Lemon is often hailed as a natural remedy for various beauty and health concerns, including hair care. Lemon for hair is believed to have benefits such as promoting hair growth, controlling dandruff, and adding shine to the hair.
However, despite these claims, there are several reasons, it is important to reconsider ‘is lemon good for hair?’. In this article, we will explore the advantages of lemon for hair, potential drawbacks and risks associated with using lemon juice in hair care.
Advantages of Using Lemon for Hair
With low pH levels, lemon not just harms your hair health, but also helps improve it if used the right way. Here are some of its advantages.
1. Possesses Anti-Microbial Properties
Lemon is packed with natural antiseptic, and anti-microbial properties. Using it on hair and scalp can combat fungus-causing dandruff and help you get clean and healthy scalp. You can either use lemon oil DIY treatment or try a lemon-infused shampoo.
2. Promotes Hair Growth
A lot of hair-care remedies include using lemon for hair growth as it boosts scalp and follicle health. Lemon also conditions dry and frizzy hair, providing you with long and lustrous hair strands. For deep nourishment and growth, using biotin tablets and collagen supplements are equally effective.
3. Boosts Circulation to the Scalp
In the queue of the benefits of applying lemon on hair, it boosts blood circulation to the scalp, promoting hair health — the credit goes to vitamin C in it. Moreover, vitamin C improves scalp health and creates a healthy environment for your hair to grow.
4. Can be Used to Highlight Your Hair
Lemon juice is citric in nature which acts as a natural bleaching agent for hair. The acid in lemon juice gets absorbed into the hair cortex and oxidises the pigment, chemically altering its color. Exposing the lemon dipped hair to the sun’s UV rays will accelerate the highlighting effect.
5. Balances pH Levels of the Scalp
Another one of the benefits of applying lemon on your scalp is that it can help balance oil production if you have oily hair. Lemon can balance the pH of the scalp between 4.5-5.5, which is considered healthy for hair health.
Lemon Drawbacks and Concerns for hair
There are many benefits of lemon for hair. But, we should also know about its disadvantages. Here are some of the drawbacks of lemon for hair:
- Scalp Irritation: One of the main concerns with using lemon for hair growth is its high acidity. Lemon juice has a low pH level, making it highly acidic. This acidity can be harsh on both the hair and scalp, especially for individuals with sensitive or dry hair. Leaving lemon juice in your hair for longer than recommended can increase scalp irritation, itching, and even more severe dandruff issues.
- Strip Natural Oils: Directly applying lemon juice to the hair can strip away the natural oils, leading to dryness, frizziness, and potential damage. The citric acid in its juice can dissolve easily and remove natural oils from the scalp.
- Risk of Hair Damage with Frequent Use: The acidic nature of lemon can increase the risk of hair damage if you use it consistently. It lifts the natural oils from your scalp and can cause dryness. It can be a huge problem in the long-run, and irritate your scalp even more. To combat this, you can use hair growth tablets. These help prevent hair breakage and damage.
- May Cause Lightening of Hair Color: If you are still wondering ‘can we apply lemon on hair?’. Let us tell you that lemon juice in hair can have a lightening effect, especially when exposed to sunlight. This can lighten your natural hair color, and can also lead to uneven results or unwanted brassy tones.
- Increased Sensitivity to Sunlight: Lemon has citric acid which may act as a photosensitizer. Due to this, your scalp may get more susceptible to sunrays on exposure. It can cause sunburn on your hair, and decline its health.
It’s important to consider the potential risks of lemon for hair and consult with a dermatologist or hair care professional before leveraging the benefits of applying lemon on scalp.
Best Damage-Free Ways to Use Lemon Juice for Hair
While there are a few lemon benefits for hair growth, because of its vitamin C content, these benefits can often be achieved through safer alternatives. Here are some damage-free ways on how to apply lemon on hair:
- Dilute the Lemon Juice: Lemon juice should always be diluted with water, coconut oil, or olive oil before applying it to your hair. This helps reduce acidity and prevents it from being too harsh on your hair strands.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Thoroughly rinse your hair with water to remove all traces of lemon juice. This step is crucial to prevent any residual lemon juice from causing dryness or irritation. Don’t use it in excess.
- Use as a Mask: If you think ‘is lemon good for hair?’. Try mixing its juice once with honey or yogurt to make a mask and use for great results.
- Scalp Treatment: Since you know how to apply lemon on hair, you should also be aware of its usage frequency. It is best to apply once a week for better scalp health and avoid its harsh effects.
Conclusion
While the benefits of applying lemon on hair are often touted as a natural remedy for various hair care issues, it’s important to approach its use with caution. The high acidity of lemon juice can lead to dryness, frizziness, and potential damage to the hair and scalp. Additionally, it can disrupt the pH balance, potentially exacerbating dandruff or scalp irritation. If you constantly struggle with ‘can we apply lemon on hair’? The above read can help you and get the benefits of applying lemon on scalp.
However, lemon is good for hair if used wisely. It’s advisable to explore safer alternatives in the form of professionally formulated hair care products like hair and skin supplements to address specific concerns without the potential risks associated with lemon juice.
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