How to properly apply castor oil to grow hair

Who doesn’t dream of having long hair that can be easily styled into a ponytail, bun or simple waves? But given our lifestyle, dirt, and pollution, our long hair goals often seem unattainable. In other words, unless you have a simple remedy to stimulate growth.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the right way to use castor oil for amazing hair growth:

We know that castor oil is an amazing ingredient for treating hair loss and stimulating hair growth. However, its dense structure and distinctive smell might not appeal to some. In that case, you can combine castor oil with other beneficial oils to create a hair oil solution more to your liking.

The following potion is a combination of four oils: coconut, sweet almond, sesame, and castor. While you can add or remove oils based on availability and preference, nothing beats using all four of these together.

What Is Castor Oil?

“Castor oil is a vegetable oil pressed from castor beans,” says trichologist Gretchen Friese. To elaborate: “Castor oil is filled with vitamins that our hair and skin need to support itself,” says brow expert Sabah Feroz. “It is high in omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, and many other beneficial minerals that moisturize and support healthy hair growth.”

The Truth About Using Castor Oil to Grow Your Eyebrows

We don’t have to lay out why brows are arguably one of the biggest beauty concerns the shape of your brows defines your face and determines the direction of what your beauty look is going to consist of. It’s no shock to us that when something promises to help them grow thicker and faster, people are all for it.

When you google ” castor oil to grow eyebrows,” you may find mixed reviews. Some people rave about the hair-growing benefits of this fatty acid-rich oil, while others stay far away from the idea of experimenting with it in the first place. But which claims are true? Is this the all-natural miracle brow potion that we’ve all been waiting for?

It’s hard to tell. Ahead, we talked to a brow expert and a trichologist to find out if castor oil really works for eyebrow growth.

Purported Benefits For Brows

When asked about the benefits of castor oil, Jamé Heskett , holistic doctor and author of The Well Path, once told us the following: improves circulation; stimulates the lymphatic system; works to kill fungi, inflammation, and dermatitis; heals acne and injuries by reducing the bacteria and healing wounds; reduces cellulite and acts as a powerful emollient. Not a single one mentions anything to do with hair growth. But some people swear by the stuff for getting bold, bushy brows long, luscious lashes So, what’s the truth? Friese says the oil “has been used for years to treat a variety of conditions, including hair loss. While there haven’t been scientific studies that prove that castor oil can regrow hair, it’s a low-risk remedy that may help you get thicker/fuller eyebrows.” In short, there’s a lack of scientific research about the topic, but there is anecdotal evidence that suggests castor oil works for hair growth.

Does Castor Oil Work For Brow Growth?

As we know, we can’t take any beauty trend found on Pinterest with such bold claims at face value. “Currently there is no real evidence that castor oil affects eyebrow growth,” says Friese. “However, there is evidence that ricinoleic acid, which is a chemical compound that makes up almost 90 percent of castor oil, may treat hair loss.” Bottom line: it might work, and it probably won’t hurt to try it. “Other than the distinct smell that can be a bit strong there are no downsides to using the oil. Just keep it out of the eyes,” notes Friese. She adds that castor oil “has great moisturizing properties.” Ferox suggests almond oil as a viable alternative if castor oil doesn’t agree with you. “Almond oil has the same properties as castor oil in terms of moisturizing brow hair. My favorite product is BBB London Nourishing Brow and Lash Oil ($48).”Rosemary and almond oil stimulate hair growth, while lavender soothes and hydrates the skin. I use it every night and my lashes look longer and my brows look fuller.” How to Apply Castor Oil to Brows Castor oil can be used daily, according to Friese. It might be a good idea to perform a patch test if you’ve never used the ingredient before to make sure you don’t have a reaction. Also, only pure castor oil should be used for this purpose.

“Make sure your eyebrows are clean and free of makeup. Use a cotton swab or clean mascara wand to wipe a small amount of castor oil over the eyebrows and massage the oil into the eyebrows. Avoid contact with eyes,” recommends Friese. She likes Pure Body Naturals Castor Oil for Eyelashes and Eyebrows with Applicator Kit When is the best time to use castor oil? “Before bed is a good time so that the thick oil can remain on the brows while you sleep and you can wash it off in the morning and it will not affect your makeup application,” says Friese.

Using Castor Oil for Hair Growth

In recent years, more and more beauty enthusiasts have begun praising castor oil as a natural solution for hair growth. An age-old remedy long used in traditional medicine, castor oil is also said to moisturize the scalp, ease dandruff , and leave your hair smooth and shiny.

Sourced from the castor bean (Ricinus communis), castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid a type of fatty acid found to fight inflammation . When applied to the scalp, it’s purported to enhance the health of the hair follicles and, in turn, promote hair growth (as well as protect against hair loss).

Benefits

As castor oil gains popularity in the natural beauty world, proponents suggest that the use of oil can dramatically increase the rate of hair growth. Some even claim that monthly application of the oil can boost hair growth by up to five times the usual rate.

There’s currently no scientific evidence to show that castor oil can promote hair growth.

There’s a lack of recent research testing castor oil’s effects on any type of hair-related issue. Still, some older research (including a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2003) indicates that castor oil may improve the appearance of hair by increasing its luster.

How to Use It

If you’re interested in using castor oil for hair growth, try rubbing just a few drops of the oil into your scalp. You can also massage a few additional drops of castor oil into your hair’s midsection and ends, which may protect against breakage and improve hair texture.

Although the ideal timing for castor-oil-based hair masks is unknown, letting the oil sit for about two hours may be beneficial. To prevent oil drippings from staining your clothing and other items, consider covering your head with a shower cap until it’s time to wash your hair.

Many hair care experts recommend using castor oil no more than once a week. When used more frequently, castor oil can cause buildup and lead to issues like matting.

Because castor oil is extremely heavy and often difficult to remove from hair, hair treatment recipes typically call for diluting it with other plant-derived oils (such as coconut jojoba ). Combining oils can also tone down the scent of castor oil, which many people find unpleasant.

What to Look For

Proponents of castor oil often recommend opting for organic, cold-pressed products. It’s said that cold-pressed oils are higher-quality and more nutrient-rich than those processed at greater temperatures.

When it comes to using castor oil as a hair treatment, one of the most popular varieties is Jamaican black castor oil. Made with roasted castor beans (and the ash produced by the roasting process), Jamaican black castor oil is said to be especially beneficial to those with thick, dry, and/or coarse hair.

Side Effects

There’s some concern that using castor oil as a hair treatment may lead to acute hair felting a rare disorder in which the hair becomes entangled into a hard mass. Since the condition is irreversible, the only solution is to cut off the affected hair. It should also be noted that consuming large amounts of castor oil can be extremely harmful and trigger a number of adverse effects, including:

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Hallucinations
• Fainting
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath and chest pain
• Skin rash
• Throat tightness

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
• 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon of castor oil

Procedure:

• Combine all four oils and massage the mixture into your scalp and from roots to ends of your hair.
• You could heat the oil a bit for faster penetration.
• Keep it on for at least 60 minutes. You can optionally leave it overnight for better results.
• Rinse your hair with shampoo.
• This oil is perfect for inducing hair growth.
• You can make it in large quantities and store it by adding a vitamin E oil capsule to it to increase its shelf life.

Can castor oil actually make your hair grow?

Another key benefit of castor oil is its ability to increase blood flow around the scalp, which is why many people believe that it can increase hair growth. There needs to be more evidence though, says Guy, to show a direct connection: “There is no link between follicular hair growth and castor oil, and any suggestion otherwise is anecdotal.” Considering how complex the reasons for hair loss and thinning hair can be, this makes perfect sense.

That’s not to say though that castor oil isn’t worth incorporating into your regime. If used properly, it can improve the condition and flexibility of your strands, to prevent them from snapping off due to dryness. “Being an oil, it will have clear moisture and replenishment benefits for thicker, coarser hair that requires more moisture than other hair types,” says Guy.

Its viscosity actually works in its favour in these cases notes Gemma Hume, Afro Specialist at Paul Edmonds London . “Castor oil is naturally thicker in consistency so it’s great for coating curly and Afro hair and sinking right down to the roots,” she tells me. “Always apply it to the scalp, massaging it in, and leave it on the hair with a plastic cap, under heat, for 30 minutes to intensify the penetration of the oil.”

How much castor oil use

As mentioned earlier, castor oil’s much richer than other oils and, unless you have Afro, thick or curly hair, using it neat can actually end up being counterproductive. “Use it in a diluted form, as it may be very difficult to remove and any benefit from the oil will be undone by the six times you need to wash your hair to get it out!” cautions Guy. Good point.

If you’re using it as a scalp or moisture treatment, he recommends diluting it so that it’s one part castor oil, five parts almond or argan oil (which are both lighter). Apply sparsely to start with – if you have hair that gets greasy quickly, just apply it to mid-lengths and ends (hair’s more damaged towards the ends anyway) and avoid using it in conjunction with other moisturising products to prevent a case of ‘over-hydration’ . If greasiness fears are still weighing on your mind, look for it as a core ingredient in your hair care products instead (such as those in our edit below). If it’s a serum or conditioner castor oil should be among the top ingredients listed in the ingredients list to be a worthwhile amount. For shampoos it will be lower done, maybe line three or four, as shampoos still need to be clarifying.

The same approach applies to its use on eyebrows and eyelashes too. While castor oil won’t necessarily help them grow quicker, incorporating products that have the ingredient in them into your nightly regime can certainly go some way in making them stronger and less prone to breakage. “It’s best when combined with other ingredients,” says Jaimineey. “For example, our BBB London Luscious Lash Oil contains seven essential oils, all of which work in harmony to grow, stimulate and hydrate lashes.” You could use castor oil neat, but it won’t feel all that comfortable and you might run the risk of causing irritation if you do happen to overdo it on the application.

How often should you use castor oil on your hair?

You can use the oil 2-4 times a week. On the other hand, for extra shine, use castor oil as a conditioner once a week.

Precautions and Concerns

Since castor oil can cause stains, it’s best to wear an old T-shirt (or any item of clothing you don’t mind staining) when using castor oil on your hair. Castor oil can also stain towels, so make sure that your hair is thoroughly washed prior to towel-drying. Keep in mind that your hair may require two applications of shampoo in order to completely remove the castor oil.

If you’re thinking of using castor oil as a remedy for hair loss, remember that hair loss may be the sign of an underlying health problem. Therefore, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you’re experiencing unexplained hair loss.

How to Apply Castor Oil for Hair

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