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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than five years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from hair-growth devices to hair botox. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to castor oil for hair growth after testing dozens of hair growth products to finally grow-out her perpetual lob. She regularly tests and analyzes hair products for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top trichologists and hairstylists to assess new formulas and brands. FWIW, rosemary oil has also been studied for hair growth and loss, showing promising results (but more research def needs to be done on humans to prove anything).
Hair Products
But if you are a regular user of the packs, you will probably use up your supply on hand long before you have to worry about it getting too old to use. Just a tip for castor oil packs required in geometrically challenged places. It sticks through thick and thin (even to the bottom of the foot and between the toes! ) is hypoallergenic and comes in lots of pretty (or macho) colors. I had major abdominal surgery and a few years later knew I had adhesions as a result.
Castor Oil for Hair: Experts Explain Its Benefits, Uses, and Potential Side Effects

"Castor oil is rich in anti-inflammatory fatty acids which increase circulation and may potentially speed up the hair growth cycle," says dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD. The natural oil is believed to have properties that encourage hair growth, health, and thickness. And being that it supposedly has such an effect on hair, castor oil can be found in many hair care products, as well as brow and lash serums. One of the most popular castor oil products for hair care is Jamaican black castor oil. This variety is made with roasted castor beans and the ash the roasting process produces.
Health Ailments
“This increased blood flow and nutrient supply can potentially promote hair growth and strengthen the hair follicles.” It’s also amazing at increasing hair shine and strength because it’s such a rich emollient and can help seal strands. "Plus, it's also filled with antioxidants and has antibacterial and antifungal effects," Dr. Cheung adds, making it a perfect oil for dry scalps and even drier hair. Unfortunately, no, castor oil alone does not increase hair growth, says trichologist Shab Caspara. Though castor-oil fans claim it can “stimulate” your hair follicles and “increase hair growth,” there are no studies or scientific evidence proving that castor oil will help your hair grow, notes Hill. TBH, no topical product alone can make your hair grow faster or prevent hair loss—only your hormones, genetics, health, and age can do that, explains Hill. Which is why “hair growth requires a comprehensive approach,” including healthy hair and scalp habits.
Health Benefits of Castor Oil
For moments like this, we dive head-first into the research (and call upon the experts), to determine whether our beauty routine actually needs another step. Do a patch test before you use any new product, including castor oil, on your skin. Put a little drop of the oil on your hand or face and wait a few hours to see if it causes irritation or an allergic reaction. Castor oil comes from the castor bean, which is rich in ricinoleic acid—a type of fatty acid known to fight inflammation. Having shiny and strong hair is something just about every girl aspires to have.
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. Castor oil is a natural humectant (retains or preserves moisture) often used in cosmetics — added to products like lotions, makeup, and cleansers — to promote hydration. Castor oil can be very beneficial for hair growth if used correctly.
Castor Oil Benefits
The first thing you should know about castor oil that is you don’t need to apply a ton of it to see results, so it's okay to use it sparingly. You also don’t need to use castor oil every day, as Ruggeri notes that it's best to be applied on a weekly basis. If split ends are a hair concern, she recommends applying it on ends as the last step of the styling process to smooth cuticles and prevent splits from continuing higher up on strands.
How to Use Castor Oil for Beautiful Skin
The fatty acids in particular provide an abundance of nourishment to the skin and hair follicles, says Nicole Ruth, DO, a board-certified dermatologist at WeiserSkinMD in New York. There is also some research that the ricinoleic acid may have some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Both Dr. Amin and Kingsley agree that there are no quality scientific studies clearly showing a benefit of castor oil for hair growth. "The thinking is that castor oil increases blood flow to the scalp and reduces inflammation, both of which are beneficial for hair growth," Dr. Amin explains. Studies suggest that castor oil benefits the hair due to its high content of ricinoleic acid and other fatty acids, amino acids, flavonoids, vitamin E and minerals.
The ingredient dates back to Ancient Egypt, and is still prized for its beauty benefits. “Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to improve circulation and stimulate hair follicles. Improving circulation allows oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to the hair follicles to maintain scalp and hair health,” she explains. The only potential disadvantage of using castor oil for hair growth is that it is so heavy that it can be difficult to wash out of your scalp, potentially causing buildup, acne, and overall a greasy scalp, notes Dr. Cheung.
Castor oil can also work to nourish the hair, leaving it feeling and looking stronger and healthier. “Because it is so moisturizing, it can help increase elasticity and moisture content in hair, which could lead to decreased breakage,” says Briogeo’s Director of Product Marketing and Education Megan Curtin. Think back to the era of when coconut oil was in everything or the time everyone went wild for olive oil, thanks to Jennifer Lopez. Plenty of brands have been built on argan oil, plus there’s jojoba, avocado, grapeseed and macadamia nut, to name a few more oils that have grabbed attention. For a while, rosemary oil was center stage for its popularity for hair growth, but it has recently been usurped by castor oil.
Does rosemary oil for hair growth really work? We asked 3 dermatologists to find out - CNN Underscored
Does rosemary oil for hair growth really work? We asked 3 dermatologists to find out.
Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Because it’s so thick, it can clog pores, cause build-up, and even lead to scalp irritation. Dr. Bhanusali is an NYC-based, board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. After completing his studies at Michigan State University's medical scholars program, he launched the digital healthcare companies Health Digital, HairStim Labs, and Skin Medicinals.
To make my own, I mix castor oil with another hair-healthy oil (options listed below) and herbs to help support scalp health. Ricinoleic acid is also said to help balance scalp pH which can also help replenish the scalp’s natural oils and undo some of the damage of harsh chemical hair products (and even damage from no-poo, due to over alkalinity). The antioxidants in castor oil also support the keratin in hair and help make hair stronger, smoother, and less frizzy. I’ve been experimenting a lot with castor oil lately as a natural beauty remedy. I already use it in my oil cleansing blend each day, and I’m enjoying the results from using castor oil packs on my skin. While castor oil can be very helpful in assisting in hair regrowth for people dealing with inflammatory hair loss, it will have very little to no impact on severe male or female pattern hair loss and nutritional hair loss, he explains.
There is no evidence that castor oil applied to the scalp or hair will directly help increase hair growth, says Kunin. Rather, castor oil can indirectly assist in hair growth, says Gaunitz. “If you suffer from any type of scalp conditions, including seborrheic dermatitis or a skin sensitivity, you should be cautious when using castor oil as it may worsen or irritate the area,” she says. It also matters how often you use castor oil and how well you wash it out.
And that night my ankle hurt so bad I could not get a good night sleep. However, the pain continued, and I had to stop walking serval times because I felt like my ankle was going to give in under me with the stabling like pains. The Castor oil stopped the pain quickly and I got a good night's sleep. You may not know that the A.R.E. of Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach did a study supervised by Dr William Magarey many years ago.
When shopping for castor oil, you might see some products that say "cold-pressed" on their labels. Cold-pressed means the castor seeds were pressed into the oil without heat or harsh chemicals. Many say cold-pressed oils are the best quality and more nutrient-rich than those processed with heat. Many claims have been made about the benefits of using castor oil on your hair. However, little evidence supports the anecdotes that say it improves hair health and growth. Dr. Garshick recommends platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a helpful tool in “promoting hair growth and improving hair density.” Other treatments include laser therapy, microneedling, injectables, and even hair replacement treatments.
Castor oil can also potentially make your hair look drier if it’s already lacking moisture, because it seals off extra hydration from penetrating your hair, explains Hill. So to prevent accidental dryness, make sure to hydrate your hair with a routine filled with other moisturizers, like shea butter, glycerin, and panthenol before you add castor oil. You can also incorporate castor oil into your routine with a deep conditioner (whether a formula made with castor oil, or by adding a few drops to your favorite) to keep your hair from looking dried out. Kingsley suggests using a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment containing castor oil (she recommends Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer, which contains a blend of castor and olive oil). This type of treatment can improve hair’s elasticity, boost shine and help to reduce frizz. Depending on your hair type and the product's directions, you can leave it on for anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight.
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