5 Benefits of Onions for Your Skin and Hair

Onion is a staple in every kitchen. It is favoured mostly because it adds an interesting flavour and texture to everything from curries to salad. Did you know that onion is a great ingredient not only because of its taste but also its health benefits?

Onion contains dozens of medicinal chemical compounds that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions in the body and promote good heart and gut health. However, that’s not all, it is also a miracle ingredient to maintain the health of your skin and hair.

Here are 5 benefits of onion for your skin and hair health:

* Onion fights signs of aging

Onions contains sulphur-rich phytochemicals which give anti-aging benefits. The antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E fight against the damage caused by the harmful UV rays as well as prevent free radical damage that is responsible for causing premature aging of our skin. Onion is one of the richest sources of quercetin, the most powerful antioxidant that can keep your skin wrinkle-free. Vitamins and sulphur, on the other hand, protect your skin and keep it soft and supple. For a more youthful and radiant appearance of skin, massage your skin with fresh onion juice.

* Helps fight acne

The antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities of onion can work wonders on your skin. It is a powerful antiseptic that protects your skin from acne-causing bacteria and other skin infections. You can make a face pack by mixing 1 tablespoon of onion juice or extract with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Apply it to your face, leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off.Apart from topical application, the regular consumption of onion can also give you miraculous results in the case of acne. The antioxidants in onions help detoxify our body by flushing out toxins from the bloodstream. This eventually purifies the skin, thus preventing the risk of developing any skin issue.

* Removes dark spots and treats skin pigmentation

Onion juice is excellent for getting rid of dark spots and pigmentation. The plant compounds and antioxidants in onion nourish your skin while removing the skin impurities.Mix equal quantities of onion juice and fresh yogurt to make a face pack. If the pungent smell of onion is too much to handle, you can add a few drops of essential oils to it. Massage your face with this mixture, using gentle circular movements for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water, use a gentle face wash if required. Repeat daily till you start seeing results.

* It promotes hair growth

When applied to the scalp, onion juice provides this extra sulphur for stronger and thicker hair. This sulphur can also stimulate collagen production – which, in turn, aids in the production of healthy skin cells, and, hair growth. Applying onion juice to hair and scalp can increase blood supply to the hair follicles, enhancing hair growth. It also treats hair thinning and gives you voluminous hair. You can simply massage fresh onion juice into your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 15 minutes, post which you can wash as usual using a shampoo.

* Helps maintain hair colour and reverse greys

You can apply onion juice on your hair to impart a nice coppery shade as well as to make your hair glossy. However, if you wish to maintain the natural colour of your hair, you can blend an onion with an adequate amount of mustard oil and apply it to your hair. Onion may also help reverse the premature greying of hair. Add 5 onions to a litre of water and boil for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture after it cools down. You can apply this directly to your scalp and leave it overnight to wash it off with shampoo the next morning. If the smell of onion bothers you, you can also choose to mix it with your shampoo.