Castor Oil for Hair: Benefits and How to Use According to Experts

Table Of Content

• Castor Oil for Hair Growth: Does It Actually Work?
• Inside Dr. Axe
• MDs Share the Best Menopause Skin Care Routine + Products for Women Over 50
• Castor Oil Benefits
• Best Castor Oil Hair Products
• The 10 Best Body Lotions for Mature Skin That Hydrate, Firm and Smooth Skin Fast
• Versatile Uses of Castor Oil Beyond Beauty

Studies indicate that the ricinoleic acid in castor oil protects the scalp and shaft of the hair from fungal and microbial infections. Castor oil has moisturizing and soothing properties, allowing it to ease dryness and irritation of the scalp. It also works as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and healing agent. Just remember that the skin around your eyes is thin and prone to clogging, so “using castor oil around your eyes can exacerbate milia, blackheads, and acne,” says Dr. Talakoub.

Castor Oil for Hair Growth: Does It Actually Work?

You can try coating your hair a couple of times a week to test any potential hair growth benefits for yourself. But don't rely on castor oil alone to promote and maintain hair health. These types of fatty acids work as humectants, which moisturize the skin and hair by drawing in moisture from the air. They can also help your skin retain moisture by creating a barrier over the outer layer of the skin. Some limited evidence also suggests vitamin E could help increase blood flow to the scalp, which could theoretically help improve hair growth.

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Inside Dr. Axe

Jamaican black castor oil is one of the more popular variations and has a thicker consistency, due to the fact that it’s boiled with ash, giving it a warm, roasted scent. “Just try to relax” is generally a useless recommendation, but stress is actually one of the main causes of telogen effluvium, a temporary type of hair loss. Stress and traumatic events can make your hair enter its shedding phase early, causing hair loss and thinning. Although we can’t control stressful and traumatic events in our lives, knowing that this is a common cause of hair loss can be useful context when turning to help or researching treatments.

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It’s marketed as a treatment for dry scalp and other scalp conditions as well. Tons of products for your scalp and other parts of your body promise to stimulate hair health by lubricating the skin around follicles and protecting long hair shafts from damage. While castor oil is best known for its skin and hair benefits, its uses extend far beyond beauty. This versatile oil has been used to treat various health conditions, from joint pain to digestive issues. When applied to the skin, castor oil penetrates deep into the dermis, delivering essential fatty acids and nutrients that help to plump up fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a more youthful appearance. “Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft, reducing protein loss and strengthening the hair from within,” Jhin explains.

Castor Oil Benefits

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One way that proponents of black castor oil support their position is by aligning it with the benefits of other essential oils. Hair growth is a surprisingly common concern, and there are all kinds of products out there—from vitamins, to serums, to oils—that promise to deliver those Rapunzel-like strands. If you’re considering applying pure castor oil to your eyebrows and eyelashes, Dr. Green advises using caution when applying it to delicate areas such as your eyes. If you’re set on using the oil in any of these areas, a cotton swab is an easy way to control the amount.

Best Castor Oil Hair Products

It’s always a good idea to do a patch test before applying any new product to your hair or skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. To do this, simply apply a few drops of castor oil to one small area of your skin to ensure there are no adverse effects. Castor oil also improves blood circulation to your follicles, helping your hair grow. For this reason, the oil can also be applied to your eyebrows for hair growth. 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. When it comes to maintaining healthy-looking hair and caring for your scalp, there are so many products and DIY treatments to choose from.

Side Effects of Using Castor Oil on Hair

Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months. Remember that your hair may require two applications of shampoo to remove the castor oil completely. If the skin around your eyes and brows gets irritated, wash the castor oil off right away. If you want to use castor oil on your eyebrows or eyelashes, be very careful not to get any of the oil in your eyes. Note that there have been reports of of allergic reactions to castor oil on skin, Butler says. 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.

In some severe cases, you can use castor oil daily, but should mix with 50 percent coconut oil, since the product can create sticky buildup, he adds. It depends, says Dr. Luke, on which product and what you are trying to achieve. “But if using the pure oil, you can massage it into the scalp for five to 10 minutes. If using as a pre [shampoo], you can apply to the hair to coat the strands, leave it on for 15 to 20 min then shampoo.” But, if you’re opting for a deep conditioner, Dr. Luke recommends sticking to the product’s instructions. “And leave-in or styling products formulated with castor oil just need to be washed during your regular shampooing routine,” she says. “Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to improve circulation and stimulate hair follicles.

Versatile Uses of Castor Oil Beyond Beauty

However, treatments like minoxidil require ongoing effort and upkeep with application, which must be considered. Regardless of the reason, losing hair can be stressful, and we get the temptation of trying at-home remedies like castor oil. (Those before-and-after photos are so dramatic, whether they're real or not). To get a real definitive answer on this popular hair growth method, we turned to the pros.

“The oil should be delicately applied to dry hair and scalp using gentle, circular motions,” she says. You can also use a silicone scalp massager to really get in there if you're averse to digging your fingers into your scalp (and it helps me prevent from scratching with my long, gel-X nails). Then, gently massage into the scalp for 10 to 15 minutes in circular motions before smoothing through the lengths of your hair. Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties thanks to its high ricinoleic acid content.

Here, the lowdown from experts on what castor oil can — and can't — do for your hair. 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.

That goes for all skin types, btw, not just folks who are oily or acne-prone, so it’s best to approach this DIY with caution if you’re especially prone to clogged pores and bumps. Your hair can grow up to half an inch per month, as hairstylist Patricia Williams has previously told Cosmo. But that’s if you’re prioritizing nutritious foods, incorporating positive coping mechanisms for stress, and keeping your scalp and hair consistently moisturized. And even then, it can take up to 90 days to see a long-term change in the health of your hair, explains Hill. Similarly to castor oil, the consensus on rosemary oil is unclear, but the evidence is promising. Other treatments like minoxidil (Rogaine) are proven with studies, glowing reviews, and success stories to boot.

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies. Dr. Bhanusali is an NYC-based, board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. 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.

When it comes to hair growth, though, you'll have to dig deep for a little more patience. "For people who will benefit, I have seen positive results typically after six to eight weeks of use," he says. Within 15 to 30 minutes of use, castor oil begins to reduce inflammation and out-of-balance microbials including fungus and bacteria, plus deliver hydrating omega fats, says Gaunitz.

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. You'll also need to use it before it reaches the end of its shelf life. It's always best to start with a small amount and gradually increase as needed to avoid any potential side effects. Castor oil is approved by the FDA as a temporary treatment for constipation, but it isn't suitable for long-term use. We don't have enough research to know whether it's safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.