Taking care of our hair is super important. We want shine. We want bounce. And, we want strong, luscious locks to show off. Really, we want our hair to be as healthy as our bodies are.
Did you know your physical health and your hair’s health are linked? That’s why it’s so important to give your hair a little focus. Sudden changes in hair texture, shine, or overall conditions may be a sign that something’s going on with your health.
Of course, some of you already know that. For instance, postpartum hair loss is no joke.
Whether you need a boost to meet your hair goals or you simply want a high-quality hair care routine, there’s a hair treatment out there for you. Today, we’re going to get specific with one of the best hair treatments out there: castor oil.
Castor Oil For Hair
You already know we love castor oil hacks from The Skinny Confidential’s Brow Peptide and Hannah Pointer’s (of MacroHabits) blog post on castor oil patch benefits.
But, did you know castor oil can be amazing for your hair as well? And we’re not just talking about hair that grows from your rosemary oil-treated scalp. People use castor oil to get full eyebrows and eyelashes, too.
Pretty exciting, right? Let’s talk about the benefits of castor oil on your hair, brows, and lashes:
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a thick, translucent, and odorless oil, made from the seeds of the castor bean plant. It’s been used for centuries to aid in different aspects of health & beauty.
Did you know that some say Cleopatra, the OG Beauty Queen, used castor oil as a beauty product? They say she used it for her hair and for brightening the whites of her eyes. We’re only gonna recommend ONE of those things (the hair, obviously). Don’t put this in your eyes!
Today, castor oil is used for many things. We’re diving into castor oil for hair growth, but it can be used to improve lymphatic drainage, digestion, inflammation, would healing, skincare, and more!
Is Castor Oil Good For Hair Growth?
Yes! Castor oil is the crème de la crème of hair treatments. That’s part of why Lauryn chose to include castor oil in Brow Peptide. It creates the best environment for hair growth and nourishes the hair follicles while it’s at it. This helps your brows grow healthy and strong.
Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which is part of why castor oil is said to be so powerful. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. (Good stuff.)
Castor oil is actually a triglyceride of fatty acids, which means it’s a molecule that contains three chains of fatty acids. Castor oil’s fatty acid content consists of three chains of ricinoleic acid, making its unusual chemical composition super potent.
Now that we know why castor oil is so powerful, let’s talk about what it can do:
Strengthen and repair hair.
Castor oil is a moisturizing oil, which has the ability to penetrate the hair shaft and hydrate the hair. This additional moisture can prevent breakage and split ends. Since dryness can cause breakage, combating dryness with castor oil helps your hair grow longer.
Reduce inflammation.
Did you know that inflammation can lead to loss? It’s important to reduce inflammation on your scalp as much as possible if you want healthy hair. Luckily, castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help you kick inflammation to the curb.
Promote scalp health.
Castor oil also has antimicrobial properties, which can help your hair grow by keeping your scalp healthy and free from bacteria that would hinder growth at the hair follicle. This study found that castor oil has moderate activity against pathogens.
Protect against environmental damage.
Castor oil is packed with powerful antioxidants, like carotenoid (also present in carrots), tocopherol, tocotrienol, phytosterol, phospholipid, phytochemical, and phenolic compounds. These antioxidants are incredibly important as they can combat damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are secreted when our bodies come into contact with toxins, such as UV rays, pollution, toxic chemicals, and more.
Decrease frizz.
When you decrease dryness in your hair, you also decrease frizz. The moisturizing properties of castor oil help smooth frizz out to help you achieve the blowout of your dreams.
How To Use Castor Oil For Hair
Start with a patch test.
It’s always a good idea to patch test any new treatment so that you don’t have an allergic reaction. To do a patch test, simply apply a small amount of castor oil to a small area of your skin and wait 24 hours to check for side effects.
Apply a small amount of castor oil to your scalp.
Once you’ve done a patch test, you can begin the process of treating your hair with castor oil. In this step, you’ll apply a small amount of castor oil to your scalp. Be sure to focus specifically on the areas that you are experiencing hair loss or thinning.
Massage the castor oil into your scalp.
After you’ve applied castor oil, gently massage the oil into your scalp for a few minutes to stimulate blood flow. This can also help bring essential nutrients to your hair follicles. After you’ve applied castor oil, gently massage the oil into your scalp for a few minutes to stimulate blood flow. This can also help bring essential nutrients to your hair follicles.
Leave the castor oil in your hair until you’re ready to wash it out.
Some people leave castor oil on for 20 minutes, while others do more deep conditioning. You can even leave castor oil on overnight if you’d like. Just be careful that you’re not using it for too long for the sake of your hair texture, since castor oil can cause acute hair felting, in some cases.
Shampoo, condition, & enjoy your beautiful hair.
Once you’re ready, wash the castor oil out. Enjoy the added moisture & smoothness.
How To Use Castor Oil for Brows
Pick up Brow Peptide.
Lauryn already has the perfect brow formulation with castor oil to strengthen your brows. Trust us when we say that the growth from this product is absolutely incredible.
Use the sponge tip to apply Brow Peptide to your eyebrows.
Brow Peptide’s unique brush allows you to get the product where you want it no more hoping for the best with a standard brush applicator.
Comb through your eyebrows with that brush applicator.
Lauryn recommends that you always brush up. This can help lift and open your eyes.
How To Use Castor Oil For Lashes
Double cleanse.
Staci Christie came on The The HIM & HER Show to discuss all things skincare. She told us how important it is to double cleanse before doing any skincare. This goes for lash care too.
Apply the oil.
Use a brush applicator or a Q-tip to apply the castor oil to your lash line. Avoid your eyes and waterline.
Leave it on overnight.
To get maximum benefits, use this treatment at night and allow it to sit while you sleep.
Wash it off.
In the morning, you can wash the castor oil off.
Where To Buy Castor Oil For Hair
Castor oil is a great option if you’re looking for a powerful hair treatment.
If your goals are to have fuller, stronger hair, castor oil can get you there. That’s why Lauryn chose to put it in Brow Peptide. You won’t believe how much your brows will grow. Just check out the reviews if you need more proof.
Have you used castor oil for hair growth? Let us know everything in the comments below.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ For more on how to get snatched brows check out this post.
++ Read about Lauryn’s hair transformation here.
