Cardi B says she washes her hair with onion water

Cardi B says she washes her hair with onion water

Cardi B just shared the secret to her straight, shiny hair. It's not an expensive leave-in conditioner or a fancy salon treatment. No, they are onions.

"For my last two washes, I boiled onions and used the water to wash my hair," she explains in the caption of a recent Instagram post with a photo and video of her hair. First, there's a photo of her long hair from behind - supposedly a picture of what her hair looked like before she applied her DIY treatment. Then there's a video of her showing off smooth strands that look healthy, strong, and have a noticeable shine, possibly thanks to onion water.

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"I did this six years ago when I started my healthy hair growth journey. I stopped because I got really lazy," she continues in the caption. Okay, but does the remaining onion water smell? "It's odorless," writes Cardi B. "I notice it gives my hair shine," she adds.

The post received tons of positive comments, including a message from the official Instagram account: "If Cardi washes her hair with onion water, we wash our hair with onion water 😌." Others confirmed that they themselves have used onions, particularly onion juice, in hair treatments, and some brought up the fact that this hair secret could be tied to the "WAP" singer's Dominican heritage.

The video of Cardi B's hair after her DIY shine treatment might be convincing enough to make you run to the grocery store to grab some onions and try the hack for yourself. However, experts acknowledge that the DIY technique has real benefits.

"According to some studies, topical onion juice may be a good natural treatment for non-scarring alopecia [a hair loss condition]," explains Tiffany St. Bernard, Ph.D. and CEO of HairDays. This is likely because onions contain sulfur and have antioxidant properties, she adds.

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As for Cardi B's claims that onion water gives her hair shine? "Hair shine could be due to a number of different factors and products, but it's safe to say that if Cardi B uses onion conditioners regularly and sees results, they could be contributing to that healthy shine," says St. Bernard. Additionally, using onion juice as a rinse or treatment before using shampoo or conditioner should leave no odor, says St. Bernard. "You can follow the onion rinse with essential oils or an apple cider vinegar rinse to remove any possible lingering odors," she suggests.

Using onion juice, like Cardi B's boiled onion water, should be safe for all hair types, according to St. Bernard. However, you should not try this hair hack if you are allergic to onions. "Whether you know you have allergies or not, you should always test new products or treatments on one area of ​​skin before applying to your entire scalp," adds St. Bernard. She also recommends speaking to a board-certified dermatologist or trichologist to treat specific hair concerns.

If you're unsure about using onions for hair health, there are other alternatives to promote shine and growth. “Rosemary has been clinically proven to be effective in promoting healthy hair growth,” says St. Bernard. “Exercise and a healthy, balanced diet will nourish your hair from within,” she adds. Also, you can prioritize the use of protective styles to avoid unwanted breakages.

You can file this celebrity hair hack under “Don’t knock it” until you try it. (Next: Ricki Lake shared a dramatic before-and-after picture of her "debilitating" hair loss)