@organonatureoils
Now almost everyone uses oil in their daily or weekly hair care maintenance. Remember when people used to think “oil-free” was a good thing? Not anymore. We now know how important oil is for keeping our hair in balance when it comes to moisture. But, it’s hard to know which oil we should use for what purpose. Castor oil is a well-known cure for hair loss and thinning hair, a good natural remedy to replace expensive black hair products and one of the best ingredients for weak hair treatments.
People have used castor oil for centuries. Today its multiple benefits are a scientifically proven fact. Don’t worry—we’re not going into detail about its properties as a laxative! Instead, we’ll be diving into hair-related castor oil uses.
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is created from the castor bean (which is not truly a bean but actually a large, hard seed). The plant is a hardy shrub that when cared for and trimmed properly can grow into a small tree. Not to be digested, the oil is readily available commercially and is used for a variety of household purposes like as a machine lubricant or a muscle relaxant.
Photo Credit: Katja Schulz
Some people even apply it externally to babies’ bellies to relieve colic and gas! Just remember—it is not to be ingested. One old wives’ tale is that it will help a woman go into labor, but as this is poisonous in large quantities, it is simply not worth the risk.
Is Castor Oil Good for Your Hair? Benefits
Let`s start with listing the main benefits of castor oil for hair. Jumping slightly ahead, it can not only really make your healthy hair grow, but also forces to regrow those locks that suffered from hair loss. So, using castor oil helps to:
- Prevent split ends. Note, we wrote ‘prevent’, not to ‘heal’ already existing ones, they can only be cut off (or polished away). Castor oil will prevent them in future if you are struggling with split ends frequently.
- Defeat hair loss. Of course, the result depends on the stage of hair loss. If you face extreme alopecia, consult the trichologist first.
- Get rid of dandruff. It can be surprising, but the oily scalp is the main cause of those white flakes in your hair, not the dry one. Castor oil has antifungal properties and balances the scalp pH, it all helps to solve the problem of itching scalp, irritations, dandruff.
- Thicken hair. Hair fall reduces, ricinoleic acid, fatty acids, and omega-6 promote hair growth, and your mane looks fuller.
- Protect hair from hair color loss and from UV rays. Castor oil is a natural protective coat for your locks.
- Get a silky, shiny hair. Moreover, it works for all hair types, even for coarse and hardly-manageable textures.
- Condition locks. Castor oil helps to restore hair cuticles. Your locks will lose moisture not so quickly.
Hair Problem Uses
We described shortly what castor oil is used for, now it`s time to give more details. This budget but so helpful oil will make you think twice before buying expensive products, advertised on billboards. It can cure your hair and skin in several weeks, improve the state of your brows and eyelashes. A magic wand in your beauty arsenal.
Сastor Oil for Hair Growth
Of the many benefits of castor oil, one of its most famed is reversing hair loss. It has been known as a natural remedy to promote hair growth for generations. Castor oil for hair growth has even been documented by historians as being used in Ancient Greece!
The main reason people use castor oil for hair is because of its high triglyceride level. When it comes to cholesterol and diet concerns, we’re taught to fear high triglycerides. But for hair and beauty uses, the very fatty nature of the oil makes it a luxurious and thick product that can help with just about anything. Whether you want just to add thickness to your mane or stimulate hair regrowth after a serious disease, natural castor oil works in all cases.
Castor Oil Use for Dandruff
People who have very dry scalps, dandruff, and psoriasis find that their conditions drastically improve when they apply this rich oil.
If you’re wondering how to apply castor oil for hair, follow our how-to:
- Warm it on the stove or in the microwave, so it is warm (but not hot). This not only combats the natural thickness of the oil, it also helps the scalp and hair follicles to open up and better take in the properties of the plant.
- Next, simply use your fingers to rub the oil into the scalp.
- If you want to boost hair growth in finer, smaller areas, like the eyebrows, or if you only want to apply it to one spot, dip a cotton swab into the oil and apply it that way.
Hair Protection Uses
As for how to use castor oil for hair that is not experiencing loss or growth problems, simply use it as a mask.
Many women notice that their hair becomes softer and healthier when they get in the habit of doing weekly hair masks. A short instruction for a castor oil hair treatment:
- Spread the pre-warmed oil from the scalp and roots to ends.
- Wrap hair in a towel and leave in for at least 30 minutes.
- If you have enough time, extending the treatment to two hours will condition hair even more deeply.
Photo Credit: Sarah Murray
Сastor Oil as a Carrier Oil
In homeopathic trends, castor oil is considered to be a “carrier oil”, meaning that it magnifies the properties of other oils it is mixed with. It is more affordable than other oils that benefit the hair (like argan, for example). To use it as a carrier, mix it in equal parts with another oil—such as coconut or argan. Or you can go with equal parts of castor, coconut oil, and argan.
Often times, hair products containing argan oil are very expensive. Or if they are cheap, they have harmful chemicals and only trace amounts of argan oil (just enough for the sake of marketing). Using castor as a carrier and mixing it with pure argan oil creates a hair treatment that is both affordable and effective. You get the benefits of both!
Сastor Oil for Split Ends
In addition to using the mixture as a warm hair mask, it can also be applied in small amounts every day. If you have a problem with split ends, rub a few drops of pure castor oil in your palms and then apply it to the ends of your hair.
Сastor Oil Against Hair Breakage
Oil can also work to combat flyaways and noticeable breakage. Don’t be tempted to use castor oil as a heat protectant, however. Because it heats up very quickly, if you have traces of it in your hair when blow drying or curling, you will cause more heat damage to your hair than using nothing at all.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
One version that is becoming increasingly popular is Jamaican black castor oil for hair, which is offered by a variety of trendy brands. This oil is created specifically from Jamaican castor seeds (or beans) and is touted as being especially helpful for dry hair and itchy scalps.
@angiesbeautystone
All kinds of castor oil are nourishing, but many find that this type of oil is richer and so creates a more lustrous effect on hair.
Suitable for all hair types, Jamaican castor oil is especially helpful for repairing damage due to heat and coloring.
Castor Oil Hair Growth Results
There are tons of positive feedbacks all around the web from people who have already tried castor oil.They got marvelous results and share inspiring before and after pictures! This includes not only stronger, silkier and less frizzy locks. It is really good for hair growth. It is enough to include castor oil scalp massage into your everyday evening routine and after 90 days of #castoroilchallenge you will notice a huge difference.
@naturally__brii
Where Can You Find Castor Oil?
To know where to buy castor oil for hair, you won’t have to look too far. Because of the many castor oil uses, lots of traditional grocers carry it. If you struggle to find it at your typical market however, you can go to a natural food store or organic food co-op.
The product is a favorite with those who prefer to live a natural lifestyle, so nearly all health food stores offer the product.
Once you fall in love with castor oil’s effects on your hair, you will likely be curious about the other ways you can use it around the home. For now, experiment with using it on your scalp, your roots or both. Use it in combination with other oils or all on its own to experience an instant moisture boost and long term hair growth.