Ricinus communis, or castor oil, is widely used in cosmetics and skincare products because of its anti-inflammatory, healing, and moisturizing properties. People also have been using castor oil for hair growth for ages.
Scientifically, it is a “long-chained fatty acid or triglyceride” (ricinoleic acid), providing your hair with all the essential nutrients it needs.
Do you want more reasons to use castor oil for hair? Let’s have a look at the amazing benefits it offers.
Benefits Of Castor Oil For Hair Growth
You can detest the bottle of colorless or pale castor oil your mum just got for you. But once you know it can be “one solution for multiple hair problems,” you will love it. It actually happened to me as I used to hate applying oil on my hair; forget castor oil!
But then adulting hit me hard, and my hair got dry. I tried castor oil for a week, and my hair was softer and closer to its previous form.
Nevertheless, here are the benefits of castor oil for hair growth and the overall health of your hair.
Moisturizes Hair
Castor oil is a like a magic potion mixed with the goodness of fatty acids and vitamin E. It can easily penetrate through your hair to keep it moisturized.
So, when you include it in your regular haircare regime, you will notice softer and more nourished hair in a few days.
Stops Moisture Loss
Castor oil can be used as a humectant and hydrator at the same time. It seals the hydration of your hair so that it can retain the required moisture. It also keeps your scalp hydrated and moisturized.
So, with proper hydration and nourishment, your hair will not become brittle or break easily.
Removes Scalp Irritation
Your scalp can become irritated because of extreme dryness or oil. Castor oil can alleviate that irritation as it works as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Promotes Healthy Hair Growth
Castor has all that you need to make your hair grow faster. It works in multiple ways. With castor oil, your hair will get:
- Proper hydration
- Moisturization
- Essential nutrients
- Improved absorption of solutions you apply for better hair health
- Enhanced blood circulation in the scalp
- Protein synthesis
To put it simply, all the benefits of castor oil for growth are the reasons why it helps your hair grow faster.
Fights Dandruff
Castor oil can reduce dandruff, and my friend has largely benefitted from using it. This oil helps to remove dandruff because it has antifungal qualities.
Stops Seborrheic Dermatitis
Is your scalp inflamed?
Do you notice stubborn dandruff and flakes on your scalp?
You are probably suffering from seborrheic dermatitis. Castor oil can cure this as it has anti-inflammatory properties.
Combats Oxidative Stress And Helps In Alopecia
Castor oil is packed with antioxidant properties, and it fights oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a major reason behind hair fall and androgenic alopecia.
Further, the ricinoleic acid present in castor oil boosts blood circulation in the scalp to make the hair strands stronger. It also moisturizes your hair. So, your hair becomes less prone to breakage and falling.
Makes Hair Shiny
Castor oil comes with the goodness of vitamin E and adds shine to skin and hair. Also, it promotes protein synthesis, which ensures that your hair goes through the right growing and resting cycle. As a result, your hair gets a better shine with the application of castor oil.
Stops Fungal And Bacterial Overgrowth
Being a triglyceride, castor oil is rich in antimicrobial properties. Further, it is derived from castor beans that have ricin, a kind of lectin protein that fights bacterial attacks. So, castor oil can prevent and cure bacterial infections on the scalp.
Castor oil also has antifungal properties, and thus it stops fungal infections, one of the main reasons behind hair fall.
Helps In Better Absorption Of Essential Products For Hair
You can incorporate castor oil into your regular haircare regime because it makes the absorption of other essential nutrients faster and easier. With better penetration of these elements, the growth and health of your hair will be improved in the long run.
People with all hair and scalp types can use castor oil. However, the ideal way of using it will depend on the dryness or oiliness of your hair and scalp. This is important to avoid clogging your hair follicles and unnecessary residual buildups harmful to your hair health.
So, let’s have a look at how you can use castor oil for hair growth.
How To Use Castor Oil For Hair Growth?
Castor oil has high viscosity. So, you should always use it in moderate amounts. So, the “little is more” mantra sits perfectly well with castor oil for hair growth.
Many people also look for “castor oil for hair growth beard” online. Yes, I have seen these weird terms, but castor oil also promotes the growth of eyelashes, eyebrows, and beards, along with hair growth.
Nevertheless, rub the oil in your palm for a while until the oil becomes a little warm. Then, apply it starting from your root to your hair ends. Leave it for around 15-20 minutes and wash it with shampoo.
Remember, however tempting the “overnight oiling” idea sounds, do not follow it with castor oil. You can keep the oil in your hair for a maximum of four to six hours, as after that that the oil will disintegrate and accumulate all the dead skin cells to form residue or debris on your scalp.
Using castor oil daily is not a great idea. You can apply it to your hair one or two times a week.
Multiple Ways To Use Castor Oil For Hair Growth
How you use castor oil will completely depend on why you use it. As I talked with a beauty expert Harsha Harris, she told me that she uses castor oil for overall scalp and hair treatment. She recommends gentle scalp and hair massage with this oil for five to fifteen minutes and then leaving the hair under a hair steamer for around 20 minutes.
She also finds castor oil alone or when mixed with jojoba or coconut oil can be an excellent pre-shampoo treatment for your hair. “The same castor oil turns into a protective moisturizer when you add some grapeseed oil or olive oil,” she adds.
There is another method I want to add. I add a few drops (2-3 drops max) of castor oil to
Side Effects Of Using Castor Oil For Hair Growth
Using castor oil for hair growth is not free of side effects. However, these can be avoided with a little careful application.
If castor oil is left in your hair for long hours, it can become a tangled mass. There is a condition called “acute hair felting.” In this rare condition, hair becomes extremely tangled and almost impossible to comb.
Further, if your hair has become extremely dry, castor oil can make it drier as it has moisture-sealing properties. With extremely dry hair and scalp, you need deep conditioning. So, shea butter, panthenol, or glycerin will be more effective instead of castor oil.
Final Words
Using castor oil for hair growth is highly beneficial, and the moisturizing property of this oil is matchless. This hair also stops hair breakage and alleviates scalp irritation and fungal and bacterial attacks.
However, you should immediately consult a dermatologist if you face extreme hair fall. The loss of your hair can be because of severe medical conditions, unhealthy lifestyle, ongoing medications, or genetics.
Do you use castor oil regularly? Please share how your hair has improved after using it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, you can use castor oil shampoo for hair growth. If your shampoo has castor oil, it moisturizes your hair and keeps hydration intact.
There are quite a few names for the best castor oil brand for hair growth. The Fable & Mane HoliRoots™ Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil is an excellent choice. Kreyòl Essence Haitian Black Castor Oil is another option you can try.
You can use minoxidil for beard growth. But there is not enough scientific backing, and many people suffer flakiness or dryness after using it.
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