Castor Oil for Hair in 2023: The Benefits, Risks, and How to Use
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She’s spent her career editing and writing about health, wellness, beauty, fashion, and food for Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridal Guide, Good Housekeeping, and more. She’s loved all things health and wellness since starting her bi-weekly podcast Pancreas Pals—a series all about the highs and lows of living life with type 1 diabetes. When not podcasting, she spends most of her time curled up with a good book or watching a period piece on BBC. "Castor oil can help to condition hair strands and increase shine and hydration," explains Dr. Rebecca Marcus, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MaeiMD. Your hair can grow up to half an inch per month, as hairstylist Patricia Williams has previously told Cosmo.
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This may not be a large jar, but rest assured that it will last you for months to come. Castor oil has long been used as a folk remedy to jumpstart labor; in addition to stimulating intestinal contractions, some animal studies suggest that it could trigger contractions in the uterus. Whether it actually works is unclear, but it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid consuming it, says Sherry Ross, M.D., OB/GYN at Providence St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. Because castor oil functions as a lubricant, it can add help make dry, frizzy strands look smoother, Dr. Evans says. But in that respect, you’d likely get the same benefits from any type of oil you might already have in the pantry.
The best castor oil hair products
Read on to find out more about castor oil, how it can benefit both hair and scalp, the absolute best application methods, products to try, DIY treatments, and more. Every Saturday morning, my mom would sit us down to oil our scalps with a special blend of coconut oil, amla oil, almond oil, and castor oil. Now that I live on my own, I still take the time to oil my scalp once a week—but rather than make my own blend, I use one of the many hair oils on the market.
Choosing a product
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.
Starting at the bottom of your hair, comb the warm oil mix through your hair. Do it quickly and wrap in a towel that you don't mind getting oil-stained. Wait 5-7 minutes, then get into the shower and rinse it off with more warm-hot water. When you are ready, hop in the shower, remove the towel, and rinse the oil out with plain water first.
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Dr Raja tells us if you do want to try using castor oil for hair, you would just need to rub a few drops into your scalp and you could try massaging a few drops into the ends of the hair to protect against breakage. “I wouldn’t recommend using it more than once a week because it can cause a build-up of oil," he says. 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. When shopping for castor oil, you might see some products that say "cold-pressed" on their labels. Cold-pressed means the castor seeds were pressed into the oil without heat or harsh chemicals.
While the latter claim is highly debatable, there are still tons of benefits to using castor oil on your hair thanks to its antimicrobial properties. The thing that bugs me the most about a lot of hair oils on the market is that they are often too heavy and hard to wash out. It's incredibly lightweight (even for my fine hair ppl), but is still jam-packed with Ayurvedic staples like ashwagandha and dashmool to help soothe my irritated scalp. Both coconut oil and castor oil have been used on their own to improve hair softness and length for decades. If you’re looking to improve how fast or thick your hair grows, you’re likely better off talking with a dermatologist or hair care professional.
But on the days I want my texture to shine, I reach for this hair oil before and after my wash. Whether you’re looking to use the oil for its moisturizing properties or want to challenge growth claims for yourself, there are plenty of ways to incorporate castor oil into your hair care routine. The oil is best used by those with a “dry scalp and brittle, frizzy hair,” Dr. Green says. Explains that if you looked at the molecular structure of castor oil, you'd see that it's a glycerol with a long-chain fatty acid. The outer layer of the hair shaft is covered in tessellating, scale-like structures called cuticles, and when the hair is damaged, those become flayed and flared, resulting in frizz and dullness.
Does Castor Oil Work for Hair Growth? Experts Explain
Consider dripping a few drops of a rosemary oil-based scalp serum once a day to help soothe your scalp and potentially boost hair growth over time. 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. Kingsley suggests using a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment containing castor oil (she recommends Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer, which contains a blend of castor and olive oil).
The antioxidants in castor oil also support the keratin in hair and help make hair stronger, smoother, and less frizzy. One of the most popular castor oil products for hair care is Jamaican black castor oil. This variety is made with roasted castor beans and the ash the roasting process produces. Jamaican black castor oil is considered especially good for thick, dry, and/or coarse hair. “It is thought to stimulate hair growth by maintaining hydrated hair with sealed cuticles (the outer layer of the hair follicle, which holds in moisture),” she explains. "Also, because it increases blood flow to the scalp, more nutrients are being delivered to the scalp circulation."
Because castor oil can work its magic in so many ways, you might be tempted by TikTok to opt for castor oil in it raw form. Expert hairstylist, Vincent Allenby, warns that using the oil in its raw form (if you do manage to get hold of it) is not necessarily the best idea. "If using it on your hair make sure it is diluted with something such as argan oil or jojoba oil as on its own it's too heavy for the hair and could be a little troublesome rinsing," Allenby explains. I prefer to make my own, but there are some pre-made options (this is a good one that I’ve tried in the past). I’ve been experimenting a lot with castor oil lately as a natural beauty remedy. I already use it in my oil cleansing blend each day, and I’m enjoying the results from using castor oil packs on my skin.
Castor Oil Benefits: Does It Work For Skin, Hair or Digestion? - TODAY
Castor Oil Benefits: Does It Work For Skin, Hair or Digestion?.
Posted: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There are two types of castor oil people use for beauty purposes, cold-pressed castor oil and Jamaican black castor oil. Regardless of which you choose, make sure that you select a brand that is made with pure castor oil. Terry recommends massaging your hair with raw Jamaican castor oil if you want to help it grow. “You will massage the oil into your scalp, which will stimulate the root and promote growth,” she says. Just make sure you’re ready for a round or two of clarifying shampoo down the line. According to the product developer, the largest difference between the two types of castor oil is just how they’re processed.
Slowly but surely, castor oil is finally getting the recognition it deserves. #Castoroil currently has over 725 million views on TikTok not only because of its nourishing skincare benefits, but also because it is considered to be one of the best oils for hair growth. Dr. Garshick points out that although castor oil can be used by all hair types, it is especially good for those with dry hair. But the condition of your scalp plays an important role when deciding to use castor oil on your hair or not. Removing the castor oil can be difficult, especially with natural shampoos.
When it comes to maintaining healthy-looking hair and caring for your scalp, there are so many products and DIY treatments to choose from. It can be difficult to decipher which are viral but baseless trends versus those that can truly deliver stellar hydrating, soothing, and strengthening results for your strands. To combat this, I experimented with natural castor oil treatments both alone and mixed with other oils. I too noticed that my hair seemed stronger and that there was definitely less hair in my brush each day after a few weeks of castor oil treatments. Additionally, I started seeing tiny new hairs all around my hair line. There's also anecdotal evidence to suggest it can be effective on the eyelashes and eyebrows.
I don't know about you, but I'm two seconds away from pouring it all over my head. Keep scrolling to learn more about the many castor oil benefits for hair that your strands need to know about. Pros like Chaz Dean, founder of WEN and celebrity hairstylist and colorist, tout the benefits of the ingredient. “Castor oil used to be a guarded secret to help hair growth and I got on the train a long time ago when creating my brand.
Because of this, and the chance of contracting allergic dermatitis, Dr. Amin advises to apply only a small amount on a hidden area of skin (a DIY patch test) before using castor oil all over your head. You can use castor oil to calm frizz by working it into your hair directly. How much you will need will depend on the length and thickness of your hair, and also how dry it is. "I have been applying two to three times a day. Morning, night, and a few minutes before applying mascara. It almost acts like a primer," she said. Also, consider buying pure castor oil, as the irritant may not be from the oil itself but rather any additives a brand uses to enhance scent or appearance. Both ingredients are generally safe for skin and hair, and are not known to cause adverse reactions when combined.
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