Lemon is a citrus fruit that is known for being rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and other minerals. While it is loved for its flavour, it has some valuable benefits to the body and skin. It is no surprise that lemon is good for hair too. There are many ways to use lemon in your hair. It can be combined with other ingredients to make some amazing hair packs.
Benefits of Lemon for Hair
Lemon is good for hair in innumerable ways. The benefits of applying lemon on hair include the following:
1. Scalp Dust Removal
The antifungal qualities of lemon stop the fungus development in the scalp. It also gets rid of the dirt and dust built on your scalp. In addition, citric juice in lemon restores the pH balance of the scalp. Applying lemon on hair aids in unclogging hair follicles. It also cleanses hair follicles and prevents unwanted bacteria from developing.
2. Dandruff Prevention
Dandruff is unsightly and also represents poor hair care. You must first understand what is creating dandruff or flakes. A poor diet or a lot of stress might also be contributing causes. An interior health problem or any medical condition might cause dandruff too.
Lemon juice contains antibacterial qualities that make it the best anti-dandruff therapy. Hence, people prefer lemon for dandruff reduction. Lemon flushes the hair follicles and prevents the scalp from becoming extremely dry, itchy, or oily.
3. Scalp Health Promotion
Lemon aids in the oil production and regulation of the scalp. It hydrates the scalp's dry skin, thereby promoting scalp health. The antifungal effects of lemon help maintain your scalp health and prevent problems like flaking, scalp acne, and dandruff.
4. Reduction of Excess Oil Secretion
Being acidic, putting lemon juice in hair protects hair from dust, dirt, and the buildup of other products. In addition, it restricts the pollutants that might promote a greasy scalp.
5. Renew Your Strands
If you continuously experience roughness in hair or if the hair looks curly, lemon may assist. Limonene found in lemons helps rejuvenate dry, frizzy, and rough hair. Lemon juice possesses antioxidants and other elements that make your hair smooth and healthy. Lemon juice is a good source of folic acid and vitamin C. In addition, it can prevent oiliness and make your hair lengths shiny and silky.
6. Hair Growth Acceleration
Lemons are rich in vitamin C. It helps to boost collagen formation. As a result, people use lemon for hair growth. Furthermore, lemon's acidic nature improves hair growth, cleans up hair follicles, and activates inactive hair follicles.
7. Hair Lightener
Citric acid is a natural bleaching or oxidising agent present in lemon. It lightens hair by lowering the melanin or colour pigment in your hair. In addition, citric acid enhances the bleaching process when exposed to direct sunlight. Sunlight directly lightens the hair.
However, the impact is slight and takes a long time to develop. People who spend more time outside may find that their hair lightens throughout the summertime, but citric acid in lemon juice helps in the process.
DIY Lemon Hair Packs
1. Honey and Lemon
Honey and olive oil combine to lock moisture in your hair roots. Lemon aids in dandruff reduction. The pack of honey and lemon for hair growth keeps your scalp healthy. It may also give your hair some subtle highlights while smoothing and silkening it.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon lemon juice, two tablespoons honey, 3 to 4 drops of rosemary essential oil, and two teaspoons olive oil.
Method:
- Blend the ingredients and apply the pack to your hair and scalp.
- Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse.
2. Amla and Lemon Juice
People prefer amla and lemon juice for hair growth.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and amla each.
Method:
- Combine the ingredients and massage for around 5 minutes.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it afterwards.
- You can repeat it twice a week.
3. Dahi and Lemon
Need a lemon dandruff treatment at home? You can use dahi and lemon for hair loss prevention and dandruff reduction. They both are two natural conditioners.
Ingredients: Half lemon and a half cup of curd
Method:
- Allow the pack to sit for up to 30 minutes and then wash it.
4. Aloe vera and Lemon Juice
Aloe vera is a conditioning element that enhances scalp health through its antibacterial characteristics.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon lemon juice and two tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
Method:
- Apply the pack to your scalp and rinse it after 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Coconut water and Lemon Juice
Coconut water is high in antioxidants and secures the hair from oxidative damage.
Ingredients: Equal tablespoon of lemon juice and coconut water.
Method:
- Combine the pack and leave the mixture on for 20 minutes after massaging it into your scalp.
6. Castor Oil and Lemon
Castor oil may promote hair growth. In addition, lemon with olive oil helps repair damage, decrease breakage, and boost overall hair health.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon castor oil, two tablespoons olive oil, and 4 to 5 drops of lemon
Method:
- Massage the pack combination for around 15 minutes into your scalp and rinse.
7. Henna Powder and Lemon
Henna is an organic pigment that helps to keep your scalp healthy and prevents premature greying and dandruff.
Ingredients: 1 whole egg, five tablespoons henna powder, half lemon, and 1 cup warm water.
Method:
- Form a thick paste using the ingredients and leave it on your scalp until it dries. Then, wash your hair and scalp using cold water.
8. Tea Powder and Lemon Juice
The combination of lemon and tea can lead to the elimination of dandruff in just a few weeks.
Ingredients: Add filtered water from 2 teaspoons of tea powder to half a cup of hot water and one teaspoon of lemon juice.
Method:
- Allow it to sit for 20 minutes after applying the pack to your scalp. Then, rinse it out with water.
9. Mustard Oil and Lemon Juice
Mustard oil possesses antibacterial and antifungal effects, just like lemon.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon mustard oil and a few drops of lemon juice.
Method:
- Blend the ingredients and apply those to your hair.
- It's best not to keep it on for more than 30 minutes because it might lead to hair loss and irritation.
10. Egg and Lemon Juice
Eggs are high in protein. It nourishes the scalp and functions as an organic conditioner. In addition, lemon regulates your scalp's pH, reducing dandruff.
Ingredients: 1 egg and half lemon
Method:
- Apply the pack to your hair and allow it to dry for 30 minutes after massaging it into the scalp.
- Finally, rinse it off.
Side Effects of Lemon for Hair
1) Lemons contain citric acid, which might make your hair more sun-sensitive. Therefore, be cautious after applying lemon to your hair, especially if you're sitting under direct sunlight. In addition, after applying lemon to hair, prolonged exposure to the sun might damage the hair cuticles.
2) Overuse of lemon on hair can cause irritation and itchiness on the sensitive scalp due to its acidic nature.
3) Many individuals use lemon right into their scalp to get rid of dandruff. However, in addition to curing your dandruff, lemon might dry up your hair terribly.
4) Lemon is a citrus fruit containing a lot of citric acids. The acid level in lemon is adverse, and it might remove the keratin layer. Breaking the protein layer from the hair base breaks and weakens the strands. Similarly, hair will lose its original colour and then becomes lighter during the process.
5) Concentrated lemon might affect the protein that is necessary for hair development. The reaction disrupts the hair development process directly. Finally, putting lemon juice in hair uncovers and dries it. As a result, the hair might lose its shine.
Also Read: How to Delay Your Period With Lemon ~ Is it Possible?
Summing up on Lemon for Hair
Lemon juice is rich in Vitamin C and folic acid. This provides lemon juice with the power to be an excellent antifungal substance. In addition to that, citrus juice restores the pH balance of the scalp. As a sum of these properties, lemon juice is good for hair and has some tangible benefits when used as a product.
Some of the benefits of lemon juice on hair are dandruff prevention and scalp health promotion. It also helps in reducing the excess oil secretion in the scalp. When the extra oil is less, the amount of dust accumulation decreases. Overall this provides a renewed quality to hair strands, accelerates hair growth, and benefits the hair.
Although fresh lemon extract does not damage the hair, it is best used as a pack with some other ingredients. Some of the beneficial combinations for the hair are lemon with amla and lemon with honey for hair growth. As a pack, lemon with curds (Dahi) also helps with hair loss and dandruff reduction.
While there are many benefits, excessive use of lemon on hair can cause irritation and itchiness on the sensitive scalp owing to its acidic nature.
FAQs
1) Is Using Lemon Extract or Juice Good for Healthy Hair?
Yes, diluted lemon is good for hair. Since lemons contain bleaching characteristics, they're frequently present in cleaning, skin, and hair care products. Using lemon in the liquid form is more beneficial. Lemon juice might lighten hair naturally, notably lighter hair colours.
2) What Are the Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water for Hair?
Lemon water is a refreshing, low-calorie beverage high in vitamin C. Drinking lemon water might help you get more vitamin C that has plenty of other hair-related advantages. They are also natural sources of folate and potassium.
In addition, lemon water contains antioxidants and flavonoids, linked to better metabolic health and blood circulation. All of this may result in bright skin and lush hair. Lemon water is widely used for avoiding oily or greasy hair. Its antifungal qualities also assist in maintaining scalp health.
3) Can Lemon Juice Turn Your Hair Grey?
While there isn't much evidence that using lemon might cause premature greying, few people believe it is possible. They claim that lemon juice has a large concentration of citric acid, and applying it straight to your hair can destroy keratin, a protein found in hair.
Hair might seem lighter in colour if keratin is pulled away. As a result, do not apply lemon juice directly to your hair. Instead, make use of the diluted version. Applying too much lemon to your hair can ruin the texture and change the colour from before.
4) How Often Should You Use Lemon Juice for Hair?
The condition of dandruff could be improved by applying lemon to the scalp. However, regular usage of lemon to manage dandruff might cause your hair to become dry.
Instead, you can use lemon juice on your hair and scalp up to two times a week. Aside from that, avoid using lemon on your hair and scalp skin excessively. Excessive usage might cause hair damage.
References
- Margaret Mioduszewski,and Jennifer Beecker, July 2015; Phytophotodermatitis from making sangria: a phototoxic reaction to lime and lemon juice - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500699/
- Wenhui Qian, Wenya Liu, Dong Zhu, Yanli Cao, July 2020; Natural skin-whitening compounds for the treatment of melanogenesis (Review) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7271691/
- Marta Klimek-Szczykutowicz, Agnieszka Szopa, and Halina Ekiert, January 2020; Citrus limon (Lemon) Phenomenon—A Review of the Chemistry, Pharmacological Properties, Applications in the Modern Pharmaceutical, Food, and Cosmetics Industries, and Biotechnological Studies - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7020168/
