I'm a girl... Chemistry? It's really about chemistry....?

Question

Please help me with getting rid of odor from scalp and hair!

I did something stupid once: I put onion juice on my hair b/c for a half hour because I heard it will make my hair strong. BIG mistake. I already tried these remedies which didn't work..
1 scented shampoos
2. parsley paste
3. chamomile tea, black tea,
4. tomato paste
5. baking soda (smelled awful and made my hair feel weird but it didn't help) ~maybe baking powder would be different???
6. lemon juice (seemed to dry my hair and smell came right back and soon as I washed it out)
7. mouthwash with peroxide (yeah, i was desperate)
8. cinammon powder
9. cayenne powder (it made my scalp hot though!)
10. coffee and coffee grinds
11. apple cider vinegars soaks
PLEASE HELP.

Please answer if you know about conteracting the chemistry of onion odor on the scalp and hair!

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY IT WILL WORK. I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE MY HAIR MORE OR CAUSE MYSELF MORE PROBLEM

THANks

to answer your quetion, no I never had this smell problem It is from the onion juice.

Answer 1

I would dye your hair.

The chemicals in onion juice are similar to what are used in colorings and perms. If you dye your hair (it can be the same color it already is), the concentration in the dye will be higher than that which is currently in your hair and can likely replace it with the normal "scent" of dyed hair.

Don't use "natural" dyes in this case, as these are typically ammonia free and probably won't get the smell out quite as well.

Answer 2

Hair acts as an exchange column. Ie the smelly chemicals in the onion have been absorbed into the hair.

What you need to do is find something that will replace the smelly onion chemicals in the hair. Unfortunately I have no idea how strong the chemicals are bound to the hair.

The best that I can suggest is that what you put onto the hair you leave there for a while, you also want to use something that interact with the hair but do no more damage. You may have to do this a few times. I doubt that shampoo will do much as it is designed to remove oil and grease from the hair.

What I would suggest is to try a hair conditioner or a leave in hair treatment. Follow the directions and leave on for half an hour. These are designed to interact and condition the hair. Best of all they shouldn't further damage your hair.

Failing that you may want to try some warm olive oil, again this should be okay for your hair (some cultures use it as a hair treatment) but often take a lot of shampooing to get rid of the greasy feeling. It might work as it is oil based vs everything above being water based; the chemicals from the onion may have more affinity for the oil thus being removed more easily.

Although hair colour may work as it quite strongly interacts with the hair, I would not try it as they are harsh on the hair and I think that you have already damaged the hair enough.

Safest solution would be to go to a hairdresser, but the conditioning treatment and olive oil should be cheap and safe to try at home.

Addition: I wouldn't put vinegar (acetic acid) on hair or scalp; particularly damaged hair

Answer 3

Does it always smell this way or is it from the onion juice? If it always smells this way see a dermatologist. If its from the onion juice, it should fade away with time. Its strong stuff. If lemon didn't work, then I don't know what to suggest other than to get a clarifying shampoo and really work it into your scalp and maybe let it sit for a while. I've heard rubbing the area with stainless steel helps. I do not know for sure. Salt rinse might help as well.

Answer 4

The chemicals that make onions smell (at least in part) are sulfide and mercaptans. These are the same type of compounds that are used by hair dressers to give perms (but they do not use onion juice). A suggestion would be to contact a hairdresser and ask them to recommend something that will get rid of a perm or at least neutralize the odor of a perm.

Answer 5

After trying each of the above or something new, have someone else smell your hair because you may be smelling a onion smell that is no longer in your hair.

Best of luck.

Answer 6

Eliminate onion odour on your skin by rubbing vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing.
Active constituents of onion:
Two sets of compounds make up the majority of onion’s known active constituents—sulfur compounds, such as allyl propyl disulphide (APDS), and flavonoids, such as quercetin. Each of these groups of compounds has multiple medicinal actions.
APDS may be soluble in dilute acetic acid ( vinegar )...

Answer 7

I agree with ktrna. Olive or coconut oil, apply generously and leave it on for at least ten minutes. Then absorb excess oil with paper towels, add more oil, ten minutes, paper towels. Maybe then shampoo out in the normal way. Then get outside in the breeze and a bit of sun.