Should you use castor oil for your hair?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Due to oil masks, a "crow's nest" may appear on the head.

Castor oil is obtained by Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production from castor bean seeds (the scientific name of the plant is Ricinus communis). Its main element is ricinoleic monounsaturated fatty acid. It is she who makes castor oil thick, viscous and sticky.

Most often, castor oil is used as a laxative - and in this role it has a pronounced and scientifically proven effect.

Castor oil is also popular as a hair restoration remedy. Castor Oil For Hair. It is applied to hair in the hope of accelerating hair growth and treating alopecia (hair loss). However, in this case, the benefits of this remedy are not so clear-cut.

Why castor oil is good for hair

Castor Oil certainly has Castor Oil's antibacterial and antifungal properties. Thanks to them, it can be used to treat a variety of skin infections caused by microbes.

That is, if the scalp is affected, for example, by a fungus, lubricating it with castor oil is, in general, a good idea. But when it comes to hair growth rate and quality, castor oil seems to be powerless.

There is no evidence that castor oil can be beneficial for hair growth Castor Oil For Hair Grouth.

Adam Friedman Program Director, George Washington University School of Medicine and Public Health, for Allure Online

Clinical studies on this matter simply do not exist.

How castor oil can be harmful

Castor oil is unlikely to be useful, but its harm has not been proven either. Although there is at least one officially documented "Castor Oil" - The Culprit of Acute Hair Felting story, when a castor oil-based mask hopelessly ruined the hair.

A 20-year-old woman with long dark hair decided to improve it with a blend of castor oil and coconut oil. She held the mask on her hair for a while, then washed it off with warm water and got what is called a "crow's nest" on her head - very matted hair. It turned out to be impossible to comb them.

The problem was so serious that the girl went to the doctors. They found that viscous and sticky castor oil had such an unexpected effect. It was this, in combination with lathering movements and warm water, that pressed the hairs into a single dense mass, similar to a felt boot. The curls could not be saved, the girl had to cut them off.

The conclusion of trichologists: if the patient used only coconut oil, without the addition of castor oil, there would be no disastrous consequences.

However, this sad story does not mean at all that castor oil can harm your hair. Doctors generally call the case of the "crow's nest" extremely rare, the first in history.

If, despite the lack of confirmed data on the benefits of castor oil for hair growth and restoration, you still want to experiment, they are not forbidden. But still, before applying a castor oil mask to your head, consult a trichologist. This will save you from mistakes.

How to use castor oil for hair

Experts at the popular medical resource Healthline call Can I Use Castor Oil for Hair Growth? simple and safe way.

What is needed

• an old T-shirt that you do not mind getting dirty;
• rubber or plastic gloves;
• a bottle of castor oil;
• pipette or applicator;
• comb;
• shower cap;
• paper towels.

How to apply castor oil

• Put on your old T-shirt.
• Comb your hair so that you can easily part it into partings.
• Wear protective gloves.
• Apply castor oil to the scalp and hair roots using an applicator or dropper.
• Using your fingers, gently massage the oil into your scalp.
• Using a comb, spread the oil over the entire length of your hair.
• Blot your hair and scalp with a paper towel to remove excess oil.
• Put on a shower cap, making sure all your hair is tucked under it.
• Leave your hair under the cap for at least 2 hours.
• Wash your hair with your favorite shampoo. Use conditioner afterwards.