Why You Should Add Castor Oil To Your Hair Routine.
A terribly underrated hair oil, Castor oil doesn’t tend to rank highly on the lists of must have hair oils for many naturals, with coconut oil receiving most of the rave, much attention isn’t paid to this highly effective and beneficial product.
What is so great about it?
Aside from the mere fact that it is both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, Castor oil is hailed by any that have tried it for drastically increasing hair growth. I wrote about it previously in an article on growing thicker hair, where I credited it for being a key contributor to my hair being as thick as it is now. Many naturalistas report seeing their hair almost double in thickness and the rate of growth.
JBCO, Short and Styled By Alex Njeri.
Castor oil’s ability to rapidly boost hair growth comes from its main ingredient; Ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid improves blood circulation to the scalp, the acid also promotes hair growth in new follicles, often resulting in the growth of hair with stronger roots. Castor oil is also high in protein and omega 3 fatty acids, all these qualities combine to completely nourish the hair, strengthen roots, boost circulation, keep dandruff and any scalp ailments at bay, as well as promote growth of new strands from hair follicles. All these add up to longer, thicker hair as well as a healthy scalp.
These qualities also make castor oil especially useful for transitioning and new naturals, they slowly heal the scalp and hair from previous heat and chemical damage. (This is most likely the reason Shea moisture’s grow and restore product range features Jamaican black castor oil as its core ingredient)
With all these benefits there must be a con right? Many shy away from castor oil due to its thick consistency, which can easily lead to a greasy feel this is however not an issue if you use the oil sparingly.
Though it is largely hypoallergenic, some people have reported allergic reactions to it. Like with all products, it’s best to apply a small amount on your arm first and observe the reaction before applying it to your scalp.
How to Use castor oil.
For hair use, Jamaican Black castor oil is the most preferred, Castor oil can and should be used on both the hair and the scalp. You can do so in the following ways;
Scalp use: As stated earlier Castor oil has a thick consistency, many naturals including myself prefer to mix Castor oil with a lighter oil, in my case that would be coconut oil. I add as little as ¾ of a teaspoon to about 4 tablespoons of coconut oil, and apply that onto my scalp. (Not the all of it though, just enough to moisturize my scalp). Castor oil is often applied twice a week, however if your scalp is especially dry you can apply a mix of castor and an oil of your choice thrice a week. (You can apply castor oil solely onto your scalp if you wish, however many just prefer to mix it with a lighter oil)
Hair use: You can use a small amount of Castor oil and coat it onto damp hair after applying styling products, I have noticed whenever I do this, I get better definition and shiny curls. Castor oil’s sealant properties also serve well when used after styling products.
Split ends; if you struggle with split ends, tangling and breakage at the ends of your hair, consider coating castor oil only onto dampened ends of your hair, you may then tuck the ends into a loose messy bun before bed. This can be done as much as three times a week.
I used castor oil to grow out my edges as well, coating my hairline with a little castor oil three times a week.
As castor oil works on all hair follicles, it is also a well-kept secret to growing long eyelashes and healthy brows, if you intend to use it for lashes, buy a disposable mascara wand and coat you eyelashes nightly. You can rinse it off with warm water and a cotton swab the next morning (do not do this if you have eye problems/sensitive eyes, as it could easily irritate your eyes)
That’s all for this post, than you for checking it out!
Xo- Alex
