When life gives you lemon, make lemonade… for your hair! And your hair will love it.
So what’s the deal with lemon? How does it benefit hair?
Lemon juice is one of the earliest conditioning ingredients for hair. When there was no bottled conditioner, there was lemon, honey and other natural stuff to make hair pretty.
What Makes Lemon an Amazing Conditioner
It’s the acidity of lemon, along with essential oils and a splash of vitamin B5 that make lemon a good conditioner.
Lemon clarifies hair of any build up or residues and makes hair soft and glossy. Besides, the astringent and purifying qualities of lemon make it perfect for those with oily hair. And for those reasons, the ancient Egyptians used lemon juice as the shampoo to remove dirt and grease from hair.
Its wonderful citrusy aroma is refreshing and will leave your hair feeling and smelling great. There is so much more to this juicy little fruit.
5 Hair and Scalp Benefits of Lemon Hair Rinse
Lemon Makes Your Hair Shiny & Smooth
The citric acid in the lemon is a natural clarifying agent. It helps to remove buildup from hair care products, which can dull hair and weigh it down. Also, if you have hard water, it will get rid of limescale and leave your hair silky, smooth.
Plus, the acidity in the lemon flattens the cuticles (outer layer of hair), so it reflects more light, giving a glossy, lustrous appearance to your hair.
Lemon Helps Refresh Oily Scalp and Hair
All thanks to its astringent and toning qualities. Lemon balances your scalp’s natural oil production and refresh hair and scalp.
Lemon Restores pH Balance
Again, the acidic nature of lemon help to normalise hair pH.
High pH can cause tangles and dull looking hair. But as the pH gets optimum, it makes hair glossy and smooth.
Lemon Keeps Your Scalp Healthy & Dandruff-free
If you have a flaky scalp, lemon can come to your rescue. Lemon contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which exfoliate dead cells and keep your scalp clean and flake-free.
Plus, lemon has an antiseptic, anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These work to get rid of unwanted microbes and thus help with dandruff and flaky, itchy scalp.
Lemon May Support Healthy Hair Growth
And last but not least, lemon may improve hair growth.
It’s a rich source of vitamin C, flavonoids and essential oils. Lemon helps to protect and rejuvenate the scalp, and its stimulating effects enhance healthy hair growth.
Isn’t lemon wonderful?
How to Make Lemon Hair Rinse
We saw how beneficial lemon is for the hair. Now, let’s get to making. Here’s a quick and easy recipe of lemon rinse on hair.
What you will need:
- 1 tablespoon lemon/lime juice
- 2 cups of water
Place the ingredients in a mug and give it a good stir.
How to use
Use lemon juice rinse two ways:
- As a conditioner after washing your hair:Pour the rinse slowly on your head. Massage your scalp and work through your hair. Allow it to soak in for 2-3 minutes, then wash it out.
- To freshen up your hair in between shampoos: If you keep a long stretch between shampooing, then use lemon juice rinse to refresh your hair.
Use this rinse once a week. Using too often can dry out your hair.
Note:Lemon rinse can lighten your hair colour over time. But it can give a lovely golden tinge to your hair.
Lemon Juice For Dandruff
What you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (or olive oil)
- 1 tablespoon of lemon/ lime juice
Mix the two well. Dip your fingers and apply this mixture to your scalp, and massage gently. Let it sit for an hour, then wash it out with a natural shampoo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lemon juice lighten your hair?
Yes, if you leave it for a longer time (more than 5 minutes), it could start to lighten your hair.
I have a sensitive scalp, will I be fine using lemon juice?
If you have dandruff and scalp irritation, mix it with coconut oil and apply it to your scalp. It will help clear out flakes. But it is always wise to test it on a small area before applying it all over your head.
Can all hair types use lemon hair rinse?
There are no issues as such, just that lemon rinse is clarifying, so it can make dry hair further dry. So use it no more than once a week or once a fortnight if you have dry hair.
So next time you’re feeling down, remember the old saying: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade… for your hair. You can sip some too!
Do you use lemon hair rinse? How does it help your hair? Reply in the comment box below…
