Castor oil for hair: benefits for hair growth

By Prof. Dr. Soner Tatlidede 2022-03-11

The use of castor oil for hair is recommended because it is a compound rich in nutrients, with multiple benefits for our hair health, and which also has the ability to strengthen hair and stimulate follicles growth: that is, we can use castor oil for hair growth. Then, shall I stop looking for prices of a hair transplant if I suffer from alopecia problems? Obviously not; but there is no doubt that - thanks to its properties – this oil can be a great ally to prevent multiple problems in our hair.

So, is castor oil good for hair? Yes. But, just like when we explained the benefits of using vinegar for hair, it is important to know castor oil properties, but also its risks; how to apply oil from this medicinal plant to hair, or what are its effects. That’s why in this post we are going to tell you everything you need to know about  ricinus oil for hair, and the most important question... Can castor oil grow hair lost due to pattern hair loss?

Castor oil properties

As we mentioned before, castor oil has many good properties that can help our skin and hair. Thanks to its components, it acts as a regenerator and moisturiser, and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is widely used in cosmetics to treat skin or hair problems. Besides, within castor oil we can find the following elements:

• ricinoleic acid, which stimulates hair growth and prevents the proliferation of fungi and bacteria
• vitamin E, which makes hair stronger and healthier
• omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, which moisturise the scalp and stimulate blood flow, strengthening follicles

Thanks to these properties, we can find this mineral oil among the ingredients of all kinds of hair products, including shampoos or conditioners. But, what does castor oil do for hair? Let's see it below.

Castor oil: benefits for hair

So, now that we have seen its properties, let's take a look at what are castor oil uses for hair:

• Improves blood supply to the scalp.
• Nourishes and moisturises hair, making it appear healthier.
• Strengthens hair and stimulates its growth.
• Reduces dryness in the scalp caused by dandruff.
• Reduces hair loss.
• Adds shine and volume to hair.
• Eliminates split ends and prevents hair from becoming brittle.
• Helps to untangle hair, and eliminates frizzy hair.

In addition, the ricinoleic acid contained in ricinus oil contributes to improve hydration in both skin and scalp; so, castor oil serves to revitalise hair, including eyelashes and eyebrows.

How to use castor oil for hair

Now that we know everything that this oil can do for our beloved hair, it is essential to learn how to use castor oil for hair growth, and how to put castor oil in hair to take advantage of all its benefits, and avoid any hair damage. The following are the steps that we must take to use this kind of oil properly:

1. Wash your hair with a shampoo, if possible free of parabens, silicones and sulfates.
2. Dry your hair with a towel, and let it dry in the open air for about 5 minutes.
3. While hair is still wet, apply the castor oil.
4. Perform a gentle massage for a minute, so that hair absorbs all the oil.
5. Wrap your hair with a towel or a shower cap, and wait 15 minutes.
6. Rinse and wash hair again with lukewarm water and shampoo, to remove all the oil.

Regarding how long to leave castor oil in hair, times vary depending on your hair type and condition. A search in the Internet shows from 5 to 25 minutes; we have chosen 15 minutes as an overall proper time, but other experts may suggest a different timing. Another option is to apply  ricinus oil before going to sleep and leave it on all night, to enhance its absorption by hair.

Anyway, it´s better not to apply pure castor oil on hair, but to mix it 50% with another oil, such as olive oil. It is important to wash hair well at the end of the process in order to remove the oil of this medicinal plant, so that hair does not become oily. It is also advisable not to apply castor oil to hair more than once or twice a week. A complete treatment can last about two months: afterwards, we can continue applying it once every 15 or 30 days, to maintain its effects.

Does castor oil grow hair?

But the question is: does castor oil help hair growth? Is good for hair growth? Well yes, but it has its limits. Although there are some theories that claim that castor oil could have effects similar to those of minoxidil, the truth is that there are still no scientific studies to support these claims. That is: castor oil probably has some effect on hair growth by nourishing follicles and scalp; but we cannot say that castor oil helps to recover hair affected by alopecia. Yes, it strengthens and repairs existing hair, moisturising and nourishing it. But you cannot use this for hair loss.

Besides, before using this natural oil on your scalp, it is very important that you first try to apply a small amount on an area of your skin, and observe the results; this is because this oil can cause irritation if we have a sensitive skin, and even allergies.

Therefore, although using castor oil for hair can be very beneficial if done correctly, it is clear that the only way to recover your lost hair is a hair transplant using the FUE technique, which is the only effective and definitive solution. Clinicana is the best hair transplant clinic, and we are specialised in all hair treatments: request your free consultation, and ask us for a free, no obligation estimate. We are here to help you!