How to Use Castor Oil to Get Long, Thick, and Healthy Hair
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While castor oil is often touted as a remedy for thinning hair, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support this claim. 'Its moisturising properties may benefit the hair, but its effectiveness for hair regrowth is uncertain,' explains Paul Windle, Founder of Windle London salon and Windle Lab haircare range. These types of fatty acids work as humectants, which moisturize the skin and hair by drawing in moisture from the air.
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Castor Oil Benefits: Hair Growth, Skin Health and More - The New York Times
Castor Oil Benefits: Hair Growth, Skin Health and More.
Posted: Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
So, if you sleep with it overnight, make sure to wash yours out after 8 to 10 hours with shampoo. And if you notice your scalp starts to feel irritated, flaky, or itchy—aka the opposite of how you want your scalp to feel after oiling—stop oiling ASAP and make an appointment with your dermatologist. There are a few different ways to oil your hair, depending on your hair type and goals. Dr. Spann suggests heating the oil for a few seconds for maximum penetration.
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For better application, she recommended buying additional applicator brushes or mascara wands to prevent making a mess. Though she was initially skeptical of the skincare buy, she was shocked by her results. Castor oil is commonly used to address various concerns, either by ingestion or topical application. While generally safe, it may cause adverse reactions in some individuals.
Can it benefit hair health in other ways?
“Overuse and improper hair washing of castor oil may also lead to build up, which may also contribute to irritation and breakouts,” she says. Dr. Garshick points out that although castor oil can be used by all hair types, it is especially good for those with dry hair. But the condition of your scalp plays an important role when deciding to use castor oil on your hair or not. Yates says that creating an at-home natural castor oil treatment is also an easy option, and it can be used in various ways. To create a pre-shampoo treatment, she suggests applying a castor oil mixture on the mid-lengths and ends of hair to help alleviate dryness sometimes caused by shampooing super damaged ends or overprocessed hair. “This will help protect damaged ends from becoming over-dry due to the detergents found in shampoos or even the harshness of the water,” she says.
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Since then, in addition to practicing dermatology, she has founded her own skincare line, Maei MD. Derived from the seeds of the castor bean (Ricinus communis), castor oil has industrial applications as a lubricant as well as use as an additive in cosmetics and foods. Many swear by using castor oil on brows and lashes to reap the same benefits as those outlined here. "I have been applying two to three times a day. Morning, night, and a few minutes before applying mascara. It almost acts like a primer," she said. But it does have some benefits for other parts of your body, so don’t feel like you can’t use it at all. Put it on your face or anywhere on your body to help moisturize your skin and keep bacteria and fungi off your skin surface.
Castor oil is extracted from the castor bean and it’s been used traditionally for a variety of medicinal purposes, mainly as a stimulant laxative. It’s been known to aid in wound healing and has been used to treat skin conditions like dermatitis and fungal infections. But what might be even more impressive is castor oil’s ability to regrow thinning hair. Castor oil has hydrating and nourishing properties, helping you avoid hair breakage and damage. The fatty acids in the oil have enhanced penetration, making them able to provide a soothing, strengthening effect in the hair follicles.
Castor oil, however, "can seal and allow the cuticle to lie flatter," according to Clay, resulting in better shine and decreased frizz. When using castor oil, “some people may experience an allergic reaction or skin irritation,” says Dr. Rodney. For this reason, experts recommend a patch test before applying castor oil to the hair or scalp.
“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. This is because castor oil has moisturizing properties, which could help lubricate the hair shaft, increasing flexibility and decreasing the chance of breakage.
Application Tips for Effective Results
If you don’t have the patience to leave it overnight—or your scalp tends to be oil-prone—try hair oiling as a pre-shampoo treatment. Simply leave your hair oil on for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour, before shampooing and conditioning your hair as usual. There’s a lot of misinformation on the internet, hair oiling can help "protect your hair from damage, improve the look of split ends, and prevent breakage," she says. "It’s especially useful if your hair has been stripped by washing and styling products." Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid known for its moisturizing properties.
One of my favorite oils, this one has a nozzle tip to easily drip it directly onto my scalp before massaging. It uses basil leaf and baobab oils to help break down oils and gunk on my scalp, as well as balance my scalp microbiome. There are anecdotal stories that placing a castor oil pack over the liver can aid in detoxifying it. An overgrowth of Candida fungi can lead to a condition called denture stomatitis, an infection that leads to inflammation, redness, and irritation in the mouth. For example, Venelex, a common ointment used in clinical settings, combines castor oil and Peru balsam, a balm derived from the Myroxylon balsamum tree, to treat wounds.
However, treatments like minoxidil require ongoing effort and upkeep with application, which must be considered. As you should do with any new topical product, test a tiny amount of black castor oil on your inner arm. After applying it, wait 24 hours to see if there is any sign of irritation. It seems as if every other day there's a new skin or hair ingredient en vogue that's suddenly deemed the miracle worker we've been waiting for. Considering that we live in the age of TikTok and light-speed trend cycles, this isn't necessarily surprising, but it does make us question what does and doesn't work.
Even though castor oil won’t magically grow your eyelashes or eyebrows, it can help, uh, do the exact opposite. According to celebrity eyelash extensions expert Dionne Phillips, castor oil works well at removing eyelash extensions home, as she previously told Cosmo. Just use the same Q-tip technique above to loosen the adhesive and remove the extensions, while simultaneously moisturizing your own lashes. One reviewer raves that this product is the first that's been able to soothe her and her children's itchy, dry scalps, calling it a "life saver." Castor oil should not cause these side effects when applied to your hair.
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