The Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair Growth

(2 ½ minute read)

Castor oil has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for general health issues (arthritis, immunity), skin care and hair care. When it comes to hair care, castor oil is often touted as a remedy to help hair to grow faster and fuller. But is this true? In this article, we learn about the benefits of castor oil for hair and scalp.

What is castor oil?

Castor oil is a natural oil extracted from the seeds of the castor plant. It contains high levels of ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Castor oil is often used alone or in other products to help stimulate hair growth. Image source: Canva & Naturally Safe Cosmetics

Does castor oil make hair grow faster?

Apparently the average human hair follicle grows just over a centimetre a month.¹ However, some people claim that using castor oil can speed up this growth. While there is no scientific evidence to support this theory, it is thought that castor oil may promote hair growth and health indirectly through it’s beneficial effects on the scalp: healthy scalp = healthy hair.

How does castor oil benefit the scalp?

When applied to the scalp, castor oil’s high levels of ricinoleic acid can help to improve blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles. It’s this increased blood circulation that can promote hair growth. In addition, the essential nutrients in castor oil – like vitamin E , omega-6 fatty acids and amino acids – can nourish and strengthen the hair, reducing breakage. This also promotes fuller, healthier, more lustrous locks.

Other benefits of castor oil for hair and scalp health

In addition to improving blood circulation to the scalp, other castor oil benefits for hair include:

• moisturising the scalp, reducing dryness and flakiness
• antimicrobial properties , which can help to prevent scalp infections and dandruff
• high concentration of fatty acids can also help to repair and protect the hair from damage caused by styling and environmental factors, as well as detangling hair and treating split ends

Castor oil versus black Jamaican castor oil

Castor oil has a clear/light yellow colour and is extracted through cold-pressing of the castor bean.  Black castor oil is dark brown to black in colour because the castor beans are roasted and heat is used to extract the oil. Black castor oil also has a higher pH level, making it more alkaline. Black castor oil is often referred to as Jamaican black castor oil as the process of beginning with roasted beans began in Jamaica.² It is thought that the hair care benefits of castor oil are more pronounced with black castor oil.

Brows and lashes

Castor oil’s benefits for hair has also made it a popular ingredient in products formulated to improve eyelashes and eyebrows. Lash and brow treatments – like the  INIKA Organic Lash & Brow Serum and the Noosa Basics Eye Lash + Brow Revitaliser – both include Black Castor Oil to help stimulate hair lash and brow growth by improving circulation to the hair follicles.

Sources:

¹ healthline.com

² vedaoils.com

Disclaimer: Naturally Safe Cosmetics and the author are not health professionals. Any information or advice in this article is of a general nature only and obtained from the author's research and product information. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, including problems with hair loss or growth. Contact your health care professional for advice on your own personal circumstances.