Castor Oil For Hair: Benefits, Tips, and How To Use It

how to use castor oil for hair

After completing his studies at Michigan State University's medical scholars program, he launched the digital healthcare companies Health Digital, HairStim Labs, and Skin Medicinals. He has since consulted for P&G, Neutrogena, Skin Ceuticals, Cerave, EltaMD, Skin Medica, Fast Beauty Co.,  and 86 Elm. Dr. Rebecca Marcus is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. She has nearly two decades of experience and completed her residency along with a clinical research fellowship at Columbia University. Since then, in addition to practicing dermatology, she has founded her own skincare line, Maei MD. This product is a great option if you love the fresh, soothing scent of lavender.

how to use castor oil for hair

Boost blood flow to scalp

Castor Oil for Hair in 2023: The Benefits, Risks, and How to Use - Cosmopolitan

Castor Oil for Hair in 2023: The Benefits, Risks, and How to Use.

Posted: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Some people use castor oil to grow longer hair or to treat hair loss, also known as alopecia. It’s marketed as a treatment for dry scalp and other scalp conditions as well. Before you take the leap and add castor oil to your hair care routine, it’s important to be aware of any possible side effects.

It can help make your eyebrows look fuller.

It has many medicinal, household, and pharmaceutical uses and is also widely used in skincare and cosmetics for its potential healing properties. It's "a process of infusing your hair with natural oils to restore luster and hydrate hair," says dermatologist Candace Spann, MD. There’s no recommended cooking dosage for castor oil since it’s not a culinary oil, said Dr Gupta.

Keep Eyebrows in Place

This article discusses how to use castor oil for your hair and the purported benefits. It also covers what to look for when choosing a castor oil product and the possible side effects. Both Ruggeri and Dr. Clay agree that it’s a good idea to wash the oil out—not doing this can make your strands feel excessively greasy and heavy, and it can also make styling your hair more challenging. “Finish off with a clarifying shampoo and nourishing conditioner,” Ruggeri says.

Best hair types for hot oil treatments

Lastly, especially if you have sensitive skin, some oils may cause irritation. So it’s always a good idea to perform a patch test on an inconspicuous area of skin before applying it to your head. 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. 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. Some people say that using castor oil on a monthly basis can cause hair to grow faster, but there is no scientific proof to back this up.

Your hair should feel softer, silkier, and less frizzy after this treatment. Each of these oil plays — or is supposed to play — a specific role in maintaining total hair health, so it’s easy to assume that using the two together will help keep hair strong and healthy. Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer-editor who covers health, nutrition, and lifestyle topics for various publications including Prevention, Everyday Health, SELF, People, and more. She’s always open to conversations about fueling up with flavorful dishes, busting beauty standards, and finding new, gentle ways to care for our bodies. “Castor oil tends to have a moisturizing and nourishing effect on the hair, so typically those with dry, brittle, or curly hair may benefit most from use,” Dr. Luke says.

“There are limited studies that demonstrate castor oil’s direct effect on hair growth. However, there are many indicators that suggest that it could certainly play an indirect role in contributing to the healthy growth of hair,” Kohatsu explains. The oil’s ricinoleic acid increases scalp blood flow, which can promote healthier hair and growth while also cutting down on inflammation. However, as with any hair oil, it's important to start small and be aware of how your hair type responds to oil products.

Does Castor Oil Make Your Hair Grow?

Castor oil coats the hair shaft and keeps external moisture out, which is key to reducing frizz. For better application, she recommended buying additional applicator brushes or mascara wands to prevent making a mess. Castor oil, a vegetable oil derived from the castor plant, has been used for centuries for various medicinal and industrial purposes.

Nazarian says that while the oil is a known irritant for many, strategically applying a very small amount to eyelashes or eyebrows may help induce regrowth through a specific, localized region. If you're concerned about getting an allergic reaction, do a test patch on a small area of your skin before applying it to these sensitive areas. Though it may seem counterintuitive, Dr. Clay recommends avoiding the scalp because “it may lead to occlusion of the scalp pores and hair follicles which could lead to inflammation, dandruff, and itching,” she says. “I’d suggest using it on washed and conditioned hair that is still damp; you want to seal that moisture in before styling and apply heat,” Dr. Clay notes. Then, apply a small amount of castor oil to your hair by rubbing it together in your hands and distributing it evenly over the ends of your hair. Adding it to your ends will help lock in hydration and shine that you might otherwise be missing.

Repeat on each section and take care to secure each section back into a small bun after you’ve finished distributing the oil. "Benefits are not going to happen overnight," says Korab, who recommends sticking with one or two weekly applications for a couple of months. She has also written about sexual wellness, fashion, culture, and politics both at Marie Claire and for publications like The New York Times, Bustle, and HuffPost Personal. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, including two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy. As a film school graduate, she loves all things media and can be found making art when she's not busy writing.

Hair loss is a very complex condition that can be caused by a myriad of things. If you are dealing with hair loss, we recommend making an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in hair loss and scalp conditions. A dermatologist will help to diagnose the cause of your hair loss and come up with a treatment plan to help restore your tresses. From helping hair grow to increasing its density, it seems there’s nothing castor oil can’t do, but what does the science say?

And then, as previously mentioned, people with inflammatory scalp conditions should consult a dermatologist before proceeding with a hot oil treatment. Oiling your hair too frequently can also weigh it down, cause greasiness, and make it repel water, Dr. Lenzy explains. Oil and water don’t mix, and when there’s too much in your hair, it can block strands from drinking up the hydrators in your shampoo and conditioner (i.e. water, glycerin, hyaluronic acid). “The remedy is really to shampoo it—really get the dirt and oils off so that water can really enter the shaft,” she says. Aside from the fact that putting hot oil on your hair can burn you, especially if you heat it too thoroughly, there are other ways hair oiling can be harmful, Dr. Lenzy says.

“Castor oil is an oil derived through cold pressing the seeds of the castor plant, which is naturally found in Africa, India, and South America,” explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. And there’s a good reason it’s so noteworthy in the beauty arena for both skin and hair. Plus, it also contains high concentrations of fatty acids, which naturally have emollient benefits to hydrate and soothe the skin, scalp, and hair. Castor oil is derived from castor beans and is rich in protein, antioxidants, nutrients, and fatty acids, explains New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. Like many hair oils, castor oil has been used for centuries all thanks to its “active ingredient ricinoleic acid, a hydrating and lubricating fatty acid,” adds Ife J. Rodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Fulton, Maryland.

But because castor oil is so thick, Dr. Green suggests diluting the castor oil with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil. You can also swap your regular shampoo for a clarifying formula, to ensure you thoroughly wash the castor oil from your scalp and strands. While castor oil has long been touted as being beneficial for hair, it’s important to know if it’s right for your specific hair and scalp and the best way to incorporate it into your hair-care routine. That’s why we asked a range of hair experts—ranging from dermatologists, hairstylists, and trichologists—to take a deep dive into the pros (and any cons, of course) of castor oil for hair.

I split my head open when I was younger, requiring 8 staples in my scalp. Where the scar is, I have a patch of super-curly hair that falls in a perfect ringlet, even though the rest of my hair is wavy/straight. The castor oil seemed to help make this hair patch smoother, though it grew at a faster rate than the rest of my hair. With any new oil, herb, or product, test a tiny amount on your inner arm to make sure you don’t have a reaction.

Castor Oil for Hair Growth: The Truth, According to Experts in 2024 - Allure

Castor Oil for Hair Growth: The Truth, According to Experts in 2024.

Posted: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Castor oil, however, "can seal and allow the cuticle to lie flatter," according to Clay, resulting in better shine and decreased frizz. "Castor oil is rich in anti-inflammatory fatty acids which increase circulation and may potentially speed up the hair growth cycle," says dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD. Yates says that creating an at-home natural castor oil treatment is also an easy option, and it can be used in various ways.

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