Apply onion juice to bald patches

What to Do

Blend or grate a raw onion and strain the juice through cheesecloth. Apply the juice directly to bald patches with a cotton ball. Leave on for 15-30 minutes, then wash out with a mild shampoo. Repeat daily or every other day.

Why It Works

A small clinical study found that crude onion juice applied twice daily led to hair regrowth in nearly 87% of alopecia areata patients after 6 weeks. Onion's high sulfur content may stimulate collagen production and have mild antimicrobial effects on the scalp.

Tips

• The smell is strong — adding a few drops of essential oil to the shampoo rinse helps
• May cause mild irritation on sensitive skin; do a patch test first
• Evidence is based on a single small study, so manage expectations