PEOPLE experience hair loss and thinning hair for all sorts of reasons, ranging from genetics and aging to tight hairstyles and excessive hair coloring.
As I approach my thirties (I’m 28) I’ve started to notice my hairline receding a bit. It’s all because I’ve fallen prey to the so-called “clean girl” aesthetic, known for the viral slicked back bun.
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Despite repeated warnings from experts who say this trendy haircut can cause “traction alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by repetitive pulling of the hair,” I still opt for this hairstyle on days when I don’t wash my bleached locks.
The sleek haircut may be perfect for my workouts, but are there ways to fix the bald spots and make my thin hair as thick as it once was?
Like many Brits on a budget, my bank account has been tighter and I’m always looking for cheaper alternatives to supermarket produce.
One of them, I discovered this year, is… the humble onion – which even the ‘real-life Rapunzel’ Smita Srivastava swears has given her the world’s longest hair, measuring a whopping 7 feet 10 inches.
This inexpensive kitchen product has been used for centuries, especially in India. It contains sulfur, which can promote collagen production.
Collagen in turn helps in the production of healthy skin cells and hair growth, the experts of Healthline participation.
Another reason why this 10 cent supermarket find would work wonders for long hair is that it stimulates blood circulation to your scalp.
But since few studies have been done—one of which is more than two decades old—is incorporating this smelly root vegetable into your hair care routine effective? Real work?
I decided to see for myself. For two weeks, I rubbed a red onion on my scalp every other day.
Since onion juice doesn’t come in cartons and I didn’t want my smoothie maker to have a lingering smell, I cut the onions in half and rubbed it directly onto the stained areas around my temples.
There is also a lack of information on the internet about how long you should do this, or any other information about how long you should leave the homemade hair booster on your scalp.
I followed the Times of India guide, which advised beauty lovers to massage the scalp for a few minutes before letting the stinky sap do its work for half an hour.
Here I encountered the first major problem: my eyes, perhaps too sensitive for this project, began to water and the unpleasant feeling did not go away, despite my attempts to wash it all away.
But the worst happened when the skin around my temples, which thins as you age, felt like it was on fire.
Then I gave my scalp a light massage and stayed in my bedroom for 30 minutes as recommended, then ran to the shower to get rid of the pungent smell.
Normally I shampoo my hair short and apply a generous amount of conditioner to treat my bleached locks, but the smelly juice made me paranoid.
I didn’t like the idea of walking around with the smell of sliced onions, so I washed my hair twice after applying the vegetable to my scalp.
Luckily this turned out to work, because during the two weeks that I followed this routine (every other day) I had no complaints or people running away from me on the subway.
What I did notice is that my blonde locks didn’t stink – or at least no one looked at me strangely – but my fingers did, which made me reach for soap and perfumed hand cream more often than I’m used to.
The 4 Phases of the Hair Growth Cycle
Hair experts at Philip Kingsley shared the four stages of the hair growth cycle: Anagen, Catagen, Telogen and Exogen
Anagen phase:Also called the ‘growth phase’ or ‘active phase’, is the phase in which the cells in the hair root divide most rapidly, causing more new hair to be formed.
During the Anagen Phase, hair grows about half an inch per month [about six inches a year]and faster in summer than in winter.
This phase of the hair growth cycle lasts an average of three to five years.
Catagen phase:After the anagen phase, your hair cycle enters a short transition phase called the catagen phase. This phase marks the end of active hair growth and separates individual hairs from the blood supply and the cells that produce new hair.
About three percent of all hairs are in this stage at any one time and it lasts about 10 days.
Telogen phase:The third phase of your natural hair growth cycle is the telogen phase, a resting period during which hairs remain in their follicles but are not actively growing.
It is estimated that 10-15 percent of your hair is in the telogen phase at any given time.
The telogen phase lasts about three months or 100 days.
Exogenous phase:The final stage of the hair growth cycle, when individual hair strands release from their follicles and fall out.
Now the whole process starts again.
But now the final question: did it work? Is my hair as thick as it used to be? Are the slick back knot-induced spots gone?
While I can see a slight difference, and even a few new baby hairs in my hair, it’s hard to tell if it’s because of the 10p trick. Even celebrity hairstylist Jason Collier agrees.
The beauty guru, who has styled the locks of huge celebrities including former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, said he couldn’t figure out how such a “gimmick” could work.
The final verdict: my locks didn’t stink and there was some hair growth, but I think that was more from the scalp massage than the pungent taste of the root vegetable.
Note: If you want to try this homemade remedy, it is best to test a small area of your scalp first to make sure you are not allergic to onion juice. It is also advisable to follow this routine with a scented shampoo and conditioner.
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