Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy! That is exactly how your skincare and haircare should be, and we don’t mean it just figuratively. You might know lemon as an ingredient for your summer mocktails and desserts, but the tart fruit is actually filled with beauty benefits that can help you get flawless skin and healthy hair. Rich in vitamin C, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and a whole lot of micronutrients, lemons can get you rid of almost all your skin and hair woes. Whether you intake its essence every morning with water or add it in your skincare and haircare routine, it does wonders for you.

Since summer’s already here, we assume you have stocked up lemons in your kitchen to make some yummy lemon water and mojitos and beat the heat. Well, here’s an idea! Why not put the citrusy goodness to use and achieve amazing skin and hair as well this summer? We have here all the dope on the benefits of lemon water for skin and hair health.

Be it acne or blemishes, dandruff or itchy scalps, lemons have got you covered. How do you ask? Allow us to tell you all the amazing benefits of lemon for hair and skin and how to use them to get envious hair and radiant, clear skin...

 

For glowing and flawless skin

For glowing and flawless skin

Did you know lemons can totally change your skincare game by fighting acne, lightening dark spots and giving you firmer and plump skin? Yes, filled to the brim with Vitamin C which is an antioxidant and a brightening agent, lemons are great for your skin. While drinking lemon water will give you glowing skin, applying a face mask with few drops of lemon juice can rid you of excess oil on the skin and reduce acne.

Here are 3 skin benefits of lemon and how to use them to get clearer, radiant skin…

 

Reverses tan and lightens dark spots

Reverses tan and lightens dark spots

Even a few minutes under the sun in summers can leave you with tan and sunburn. And, the result is dark spots and uneven skin tone. Thanks to the brightening properties present in lemon, it works like magic on tanned skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots, giving you even toned and bright skin complexion. To remove the suntan and lighten dark spots, prepare a mask with yogurt and lemon juice.

How to:

Yogurt mixed with lemon juice acts as a natural bleach and makes for the best home remedy to reduce suntan. Mix half a teaspoon of lemon juice into 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt and mix well. Add some rose water for soothing skin and pleasant smell. Mix all the ingredients and apply it on your face and neck. Rinse after 20 minutes and follow up with a moisturiser.

 

Fights excess oil and acne

Fights excess oil and acne

If you have been blessed with oily and acne prone skin, lemon is the remedy you need. Lemon, being astringent and antibacterial, not only reduces excess oil on the skin but also helps kill bacteria and remove dead skin cells. L-ascorbic acid in lemon has drying effects and antiseptic qualities which fights acne. Plus, vitamin C is also known to promote skin tissue growth which helps in lightening stubborn acne scars.

How to:

For an oily and acne prone skin, applying a face mask using lemon juice, turmeric and honey can do wonders. While lemon removes oil and acne from your skin, honey helps moisturise and sooth it. In 1 tablespoon of organic honey, add one fourth teaspoon turmeric and few drops of lemon juice. Mix and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash off.

 

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines

The secret to younger looking skin lies in your kitchen in the form of lemons. Yes, Vitamin C in lemon boosts collagen that helps repair the damaged skin cells as well as rejuvenates skin which makes it an excellent anti-ageing ingredient. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles and gives you firmer, youthful skin. Drinking lemon water twice daily can help you big time, but you can also speed up the process by treating your skin with DIY anti-ageing face oil.

How to:

Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with two tablespoons of milk cream and leave it on the face for 10 minutes. Or, prepare a face pack with olive oil, vitamin E oil and few drops of lemon juice. Mix well all the ingredients and apply on the face. Wash off after 10 minutes. This helps moisturise your skin, tighten it and lends a healthy glow.

 

For healthy, luscious hair

For healthy, luscious hair

Now that you are familiar with the skin benefits of lemon, it is its hair benefits that need your attention. You’ve been oblivious to the hair benefits of lemons for too long now. Let’s fix that. Lemon is a natural hair hero that can help you get the hair of your dreams—long and luscious, healthy locks. A powerhouse of Vitamin C, lemon helps clear scalp, strengthens hair follicles and promotes overall hair health. Let’s take a look at three ways how lemons help your hair and how you can use them to make your hair flaunt worthy.

 

Promotes hair growth

Promotes hair growth

If excessive hair fall is your concern, you can trust lemon to help you get long and voluminous hair. Lemon makes your hair follicles stronger and hence reduces hair loss. For this, prepare a hair mask with lemon juice and aloe vera gel. Both the ingredients work toward curbing hair fall and promoting hair growth.

Extract fresh aloe vera gel from the leaf and put it in a bowl. Add one tablespoon lemon juice and stir until the two are well mixed. Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp and let it sit for half an hour.  Wash it off with an anti-hair fall shampoo. Repeat this weekly for long and healthy hair.

 

Treats dandruff and itchy scalp

Treats dandruff and itchy scalp

Treating your hair and scalp with lemon ensures healthy, non-oily hair and thus, dandruff free mane. The anti-fungal and cleansing properties of lemon clear build up and oil from your scalp help control the oil production and maintains scalp health. Using a mild scrub made from lemon juice and olive oil on your scalps before hair wash can help you get rid of oil, dirt and itchiness and remove dandruff, once and for all.

You can prepare the lemony hair scrub with two tablespoons of sea salt, some freshly squeezed lemon juice and two tablespoons of olive oil. Mix all the ingredients and rub it gently on your scalps for 8-10 minutes. Follow up with an anti-dandruff shampoo. While lemon and sea salt will fighting oil and dandruff, olive oil will lend moisture to the scalps. Exfoliate with this scrub once a week for dandruff-free hair.

 

Prevents premature greying

Prevents premature greying

Premature greying of hair is a result of lack of pigment which may happen due to stress, sun damage, pollution, deficiency of Vitamin B3 and more. To get the black and shiny hair back you do it all, from applying henna to black tea. But what you’ve been missing is using lemons to prevent the greying of hair in the first place.

Lemons help build colour pigmentation and maintain the natural colour of your hair. Uses lemon juice and coconut oil to stop premature greying of your hair.  Heat some coconut oil according to the length of your hair and add lime juice to it. Mix and apply it evenly on your hair. Massage your scalp for 10 minutes and wash your hair with a mild shampoo after half an hour.