How to Use Garlic to Promote Hair Growth (Research Based)
Hair loss is a problem that many people suffer from. For men, it is often associated with simply growing older and having a genetic predisposition toward male pattern baldness. For women, it can be another matter altogether, and it is important to tackle the root of the problem – read more about it in my article about 10 causes of hair loss and how to treat them.
I’ve discussed a number of natural treatments to promote hair growth such as onion for hair growth, castor oil and rosemary. In this article I want to show you how to use garlic to fight hair loss.
Garlic and Hair Growth – The Research
Garlic, that wonder-food with so many benefits, can add another item to its long list of home remedy uses: treatment of hair loss.
A 2007 study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology and performed by dermatological researchers from Iran’s Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences found that topical application of 5% garlic gel to areas where hair loss had taken place led to hair regrowth in the previously bald areas of the scalp, reduction in size of bald patches, and higher hair count numbers.
The sulfur and selenium contained within garlic can help fortify the structure of the hair shaft, meaning it can not only help to replenish lost hair, but can strengthen existing hair as well. The vitamins and minerals that each clove of garlic is imbued with can also naturally condition your hair while adding strength.
How to Use Garlic for Hair Growth (Garlic Hair Treatment)
So, how can you put garlic to work for your own hair loss? Although eating garlic in food is healthy in a variety of ways, you will want to use garlic juice or garlic oil as a topical treatment in the form of a salve in order to harness the power of garlic for hair loss and hair replenishment. Here’s how to do it:
Garlic Juice and Honey for Hair Growth
Extract the juice from a small head of garlic or about eight cloves. Do this by peeling each clove and using a garlic press to squeeze the juice from each clove. This should yield about one tablespoon of garlic juice. Blend this juice with an equal amount of honey (which also has amazing health benefits). Apply this salve to your scalp and hair and leave it on for 60 minutes before rinsing out. This should be done twice daily as per the above research.
Note: Pure garlic juice can be irritating to the skin when used alone, as it packs a powerful punch. For this reason, it is important to mix garlic juice with other ingredients to reduce the chances of skin irritation on the scalp.
Garlic Juice and Coconut Oil to Fight Hair Loss
Another healthy hair salve can be made by mixing equal parts of garlic juice and coconut oil.
Extract the juice from a small head of garlic using the method described above and mix the juice with a tablespoon of coconut oil (slightly warm the coconut oil by placing it in a bowl filled with warm water).
Then massage the mixture into the scalp and hair and leave it on for 60 minutes before rinsing it out. This should be done twice daily as per the above research.
Garlic Oil for Hair
Note: Garlic oil is different from garlic essential oil! So don’t confuse between the two. Garlic essential oil is extremely powerful and can cause extreme skin irritation if used as a hair salve and if not properly diluted. Please use garlic-infused oil and NOT garlic essential oil when treating your scalp.
Garlic-infused oil can be used as a growth-promoting hair salve. Apply one tablespoon of garlic oil to your scalp and massage thoroughly, leave it on for 20 minutes or more and then rinse the oil out. This can be done two to three times per week or more often if you want.
How to Make Garlic Oil to Promote Hair Growth
You can easily make your own garlic-infused oil at home. Here’s how to do it:
Method 1: Simple Garlic Infusion for Hair
Nothing could be easier than this recipe for garlic oil—simply peel and mince garlic, then soak the garlic in warm (not hot) olive oil.
Use one tablespoon of olive oil per clove of garlic, and allow the mixture to steep for one to two weeks in the refrigerator before using.
Strain the minced garlic from the oil and use the oil as outlined above.
Be sure to store the oil in a dark glass container in the refrigerator in order to extend its life span and prevent spoiling.
Method 2: Garlic Infusion + Essential Oils for Hair Growth
This infusion contains more ingredients than the other method, but it offers a multi-faceted approach with an array of benefits due to the extra hair-friendly ingredients. You will need the following:
- 5 tablespoons of garlic infused oil (see method 1 above)
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon of castor oil (which promotes hair growth)
- 1/2 teaspoon of rosemary essential oil (which also promotes hair growth)
- 10 drops of tea tree oil
- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil (which can also promote hair growth)
Mix the garlic infused oil with the remaining ingredients and shake well. Store in the refrigerator to keep the oil from spoiling.
Garlic for Hair Growth – Frequently Asked Questions
How much time does it take to see results when using the garlic hair treatment?
It takes a while before noticing results – as much as 3 months. According to the research about garlic gel for hair growth, after three months, hair re-growth was seen in 95% of the participants. There was also improvement after the first month but the best hair growth results were after 3 months of continuous usage of the garlic.
How much time should I leave the garlic on my scalp to encourage hair growth?
In the experiment, the participants left the 5% garlic gel for one hour on their scalp twice daily.
Does the garlic treatment really work for fighting hair loss?
According to the research, 95% of the participants had hair regrowth by using the 5% garlic ointment twice daily on their scalp for three months. The research was also randomized and double blind study. Randomized controlled trials are the gold standard of scientific testing for new medical interventions.
Can I use dried garlic powder for hair growth instead of fresh garlic?
Only fresh garlic extract has been used in the research so dried garlic powder is not recommended.
Can I mix the garlic with onion juice to boost hair growth even more?
Applying onion juice just by itself to your scalp was shown to fight hair loss and I wrote about it in my article on how to use onion juice for hair growth. But I couldn’t find any research about the combination of onion juice and garlic for hair loss so I cannot tell what would be the result. You can give it a try and see if it makes things better.
After applying the garlic juice I am feeling more hair loss – should I stop applying the juice?
I believe you’ve lost hair during massaging the scalp. I don’t believe you’ve lost the hair because of applying the garlic treatment. Too much massaging, unlike gentle massage, may cause hair loss. Massaging the scalp should boost up the blood circulation and help hair growth. Follow the garlic juice application with a gentle massage for a few weeks to see if you notice any improvement. If you don’t see any improvement, discontinue with the treatment.
I don’t like the smell of the garlic – what can I do?
If you really don’t like the smell, try some of the other natural treatments for hair growth – have a look at the next section of this article.
Other Natural Remedies for Hair Loss
– You can use rosemary to treat hair loss and promote hair growth – follow the instructions in my post on how to use rosemary for treating hair loss.
– Castor oil can be beneficial for hair growth – find out how to use castor oil to improve and regrow your hair.
– Onion can be used as a natural remedy for growing hair – learn how to use onion to regrow your hair.
– Studies reveal: this natural ingredient can stop hair loss and regrow hair.
Make sure you are also aware of the common causes of hair loss: