castor oil
castor oil
CASTOR OIL: IT’S THE ALL-NATURAL REMEDY THAT’S RECEIVED GLOWING TESTIMONIALS ACROSS THE WEB FOR ITS HAIR GROWTH POTENTIAL - BUT IS IT REALLY THE SECRET TO A FULLER LASH AND HAIR LINE? WE FOUND OUT
There are certain all-natural remedies that have stood the test of time - coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, rosemary...it reads like a shopping list at Whole Foods. However, there’s one that a growing number of people swear by for meeting their hair care needs - castor oil, the golden (or dark brown) elixir that, if the glowing testimonials on blogs and Reddit are to be believed, holds the key to a fuller head of hair and a thicker lash line too.
CASTOR OIL BENEFITS FOR HAIR
There are two types best known for their root-boosting benefits - castor oil which is golden in colour and black castor oil, which is made from roasted castor seeds and is said to be more clarifying due to its more alkaline make-up. Both are quite heavy in feel and texture which can be a little off-putting, but they make up for that with their impressive vitamin E and fatty acid content. “Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid which has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties,” Guy Parsons, certified trichologist and founder of My Hair Doctor tells me - the perfect scalp-calming combo.
DOES IT WORK FOR EYEBROWS AND EYELASHES?
Its ricinoleic acid content can also keep brows and lashes healthy too. “It’s great for combating damaged lashes and keeping them moisturised and conditioned,” says Jaimineey Patel, Head of Training at Blink Brow Bar. It’s especially handy if treatments such as tints and lash extensions have left them dry and split.
CAN IT ACTUALLY MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW?
Another key benefit of castor oil is its ability to increase blood flow around the scalp, which is why many people believe that it can increase hair growth. There needs to be more evidence though, says Guy, to show a direct connection: “There is no link between follicular hair growth and castor oil, and any suggestion otherwise is anecdotal.” Considering how complex the reasons for hair loss and thinning hair can be, this makes perfect sense.
That’s not to say though that castor oil isn’t worth incorporating into your regime. If used properly, it can improve the condition and flexibility of your strands, to prevent them from snapping off due to dryness. “Being an oil, it will have clear moisture and replenishment benefits for thicker, coarser hair that requires more moisture than other hair types,” says Guy.
Its viscosity actually works in its favour in these cases notes Gemma Hume, Afro Specialist at Paul Edmonds London. “Castor oil is naturally thicker in consistency so it’s great for coating curly and Afro hair and sinking right down to the roots,” she tells me. “Always apply it to the scalp, massaging it in, and leave it on the hair with a plastic cap, under heat, for 30 minutes to intensify the penetration of the oil.
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HOW MUCH TO USE
As mentioned earlier, castor oil’s much richer than other oils and, unless you have Afro, thick or curly hair, using it neat can actually end up being counterproductive. “Use it in a diluted form, as it may be very difficult to remove and any benefit from the oil will be undone by the six times you need to wash your hair to get it out!” cautions Guy. Good point.
If you’re using it as a scalp or moisture treatment, he recommends diluting it so that it’s one part castor oil, five parts almond or argan oil (which are both lighter). Apply sparsely to start with - if you have hair that gets greasy quickly, just apply it to mid-lengths and ends (hair’s more damaged towards the ends anyway) and avoid using it in conjunction with other moisturising products to prevent a case of ‘over-hydration’. If greasiness fears are still weighing on your mind, look for it as a core ingredient in your hair care products instead (such as those in our edit below).
The same approach applies to its use on eyebrows and eyelashes too. While castor oil won’t necessarily help them grow quicker, incorporating products that have the ingredient in them into your nightly regime can certainly go some way in making them stronger and less prone to breakage. “It’s best when combined with other ingredients,” says Jaimineey. “For example, our BBB London Luscious Lash Oil contains seven essential oils, all of which work in harmony to grow, stimulate and hydrate lashes.
More oils for hair Growth and Thickness
The Overnight Miracle Worker
The Mane Choice Multi-Vitamin Scalp Nourishing Hair Growth Oil, $11
I can attest that this oil works, and it works fast. I'm impatient, which makes my job as a beauty editor complicated because I crave quick results. No lie: This made my healthy hair wishes come true in less than a month. I use the pointed nozzle to target my scalp. The oil trickles down from root-t0-tip, caressing each cuticle with essential multivitamins that promote stronger, longer strands.
The Tropical Oil
Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Caster Oil, $13
Jamaican black caster oil might as well be magic, because this stuff works wonders. Why? Well, because its 100 percent pure blend uses traditional Jamaican methods to roast and boil organic castor beans. These beans are then blended to create a silky lather, which has been proven to promote length, luster, and strong hair follicles. Oh, and you can use it to make your nails and lashes grow, too.
The Botanical Blend
Leonor Greyl Regenerescence Naturelle Hair Oil, $92
I know, I know—$60 is a lot for hair oil. But you deserve to splurge on your strands, especially if you're dealing with damage or thinning. Thanks to the power of botanical ingredients like olive, borage, jojoba and lavender oils, this oil breathes life back into brittle strands. The end result? Thicker, healthier hair.
The Drugstore Gem
OGX Thick & Full Weightless Healing Oil Treatment, $5
We put our hair through a lot. It's crucial to give your mane a necessary re-up of nutrients to keep it safe from environmental stressors. This $8 drugstore score is a sophisticated formula full of vitamin B7 biotin, collagen, and wheat protein to speed up your hair growth process. And if you have fine hair, you'll enjoy the weightless texture.
The Curl Revitalizer
Curls, Blueberry Bliss Hair Growth Oil $19
It's time to manifest the bouncy, thick, full curls of your dreams in 2019. This is 100 percent safe to use on natural hair because it's made without parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil, which has harmful effects on textured hair. "Blueberry bliss" alone sounds enticing, but blueberry extracts actually do improve the circulation of your hair follicles. You know what happens next—your hair becomes thicker, longer, and stronger.
The Scalp Soother
Kérastase Initialiste Scalp & Hair Serum, $51
When you're on a mission to grow out your hair, you have to show some love to your scalp, too. This treads the line between a serum and an oil, and will cover your hair's bases from root-to-tip. As soon as you apply it, your scalp will feel stimulated and soothed. This restorative oil works to keep your hair fibers intact, which in turn will provide you with a noticeable improvement in texture and length.
The Hydrating Oil
Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil, $21
Dry hair is the enemy. Also, it just doesn't look cute. To avoid stale strands, employ this invigorating combo of rosemary mint and biotin to give you great shine. This also takes care of split ends, and will bless you with a fuller and longer head of hair.
The Leave-In Oil
Dr. Hauschka Revitalizing Hair and Scalp Tonic, $26
Designate one day of the week for wash day. Then, give yourself an at-home salon treatment with this oil that works best when you leave it in for a while to marinate. You'll feel the the soothing benefits of rosemary, borage and horse chestnut, which work together to increase hair follicle circulation and restore weak strands.
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