7 Ways In Which Lemon Helps Hair Growth

There are multiple benefits of lemon for hair. It is often referred to as the “magic fruit,” and the citrus wonder is not only beneficial for the health, but it has also shown to be a potent element in numerous personal care products, whether for the skin or the hair!

Lemon has long been utilized in hair care products and masks to boost hair health. It promotes hair growth and prevents graying. So how does lemon manage to achieve it and is lemon actually good for hair? Continue reading to find out.

Benefits Of Lemon For Hair Growth

Lemons are packed with nutrients, such as citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, pectin, and flavonoids (1), (2). A lot of people are hesitant about putting lemon in their hair because of myths that claim it turns your hair gray, but that does not happen if you use it in moderation. Here’s why you should be putting lemon in your hair:

Lemon For Hair Growth

• Lemons are rich in vitamin C. This vitamin can improve the rate at which your hair grows by boosting the production of collagen (3), (4).
• It helps clean the scalp and unclog hair follicles. Clogging of the follicles often leads to issues, such as dandruff and hair fall.
• Lemon has antifungal properties (5). This can help maintain scalp health and curb issues like dandruff and scalp acne (6).
• It helps control the production of oil on your scalp.

Tinta, a vlogger, shared her experience of using a rinse made of lemon juice and guava water for her dandruff in the video. She said, “It was squeaky clean. The itchiness actually lessened alot (i).”

The following are seven ways in which you can use lemon to boost hair growth.

How To Use Lemon Juice For Hair Growth

1. Lemon Juice Treatment For Hair Growth

This treatment works well for people with oily and greasy hair. It gives your scalp a collagen boost, which, in turn, influences hair growth.

You Will Need

1/2 lemon

Processing Time

15 minutes

Process

1. Squeeze the juice out of half a freshly cut lemon in a bowl.
2. Massage your scalp with the juice for 5 minutes and then leave it in for an additional 10 minutes.
3. Wash your hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo and condition.

How Often?

Use once a week to maintain scalp and hair pH balance.

Quick Tip

Avoid prolonged sun exposure after applying lemon juice to your hair because it may break the bonds and cause hair lightening.

2. Lemon Shampoo For Hair Growth

This hair pack is perfect for people who want to cover grays while boosting hair growth. Henna is a natural dye that contributes towards maintaining scalp health and reduces premature graying of hair and dandruff (7).

You Will Need

• 5 tablespoons pure henna powder
• 1 whole egg
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/2 lemon

Processing Time

1-2 hours

Process

1. Combine the henna powder, egg, and warm water in a bowl until you get a thick paste.
2. Squeeze the juice from one half of a freshly cut lemon into this mixture.
3. Apply this mixture to your hair and scalp and leave it in until it dries. This should take 1-2 hours.
4. Rinse the mixture out under cool running water.

How Often?

Use once a month for hair conditioning and covering grays.

3. Lemon Juice And Coconut Water

Coconut water has antioxidant properties (8). It helps prevent oxidative damage to the hair.

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon coconut water

Processing Time

20 minutes

Process

1. Combine equal parts of coconut water and lemon juice in a bowl.
2. Massage the mixture into your scalp and leave it on for 20 minutes.
3. Wash it out with a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Once a week.

4. Lemon With Castor Oil And Olive Oil For Hair Growth

Anecdotal evidence suggests that castor oil can boost hair growth and help with scalp care. In combination with olive oil, it helps with hair repair, minimizes breakage, imparts hair shine, and improves the overall health of your hair. It can also improve hair porosity and hair elasticity. However, there is no scientific backing to this natural remedy.

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon castor oil
• 4-5 drops lemon essential oil

Processing Time

45 minutes

Process

1. Combine the ingredients in a bowl and heat it until slightly warm.
2. Massage the hair strengthening oil blend into your scalp for about 15 minutes.
3. Leave the oil in your hair for an additional 30 minutes.
4. Wash your hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Use 2-3 times a week for complete hair nourishment.

5. Lemon Rinse For Hair Growth

Anecdotal evidence suggests that lemon juice helps with scalp and hair cleansing. It gives your scalp a collagen boost and strengthens hair follicles.

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cups water

Processing Time

5 minutes

Process

1. Dilute a tablespoon of lemon juice with two cups of water in a jug and set it aside.
2. Wash your hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo and condition it.
3. Pour the diluted lemon juice through your hair as a final rinse.
4. Do not rinse your hair further.

How Often?

Once a week.

6. Lemon Juice And Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is an excellent conditioning ingredient that improves scalp health with its antimicrobial properties (9).

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons pure aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

1. Mix the aloe vera gel and lemon juice in a bowl.
2. Apply this hair softening mixture to your scalp and hair until they are fully covered in the mixture.
3. Leave the mixture on for 30 minutes and then rinse it out with a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Use 1-2 times a week for improved hair texture and scalp and hair conditioning.

7. Lemon And Honey Hair Mask

Honey works with the olive oil to seal the moisture in your hair shaft (10). It may also help with dandruff treatment (11). Rosemary essential oil soothes your scalp and keeps it healthy and induces hair growth (12). This pack may also add some subtle highlights to your hair while making it smooth and silky.

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3-4 drops rosemary essential oil

Processing Time

20 minutes

Process

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Apply this hair moisturizing mixture to your scalp and hair until they are fully covered in it.
3. Keep it on for 20 minutes.
4. Wash it out with a mild sulfate-free shampoo.

How Often?

Use once a week for hair hydration and softening.

Quick Tip

Lemon juice is highly acidic. Applying it directly to your hair may cause irritation. Hence, ensure to dilute it before using it to avoid adverse reactions.

Before you use any of these remedies for hair growth, here are a few things you should know.

Side Effects Of Lemon On Hair

The studies related to the side effects of using lemon on hair and skin are limited. However, you may experience irritation and redness after using lemon juice if you are allergic to it or any citrus fruit. Therefore, always perform a patch test before using lemon topically for the first time.
Also, anecdotal evidence suggests that using lemon juice for hair care may lead to dryness, breakage, damage, and brittle hair. This may be due to the pH of lemon juice, which is 2.2 (13). It means that the juice is acidic in nature. Lemon juice may also make your scalp and skin more sensitive to UV rays and lead to phytophotodermatitis (redness, blisters, and hyperpigmentation (14). Therefore, avoid sitting in the sun after using it.

Infographic: 7 DIY Lemon Remedies For Hair Growth

Lemon is an active component in various personal and healthcare products. It is said to induce freshness and rejuvenation. Similarly, lemon is used in hair care regimens to keep the scalp clean, unclogged, and provide hair protection. It has antifungal properties and is rich in vitamins. In the infographic below, find the top 7 ways to include lemon in your hair care routine to aid hair growth, based on your hair type and requirement.

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply lemon on oiled hair?

No. Oil creates a film on your hair strands, which prevents lemon juice from penetrating the strands.

Can I mix coconut oil with lemon juice?

Yes. You can warm coconut oil with lemon juice before applying it to your scalp.

Does lemon juice lighten gray hair?

Yes. Lemon juice works as a natural bleaching agent and lightens gray hair.

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

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Discover how to grow thicker hair with lemon and lemon leaves! Watch this video to learn how to use this natural remedy to get the hair you have always wanted.

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Tiffany YoungCertified Trichology Practitioner

     

Tiffany Young is the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick and a certified trichology practitioner with 6 years of experience. She is also a recognized expert in the hair and beauty industry with celebrity clientele. Her own personal struggles with hair loss created an opportunity for her to deep-dive into learning all things related to medical conditions and external factors that...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach. Her passion for and understanding of all things related to skin, hair, and beauty propelled her to pursue a career in writing....more