Castor Oil for Hair

Why is Castor Oil Good for Your Hair?

Castor oil has long been used as a natural remedy for hair loss and thinning hair^[1]. It combats common hair problems like dryness, split ends, and even weak hair. Using it regularly restores the health of your hair while keeping it beautiful and shiny. Castor oil works very effectively as a natural hair and scalp treatment for several reasons.

Pure castor oil naturally carries nourishing properties that give hair an extraordinary transformation. It is rich in ricinoleic acid, making up an average of 90% if the oil’s composition. Castor oil is the sole source of this omega-9 fatty acid, which has a number of benefits for the hair. It carries anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that promote healthier and balanced scalp. When used for scalp massage, the oil boosts blood circulation and thereby encouraging hair growth too.

The oil is rich in moisture and nutrients. It contains vitamin E and protein that help strengthen and restore damaged hair. The added moisture provides a protective layer against split ends as it relieves dryness.

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Castor oil delivers essential fatty acids to hair and the scalp. These healthy fatty acids have characteristics similar to the natural oil produced by scalp. This makes the moisture produced by castor oil easy to absorb. Applying castor oil does not leave an oily residue on hair and scalp.

Long or short, curly, wavy, kinky or straight – castor oil suits all types of hair^[2]. With regular use, you get smooth shiny hair that is vibrantly beautiful.

Benefits of Using Castor Oil for Hair

A nutrient-rich oil as castor oil definitely comes with surprising benefits^[3], especially when used for hair. Add it to your daily hair care routine and get fabulous hair as you enjoy these benefits:

Strengthens Hair

Our hair is made up of a protein compound called keratin. Constant hair stress^[4] and use of strong chemical-based hair products can lead to damage over time. They destroy your hair protective layer and weaken its natural structure. Applying castor oil refurbishes lost protein on each strand to keep them resilient from breakage.

Grows Naturally Long Hair

You can use hair extensions^[5] to get longer hair but naturally long hair is even better! Using castor oil for hair growth regularly helps increase hair length in no time. This oil contains fatty acids that stimulate blood circulation at the scalp. It encourages faster growth of your hair. So you get long luscious hair that’s natural and healthy.

Moisturizes and Hydrates Hair

The moisture-rich property of castor oil makes it a great hair conditioner. It provides a thin coating that helps lock the moisture in every strand. This keeps hair hydrated and deeply nourished. Apply castor oil for hair as a hair serum^[6]. See how it effectively relieves dry frizzy hair and tame unruly split ends. Your hair stays shiny and soft to touch.

Keeps Balanced and Dandruff-Free Scalp

If using castor oil for hair is great enough, why not apply it on your scalp too? With its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial property, castor oil makes an excellent scalp treatment. It soothes itchiness and helps rid of dandruff. High moisture content also relieves dry flaky scalp while keeping a balanced pH level. Beautiful hair certainly deserves a healthier scalp.

Want to create an oil blend? One of the best ways of using castor oil is by blending it with other oils. Find out the best types of essential oils to match castor oil’s hair benefits.

How to Use Castor Oil for Hair

Using castor oil for hair comes in many variations – you can use it as a hair mask, leave-in conditioner, or an itchy scalp treatment. Check out these important tips on how to use castor oil for hair application. Generally, they apply for all purposes of using castor oil for hair.

Supplies You Need

Applying castor oil for hair is pretty simple. To make it more effective and easier to use, you need to gather a few things that are helpful for your regular use. Make these supplies readily available so whenever you need to use castor oil for hair, you are ready!

• Bowl
• Empty jar
• Spray bottle
• Shower cap
• Clean towels
• Bowl of warm water
• Old shirt or spare cloth (to protect clothes from oil stains)

Preparing

A few preparatory steps can help improve castor oil in terms of texture, smell, and overall quality. You can try these simple tricks prior to actual application of castor oil for hair:

• Dilute castor oil – Due to a thick consistency, applying pure castor oil for hair could be a bit difficult, especially when trying to spread the oil over your scalp and the full length of your hair. You need to dilute castor oil with a lighter oil. Try mixing equal parts of castor oil and another oil such as coconut, jojoba, or olive oil. These other essential oils are also natural remedies for damaged hair. Combining them with castor oil not only adds benefits for your hair but also makes the oil easier to apply.
• Add some aroma – Castor oil generally does not have a bad smell but it doesn’t have a fragrance as well. For a fresh-smelling twist, adding 2 to 3 drops of aromatic essential oils would be such a great idea. Make castor oil for hair application more delightful with rosemary, rose absolute, tea tree or lavender oil. For an extra kick of refreshment, put 2 to 3 drops of eucalyptus and peppermint oil. They promote hair growth and relieve scalp itch.
• Warm the oil – Castor oil that has been stored for a while, especially during cold months could condense and turn thicker. Warming castor oil before use improves the oil texture and makes it easier to work with. To warm the oil, pour castor oil on an empty jar and cover it tightly. Take a bowl large enough for the jar to fit. Pour warm water and put the jar into it. Leave for 2 to 4 minutes, making sure no water gets inside the jar. You can use this method for warming pure castor oil or other oil blends.

Applying

Putting any product on your hair could make you quite nervous. But knowing the proper way to do it gives you more confidence that gorgeous hair awaits at the end of the tunnel. Here are a few tips on how to make application of castor oil for hair more efficient:

• Cover your shoulders with a towel – You do not want your clothes to get oil stains so protect them with a towel. It’s better if you are using an old towel you’re not worried about getting covered in oil. Otherwise, wear an old shirt to avoid oil drips on good clothes completely.
• Spritz some water on hair – You can apply castor oil for hair that is either dry or damp. It’s better if your hair is a little damp especially when conditioning hair. This way, the oil will have moisture to lock in. To dampen your hair, use a spray bottle with water. Remember, your hair should be damp, not dripping wet!
• Put in a shallow container or use a dropper – Put the castor oil or castor oil blend in a shallow container where you can easily dip your fingers to take some oil. Using your fingers, spread the oil across your scalp. You can also use a dropper to put oil in various spots on your scalp. This may be less messy and easier for you.
• Massage your scalp – Massage your head in a circular motion to stimulate blood circulation. Castor oil promotes hair growth but applying castor oil for hair with a massage makes it more effective. A better blood flow in the head helps deliver essential nutrients into your hair follicles for improved growth of hair.
• Spread the oil – Apply the oil to the rest of the hair. Scoop some oil with your fingers and rub it between your palms. Run your hands across the length of your hair from roots to tips. You can use some help from using a comb to distribute the oil evenly.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap – Wrap your hair loose on top of your head. If you need to, keep it in place with a hair clip. Wear the shower cap to avoid oil stains on furniture and pillows when leaving it overnight.

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• Wrap a warm wet towel on hair – Soak the towel on warm or hot water first and let cool a little before wrapping around hair. This is an optional step you can skip. The hot or warm temperature of the towel helps the oil absorb better through the strands.

Adding to Hair Products

One of the simplest ways of getting the awesome benefits of castor oil for hair is by adding it to hair care products.  Simply put a few drops of castor oil into the bottle of your regular shampoo^[7] or rinse-off conditioner. You can add it to leave-in conditioners and hair serums as well. It’s not only easy, it’s convenient too!

Creating Oil Blends and DIY Remedies

Castor oil is a versatile oil that blends well with other oils. You can create oil blends that tend to your specific needs. If you are looking for relief from dandruff, there are anti-dandruff oil blends you can try. For dry damaged hair, you can restore it with DIY recipes you can create at home. Using castor oil for hair has a wide range of possibilities. All you have to do is look for the perfect recipe that suits your needs.

How Often Should I Use Castor Oil?

Castor oil suits all hair types but may work differently on each. The question of how often should you use it depends on your hair issue and your purpose for using it.

As a hair loss treatment, use castor oil at least twice a week. If you want smoother and shinier hair, you can get a daily dose of castor oil by adding it to your regular leave-in conditioner. Otherwise, you can create an oil blend with coconut oil and apply it once a week for deep nourishment.

For whatever purpose you want to use castor oil for, always remember that regular and continued use reaps better results. So make it part of a regular hair care routine for amazing effects that truly get noticed.

Best Time to Apply Castor Oil on Your Hair

Most of the how-to guides for using castor oil for hair require it to stay on hair longer as overnight. For that, the best time to apply castor oil is before bedtime. This is to allow the oil to have enough time to absorb better on your hair so it gets maximum benefits.

Get flawless skin that matches your gorgeous hair! While it’s good to use castor oil for hair care, you can enjoy more benefits when you use it for skin. It makes your skin healthy and radiant.

How to Rinse Castor Oil from Hair Effectively

Due to castor oil’s thick and sticky nature, washing it off your hair needs attention too. It may be quite a challenge to remove the oil from hair and scalp especially when left overnight. To rinse off castor oil from hair effectively, here’s a simple technique:

1. Use warm water – Damp your hair and scalp with slightly warm water. This will help open the pores of your scalp to remove stored dirt and seated grime easily.
2. Apply shampoo – Use a mild shampoo to pre-wash your hair. Take some shampoo into your palms and make it into a rich lather. Massage gently into your hair and scalp. Leave for a minute and rinse. This will help remove the oil but may still leave some residues that could make hair feel a little greasy. So proceed with the next step.
3. Use a Conditioner – Massage a conditioner to your hair and scalp. It breaks down the oil so it effectively removes the oil. Apply it, massage evenly, and rinse.
4. Final round of shampoo – Finally, shampoo as usual. Always remember to use a shampoo that is gentle on your hair. You may repeat the process if needed. Just remember not to overdo shampooing because it might strip off the moisture you just got from using the castor oil.

Looking for the best brands of castor oil? Achieving beautiful hair needs a great product to use. Find out who made it to our list of top castor oil brands.