I tried a 10p hack to cure my hair loss – it stunk so bad my fingers were smelling for hours & my scalp was on fire
PEOPLE experience hair loss and thinning for a plethora of reasons, from genetics and ageing to tight hair styles and over-colouring.
Now I’m approaching my thirties (I’m 28) I’ve begun to notice I’m getting a slight receding hairline – all because I’ve fallen victim to the so-called ”clean girl aesthetic” which is known for the viral slick-back bun.
Despite repeated warnings by experts who say that this trendy hairstyle ”can cause traction alopecia – a form of hair loss caused by repeated hair pulling” – it’s my go-to on days when I’m not washing my bleached tresses.
The tight hairdo may be perfect for my gym sessions – but are there any ways to reverse the balding patches and make the thin hair as thick as it once was?
Like many cash-strapped Brits, my bank balance has seen better days and I’m always on the lookout for cost-effective alternatives to high-street products.
One of them, I found out this year, is… the humble onion – which even ”real-life Rapunzel” Smita Srivastava swears is what’s given her the longest tresses in the world, measuring at a whopping 7ft 9in.
Used for centuries, especially around India, this purse-friendly kitchen staple contains sulphur, which can help promote collagen production.
Collagen in turn helps the production of healthy skin cells and hair growth, the experts at Healthline say.
Another reason the 10p supermarket find is said to be like a miracle for long tresses is that it helps boost blood circulation to your scalp.
But as there have been very few studies – with one over two decades old – does incorporating the smelly root veggie in your haircare routine really work?
I decided to see for myself. Across two weeks I rubbed a red onion on my scalp every other day.
As onion juice isn’t sold in cartons and I didn’t want to make my smoothie maker have a lingering reek, I cut my onions in half and rubbed it directly onto the more patchy areas around my temples.
The internet is also lacking resources about how long to do this for – or any other information about how long the DIY hair booster is supposed to marinate on your scalp.
I followed the guide available on Times of India, which advised beauty buffs to massage the scalp for a few minutes before letting the stinky juice work its magic for half-an-hour.
This is where I encountered the first major problem – my eyes, perhaps too sensitive for this project, were tearing up and the unpleasant sensation wasn’t going away despite my efforts to rinse it all out.
However, it all took a turn for the worst as then the skin around my temples – which becomes thinner as you age – felt as if it had been set alight.
I then gave my scalp a little massage and resorted to my bedroom for the recommended 30 minutes before dashing to the shower to desperately get rid of the pungent aroma.
My typical hair wash routine consists of a quick shampoo session and a generous amount of conditioner to treat my bleached tresses – however, the stinky juice left me paranoid.
Not particularly keen on the idea of walking around smelling like chopped onions, I shampooed my hair twice every time that I’d applied the veggie to my scalp.
Luckily, it seemed that this worked a charm, as throughout the two weeks that I was following this routine – every other day – I didn’t have any complaints or people running away from me on the Tube.
One thing worth noting is that whilst my blonde locks weren’t smelling – or at least, no one gave me weird looks – my fingers were, making me reach for soap and a scented hand cream more than I’m used to.
The 4 stages of the hair growth cycle
Hair experts at Philip Kingsley shared the four stages of the hair growtn cycle are: Anagen, Catagen, Telogen and Exogen
Anagen Phase: Also known as the ‘Growth Phase’ or ‘Active Phase’, is when the cells in the root of your hair are most rapidly dividing so more new hair is formed.
During the Anagen Phase, hair grows around half an inch a month [about six inches a year], and faster in the summer than in winter.
This phase of the hair growth cycle lasts an average of three to five years.
Catagen Phase: Following the Anagen Phase, your hair cycle enters a short transitional phase known as the Catagen Phase, which signals the end of active hair growth and cuts individual hairs off from the blood supply and from the cells that produce new hair.
Approximately three percent of all hairs are in this stage at any time and it lasts for around 10 days.
Telogen Phase: The third stage of your natural hair growth cycle is the Telogen Phase, a resting period when strands remain in their follicles but are not actively growing.
An estimate of 10-15 percent of your hairs are in the Telogen Phase at any given moment.
The Telogen Phase lasts around three months or 100 days.
Exogen Phase: The final stage of the Hair Growth Cycle, when individual hair strands are released from their follicles and fall out.
Now the whole process begins again.
But now for the final question – did it work? Is my hair back to its former thicker self? Are the slick back bun-induced patches gone?
Although I can see a little difference – and even a few new baby hairs peeking through – it’s difficult to tell whether that’s because of the 10p hack and even celebrity hairstylist Jason Collier agrees.
The beauty guru, who’s styled the tresses of big celebs, such as the former Love Island host Laura Whitmore, said he couldn’t see how such a ”gimmick” could work.
The overall verdict – while my locks weren’t reeking and there was some hair growth, I feel as if that’s the result of the scalp massage rather than the pungent root vegetable.
Note: If you’re keen to give this homemade remedy a go, you may want to test a small area of your scalp first to ensure you’re not allergic to onion juice. It’s also advised to follow this routine with a scented shampoo and a conditioner.
