Is Lemon Good for Hair? Exploring Research-Based Facts and Myths
By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubham Pandey
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubham Pandey
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Table of Contents
Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C. It’s proposed to benefit your hair. For example, it may lighten your hair and make your hair shinier and stronger.
In this article, we’ll find out the truth about lemons and hair health. We’ll discover how you may use lemon juice to lighten, condition, and grow your hair. Plus, we’ll look at how drinking lemon juice may help with hair growth and scalp health. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
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Lemon juice is full of vitamin C and other nutrients like citric acid, calcium, and flavonoids. These nutrients may help improve hair health. The potential benefits of lemon juice for hair are described below.
Lemon juice is famous for its natural hair-lightening effect. The citric acid in lemons, along with sunlight, may help make your hair colour lighter. It works better for blonde and light brown hair. But it may not work as well for darker hair.
Lemon juice may also make your hair shine more and smoothen it out.
If your hair is oily, lemon juice may help. The acidity in lemon juice controls the oil on your scalp. It reduces too much oil that causes greasy hair and dandruff. Plus, lemon juice has antifungal properties that may handle dandruff and other scalp problems.
Lemon juice may help manage scalp conditions in the following ways.
By applying lemon juice to your scalp, you may balance the pH level. This action may help lessen itching, dryness, and flaking. Just remember to use it in moderation or else it could dry out your scalp instead.
Lemon juice is said to have antifungal properties. They are proposed to manage seborrheic dermatitis, the cause of dandruff. Lemon juice may also control oil on your scalp, helping with the dandruff issue.
Before incorporating lemon juice into your haircare routine always discuss with your dermatologist first.
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Even though lemon juice has many potential benefits, it also carries risks. It can damage your hair and skin if used improperly. In this section, we will go through the possible dangers and ways to use lemon juice safely.
Lemon juice can have side effects described below.
Lemon juice may irritate your skin. Its natural acidity might cause redness, itching, and discomfort. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin or scalp conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Some people can get contact reactions like phytophotodermatitis. This happens when lemon juice touches their skin. It leads to inflammation, blisters, and spots that last for weeks. Be careful if you’re prone to reactions with citrus fruits or other plants.
As we discussed, using lemon juice repeatedly on your hair can harm the cuticle, as the acid in the lemon can weaken the cuticle. This can lead to dry and brittle hair. To avoid this, use lemon juice carefully and take care of your hair after using it.
From my experience, I suggest mixing around 3ml to 4ml of lemon juice diluted and made to 10ml of solution with water. This much quantity is sufficient to inhibit the growth of Malassezia furfur, which causes hair and scalp infections.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D
Here are some guidelines on how to use lemon juice on hair.
Before you put lemon juice on your hair, do a patch test. Apply some on a hidden spot on your skin (like the inside of your elbow) to see if there’s a reaction.
Always mix lemon juice with water or other liquids before putting it on your hair or scalp. Pure lemon juice is too acidic and can harm your hair and skin.
Don’t stay in the sun for too long after putting lemon juice on your hair. The sun can damage your hair’s cuticle.
After using lemon juice on your hair, rinse it out well. Follow with a moisturizing conditioner or hair mask. Doing deep conditioning regularly may help repair any damage from the lemon juice.
There are many ways in which you can use lemon juice on your hair at home. You can lighten your hair, condition it, or promote hair growth. Let’s look at how to do each one.
If you want to lighten your hair, lemon juice is a good choice. Here’s how to do it and what to watch out for.
If you want silkier, shinier hair, lemon juice may help. Here are two ways to add it to your hair care routine.
If you want to grow your hair, you may try these simple mixtures at home.
Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with one tablespoon of coconut water. Put it on your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it out with a sulfate-free shampoo. This may balance your hair’s pH and control oiliness. Use it once a week.
Combine two tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of castor oil, and a few drops of lemon essential oil. Massage it into your scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
Mix two tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel with one tablespoon of lemon juice. Put it on your hair and scalp. Leave it in for 30 minutes before washing it out with a sulfate-free shampoo. Use it 1-2 times a week to add volume and make your hair easier to manage.
Blend one tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of honey, two teaspoons of olive oil, and a few droplets of rosemary essential oil. Apply to your hair for 20 minutes. Rinse with a mild sulfate-free shampoo. Do this once a week to hydrate and soften your hair.
In my experience I have seen that even though lemon juice can help your hair, it damages the layer of protein at the base of the hair. This is the main reason that makes your hair strands weaker and this can directly mess up the process of your hair growth.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
To see good results and avoid risks, follow these steps when using lemon juice for hair.
There’s not much scientific research on drinking lemon juice for better hair health. But we know that lemons are full of helpful nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, and plant compounds with antioxidant properties called flavonoids. These nutrients may aid weight loss, lower heart disease risk, anaemia, reduce kidney stones, and help digestion problems. Given these health benefits, it’s possible that drinking lemon juice could lead to healthier hair and scalp. But more research is needed to prove this.
Lemon juice may do many potentially beneficial things for your hair. It may lighten your hair, increase its shine, reduce oil and dandruff, and improve your scalp health. However, don’t use too much of it or apply it incorrectly. That can damage your hair, irritate your skin, and cause reactions.
To make the most out of lemon juice, dilute it, test it on your skin, limit your time in the sun, and care for your hair after using it.
While there’s no strong evidence that lemon helps hair health, we know that it’s packed with good-for-you nutrients. We also know that eating a healthy diet may help hair growth and scalp health. So, adding lemon to another otherwise healthy balanced diet may help with hair growth.
It’s best to dilute lemon juice before you apply it. It’s very acidic and can irritate your skin or cause reactions.
Lemon juice can damage your hair, irritate your skin, cause reactions, and dry out and weaken your hair if used too much or without diluting.
Yes, it’s safe if done right. Dilute the lemon juice, follow the rules for applying it, and watch your sun exposure to avoid damage and dryness.
Yes, it can. The natural bleach in lemon juice can make your hair colour lighter. But it works best on blond and light brown hair. It might not work very well on darker hair.
That depends on the requirement. For hair lightening, once a week is a good start. For other needs like conditioning, 1-2 times a week might be better. Your hairstylist can give you more advice. Also, before starting it is always advisable to discuss with your dermatologist.
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