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When you overpluck your brows or lose a few of your precious lashes because of an aggressive mascara, panic mode sets in. Your mom would then probably recommend castor oil treatment as a coping strategy. After all, people across generations have sworn by it as a secret fix for hair growth.
A well-loved oil, thanks to its impressive nutritional makeup of vitamins, proteins, and fatty acids, castor oil nurtures dry scalp and damaged hair to promote healthy hair. For all you know, it’s probably what Rapunzel used to achieve the long, strong and lustrous locks that made her the talk of the town. So, if you dream about long hair too, it’s time to make it happen for you as well.
No matter how good something is, there are still some precautions that you need to be wary of, consider the side effects, odour, and after-effects before indulging in a good head massage with castor oil to promote hair growth, nay, luscious hair growth. Learn everything there is to know about the benefits of castor oil for the hair so you can reduce hair fall and promote hair growth with consistent use. But, before that, let’s see what castor oil is.
What Is Castor Oil
There are many castor oil benefits for hair, but what really is castor oil?
Castor oil is extracted from the castor plant. It’s a pale yellow and highly viscous liquid that is extremely advantageous for your hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. It has moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the scalp, stimulate circulation, and hydrate dry scalp to improve hair growth and reduce hair fall and irritation. More than hair, it also helps the skin to reduce acne, dryness, dullness, and irritation.
Castor Oil Benefits For Hair
- High levels of Ricinoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids in castor oil help stimulate blood circulation in the scalp. Applying this oil on the scalp thus promotes hair growth.
- Massaging castor oil on the scalp is like feeding essential nutrients to the hair follicles to generate stronger strands with more resilience. Stronger hair is less prone to breakage.
- As a humectant, castor oil does an incredible job of conditioning the strands. Translation? It locks in moisture to make hair appear softer and shinier.
- For better absorption of other hair products on your scalp and hair, add a little castor oil before application. The oil aids in deeper penetration of the subsequent product so you get the maximum benefits.
- Castor oil treatment is known to treat alopecia or hair loss and dry scalp as well.
- Regularly treating your scalp with castor oil helps arrest the growth of bacterial and fungal infections on the scalp. So, if scalp hygiene is your number one concern, castor oil can be a strong contender.
- The essential fatty acids in the oil contribute to maintaining the pH balance of the scalp which means a healthy scalp and reduced dandruff.
- Thanks to its hair-softening properties, castor oil can help restore normalcy to damaged and frizzy hair. Oleic and Linoleic acids in the oil team up to repair split ends and smoothen dry hair.
How To Use Castor Oil
Although there are several benefits of castor oil for the hair, you need to use it the right way to keep any of the side effects at bay. Take a few drops of the coil, apply it to your roots and massage it slightly. Part your hair every time you apply so the oil can directly reach the midsection without getting trapped on the hair shaft. Since castor oil is heavy and highly viscous, use a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil to dilute it. More than just being heavy, castor oil also has a pungent fragrance that many people tend to dislike. A carrier also helps nullify or reduce the odour and create a mild, pleasant fragrance. Castor oil is so potent, that you can take one part castor oil and two parts any carrier oil to reduce the stickiness and yet keep it powerful enough.
How To Apply Castor Oil On Hair
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on castor oil treatment for hair.
Step 1: Take a cup of castor oil and warm it to a low temperature.
Step 2: Dip a clean applicator brush in the oil and apply it to your scalp.
Step 3: Using your fingertips, massage the oil into your scalp.
Step 4: Simply coat the lengths of your hair with residual oil on your hands and then comb to distribute the oil.
Step 5: Now, put on a shower cap and tuck your hair inside. Let it sit for at least an hour to allow the oil to penetrate the scalp, follicles and hair shaft.
Step 6: Remove the shower cap and rinse your hair with a shampoo and conditioner. Use the shampoo twice, if required to completely remove traces of the oil.
Pro tip: You can also swipe castor oil across your eyelashes and on your eyebrows for improved hair growth.
Applying Castor Oil To Your Brows & Lashes
Along with its benefits for hair, castor oil also helps grow eyebrows and eyelashes. Since eyebrows and eyelashes are very close to the eye and the skin, make sure you do a patch test a day before to check if your skin is allergic to castor oil. Once you know your skin doesn’t experience irritation you can go ahead and use it on your brows and lashes.
If you are using castor oil on your brows, follow these steps to safely nourish your brows:
- Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser and pat your face dry.
- Take some castor oil and carrier oil in a bowl.
- Take a Q-Tip and dip it in the mixture.
- Apply a small amount of the solution to your brows, and make sure the oil doesn’t drip into your eyes.
- Take a small eyebrow brush and run it through your brows to make sure the oil is evenly spread.
- If you are adding castor oil in the morning, leave it for a few hours and wash it off, if you are incorporating the castor oil in your night routine, you can keep it overnight.
- Wash your face again with a gentle cleanser and repeat this only 2–3 times a week.
If you are applying castor oil to your eyelashes, follow these steps:
- Wash and cleanse your face for this as well.
- Make sure a clean mascara wand is handy.
- Dip the wand or brush into the castor oil mixture.
- Carefully apply castor oil to the top and bottom lashes.
- You can leave this on your lashes overnight and wash your face the next day with a gentle cleanser.
Side Effects Of Castor Oil On Hair
Although castor oil is a great humectant that nourishes, strengthens and promotes hair health, there can be side effects that can be counter-productive, especially, if you have sensitive skin. Here are a few side effects to keep an eye out for.
Allergic reaction
This is the most common side effect when someone’s skin is allergic to castor oil which in turn causes redness, swelling, itchiness, and rashes on the face, scalp, and neck.
Residual Build-Up
Since castor oil is thick and sticky, it can cause build-up on your scalp that in turn attracts dirt, dust, and other impurities to clog your hair roots and make your scalp greasy.
Hair Fall
Excessive use and over-massaging of your hair can cause your hair to break and fall. It can also cause inflammation and irritation making your scalp extra sensitive.
Infection
If castor oil accidentally slips into your eyes, it can cause major harm. Castor oil is very risky for the eyes and can cause a burning sensation, irritation, and redness.
Precautions & Concerns
To fully imbibe castor oil benefits for hair, keep in mind the following precautions to come out of this soothing experience unscathed.
- Patch Test: Always conduct a patch test to know if your skin and scalp is allergic to castor oil. It is always advisable and easy to control a small amount of your skin rather than damaging your whole scalp.
- Moderation: Always use everything in moderation, no matter what. Even though castor oil offers numerous benefits, when overused, it can cause irritation, itchiness, and redness to your skin and scalp.
- Proper Application: Make sure you only apply castor oil to your midsections, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Apply gently to avoid any mishaps and reactions.
- Rinse thoroughly: Castor oil is quite heavy and thus washing it off is pertinent. Otherwise, castor oil can cause build-up as dust, dirt, and other impurities settle.
- Pregnancy & Hormones: If you have any underlying conditions, or your hormones are acting up, or even if you are pregnant, avoid castor oil to reduce risking your skin and scalp.
Best Castor Oils For Hair
Here’s a lowdown on the best castor oils for hair.
1. Castor Oil For Hair Growth
Sure, hair doesn’t grow overnight but it can certainly grow faster with the Avnii Organics 100% Pure Cold Pressed Castor Oil For Hair Growth courtesy, omega 6 fatty acids and proteins. It also works at arresting growth inhibitors, such as dandruff thanks to its anti-microbial properties. Blend with any other cold-pressed oil or use it as it is to nourish your scalp and promote healthy hair growth.
2. Castor Oil For Hair Fall
Give your hair a mini-retreat with the Matra 100% Pure & Natural Processed Castor Oil. Replete with Ricinoleic Acid, and, Omega 6 and Omega 9 Fatty Acids, it strengthens the roots and helps control hair fall. It works as an excellent emollient to hydrate hair and trap moisture in the strands. After all, the more moisturized your hair, the less prone it will be to breakage and hair fall. On the plus side, it can also reduce premature greying.
3. Castor Oil For Hair Regrowth
If you are a new mom (first of all, congratulations) and are looking to recover from post-partum hair loss, Nat Habit 100% Pure Cold Pressed Castor Hair & Skin Oil is the one. It’s specially formulated to strengthen hair follicles in new mothers and re-grow hair. The rich nutrients of the oil are freshly extracted and preserved in such a way that it prevents rancidity or oxidation. It’s a healing elixir for both hair and skin.
4. Castor Oil For Dandruff
Push dandruff to oblivion with Nature's Tattva Jamaican Black Castor Oil. Not your regular castor oil, the Jamaican Black Castor Oil is extracted by cold pressing roasted castor beans instead of raw castor beans. This makes it a much better choice for effectively addressing hair concerns. The nutrients supplied to the scalp help reduce dandruff, itchiness and flakiness whilst stimulating hair growth. This oil is even more effective for dry, curly hair. So, all our curl friends can add this to your cart ASAP.
5. Castor Oil For Hair Loss
Bid adieu to hair loss with Wishcare 100% Pure Cold Pressed & Natural Hair & Skin Oil with Castor. This powerful formula replenishes the scalp's natural oils and revitalises the hair while the antioxidants in it support natural keratin, making the hair stronger and smoother. Besides, the higher concentration of Vitamin E oil repairs split ends. Massage it onto your scalp and leave it overnight for better results.
6. Castor Oil For Thicker Hair
It’s easier for hair to get damaged and lose thickness with the multitude of environmental aggressors around. Soulflower 100% Pure Castor Oil gives your stressed tresses the much-needed TLC to recover from the harsh elements and rejuvenate. Thus our 100% virgin castor oil coats every hair strand to keep it hydrated, nourished and shiny throughout the day. Its deep conditioning formula also creates a protective moisture mantle on strands to minimise further damage.
Parting Thoughts
There are many advantages of castor oil for hair and when used the right way it can promote hair growth, and make your hair soft, silky, and smooth. This means you can improve the quality of your hair with just a few drops 2–3 times a week. Make sure you add a carrier oil to castor oil as it can get heavy and sticky attracting dirt and dust.
FAQs On Benefits Of Castor Oil
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Is prevention of premature greying one of the benefits of castor oil for hair? If yes, please suggest castor oil for grey hair.
Castor oil boosts blood circulation to the scalp and helps hair retain its natural colour pigment. Moreover, the omega-6 fatty acids help slow down the formation of grey hair.
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Does castor oil regrow hair on bald spots?
Ricinoleic acid in castor oil is known to trigger hair growth even from dormant follicles. By strengthening the roots and nourishing the follicles, it can help regrow hair in some cases. However, this will require diligent application on a regular basis.
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Is castor oil good for hair? Can too much castor oil damage hair?
Castor oil is an excellent solution for hair growth and conditioning. As with every other remedy, it is advisable to not apply castor oil in large amounts more than once or twice every week. Simply leave it overnight on the scalp the night before your hair wash day.
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Should I apply castor oil on dry or wet hair?
As long as you are applying on clean hair, it’s completely alright if the hair is damp or dry. However, damp hair has the tendency to absorb better so if you are looking for an effective treatment, apply oil when your hair is damp. To ensure the hair is not dripping wet, you can towel dry it once.
