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Put a little drop of the oil on your hand or face and wait a few hours to see if it causes irritation or an allergic reaction. If you're dealing with dryness, eager to calm an irritated scalp, or in pursuit of longer, stronger hair, castor oil might be the natural answer you've been searching for. Embrace this tried-and-true remedy and witness your hair flourish, becoming naturally more beautiful. Castor oil steps in as a natural shine booster, coating each strand with a light-reflecting sheen that makes your hair look vibrant and glossy. This added luster enhances the visual appeal of your hair and contributes to its overall health by smoothing the cuticle layer, preventing tangles and breakage. When it comes to giving your hair a little natural TLC, natural oils are pretty much your best buds.
A Dermatologist Shared Everything You Need to Know About Using Castor Oil as an Affordable Hair Growth Treatment
Castor Oil for Hair: Benefits, Side Effects and How to Use It - Good Housekeeping
Castor Oil for Hair: Benefits, Side Effects and How to Use It.
Posted: Fri, 08 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Apparently, this could be because castor oil increases blood flow to the scalp. The use of castor oil for hair dates back to 4000 BC in ancient Egypt. Castor oil has been claimed to have a slew of benefits, including strengthening strands, promoting hair growth, and nourishing dry scalp. And while the oil itself likely can't make the hair grow, it's loved for its ability to create a healthier environment on the scalp that makes for way better hair growth. Black castor oil is known to be particularly rich in all of the necessary vitamins and minerals to promote hair growth, including omega fatty acids and vitamin E. It depends, says Dr. Luke, on which product and what you are trying to achieve.
My thinning hair had gaps that showed my scalp - I filled it in within months
“Some benefits of using castor oil include increased gloss or shine of the hair, increased hair shaft flexibility by coating the hair shaft, [and] providing antimicrobial properties,” says Dr. Hill. The evidence for castor oil’s effectiveness as more than a laxative is only anecdotal. There are many claims about castor oil, including those that topical castor oil can help prevent or treat skin cancer. All these paired together can help treat hair loss, prevent scalp infections, and improve the hair’s health. Castor oil can help improve the appearance of hair and increase shine. When you use castor oil, ricinolic acid has major anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with a problematic scalp, such as scalp inflammation or dandruff.
Castor Oil as a Pre-Swim Hair Conditioner
Castor oil for hair growth works effectively by sealing moisture and nourishing the hair. In addition, it stimulates blood circulation and hair growth, reduces scalp inflammation, prevents scalp infections, increases hair luster, strengthens hair roots, and combats hair loss and damage. You can mix castor oil with olive oil, hibiscus petals, coconut oil, onion juice, avocado oil, aloe vera, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and almond oil for preparing hair masks to boost hair growth. Try regularly including castor oil in your hair care regimen to reap its benefits.
How often should you apply castor oil?
The 27-year-old said she had been lucky to have thick tresses before stress and a lack of proper haircare triggered her extreme shedding. Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more. I know a relative who would simply pour the oil on the top of the scalp and then massage it all over.
Castor Oil for Hair: Experts Explain Its Benefits, Uses, and Potential Side Effects
Your hair should feel softer, silkier, and less frizzy after this treatment. Reviewers love this cold-pressed castor oil from Briogeo, but several warn that, as with most hair oils, a little goes a long way. This may not be a large jar, but rest assured that it will last you for months to come. The first thing you should know about castor oil that is you don’t need to apply a ton of it to see results, so it's okay to use it sparingly.
Dermatologist Recommended Products for Fighting Aging Skin in the Cold Winter Weather
Castor oil has been used in the traditional medicine for arthritis, muscle sprain and ache, cysts, skin conditions and fungal infections. If you are losing hair at a rapid rate, you would detest waiting for years for some treatment to work. You would want a quick, if not a magic potion that grows hair overnight. You can also use this as a leave-in deep conditioning treatment for a few hours before washing out.
Below, find insights from a hair expert, cosmetic chemist, and board-certified dermatologist, and learn everything there is to know about using castor oil for your hair. A duo of natural rosemary oil and Jamaican black castor oil is priced at $20 at Nature Spell. In such cases, seeking advice from a healthcare professional or dermatologist is recommended to address the root causes rather than relying solely on hair products.
Best Castor Oil Hair Products

Once a week, I coat my curls in this subtly scented mask, pop a shower cap over it, and wash it out after about 20 minutes. One reviewer raves that this product is the first that's been able to soothe her and her children's itchy, dry scalps, calling it a "life saver." The TL;DR is no. "Castor oil will not grow hair," says Perry Romanowski, a cosmetic chemist and the author of Beginning Cosmetic Chemistry. "There is no evidence for it and no scientific theory supporting that it would work. So yes, it's a total myth." With any new oil, herb, or product, test a tiny amount on your inner arm to make sure you don’t have a reaction. While reactions are rare, some people will notice irritation from castor oil.
While castor oil is commonly known for its use as a laxative, its natural properties extend far beyond that. While you can technically leave castor oil in your hair overnight, leaving any oil on overnight or for longer than four hours should only be done intermittently, says Gaunitz. "After four to six hours the oil will break down and begin to collect dead skin cells and debris leading to possible inflammation." Pure castor oil is pale yellow in colour and doesn’t have any smell. When you buy castor oil, look for one that is cold pressed, unrefined and hexane free.
The antioxidants in castor oil also support the keratin in hair and help make hair stronger, smoother, and less frizzy. While castor oil can cause side effects, it's usually related to the scalp and should not cause hair to fall out. "Some people may have a skin sensitivity to castor oil, and this can cause problems when it’s rubbed into the scalp," Kingsley says. Steer clear if you have a flaky, oily scalp condition, like seborrhoeic dermatitis, as "applying castor oil to your scalp and leaving it on can make the problem worse," she explains.
Other treatments like minoxidil (Rogaine) are proven with studies, glowing reviews, and success stories to boot. However, treatments like minoxidil require ongoing effort and upkeep with application, which must be considered. To make my own, I mix castor oil with another hair-healthy oil (options listed below) and herbs to help support scalp health. If you have fine-to-medium hair that’s prone to greasiness, smooth castor oil through your mid-lengths to ends and let it sit for 10 minutes before shampooing. But if your hair is a medium-to-thick texture, you can massage castor oil into your roots and smooth it through your ends, leaving it on for up to an hour (or overnight) before rinsing.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months. Castor oil should not cause these side effects when applied to your hair. However, you'll want to ensure you or others in your home do not accidentally swallow the castor oil. If the skin around your eyes and brows gets irritated, wash the castor oil off right away.
Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist, colorist, and scalp therapist. Dr. Nikki Hill is a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration expert. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Remember to do two shampoos as the first one will break down the grime in your hair while the second one will remove all the excess.
Additionally, I started seeing tiny new hairs all around my hair line. In fact, castor oil has traditionally been used topically for acne and other skin conditions, as well as hair loss, rashes, and more. If you want to try it for skincare, I recommend this handcrafted castor oil cleansing blend.
We love Shea Moisture for their moisturizing line of hair products, and this option is no different. According to reviews, it makes hair shiny with just a few drops, and one drop can be used to effectively moisturize your entire face, too. Despite evidence being lacking when it comes to castor oil, there are plenty of other things you can do to help your hair grow and reduce thinning. For maximum benefit, I leave the treatment on for several hours or overnight.