By Jc of The Natural Haven Bloom
Avril asks,
‘If water can enter the cortex of the hair and moisturize it, then would water infused with herbs benefit the cortex of the hair? eg. like how you would make tea. I do know of some persons who swear by tea rinses
Also does garlic really help with hair shedding?’
My instinct was to dismiss this is as an old wives tale but the scientific process does demand that I look for evidence and I am actually shocked!!
Garlic has been shown to stimulate hair growth in those suffering from alopecia areata! Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss which does not scar the skin. One study says that garlic gel applied to the head led to an increase in hair growth. Unfortunately the study is published in Arabic, which I cannot read , therefore I cannot give more details (Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, pg 9-15, 2006).
A second study says that patients responded better to a mixture of garlic gel and a steroid cream compared to those who just got a steroid cream . Steroid creams are the standard starting treatment for this type of hair loss. (Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, pg 29-32, 2007)
Interestingly onion juice (yep, just plain old crushed onions) also enhanced hair growth compared to tap water. Meaning in the absence of steroids, crushed onions could stimulate hair growth for alopecia areata(Journal of dermatology, pg 343-346, 2002).
The reason why crushed garlic and onion are thought to have an effect is not precisely known. Scientists think this could be linked to
1. This form of hair loss is caused by the body attacking itself and garlic/onion juices contain chemicals that can help slow or stop the immune system from doing this.
2. Garlic extracts have antifungal properties (International Journal of Dermatology, pg 285-287, 2009). This action may help create a suitable hair growth environment.
I really didn’t think I would find anything but clearly it is necessary not to be biased and just look for an answer.
I have not found anything more regarding tea rinses directly but I’ll keep looking. I would say that the studies were specific to a hair loss condition not for people who just wanted more hair and had a healthy/normal growth pattern. Nonetheless, consider me shocked!!
Ladies, have you tried garlic or onion in your hair regimen?
Howconnie on youtube swears by onion juice.
I’m starting to see a trend here, seems like anything anti fungal works as a growth aid, monistat cream, Castor oil, sulfur, aloe vera, garlic…..
“Monistat cream”? I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit. I’m all for hair growth, but that is taking it a little to far.
*too*
Ha! Would it be better is she said Tough Actin Tenactin or whatever? Antifungal cream is antifungal cream. I cannot believe the immaturity of people who get freaked out about Monistat on your scalp. As long as its not used already ie taking it from the cooch and THEN applying to your scalp how is it any more gross than anything else? (Although I am replying to you, this comment is not toward you personally i’ve seen many people get grossed out by this and it puzzles me to no end).
Yes, “Tough Actin Tenactin” would sound better, much better. lol! I automatically associate Monistat with vajayjay, not good!
Oh, and I take very little personal. ;) Just voicing my opinion, and I agree with the “many people grossed out.” hehe
You know glycerine is found in sexual lubricants and laxatives and it is used on hair and skin, right?
There are multiple uses for everything. Google it.
Because anything related to vaginas are like soo totally icky, silly!
I agree, i think this may be something I will try
Why do I see some newly natural crushing garlic and onions and applying said mixture to theirs scalps? Shoo, I may try it myself.
Heard about using food color as hair color…do not know how healthy this method is but some naturals swear by it not being damaging n safe way to color hair….any insights?
Hey JC when do we get to see pics of your hair?
Not gonna happen :)
Like a dentist who won’t let anyone see their teeth, hmmmm.
I’ve heard that garlic was good for hair growth, but never heard of apying it topically. Most people take garlic pills or eat roasted garlic. I’d be interested to see how to apply it to the scalp and not reek of it all day!
very interesting info! I think I’ll stick with emu oil, avocado oil, JBCO and Rosemary Oil. I’ve experienced enhanced growth with these. If garlic or onion oil didn’t stink so much, I’d look into it but I can imagine removing the smell would remove the essential properties needed for hair growth. It almost always works that way.
What is JBCO?
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
There are odorless garlic pills out there. I take them and now experience very little shedding.
used garlic oil as part of a deep conditioner one day and it did leave my hair super soft. however the smell was God awful so I haven’t done it again :/
I was thinking of doing the same thing but using odorless garlic instead, just for kicks! I think a liquid odorless garlic is sold in health food stores, and of course, there’s always Amazon.
I did read a few peer-reviewed articles regarding garlic’s benefit, but I do remember that the benefit was only seen w/ Alopecia areata (as the post mentions). I’m still going to try it anyway, cuz this girl loves adding a lil extra somethin’ somethin’ to my deep conditioners and my hair responds well to tea rinses =)
I take odorless garlic pills and I now have very little shedding. And it DOES seem that every antibacterial thing, from essential oils to Monistat, promotes growth by removing any topical fungus (we all have it) that may hinder growth.
Also, I suffered from alopecia areata. I used a topical steroid given to me by my dermatologist, but I can only imagine how good the results would be with a steroid AND garlic pills.
But reducing shedding has more to do with hair thickness than hair growth right?
I’ve suffered from alopecia a couple of years ago. I didn’t see a doctor about it for about two months after the initial hair loss. I was prescibed a foam for hair growth. I used the foam faithfully for two months with no improvement in hair growth (4 months with no hair growth). After reading about onion juice I thought why not. After a week of dabbing freshly juiced onions on my patches hair sprouted. I firmly stand by the onion juice cure. :)
Yes onion and garlic does work. In fact it works almost instantaneously! I research it and tried it! but consistency with treatment will assit. and of course prayer :)
yes it does work. I am natural and I blend garlic and onions with conditioner and leaves it on my hair for 45 minutes..and voila..cuts my shedding about 90%. I am happy with results, it makes my hair strong at the same time. I will continue to use this combination until December. I have past shoulder hair length, and hoping for a healthy and strong full head of hair.
By the way, thank you for this blog but very importantly University of MAZANDARAN is located in north of IRAN, which last time i have checked the national language is PERSIAN not(ARABIC).
so once again thank you for your blog but please ensure not to have the wrong facts as this may upset people and more importantly give the wrong impression of your knowledge which all together can be questioning or contradicting matter for a blogger,
Mistakes are allowed of course , it is what we do about them that matters.
Best regards,
A
Thx for the article
There is one thing
You wrote about a study wich published in (Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, pg 9-15, 2006)
You said it was in arabic !!!! Mazandaran located in north of Iran , and Iranians are not ARAB, they are persian and their language is not Arabic its persian or farsi
please correct your article :)