How to Use Castor Oil for Hair (Grow Beautiful Hair Fast)

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Castor Oil for Thicker and Longer Hair
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » How to Use Castor Oil for Hair (Grow Beautiful Hair Fast)

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.

Years ago, a friend mentioned that she loved castor oil for hair and eyelashes. I was really skeptical because castor oil has a very thick and sticky consistency that I couldn’t imagine using in hair. I did some research and found out that I had been seriously missing out on a simple and really effective traditional beauty remedy…

Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair and Skin

Castor oil is an age-old beauty treatment that has been largely replaced over time by fancier beauty products with more ingredients and a bigger price tag.

Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and is high in vitamin E, minerals, proteins, and omega-6 and -9 beneficial fatty acids. Its unusually high ricinoleic acid ratio makes it beneficial to skin and hair.

In fact, castor oil has traditionally been used topically for acne and other skin conditions, as well as hair loss, rashes, and more. If you want to try it for skincare, I recommend this handcrafted castor oil.

What Does Castor Oil Do for the Hair?

Castor oil can be used on the scalp to help prevent and remedy hair loss and it is effective at this for several reasons. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties make it beneficial against follliculitus, dandruff, and scalp infections and its ricinoleic acid content helps increase circulation to the scalp and improve hair growth.

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.

“Three Times the Growth!”

How to do a castor oil treatment for natural hair and eyelash growth- simple natural remedy

There are hundreds of testimonials from people who used castor oil to increase their hair growth 3-5 times the normal rate. A friend of mine was struggling with postpartum hair loss and even once her hair loss slowed, regrowing her hair was difficult.

She measured her hair growth for a month and it grew almost half an inch. The next month, after using castor oil hair treatments twice a week, her hair had grown almost 2 inches. She tested this again the following month and noticed the same result and that her hair was dramatically thicker.

What Type of Castor Oil for Hair?

There are several options for castor oil hair treatments. I prefer to make my own.

To make my own, I mix castor oil with another hair-healthy oil (options listed below) and herbs to help support scalp health. Unrefined and cold-pressed hexane-free castor oil is preferred.

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.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

There is a special type of castor oil called Jamaican black castor oil that has extremely good reviews. I tried it as well and it seemed to work about the same as regular castor oil on my hair, but it seems that it might provide additional benefit for those with thick or dry hair (my hair is fine/oily).

How to Use Castor Oil Treatments on Hair

Castor oil can be very beneficial for hair growth if used correctly. Small amounts of plain oil can be used for an all-over treatment. Like many things in life, more is not always better, and only a few drops are needed per treatment. The additional oils are completely optional.

How Often

I personally use this castor oil 1-2 times per week. It can be used more often, though I didn’t see any increased results with using it daily.

When to Use

I’ve found that this treatment works better on damp but not wet hair. I keep a spray bottle of water in the bathroom and just spritz my roots before applying.

How to use castor oil for thicker and longer hair naturally

For maximum benefit, I leave the treatment on for several hours or overnight. After applying, I use a shower cap or towel to avoid getting the oil on furniture or a pillow.

How to Remove the Oil

Removing the castor oil can be difficult, especially with natural shampoos. I’ve found that using a small amount and leaving it on overnight will result in most of the oil absorbing into the hair and scalp and make cleanup easier. In fact, I’ve been able to use dry shampoo and not wash on a few occasions. When I do shampoo, I use a natural shampoo or mud shampoo as normal.

An alternate way is to crack an egg and whisk until smooth and then massage the egg into the scalp. This helps break down the oil and adds additional nutrients to the hair. It is messy though, so I’d recommend doing this in the shower.

Another less-messy way is to condition your hair before getting in the shower, massaging conditioner into the scalp to help remove the castor oil. Then, shampoo as usual.

Important Notes:

With any new oil, herb, or product, test a tiny amount on your inner arm to make sure you don’t have a reaction. While reactions are rare, some people will notice irritation from castor oil.

I’ve also used this in combination with my hair growth serum with great results. (I use the serum first to dampen hair, then apply the castor oil.)

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.

BONUS TIP: I rub a tiny amount of castor oil on my eyelids at night to help eyelash growth as well. It is also part of my eyelash growth serum recipe.

Castor Oil for Thicker and Longer Hair
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3.75 from 90 votes

Castor Oil Hair Serum Recipe

A mix of castor oil and jojoba will make a hair serum to help your hair grow faster, stronger, and smoother.
Prep Time1 minute
Yield: 0
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • Combine the ingredients in a dark-colored dropper bottle.
  • Shake to mix.
  • Use the dropper to apply to the scalp. I part my hair right above the ear on one side, add a few drops of castor oil, part again about ½ inch from that part, add more castor oil, and so on until I’ve coated my whole scalp.
  • Then, I massage for 5 minutes to make sure entire scalp is coated and to help increase circulation.

Notes

This will make enough for 5+ uses depending on the length of your hair.
If you’re not a fan of using castor oil, some people have found coconut oil for hair to be a better fit.
For best hair health, I recommed using the above with Wellnesse Shampoo and Conditioner (from yours truly!), which I formulated to meet all of my criteria for safe, non-toxic, and naturally nourishing hair care.

My Own Results with Castor Oil…

Last year, when I was under extreme stress for a short period of time (finishing my book *ahem*), I noticed increased hair loss. My Hashimoto’s makes me more susceptible to hair loss when I’m under stress, and I was stressed about my hair loss (vicious cycle).

To combat this, I experimented with natural castor oil treatments both alone and mixed with other oils. I too noticed that my hair seemed stronger and that there was definitely less hair in my brush each day after a few weeks of castor oil treatments. Additionally, I started seeing tiny new hairs all around my hair line.

Random observation:

I split my head open when I was younger, requiring 8 staples in my scalp. Where the scar is, I have a patch of super-curly hair that falls in a perfect ringlet, even though the rest of my hair is wavy/straight. The castor oil seemed to help make this hair patch smoother, though it grew at a faster rate than the rest of my hair.

Now, I’ve made these castor oil hair treatments a regular part of my weekly routine and often do them at night, while wearing my blue blocker glasses and reading or watching a movie with my hubby.

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.

Ever used castor oil? What was your best oil blend?

My favorite simple and effective beauty remedy- castor oil for hair. Learn how to reverse hair loss and grow amazing hair that is thicker, longer and stronger.

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

628 responses to “How to Use Castor Oil for Hair (Grow Beautiful Hair Fast)”

  1. Leslie Martinez Avatar
    Leslie Martinez

    Question:
    Where can I buy unrefined castor oil??
    Situation:
    I’m 23 with 2 kids. 4 yrs & 5 months. In High School I noticed my hair was getting thinner. (Dad would critize about every external problem I had, hair,acne,glasses,you name it)
    Obviously it is normal after you have a baby but over the past month or two I’ve noticed it getting worse. To the point family points it out. I get scared when I have to brush hair or even shower. Ive considered going bald but don’t think I cab handle that. I’ve done coconut oil treatments 2-4 x a month. Even had my Dr. notice, she sent me to get blood work don’t in case it was something internally but results came back normal. So she referred me to a Dermatologist. Trying to go the Natural route. Help!!

      1. Sajjad Mahmud Avatar
        Sajjad Mahmud

        I have been using the castor oil (refined) for last two weeks regularly. But still no improvement. Please advice something. I am loosing all hopes and that turns me into depressed. I didn’t get unrefined castor oil in Bangladeshi market. What i can do?

      2. Antony Avatar

        I guess it doesn’t work in male balding patterns. Yet many “vips” seem to have recovered hair and their result look too natural or “imperfect” to be transplats, Mc Counaghey, Chris Martin, Woody Allen who somehow has kept the same level of recession since more than 40 years (and his bald spot grew little to nothing).

  2. Sajjad Mahmud Avatar
    Sajjad Mahmud

    Wellness Mama, I appreciate your post. Thanks for that. I am facing a serious hair fall problem for last 3.5 years. Despite of applying so many things, I have not been able to be cured. It started suddenly. It is the only part of my body which i seriously love. That’s why, it made me so upset and irritated that i can’t make you understand. From yesterday i started to apply this. But i didn’t get the “unrefined” oil in our Bangladeshi market. But i am exploring this. Now i am using refined but cold pressed. Will it work ? I want to be refrained from this anxiety. I don’t need the regrowth rather i only want that my hair falling be stopped.

    1. Kenya Avatar

      Respectfully I disagree I do the greenhouse effect and the baggy method and my hair has grown twice as fast as it use to. It is extremely healthy thick and glossy. The key for me is moisture with the right mix of protein.. Several people have gotten similar results using the above methods and have posted videos all over YouTube ..

    2. Kenya Avatar

      Have you tried a egg protein treatment? I had serious hair fall due to thyroid so I shampooed hair and towel dried it..then I cracked eggs and separated the white from egg yoke in a bowl (for my hair length I Used 5 egg yokes) and mixed the yokes up and applied to hair covering entire head from roots to ends..I put on a plastic cap for 1 hour then rinsed out and followed up with a deep conditioner. Wear a towel around your neck as it can be a bit messy.. Hair fall will stop immediately!

      1. Sajjad Mahmud Avatar
        Sajjad Mahmud

        Thanks Kenya for your feedback through investing a valuable time. May be I used it 5 or 6 times. How many times i will continue to use that therapy?? Now i am using castor oil+ almond oil+ coconut oil mix for last one week in every day. Would you please suggest something about that. Thanks.

  3. Rachel Avatar

    I have extremely fine thin shoulder length hair that doesn’t get too oily, would this work for it? and in anyway help with the volume/thickness?

    1. Stacy Avatar

      I have thin hair. Will castor oil help thicken my hair and make it longer? I am also afraid of having a reaction to using it and it have an opposite affect and make my hair fall out. Would this ever happen or could this happen using castor oil or coconut oil, or the mixture of the two?

    2. Stacy Avatar

      If I used castor oil on my skin, will it get rid of acne or stretch marks that I have from giving birth?

  4. Kestrel Avatar

    As a scientist, I have to add that nothing. NOTHING. will make your hair grow faster. Let’s repeat: nothing.

    I see it everywhere – especially on Pinterest – and it drives me crazy. Hair is not alive. It is excreted through the follicles, a gift from evolution to protect your head and to keep it warm. You can help with the quality/quantity of your hair, especially you are anemic or deficient in vitamin D, but you simply cannot make it grow faster than its usual 1/3″ per month.(approximately). There are countless posts and videos claiming a nightly oil massage for one week will make your hair grow 2 inches a months or some such. Nope. Even biotin has had no large scale clinical research and we aren’t really certain if it works at all. A friend of mine at work says about 80% of the patients she sees about hair fall have already been taking Biotin.
    Personally, I use a wee bit of castor oil mixed with sweet almond oil and argan oil and rub it only onto the ends of my hair. Most hair will only grow to a certain length before it falls out. Some people are luckier than others and get Crystal Gayle hair (remember her?) but most don’t. This at least prevents my ends from splitting so much. The hair is oldest at the ends and, therefore, has gotten the most abuse. Scalp massages can help with blood flow but I find castor oil to be too sticky and oily for my hair there. I use an tee tree oil and almond oil-infused cheap white conditioner that I make to massage with after I have treated my hair to an oil rubbing and then wash it out.
    I hope the helps clarify the expectations. We all hope for the magic bullet but often it’s just fruits, veggies and lean meats that’ll make your hair its best.

  5. Jennie Dutton Avatar
    Jennie Dutton

    Hi there! Just joined & am so excited to get great tips, advice, etc. What’s the best way to do an overnight castor oil treatment for my hair…it”s thinning from medicines I have to take< and it's become REALLY fine and whispy, also prone to static electricity (think that part may be from the Winter weather). Any tips would be SO greatly appreciated! aAlso, just ordered a pound of powdered fenugreek after reading about it's benefits. Any info on that would be awesome as well! Thanks in advance…Jennie from Georgia

  6. Suzanne Avatar

    Castor oil stopped and reversed the hair loss and serious skin damage that resulted from an unnecessary radiation treatment (I say ‘unnecessary’ because I didn’t have cancer, the quack knew it, and yet forced me to have it anyway I told him what he could do with his twisted idea of ‘medicine’ and have never returned to see him or his ilk since – I just don’t trust them anymore).

    Castor oil reversed the horrible signs of dehydration my skin experienced as a result of that ‘medical treatment’ that no amount of drinking water could (and who but the filthy rich can afford HA injections?).

    Where I was losing fistfuls of hair on a daily basis – also as a direct result of said ‘medical treatment’, Castor oil stopped it in its tracks and reversed it.

    I just find it odd that Nature provides us with so many powerful, effective, and natural medicines of Her own, and yet the greed of men can’t act fast enough to declare them ‘illegal’ or find some way to baffle people with BS about their ‘dangers’. It’s all about the profits, people, don’t be fooled that it’s about anything else!

  7. Carla Avatar

    Every time I use castor oil in my hair, I feel I lose a lot more hair during shampo, and this discourages me from continuing to use it. Is this normal? Is it a temporary phase?
    Please advice as after reading all the benefits, I would like to get back to it, but the hair loss while shampooing worries me.

  8. lauren Avatar

    Is there anything out there that will help my eyebrows, the ones that wont lay down,but stick straight out, like grandpa eyebrows.

  9. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Hi Katie!

    I just tried this serum out last night for the first time. Overall, I think it was successful though I do think I may have used too much because there was no way I could have used dried shampoo this morning. This post was the first time I have heard of Branch Basics and now I am just waiting for the products to come back in stock so I can get some. I have two questions about how you use Branch Basics in your hair. 1. Do you dilute it before using on your hair? and 2. Do you ever use it as a shampoo other than when you are removing this serum from your hair? I only ask because sometimes after I use my clay shampoo mixture for several times, I find that my hair doesn’t feel as “clean” as it could (like there is a bit of a build up). Clay shampoo is the only natural shampoo I have been able to use successfully since I started natural hair care so I am wondering if using Branch Basics would counter my use of natural hair care if I were to use it every now and then if I feel like there is build up on my scalp. I am also wondering what suggestions of natural shampoos I should try since the clay works now (whereas two years ago I tried several while I was transitioning and my scalp always felt like there was build up on it). Thanks so much!

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      It definitely takes a little experimentation to find just how much oil to use. I hope BB will be back soon. I dilute it 30:70 with water and use a foamer bottle for a shampoo. I don’t think it would interfere with natural haircare if used occasionally but there are some other great brands as well.

  10. Salma Avatar

    My hair is falling and it is naturally oily should I use costor oil my hair are already oily and falling

  11. tammy faye Avatar
    tammy faye

    The best conditioners are natural oils like Argan Oil, I get mine from LadySoma… it’s called SomaLuxe Argan Oil. I have naturally curly hair and this is the ONLY product I trust.

  12. Robert Avatar

    Could you provide scientific evidence that castor oil regrows hair, or aids in growing hair more rapidly? When I click on some of your links, the sites you provide are anecdotal, personal stories from Amazon, not scientific research. Thanks!

    1. Carole Avatar

      Hi Robert,

      While I don’t have any clinical studies on castor oil, there have also been comments posted about using emu oil for hair growth and a study was done to examine the effects. The anti inflammatory ability of emu oil addresses one of the causes of hair loss, which is inflammation of the hair follicle. By taking care of the inflammation the follicles are able to get back to the task of producing hair.

      Dr. Michael Holick, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Physiology, and Dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine, conducted a pilot preclinical animal study using mice to determine the effects of emu oil on skin and hair growth. He published an article in the January 1996 issue of Drug and Cosmetic Industry magazine with his remarkable findings.

      “We found that there was about a 20 percent increase in DNA synthesis, which means that there was a 20 percent increase in the proliferative activity, or the growth activity of the skin in the animals that received [pharmaceutical grade] emu oil, compared to the animals that received corn oil,” said Dr. Holick. “And when we look at the hair follicles, and the thickness of the skin, it showed that the hair follicles were much more robust, and that the skin thickness was remarkably increased, suggesting that the [pharmaceutical grade] emu oil stimulated skin growth and hair growth in these animals. Also we discovered in the same test that over 80 percent of hair follicles that had been asleep were woken up, and had begun growing hair.”

      “A hair follicle goes through a cycle. It goes from a resting stage into an active growth period, and then it goes back to sleep again. We woke up all the hair follicles by stimulating them, and then we wanted to see if we could further stimulate these hair follicles by topically applying emu oil. We found that there was an enhancement in the growth activity of the hair follicles. So it gives us a very good scientific indication that we were stimulating skin growth,” Dr. Holick elaborated.

      Strong Evidence

      Dr. Holick’s study provides strong evidence that the topical application of emu oil may promote skin and hair cell regrowth.
      ————————-

      Hair loss has many causes and there is no single solution or treatment that fits all hair loss cases. It’s worth noting, however, that a growing number of people are choosing emu oil as part of their hair loss solution.

      Using emu oil for hair loss is a natural and safe alternative to many of the hair loss treatments on the market today, which are not only expensive but ridden with unwanted side effects. The deep penetrating and anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil make it a unique option.

      To use emu oil for hair, apply a small amount of 100% pure emu oil 1 to 3 times a day, massaging it gently into the affected area. For some it works best to apply before bedtime and shampoo in the morning.

      Emu oil can be used in conjunction with hair growth products such as Rogaine, and my improve their effects.

      To attain the full benefits of emu oil for hair loss, it’s important to use 100% pure emu oil that has been properly processed and carries the AEA Certified Fully Refined seal. One that satisfies this criteria is Emu Bliss.

  13. Deb Avatar

    I’ve only tried this once. I used castor oil, coconut oil and a little honey for hair loss. ( I have possible Lupus and Ulcerative colitis) I’ve had raynauds and periperal neuropathy for a few years but the hair loss and joint pain started this past year (after a 3 month long bout with pneumonia) blahblahblah.

    So I washed my hair after having the mask on for a few hours and I LOST A LOT OF HAIR…like more than I usually do in the shower. I really wanted this to work ;( My question is, given my f’ed up physiology is it possible that I had an adverse reaction or is this normal?

    Sorry for the word spew. I miss my hair.

    1. Mashaan Avatar

      It could be possible. This is going to sound weird but try using horse shampoo i use to have very fine dull hair but since I started using horse shampoo my hair has been growing faster it’s also very healthy now and thicker which is awesome but always use conditioner on your ends since some types of horse shampoo can dry your hair out. I have purple and blue dyed hair and i still use the horse shampoo. And try drinking biotin its helps with keeping hair, nails and skin healthy 5mg should be enough

  14. Suzana Avatar

    I find extremely easy to remove the oil from my hair and scalp if I do the treatment overnight and use a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water first thing in the shower.
    I spray the mixture all over my scalp and massage with the tip of my fingers. You can feel how it breaks the oil straight away. Then you can use your favorite shampoo, or just stick with the bicarb. Super quick an no mess!

    1. Wizmo Avatar

      Yes you can use castor oil regularly. You can even mix coconut oil with castor oil.

  15. showrov sharif Avatar
    showrov sharif

    I got thinny & silky hair on my head. Earlier in 2005
    I’d suffered in tuberculin. Since my childhood I used have a problem in my lung like I usually could not tolerate any bad smell or smoke from trucks & vehicles & also can’t endure painting smell or any either . Later on 2012 I caught asthma . I never smoked . Neither alcoholic. Just after 2005/06 I noticed that my hair is falling gradually . And after 2009/10 the falling of hair tremendously increased. Jow how can I get back my silky & thin hair . All of advises will be highly appreciated . Thanks in advance 🙂 (y)

  16. Yugine Avatar

    After using castor oil with coconut oil
    I still got hair loss!!!!!!
    What can i do

  17. Jennifer Avatar

    I have genetically thinning hair. I’m wanting to try the Castor & Emu Oil along with some Rosemary Oil mixture. Does anyone know what ratios I should use?

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