3 onions, grate them using the fine side of a grater, then place the pulp into a cheesecloth bag and squeeze it well to get all the juice out. Rub this juice into your scalp, and leave it for 30 minutes or longer.
Rinse off using cool water, or a mild shampoo. (You can use this onion mask as it is, or keep it as a base for adding other ingredients to.)
2. Onion mask for dandruff
Take 1/4 cup of onion juice, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Mix together thoroughly, then massage into your scalp and hair. Leave it on for at least 2 hours, then rinse with a mild shampoo.
3. Onion mask for hair growth
Add 2 tablespoons of raw honey to 1/4 cup of onion juice and mix until the honey has dissolved. Apply the resulting paste to your hair and scalp, massaging gently, then leave it to sit for 30 minutes or more before rinsing out.
4. Onion mask for shine
Beat together one egg and one tablespoon of onion juice. Apply the mixture to your hair, and place a shower cap on top to prevent drips. Leave the cap on for 30 minutes-1 hour, then wash off with cool water and mild shampoo.
5. Deep conditioning onion mask
Mash one ripe avocado until it is free from lumps. Mix in 2 tablespoons of onion juice, and apply to your scalp. Leave for 45 minutes, then rinse off with a mild shampoo.
How onions can make your hair grow
Onions, with their wealth of natural properties that offer benefits to the whole body, can not only prevent the loss of hair, but also encourage the hair to grow longer, thicker and stronger than before.
Onion juice reinforces the roots of the hair and nourishes the whole shaft, adding shine and lustre as well as improving the overall health of the hair.
This clever natural ingredient has even been shown to help hair regrow on sufferers of Alopecia, a disorder that is notoriously difficult to treat and which generally offers a very poor prognosis for hair regrowth, so you can be certain that it works!
Tips for using a home made onion hair mask
It is easy, safe and effective to make your own onion hair mask. But there are a few safety precautions you should bear in mind:
- Filter your onion juice well, as leaving large chunks of onion in there will increase the risk of lasting odours.
- Remember that onions can be irritating to the eyes, so if you are preparing a large batch then it may be advisable to wear eye protection – or at the very least, do your grating in front of an open window.
- Do not use onion hair masks if you have an allergy or intolerance to onion.
- When you come to wash it out, use cool or lukewarm water to rinse, as hot water will seal in potential onion odours.
- Be aware that you won’t see spectacular results after just one application. This is a treatment designed to be used often over time, to allow your hair to absorb the full benefits of the onion.
