Using onion oil for hair has been popularised on social media in recent years, leading many to try this DIY hair remedy at home. But is there actually any scientific evidence to back up the use of onion oil for hair growth?
In most cases, it’s unlikely that onion oil will help your hair grow. But some people with specific hair loss conditions may benefit — and there are lots of other ways onion oil could help your hair too. Here, you’ll learn:
While many essential oils for hair growth have limited evidence to support their use, onion extract is actually fairly well studied. Research shows that onion juice for hair can have several positive effects [1-3].
However, onion oil won’t necessarily have the same effect as raw onion juice. When onion oil is prepared from onion extract, not all the components are retained (although the components that are retained become more concentrated). So you won’t necessarily see the same impact from using onion oil as onion juice.
The benefits of onion juice you might also see when using onion oil for hair include:
These benefits can help keep your hair strong and shiny — but will onion oil help with hair loss?
Certain onion oil properties — such as increasing blood flow and fighting oxidative stress — are associated with reduced hair loss in alopecia areata. This condition is characterised by the development of round bald spots on the scalp:
One study found that applying onion juice to the bald patches twice a day led to hair regrowth in 94% of male patients and 71% of female patients [2]. Note that this relates to onion juice rather than onion oil — onion juice is the raw juice that seeps out when you cut into an onion, while onion oil is distilled onion essence.
However, if you have male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss — the most common types of alopecia worldwide — onion oil probably isn’t going to help you reverse balding.
Unlike certain other hair growth oils, no studies have yet shown that onion oil can definitively stop hair loss or stimulate regrowth. So it’s best to stick with tried-and-tested remedies if regrowth is your main goal.
It depends on what your hair goals are. Rosemary oil has far more evidence to back its use as a natural remedy for androgenetic alopecia than onion oil, while onion oil may be more likely to tackle alopecia areata [3, 7-8].
Rosemary oil for hair works by blocking the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the scalp, which is the key hormone that drives male pattern baldness.
If you’re looking for stronger hair or reduced scalp inflammation, onion oil may be the better choice.
While no studies have yet shown that onion oil can stimulate hair growth, onion juice has been shown to regrow hair if you have alopecia areata. For this condition, studies show that onion juice can start to regrow hair in as little as two weeks [3].
Onion juice is easy to extract at home, but onion oil requires a little more preparation and homemade varieties may be less effective than using onion juice. Using store-bought distilled onion essence may give you more benefits thanks to the higher concentration of certain active ingredients within onion oil.
Here’s how you can make DIY onion oil at home:
You will need:
Here’s what to do:
Yes. Although the odour isn’t as strong as onion juice, onion oil can still make your hair and scalp smell. In some cases, the smell can really linger, so be aware of this before you apply any onion products to your hair or scalp.
There are a few suggested ways to reduce the smell of onion in your hair, though none are foolproof:
There are plenty of natural hair growth remedies that don’t leave a pungent smell in your hair. One study found that combining rosemary, lavender, thyme, and cedarwood oils could also stimulate hair growth in those with alopecia areata [9]. While you’ll need more ingredients, this oil blend is less likely to leave an unpleasant smell lingering.
To reduce symptoms of alopecia areata, apply crude onion juice directly to the bald patches twice a day. Applying onion oil may also work, but more evidence is needed to confirm this.
To see improved hair strength, apply onion oil to your roots. Use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to distribute the oil through your hair. Leave it for up to 30 minutes then rinse out.
Don’t forget to wash your hair regularly when using onion products to minimise any lingering smells.
Even if you have alopecia areata, it’s unclear whether onion oil for hair growth really works. While onion juice has shown promising results, there are plenty of more established ways to stop alopecia areata spreading and minimise balding patches. These include:
The best way to get the right treatment for your hair loss — or improve the condition of your hair — is to see a trichologist. They can get to the root of your hair problems and help you find the best, fastest solution.
Book a consultation at the Wimpole Clinic for an accurate diagnosis and access to the best available hair loss treatments. Find your nearest hair loss clinic location.
Find out more about onion oil for hair in these frequently asked questions.
Yes, you can make DIY onion oil to use on your hair, though it won’t be as concentrated (and therefore as effective) as store-bought varieties. Follow the instructions above to learn how to make onion oil for your hair.
It’s normally safe to leave onion oil on your hair overnight, though be advised that this is likely to increase the risk of skin irritation, as well as make the onion smell more likely to cling to your hair and scalp.
It’s best to start with a shorter period (around 30 minutes) then extend this if you’re confident the benefits outweigh the risks.
There’s no evidence that onion oil can thicken hair. However, it may help strengthen your hair fibres, which can minimise breakage and prevent unnecessary hair thinning.
Onion juice isn’t a magic remedy for hair loss. In fact, there’s no evidence that it can help stop hair loss or promote regrowth in the most common types of hair loss (male and female pattern baldness). So it may be that your hair is continuing to shed despite the use of onion oil.
However, there are reports of scalp irritation after application of onion oil or juice. An itchy scalp can make you more likely to scratch your head, leading to mechanical damage that makes your hair break off. This can appear as an increase in hair shedding.
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