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While reactions are rare, some people will notice irritation from castor oil. It can be used more often, though I didn’t see any increased results with using it daily. I can't even begin to explain the depth of my love for this hair mask. Once a week, I coat my curls in this subtly scented mask, pop a shower cap over it, and wash it out after about 20 minutes.
Is Castor Oil the Secret to Hair Growth?
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. While the average human hair follicle grows just over a centimeter a month, some claim anecdotally that using castor oil once a month can spur growth three to five times the normal rate. 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. Reviewers love this cold-pressed castor oil from Briogeo, but several warn that, as with most hair oils, a little goes a long way.
Possible Side Effects Of Castor Oil
The research on castor oil as a skin salve is pretty limited, says Robin Evans, M.D., a clinical instructor of dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and founder of Southern Connecticut Dermatology. However, slathering the stuff on will, at the very least, give your skin a dewy, more youthful glow. Moist skin looks better than dry skin—think of a raisin versus a grape,” Dr. Evans says. There's some concern that using castor oil as a hair treatment may lead to acute hair felting—a rare disorder in which the hair becomes tangled into a hard mass. Since the condition is irreversible, cutting off the affected hair is the only solution. Dilute the castor oil with another vegetable oil like avocado, grapeseed, or coconut.
Benefits of Olive Oil
In the morning, wash your face with your regular cleanser to remove any excess oil. Remember that your hair may require two applications of shampoo to remove the castor oil completely. Castor oil should not cause these side effects when applied to your hair.
Can I Use Castor Oil for Hair Growth? A Dermatologist & Stylist Weigh In - PureWow
Can I Use Castor Oil for Hair Growth? A Dermatologist & Stylist Weigh In.
Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
“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. “It’s loaded with ricinoleic acid, a potent antioxidant,” he notes. 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 on the thicker side and can make the scalp greasy," Dr. Amin says.

Can you leave castor oil in your hair overnight?
While it's commonly used as a laxative, it's also become a popular additive in skin and hair products, particularly as a natural way to improve hair growth. Down to a molecular level, castor oil is a long-chained fatty acid. “Fatty acids provide essential proteins and nutrients to hair follicles and prevent hair follicle inflammation,” says Bridgette Hill. If you're interested in using castor oil for hair growth, try rubbing just a few drops into your scalp. You can also massage a few more drops into your hair's midsection and ends to help protect against breakage and improve its texture.

It is also important to support the body nutritionally and hormonally with hair loss, as this can often be a sign of an internal problem. Castor oil is extremely thick and viscous so I prefer to mix with jojoba or argan oil in a glass dropper bottle for easy application. 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.
Onion Juice And Castor Oil For Hair Growth
Antioxidants keep free radicals from damaging the body's healthy cells. This destructive process is called oxidative stress, and it's linked to many health effects, including hair loss. Castor oil is a favorite ingredient in hair products because it is nourishing to your scalp as well as your strands, thanks to its combination of vitamins, fatty acids, proteins, and antioxidants. Castor oil for hair has been used for centuries, claiming its place as one of the best hair oils for growth, shine and hydration. And with hair oils doing the rounds on social media as of late (TikTok's rosemary oil for hair growth, we're looking at you), it seems as though humble castor oil is destined for a popularity resurgence. Yes, castor oil can be used on all hair types.But, castor oil is heavy so you might not want to keep it on for more than minutes if you have fine hair.
We Asked Stylists If You Should Really Use Castor Oil for Hair Growth
From helping hair grow to increasing its density, it seems there’s nothing castor oil can’t do, but what does the science say? 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.
#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. “Cedarwood oil is generally recognized as safe by the Environmental Protection Agency or the EPA,” says Friese. “But if you’re allergic to cedarwood or cedarwood oil in any capacity, you should not use it.” If allergies are not an issue, Friese says that all hair types can potentially benefit from cedarwood oil. However, you should take specific steps and precautions to get the most out of it, especially if you have an oily scalp. “Cedarwood oil is an essential oil produced from the foliage and sometimes the wood, roots and stumps that are left after logging of the trees,” Friese explains. Points out that the unique oil is often laced into perfumes because of its olfactory benefits.
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. 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.
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. 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. It is recommended to not apply it on light hair as it can weigh it down.
I’ve found that using a small amount and leaving it on overnight will result in most of the oil absorbing into the hair and scalp and make cleanup easier. In fact, I’ve been able to use dry shampoo and not wash on a few occasions. When I do shampoo, I use a natural shampoo or mud shampoo as normal. Ricinoleic acid is also said to help balance scalp pH which can also help replenish the scalp’s natural oils and undo some of the damage of harsh chemical hair products (and even damage from no-poo, due to over alkalinity). The antioxidants in castor oil also support the keratin in hair and help make hair stronger, smoother, and less frizzy. NYC-based dermatologist and hair loss specialist Dhaval G. Bhanusali, M.D.
Despite it not being a reliable hair growth treatment, castor oil can be a worthwhile ingredient for scalp and hair health. With all of its proven benefits, “castor oil may promote a healthy environment for hair regrowth,” Dr. Garshick adds. The pros also point out that cedarwood oil may have hair-growth benefits because of its stimulating powers.