Does Castor Oil Grow Your Hair Naturally?

Sushanta Das
4 min readMar 25, 2022

--

Ladies, can you agree that caring for your hair naturally can be a handful? With so many natural hair products on the market, weeding out the good from the bad can take a bit of research. One of the most popular natural hair oil for hair growth is castor oil. A hair clinic in Walnut Creek claims that castor oil is the best product for regrowing natural hair. However, does using castor oil make your natural hair grow?

What is Castor Oil?

This vegetable oil is extracted by pressing plant seeds of the castor oil. The oil is normally very pale yellow or colorless. It has a light taste and odor. The castor plant is naturally grown in Eastern Africa, the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, and India. Nowadays, you can find plants worldwide in different tropical regions. Castor oil comprises three fatty acids: oleic, linoleic, and ricinoleic acid. The dominant fatty acid is present in castor oil as ricinoleic acid, found in many hair moisturizers. The oil has also been used for medicinal purposes for many decades. Can ricinoleic acid or any other fatty acids in castor oil increase natural hair growth?

Does using Castor Oil make your hair grow?

It is being said that castor oil is one of the best natural hair solutions that have most of the good effects of the costly beauty products you might be buying. This oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties. However, no proof that using castor oil makes your natural hair grow?

On the one hand, there are many pages where users say that the ricinoleic acid of the castor oil will protect the hair and increase hair growth through circulation on the scalp. On the other hand, you can find information where chemists claim no scientific examination proves that castor oil can increase natural hair growth or hair thickness. An interesting fact is that castor oil is not an ingredient in hair loss products designed to treat hair thinning and baldness. Moreover, even the other fatty acids in castor oil similar to those in coconut oil and olive oil are not associated with natural hair growth or hair thickness. Isn’t that interesting?!

According to scientific studies massaging your scalp with water can stimulate your natural hair to grow. A study showed this on rats. Due to its thickness, castor oil can stick to hair more than most other oils. It is almost like soft glue and tends to stay and not move when applied. This can add the illusion of thickness.

How to apply Castor Oil?

Castor oil is rich in Omega 6, Vitamin E, Fatty Acids, protein, and minerals if you would like to try this oil.

To make the castor oil thinner, you can mix the castor oil with other oils like coconut oil or jojoba oil. I have read that you will receive the best result if you gently warm up the oil mixture and leave it on your hair for 3 to 7 hours. Use a shower cap to cover your hair. Let it sit, e.g., overnight, and rinse it out in the morning. Use a natural hair conditioner to retain the moisture and an oil to seal in the moisture afterward. If you have time, repeat this treatment twice a week for best results.

  • Is castor oil safe to use on eyebrows and eyelashes?

In short, yes, eyebrows are safe to use castor oil, but be careful with the eyelashes. If there is not an allergy to castor oil after patch testing, it is safe to use on the eyebrows,” says the hair clinic in east bay area.

How should these oils be applied to your hair and scalp?

Castor oil is used widely, but it is not meant for everyone. The importance of a patch test plays a big role before applying it to your scalp. “Before applying on an eyelash, apply a small amount behind the ear or the inner upper arm for a week,” says an expert of a Hair clinic.

Once you determine that this oil is compatible with your scalp, apply this all over your hair; here are a few suggestions for each hair type:

  • Fine to medium straight hair: It can be used as a deep treatment to protect the very ends of your hair. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment to keep hair healthy.
  • Medium to thick straight or wavy hair: Apply for an intense pre-shampoo treatment throughout the hair. Add steam or wrap with a warm towel for deeper penetration into the hair cuticle.
  • Wavy to loose curls: Mix a few drops of castor oil into conditioners during these hot summer times.
  • Curly to tightly coiled: You can use castor oil as needed throughout your regimen, as a pre-shampoo, or as a weekly moisturizer. Performing a proper monthly detox shampoo when using heavy oils like castor oil is essential.
  • What is the best castor oil to use?

Hair experts recommend using cold-pressed castor oil.

Cold-pressed oil can be used on the hair shaft. On the other hand, black castor oil should be applied only to the scalp. If black castor oil is applied to the overall hair, a cuticle-sealing technique should be used afterward.

  • When should one avoid castor oil?

One should avoid using castor oil on your hair if they suffer from dandruff. Both experts of hair clinic in Walnut Creek and hair clinic in the east bay area say it can worsen the condition.

Conclusion:

Castor Oil hence is an all-natural remedy for your hair. According to a hair clinic in east bay area, this oil is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids; it protects and strengthens your hair, making it healthy, shiny, and beautiful. So, if you want gorgeous hair, use castor oil alone or combine it with other oils and see its magic!

--

--