Castor Oil for Hair: Is it Good or Bad?

Looking after your hair is always a good idea. Even if you don’t have any specific hair care problems, such as hair loss or a dry scalp, nourishing your scalp and strands means enjoying a full head of beautifully luscious locks. One hair care product you may have heard about is castor oil, which is known for its myriad of health and beauty benefits. The question is, is castor oil actually good for the hair, or is it all a myth? Keep reading to see whether you should invest in a bottle of the stuff or leave it on the store shelves.

What is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is a popular type of vegetable oil made from the seeds of the castor plant. It has a thick, sticky consistency and a slight odour. It has been used for thousands of years for health purposes. Nowadays, castor oil is used to reduce acne, moisturise the skin, act as a laxative, reduce inflammation, and nourish the hair. Some even claim that castor oil can boost hair growth. For these purposes, it can be used both topically and orally.

The Advantages of Castor Oil for Hair

To help you see whether castor oil is worth using on the hair, consider these advantages of castor oil for hair:

It May Boost Hair Growth

One of the things people say about castor oil is that it can act as a hair loss treatment. How true is this, though – really? The idea comes from the fact that castor oil, created from the castor bean, contains ricinoleic acid, a type of omega-three fatty acid that researchers believe can encourage hair growth.

The truth is there is no scientific evidence as of yet to suggest castor oil can actually increase how the hair grows. There needs to be more peer reviewed studies before scientists can confirm whether it is a myth or otherwise.

It’s Extremely Moisturising

Castor oil is packed with ricinoleic acid, which is highly moisturising. This is great for the hair, as it helps lock in moisture and give your hair that glossy look. Plus, this nourishment can prevent breakage, leading to healthier growth overall.

It’s an Anti-inflammatory

Scalp inflammation can hinder hair follicle function and lead to a range of other symptoms. Castor oil is a natural anti-inflammatory, which means it can benefit the scalp and even reduce the chance of infections. By applying castor oil directly to the scalp, you can reduce inflammation.

It Has Lots of Antioxidants

Antioxidants help protect cells from free radicals and are a natural part of many foods and oils, including castor oil. These antioxidants are good for the hair as they can protect from environmental damage such as the sun. Plus, antioxidants can even stimulate blood circulation which can help with stimulating hair growth.

The Potential Disadvantages of Castor Oil for Hair

You now know some of the castor oil benefits for hair, but what about the downsides? These are some of the reasons you might want to avoid using castor oil:

It’s Thick and Sticky

The consistency of castor oil can be tricky to work with. While some oils are smooth and thin and glide through the hair with ease, castor oil is thick and sticky. As such, it’s hard to spread all over the hair and scalp, which can be frustrating – especially if you want to use it regularly. This problem can be overcome by using carrier oil; many people enjoy using carrier oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, and argan oil to use with a small amount of castor oil for hair growth.

It Has an Odour

While most people do not mind the scent of castor oil, some people may not enjoy it. It has an oily, earthy, slightly bitter smell. If it smells very bad, that’s probably a sign that it has gone rancid.

Little Scientific Proof of Hair Growth

As mentioned before, there is little scientific proof that castor oil can promote hair growth. So, while it does have the benefits of nourishing the strands and the scalp, it might not grow your hair as you might hope. It might be a good idea to use a hair track app to monitor your progress with it.

So, Is Castor Oil Good or Bad for Hair?

Castor oil has a lot of beneficial health properties. It’s a fatty acid that is highly moisturising and acts as an anti-inflammatory, which means that – yes, it can be good for the hair. However, it doesn’t have much scientific proof that it can actually grow the hair. So, if you can get over the thick consistency and slight odour, there is nothing wrong with using it for the hair, but don’t expect it to work as a miracle growth solution.

Steps to Use Castor Oil for Hair

Do the advantages of castor oil for hair outweigh the disadvantages? It’s certainly a good product to use to boost hair health. So, if you want to use it, here are the steps.

1. Find a Good Castor Oil

Before the application process, find a good castor oil. The best type of cold-pressed castor oil, as this product will have retained most of its natural antioxidants. You can also purchase castor oil already mixed with another carrier oil.

2. Choose a Carrier Oil

If you’ve decided to use a carrier oil (which makes a lot of sense), choose one at this stage before mixing. There are several you can choose from – perhaps pick one which has additional benefits that suit you. For example, argan oil is great for boosting hair health thanks to its antioxidants and fatty acids – in particular, vitamin E.

If you choose a carrier oil, you will need to mix it with the castor oil first. You can do a 50/50 ratio, or if you don’t like the thick consistency of castor oil, perhaps a 75/25 ratio.

3. Warm the Oil

Once you have your castor oil ready to go, begin by warming it before application. The easiest way to do this is by rubbing it gently in the palm of your hands, as your body’s natural heat will warm it through enough.

4. Massage the Oil Into Your Scalp

Next, massage the oil into your scalp using your fingers. Do this for a minimum of five minutes. Not only will this help the oil penetrate the scalp and hair shaft, but the increased blood circulation will benefit the hair follicles.

5. Pull the Oil Down the Hair

Don’t just focus on the scalps. While massaging (or just after), pull the castor oil down the strands so all your hair can benefit from it. You can even apply more to the ends of your hair, especially if you have split ends or a lot of damage.

6. Leave the Oil In

Once your scalp and hair are coated, leave it in! Try to leave it in for at least twenty minutes to boost the benefits, but if you can, leave it on overnight – your hair will look amazing after washing if you do this.

7. Wash the Castor Oil Out

Finally, it’s time to wash the castor oil out! It’s a very thick oil, so most people will want to wash it out rather than leave it in. When washing out, shampoo twice and then follow up with conditioner. You might need to shampoo another time, as it’s a thick oil and will need some encouragement to come out!

Proven Solutions for Hair Loss

Castor oil is a great addition to any hair care routine, but if you are experiencing hair loss, it’s much better to choose a proven hair restoration solution that will give you real results. Here are some options.

Minoxidil: Minoxidil is a topical hair medication that you apply to the scalp to boost blood flow and stimulate the hair follicles. It has a proven track record for encouraging new growth, particularly in those experiencing androgenetic alopecia.

Finasteride: Finasteride is an oral medication that disrupts the production of DHT, which is a hormone that is responsible for male pattern baldness. As such, it can help reverse hair loss in men, but it doesn’t work for women.

Low-Level Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy is an effective solution that uses low-level lasers to stimulate hair growth. You can get this done in a hair clinic or purchase a device for home use.

Hair Transplants: Hair transplants are the ultimate solution for growing new hair. It’s a minimally invasive surgical procedure that transfers healthy hair follicles to the area of the scalp experiencing hair loss. A hair transplant will give you permanent growth that looks natural.

Castor Oil for Hair: Final Thoughts

Castor oil is a beneficial oil that has many healing properties thanks to its fatty acids and antioxidants. While it can help with your hair’s health, it has not yet been proven as an effective solution for hair loss. There are some people who believe it can grow out the hair, but there needs to be more scientific evidence before it is proven.

Have you experienced hair loss and are looking for a definitive solution? Consider learning more about hair transplants. Contact our team today or check out our patients gallery to view the results of this revolutionary treatment.