Table Of Content

That’s why Dr. Chiu recommends checking in with a dermatologist before you start slathering it all over yourself if you can—#skintok has a lot of big ideas, but it isn’t always right. These chemical components, especially the fatty acids, allow for the many castor oil benefits for hair. When massaged into the scalp and strands, the oil has moisturizing, soothing and circulation-stimulating properties, making it a useful home remedy for many common hair-related issues. Like plenty of other natural oils (such as tea tree and eucalyptus, for instance), castor oil is pretty good at resetting strands, especially after excessive damage. "Castor oil is commonly used to ward off skin infections since it's a known antibacterial, anti-fungal ingredient," says Dr. Burg. "The oil's high in vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acids, so it works as a brilliant hair conditioner and natural emollient."
The best castor oil hair products to try
However, while other plant oils have been well investigated for potential skin benefits, castor oil has not. This means that any skin benefits of castor oil have yet to be scientifically proven. The evidence for castor oil’s effectiveness as more than a laxative is only anecdotal. There are many claims about castor oil, including those that topical castor oil can help prevent or treat skin cancer.
Benefits of Castor Oil for Healthier Skin and Hair, According to Dermatologists
Its unusually high ricinoleic acid ratio makes it beneficial to skin and hair. There are tons of ways to use it—Kohatsu says it can operate like a cleansing oil for hair, prevent moisture loss or color fade, and improve hair quality naturally by being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. “When we were in the beginning stages of formulating a new haircare collection, we wanted a main ingredient that really did everything,” Terry adds. “This oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that help prevent dandruff (which is so helpful in colder months) and scalp infections." Then, massage it on your hair, comb it through, and let it sit for a few hours.
Does castor oil draw out toxins?
Nazarian says that while the oil is a known irritant for many, strategically applying a very small amount to eyelashes or eyebrows may help induce regrowth through a specific, localized region. If you're concerned about getting an allergic reaction, do a test patch on a small area of your skin before applying it to these sensitive areas. This idea is based on an Ayurvedic treatment that suggests a Pechoti gland near your naval can absorb things like essential oils through your belly button. So there's likely no advantage to putting castor oil in your belly button. Castor oil has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that may help speed wound healing, especially when it's combined with other ingredients. Venelex, which contains castor oil and balsam Peru, is an ointment used to treat skin and pressure wounds.

When possible, choose a supplement that has been tested by a trusted third party, such as USP, ConsumerLab, or NSF.org. Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs. Ricin made news when letters containing the toxin were sent to members of Congress and the White House in 2018.
Keep Eyebrows in Place
"For those with fine or thin hair, though, they’ll probably prefer to use it as a pre-wash treatment as above, washing out so as to avoid weighing hair down and a greasy appearance." If you're using castor oil as a leave-in treatment, Dr. Clay recommends warming a small amount of the oil between your palms and smoothing it along the ends of your hair on a weekly basis. Every Saturday morning, my mom would sit us down to oil our scalps with a special blend of coconut oil, amla oil, almond oil, and castor oil. Now that I live on my own, I still take the time to oil my scalp once a week—but rather than make my own blend, I use one of the many hair oils on the market.
Hair and Skin Care
It is possible to overdose on castor oil, which could cause severe consequences. An observational, retrospective study looked at the use of castor oil to induce, or initiate, labor. The study took place over five years and included women between 40 and 41 weeks pregnant, which is full-term.
Can Castor Oil Really Make Your Hair Grow? Experts Explain
Castor Oil Benefits: Does It Work For Skin, Hair or Digestion? - TODAY
Castor Oil Benefits: Does It Work For Skin, Hair or Digestion?.
Posted: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
“Castor oil used to be a guarded secret to help hair growth and I got on the train a long time ago when creating my brand. Now it’s well known and trending because it truly does work miracles! When it comes to maintaining healthy-looking hair and caring for your scalp, there are so many products and DIY treatments to choose from. It can be difficult to decipher which are viral but baseless trends versus those that can truly deliver stellar hydrating, soothing, and strengthening results for your strands. Just remember that the skin around your eyes is thin and prone to clogging, so “using castor oil around your eyes can exacerbate milia, blackheads, and acne,” says Dr. Talakoub. That goes for all skin types, btw, not just folks who are oily or acne-prone, so it’s best to approach this DIY with caution if you’re especially prone to clogged pores and bumps.
What is hair oiling?
Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies. She has also written about sexual wellness, fashion, culture, and politics both at Marie Claire and for publications like The New York Times, Bustle, and HuffPost Personal. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, including two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy. As a film school graduate, she loves all things media and can be found making art when she's not busy writing.
These symptoms occurred following the use of castor oil for the first time by healthy individuals. Despite numerous claims, there is no strong evidence that castor oil can stimulate hair growth. To make my own, I mix castor oil with another hair-healthy oil (options listed below) and herbs to help support scalp health. According to the product developer, the largest difference between the two types of castor oil is just how they’re processed. You might think that the only person who swears by castor oil as a part of her beauty routine is your 90-year-old grandma. But eventually, everything old becomes new again—including this stuff.
Dr. Clay is passionate about preventing skin cancer and providing high-quality care to oft-overlooked patients of color, and is currently based in Atlanta. 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. He has since consulted for P&G, Neutrogena, Skin Ceuticals, Cerave, EltaMD, Skin Medica, Fast Beauty Co., and 86 Elm.
It depends, says Dr. Luke, on which product and what you are trying to achieve. “But if using the pure oil, you can massage it into the scalp for five to 10 minutes. “And leave-in or styling products formulated with castor oil just need to be washed during your regular shampooing routine,” she says. If you’re looking to add pure castor oil to your hair care routine, Dr. Green suggests using it as a pre-shampoo treatment.
This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor. It is also important to support the body nutritionally and hormonally with hair loss, as this can often be a sign of an internal problem. Castor oil is extremely thick and viscous so I prefer to mix with jojoba or argan oil in a glass dropper bottle for easy application. Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists.
Yup, a growing number of natural beauty buffs are swearing by the pale yellow oil as a cure-all for smoother skin, prettier hair, and gorgeous nails. It’s always a good idea to do a patch test before applying any new product to your hair or skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. To do this, simply apply a few drops of castor oil to one small area of your skin to ensure there are no adverse effects. I love the brand As I Am for both its effective, deeply conditioning hair products and for its humanitarian edge.
The only FDA-approved health use for castor oil is as a natural laxative to relieve temporary constipation. Some people believe castor can help with weight loss due to its laxative properties, but there isn’t enough research to support this definitely. Where there is a weight loss effect, it may be more related to the relief from constipation than to the castor oil itself. While it can be useful in treating occasional constipation, it should not be used for long-term health concerns without consulting a healthcare professional first, as misusing it can lead to dangerous complications.
Castor oil is heavy and very sticky, which makes it hard to remove from hair. It's best to It'ste castor oil with other natural oils like coconut or jojoba. This article discusses how to use castor oil for your hair and the purported benefits. It also covers what to look for when choosing a castor oil product and the possible side effects.