Many men and women suffer from hair loss, which significantly affects their appearance and can undermine self-confidence, especially with the rising costs of hair transplants. However, experts have revealed that onion juice has the ability to stop hair loss. Onion juice is one of the many home remedies promoted to combat the likelihood of baldness, making it popular among many, despite its strong odor.
The most common type of hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia, which usually leads to a receding hairline in men and hair loss at the crown in women. This condition affects nearly half of men over the age of fifty and approximately half of women over the age of sixty-five, according to Alopecia UK. However, age is not the only factor contributing to hair loss, as there are dozens of reasons that may lead to thinning or shedding hair, including in younger individuals. For example, alopecia areata, which begins in childhood in half of its cases, is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss the size of a coin.
Sam Sinkar, CEO of "Este" medical group specializing in hair and skin, stated, "Hair loss can be a difficult experience and can lead to a lack of self-confidence and a negative self-image, even social isolation." He added, "Hair loss can often be successfully treated, depending on the type and severity, thanks to continuous improvements in technology and research." The hair transplant surgeon noted, "Many patients seek different ways to stop the deterioration and promote hair growth, and onion juice is one of the most common home remedies."
It is believed that onion juice improves blood circulation around hair follicles, which is essential, as insufficient blood flow deprives hair of essential nutrients, leaving it susceptible to breakage or shedding. Onion is also known to be high in sulfur, which is found in amino acids, a component of proteins necessary for maintaining strong hair, as noted by the American website "Healthline."
Sam mentioned a study from 2002 that looked into the effectiveness of onion juice in treating alopecia areata, where approximately 38 patients were divided into two groups: one applied onion juice to their scalp twice daily for two months, while the other used tap water. After six weeks, 20 of the 23 patients (87 percent) in the onion juice group reported hair regrowth, compared to only two of the 15 patients (13 percent) in the tap water group.
Positive testimonials have also spread across social media from people who used onion juice and saw improvement after experiencing reduced hair loss. One individual stated, "I have been using onion juice for the past two weeks, and new hair has started to grow," according to the British newspaper "The Sun."
Experts recommend blending onions in a blender to extract the juice, gently applying it to the scalp, and leaving it on for at least 15 minutes. Some individuals claim to leave it on overnight for the best results. It is worth noting that the British National Health Service states that most cases of hair loss do not require treatment, as they are either temporary—such as due to a correctable nutritional deficiency—or "a normal part of aging." Other methods to try to address hair loss include steroid injections, creams, immunotherapy, light therapy, and hair transplants.
