The healthcare industry has always hinted at the importance of egg consumption to meet the nutritional requirements of the human body. It is not only one of the prime sources of protein in most diets, it also has good fats that make it a complete meal on its own.
However, along with helping your body feel good from the inside, the egg is also a popular hair care routine member. When you consume eggs in your diet, you allow your body from within to produce proteins that are necessary for hair growth. The egg is also a popular ingredient in a variety of hair masks, both alone or with a mix of other ingredients. But are there side effects of applying egg on hair?
Side Effects of Applying Egg on Hair
Even with the numerous benefits of consuming eggs or applying egg hair masks, it is essential to be aware of the potential side effects of applying egg on your hair? The benefits are plenty, but overdoing it or using it too often might have more adverse effects, resulting in bad hair quality. So, to understand in detail, let us discuss what the side effects of applying eggs on the hair below are-
1) Greasy Look
One of the most common side effects of applying egg on hair is an accumulation of dust, and other particles onto the scalp post-application. If you leave egg on hair for longer than 30-40 mins, there is a high risk of it attracting the unwanted particles and it must fear onto the scalp, resulting in unclean hair and a greasy look overall. Moreover, leaving it on for longer durations can also make you nauseous due to the smell which might not wash off with just one head wash.
2) Allergic Reactions
Another major side-effect that is most common for frequent egg hair mask users is an allergic reaction. If you are someone who is not sure about their allergies, experimenting with eggs on the scalp might not be recommended. One reason why it is better to go with other ingredients that have similar benefits in place of experimenting with new ones. Scalp allergies can be highly dangerous and so it is advised to avoid regular use of eggs in case of skin irritation on the scalp which can further cause redness and bald patches.
3) Dry Scalp
Out of all the side effects of applying egg on hair, a very rare and uncommon side effect is drying out of the scalp due to over-supply of the necessary nutrients available in the egg. This is one of the common side effects of egg yolk as it is a nutrient-rich part of the overall egg. Additionally, even egg white accumulation on the scalp causes severe itchiness, drying out the scalp further.
4) Hard Hair
Most people believe that leaving the hair mask on for a longer time duration has higher benefits overall. However, this is false as leaving an egg hair mask onto the scalp and hair for a long time can result in hair hardening, making it very difficult to wash out the hair mask remains even after multiple shampoo rounds. Always begin with a shorter time duration and do proper research before using egg-rich hair masks on your type of hair.
5) Infections
Too much raw egg can cause salmonella infection, which is one of the lesser-known side effects of applying egg on hair. This infection is very difficult to manage and has so many unpleasant symptoms. It is thus recommended to use smaller quantities of raw eggs in your hair mask to give the scalp what it needs, without risking infections or allergies.
6) Water Temperature
Lastly, one of the other potential side-effects of applying egg on hair is the fear of the egg cook-off during hair wash, especially if the temperature of the water being used is high. If this happens, it can get very difficult to clean out every ounce of egg elements that were applied on the scalp, even with multiple shampoo rinses.
Therefore, in order to avoid the same, it is advised to always use lukewarm or cold water for the head wash to refrain from cooking or burning out any of the ingredients mixed into the hair mask pre-application. Moreover, cold water rinse is the most recommended hair therapy by some of the top dermatologists as they believe Coldwater keeps the scalp skin healthy and hydrated thoroughly.
Summing Up Side Effects of Applying Egg on Hair
To conclude, the advantages of applying eggs to your hair are far too many to overlook. However, it is important to keep in mind the potential side effects of egg yolk on hair as mentioned above to ensure that you are doing it right. Just like a body, the hair also needs protein and so giving it eggs in limited quantities and not regularly but in good intervals can be highly beneficial for your hair quality and scalp health.
