Castor Oil for Hair: One Answer to Many Troubles

Nowadays, we cope with ailments using more modern methods, and castor oil is increasingly moving into the category of cosmetic rather than medicinal preparations. But here it is clearly not going to give up its positions! And above all in the field of hair care. Are you worried about dandruff, split ends, hair loss? With castor oil this is no longer a problem.

Beneficial properties of castor oil for hair

Coconut oil is obtained from the fruits of coconut palms. Burdock from the roots of burdock. Flaxseed from flax seeds. What wonderful plant is castor oil squeezed from?

There is no mystery here. A thick, colorless or yellowish liquid with a specific odor and unforgettable taste (those who have tried it understand what we are talking about) are obtained from castor beans, so nicknamed for the similarity of its seeds to forest mites. It is from them - of course, from seeds, and not from mites - that the famous castor oil is extracted. High-quality, full of useful substances, is obtained using cold pressing; To produce low-grade oil, hot pressing and solvents are used.

Why has castor oil, since time immemorial, enjoyed a reputation as an excellent restorative and strengthening agent for hair? It is no coincidence that it was mentioned in the scrolls of Ancient Greece and papyri of no less than Ancient Egypt!

This thick oil is a whole collection of useful substances and fatty acids, each of which is useful in its own way:

• ricinoleic strengthens hair roots;
• linoleic and oleic relieve dryness;
• linolenic protects skin and hair from harmful environmental factors;
• stearic copes with flaking, reduces dandruff, relieves irritation;
• palmitic acid promotes enhanced nutrition of the follicles;
• carotenoids moisturize hair and reduce its fragility;
• triterpenes restore collagen in strands and make them softer;
• tocopherol serves to nourish cells.

Castor oil restores curls damaged by coloring and careless care, reduces the number of split ends, smoothes and glues open hair scales, accelerates the growth of strands, improves the appearance of hair, gives thickness, strength, softness, additional volume and healthy shine.

Interesting fact: castor bean is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the most poisonous plants on earth, and all thanks to the toxic ricin that this insidious plant accumulates in its seeds. Fortunately, ricin is deactivated during the production process, and therefore you can use castor oil for the beauty and health of your hair, nails and skin without any fear.

The use of castor oil in the care of hair of different types

You need to use any cosmetic product skillfully, and castor oil, which can not only heal and restore your hair, but also turn it into untidy sticky icicles, in particular.

1. Owners of oily hair should not apply castor oil to the roots or be too frequent with cosmetic procedures. Make masks no more than once every 1–10 days and do not use oil in its pure form. Your allies will be any drying components that partially neutralize the unpleasant consequences of using castor oil, but at the same time allow you to get the maximum benefit from it: alcohol, vodka, cognac, as well as lemon juice and kefir.
2. Women with dry hair will benefit from using castor oil more often. You can apply it to the roots and ends of your locks 1, or even 2 times a week, but in courses: if you do 8–12 procedures, give your curls a break. In addition, you are allowed to use castor oil without additives, although other vegetable oils, honey and glycerin will be useful in such masks.
3. For hair of normal or combined type, the frequency of encounters with the “great and powerful” castor oil is determined individually. Just monitor the health of your hair and you can easily choose the best option for yourself.

Daily treatment of the head with castor oil is contraindicated for everyone, regardless of hair type. It is also advisable not to leave it on your head overnight: due to its viscosity, with prolonged contact with the skin, castor oil clogs pores and deprives cells of oxygen.

Masks for hair growth and strengthening

Any cosmetic mask with castor oil is made according to the same algorithm: mix all the necessary ingredients, apply to the problem area (roots, ends, main length), wrap your head in cling film and put on an insulating cap or a warm towel. After the required time has passed, the hair should be thoroughly washed with plenty of warm water and shampoo and be sure to allow the strands to dry naturally. Well, now about the masks...

with ginger

Take:

• 1–2 tbsp. l. castor oil;
• 1 tbsp. l. finely grated fresh ginger root;
• 1 the egg.

Grind all the ingredients in one bowl, apply to the scalp along the partings, warm and leave for 20-30 minutes.

With onion juice

Take:

• 1–2 tbsp. l. castor oil;
• 1–2 tbsp. l. gruel from finely chopped onions or the same amount of onion juice;
• 1–2 yolks.

The mixture turns out to be quite strong in terms of smell, but effective. Apply it to the root area, lightly massage the skin with your fingertips, leave the mask under a hood for about half an hour, and then wash your hair and rinse your strands with clean water diluted with lemon juice (half a medium-sized citrus per 1 liter of water) to get rid of the smell of onions.

Before use, castor oil should be slightly heated in a water bath. This way it will more fully demonstrate its beneficial properties, and in addition, it will be easier to mix with other components of the mask.

From split ends

It is impossible to restore split ends, but proper nutrition and regular haircuts will help get rid of this problem over time. In the meantime, you will create a healthy menu and make an appointment with the hairdresser, masks based on oils and gelatin will help give damaged curls a well-groomed look.

With oils

Take:

• 1 st. l. castor oil;
• 1 tbsp. l. olive or almond oil;
• 2-3 drops of sandalwood, geranium, rosewood, ylang-ylang or vanilla essential oil.

Mix both types of fatty oil, add the selected essential oil and treat the ends of your hair with the resulting mixture. Wrap them in plastic wrap and leave for half an hour and then wash with shampoo.

with gelatin

Take:

• a few tablespoons of chamomile decoction (1 tbsp dry herb per glass of boiling water);
• 15 g of gelatin;
• 1 tbsp. l. castor oil.

Pour gelatin with cold herbal decoction, let it swell and heat over low heat until completely dissolved, then mix with castor oil and apply a warm mask to the ends of your hair. Wrap them in plastic wrap, heat them with a hairdryer and finally hide them under a thick towel. This mask lasts from 40 minutes to an hour.

Castor oil is quite viscous, so you sometimes have to wash it off your hair in 2 steps. To heal your curls without damaging them with frequent bathing, purchase a mild shampoo that does not contain aggressive surfactants.

From falling out

Let's make a reservation right away: if hair loss is caused by hormonal imbalance or another disease, castor oil will help little. Go to a specialist, get your health in order, and once again you will have a lion’s mane to the envy of those around you. But if the curls simply lack nutrients and proper care, cosmetic procedures will do their job.

With kvass

Take:

• 1 st. l. castor oil;
• 1 tbsp. l. burdock oil;
• 2 tbsp. l. natural bread kvass;
• vitamin B12 in ampoules (sold in pharmacies).

Combine all the components of the mask, distribute over the scalp and the entire length of the hair and leave under a warm hood for 1–1,5 hours.

With pepper

Take:

• 0,5 tsp. tinctures of red hot pepper (pour 100 ml of vodka over the finely chopped pod and leave to infuse in a dark place for 20 days);
• 1 st. l. castor oil;
• 1–2 yolks.

Grind the yolks with oil and pepper tincture, apply to the hair roots, especially to the area of ​​bald patches, if any, and leave under a warm hood for 10–20 minutes, depending on how you feel. If you feel a strong burning sensation, do not tolerate it, wash off the mask earlier.

For dandruff

Dandruff affects everyone: both owners of oily locks and owners of dry locks. But it is possible and necessary to fight it, especially since masks with castor oil, if used correctly, will not only get rid of this scourge, but will also make the hair soft and silky, lemon juice will help normalize the activity of the sebaceous glands, and salt will strengthen the follicles.

With lemon

Take:

• 1 tsp castor oil;
• 1 Art. liter. lemon juice;
• 1 tbsp. l. calendula flowers;
• 100 ml water.

Prepare a decoction of calendula and half a glass of boiling water, cool to a temperature that is pleasant for the skin and whisk with lemon juice and castor oil. Apply the resulting product to the scalp along the partings, distributing the remainder along the entire length of the hair, and leave under plastic wrap and a towel for 30–40 minutes.

With salt

Take:

• Castor oil;
• 1 tbsp. l. finely ground sea salt.

Pour enough oil into the salt so that it is completely saturated with it. Wet your hair with warm water, take a handful of salt, apply it to your scalp and gently massage it with your palms for 5-10 minutes. Proceed delicately so as not to scratch the skin or cause inflammation! After finishing the massage, leave the salt mass on your hair for another 5-10 minutes and then rinse.

If you add 1 tbsp to the salt scrub. l. onion juice, its effect will be greater. But then don’t forget to rinse your hair with lemon water.

From gray hair

Traditional recipes do not help turn back time, but they provide a rush of blood, and with it nutrients, to the hair follicles, refresh the color, slow down the appearance of gray hair and even help get rid of it. One minus, if you are over 50 years old, masks will be ineffective.

With carrots

Take:

• 2 st. l. castor oil;
• 1 st. l. carrot juice;
• 1 art. l. lemon juice.

Beat all ingredients until smooth, apply to scalp and leave under a warm hood for 1-2 hours.

With brandy

Take:

• 1 st. l. castor oil;
• 1 Art. l cognac;
• 1–2 tsp. honey;
• 1 yolk;
• 1 tsp. black pepper.

Combine all the components of the mask, apply the resulting mixture to the scalp along the partings and leave for a couple of hours under a towel, and then rinse.

If you first beat the cognac with 1 tbsp. l. yogurt, your hair will become softer and acquire a pleasant shine.

For thickness and volume

Castor oil, in principle, has a beneficial effect on the thickness and strength of hair. But it is worth supplementing its effect with other ingredients suitable for the occasion, and the benefits of the mask will increase many times over.

With henna

Take:

• 1 st. l. castor oil;
• 2 st. l. colorless henna;
• some warm water;
• 2-3 drops of citrus essential oil.

First, pour warm water over the henna until it becomes a thick paste, then add the remaining ingredients to it and apply the resulting mass to the hair roots. Action time: 1–2 hours.

With mustard

Take:

• 1 st. l. castor oil;
• 1–2 tsp. mustard powder (depending on skin sensitivity);
• 1–2 tsp. starch;
• hot water.

Dilute mustard powder with hot water to a thick paste, soften it with starch and mix with castor oil. Apply the resulting mass to the roots of your hair, warm it well and leave for 20–30 minutes. Among other things, this mask accelerates the growth of strands.

For baldness in men

The stronger sex rarely and reluctantly resorts to the help of cosmetic masks. However, when your hair is in danger of falling out, you have to learn from the experience of your wonderful friends and turn to traditional medicine for help. Fortunately, there are many of them. For example, even a super brutal man who has never dealt with any other cosmetics in his life except shampoo and shower gel will not cost anything to devote 15–20 minutes to a short head massage in the evening.

Massage

Pour 2-3 tbsp into a separate container (glass, glass, jar). l. castor oil and heat it over steam to a temperature slightly above body temperature. Now, arm yourself with a cotton pad, generously apply castor oil to the roots of your hair and carefully massage your scalp with your fingertips for 5-10 minutes. Wait another 10 minutes and then rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo.

To enhance the effect of the oil, try...

1. Mix it in equal proportions with other fatty oils - olive, almond, burdock, jojoba, avocado.
2. Add 3-4 drops of essential oils to the massage base. Oils of cinnamon, rosemary, sage, chamomile, lavender, thyme, bay leaf and carrot will be especially useful.
3. Additionally, enrich the massage mixture with the contents of 1-2 capsules of tocopherol (vitamin E), which is freely available in pharmacies.

Advice. It is not recommended to save time and heat up the entire bottle of oil at once, rather than a strictly measured portion for one use, since after each such procedure the oil will lose some of its beneficial properties and in the end you will be left with a bottle of cloudy oily liquid of unknown purpose.

For colored hair

Although the new generation of dyes treats hair much more carefully than perhydrol and other killer products from the times of our mothers and grandmothers, too frequent “changes of color” are not good for them. Dyed hair weakens, loses volume, becomes thinner... This means that urgent therapy is required in the form of a course of restorative masks with castor oil!

With dimexil

Take:

• 1–2 tbsp. l. castor oil;
• 1 tsp. dimexyl;
• contents of 1 ampoule of vitamin A.

All this must be combined in one container, mixed thoroughly and applied to the scalp using a cotton pad or sponge. And then everything is traditional - a warm cap, 30 minutes of waiting and water with shampoo.

With coconut oil

You will need:

• 2 st. l. castor oil;
• 1 Art. l. coconut oil;
• 1 st. l. wheat germ oils.

Melt coconut oil in a steam bath, mix with two other oils and treat the scalp, and then the entire length of the strands. Leave for 1-2 hours under a warm hood. By the way, instead of one of the additional oils, you can add the same amount of fish oil to the mixture.

Keep in mind that vegetable oils have the ability to absorb paint pigments, and don’t be surprised if after a course of castor oil-based masks, your renewed color brightens by 1-2 tones.

For dry hair

Have your already dry locks lost their elasticity and manageability and become more reminiscent of tow? Pay attention to fermented milk products and glycerin. These are your faithful assistants.

With kefir

You will need:

• 1–2 tbsp. l. castor oil;
• 3–5 tbsp. l. kefir;
• 1 st. l. aloe juice.

Combine everything, beat with a fork or whisk and treat your hair with the resulting mixture from roots to ends. Keep the mask on for about an hour, thoroughly insulating your head with a plastic bag and a towel.

With glycerin

You will need:

• 2 st. l. castor oil;
• 0,5 tbsp. l. glycerin;
• 10 g yeast;
• freshly brewed green tea.

Dilute the yeast with warm green tea, let it sit for a quarter of an hour, add glycerin and castor oil to the mixture and treat the scalp and hair at the roots. The mask lasts for 2–3 hours.

For oily hair

For oily curls, getting acquainted with the healing acids of castor oil will also not hurt, but this meeting must be organized with special caution.

With calendula

You will need:

• 2 st. l. castor oil;
• 2 tbsp. l. alcohol tincture of calendula.

Whisk both ingredients, treat the entire length of the hair and leave the mask for 1–1,5 hours for the beneficial substances to penetrate the top layer of the skin and hair structure.

General Purpose Tools

If you are satisfied with the condition of your hair, but would not mind supporting and once again strengthening it, shampoos and hair sprays enriched with castor oil will come to the rescue. No, you don’t need to run to the cosmetics store to get them! Both can be easily done at home with your own hands.

Enriched shampoo

1. Measure out 1 tbsp. l. castor oil.
2. Heat it in a water bath.
3. Combine warm oil with 3 tbsp. l. shampoo.
4. Wash your hair as you usually do.
5. Apply the prepared portion of shampoo with oil to clean strands, whip up foam and massage your head a little.
6. Rinse your hair well with running water.

Castor oil spray

1. Pour 250 ml of mineral water into a spray bottle.
2. Pour 1-2 tsp here. castor oil.
3. Add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil.
4. Shake the bottle well and spray the product onto your hair.
5. Repeat the procedure once a day, vigorously shaking the container with the spray before each use.

Get into the habit of rinsing your hair with a herbal decoction or water acidified with lemon juice after each bath. This will help remove any remaining castor oil if it lingers in your curls after shampooing.

Combination of castor oil with other home cosmetology products

Another huge advantage of castor oil is its versatility. A viscous liquid interacts without problems:

• with other fatty and essential oils;
• with alcohol tinctures;
• with clay;
• with herbs;
• with spices (cinnamon, pepper);
• with dairy products;
• with eggs;
• with henna;
• with dimexide;
• with vitamins

...and many other products. So, if you have a favorite cosmetic hair mask in mind, you can add a spoonful of castor oil to its composition - the result will certainly not disappoint.

Hair lightening

We have already mentioned that castor oil has the ability to slightly change the color of dyed strands. But that is not all! Many girls use it to lighten the natural shade of their hair. Of course, oil will not help a brunette become a blonde, but it will be able to slightly lighten the curls of brown-haired and fair-haired women. But this is not a quick process, so be patient: a minimum of 10–12 procedures will be required.

Option 1

Mix 1–1,5 tbsp. l. castor oil with the juice of half a lemon, treat the resulting mixture along the entire length of the strands and leave under a plastic bag and towel for 1–2 hours. Rinse off with warm water and shampoo.

Option 2

Whisk 1,5 tbsp. l. castor oil with 3 tbsp. l. kefir and 1 tbsp. l. honey. Apply the mask to your hair from roots to ends and leave to act for 3-4 hours.

Option 3

Combine a few quail eggs with a spoon of castor oil and 3-5 drops of essential oil of your choice. Spread the mixture onto your locks and leave for 1-2 hours.

Pregnancy Use

Potential mothers have a complicated relationship with castor oil. On the one hand, taking it internally as a remedy for constipation, which so often affects pregnant women, is strictly prohibited: castor oil causes activity of the uterus and stimulates labor, which entails the risk of miscarriage.

On the other hand, it is during hormonal changes in the body that hair especially needs care and additional nutrition, so moderate use of oil as a cosmetic product is not only not prohibited, but even encouraged. However, if you are in doubt, talk to your doctor about this, he will give accurate recommendations.

It is known that castor oil has a very unique aroma, which to some people resembles the spirit of freshly baked bread and beer, while to others it seems unbearable. And since pregnant women often begin to perceive odors acutely, the usual masks may not be available to you for this very reason.

From lice

The idea of ​​using castor oil in the treatment of head lice did not come out of nowhere. It has a more or less logical basis: they say that a sticky film of oil covering the scalp will make it difficult for parasites to move, eat and even breathe and will eventually lead to their complete destruction. However, practice shows that this method works extremely ineffectively, so it is better to use it only as an auxiliary one.

To combat lice, it is recommended to mix castor oil with essential oils of tea tree, lavender or rosemary.

Contraindications for use and possible harm

Of course, you know that any product, no matter how safe and useful it may be, has its contraindications and precautions. This also applies to castor oil.

Thus, it should not be applied to areas of the skin covered with a rash or with mechanical damage: wounds and scratches.

People who are allergic to it should not use castor oil. To accurately determine whether you are one of them, after purchasing the coveted bottle, apply a couple of drops of castor oil to your wrist and wait 15 minutes. Redness, burning and itching will be a sure sign that you need to look for another cosmetic product.

Reviews on the use of castor oil for various hair problems

Professional trichologists generally have no problem using castor oil in hair care treatments, as long as the type of hair is taken into account and precautions are taken. What do ordinary users say about it?

I didn’t take any special measurements of hair growth, but I can definitely say that during the active use of castor oil (with pepper tincture) for winter, the growth is noticeable. In addition, it had a positive effect on strengthening hair. How to remove castor oil from hair? Firstly, it must be heated before application to reduce the viscosity. Secondly, you need to mix it with other oils. They also recommend adding yolk to the mask, but I can wash off the oil quite well even without it.

I’ve seen entire threads on forums dedicated to the question “How to remove oil from hair? Shampooing 10 times doesn’t help!” But after a long search, I found my own method among the most popular. 1. DO NOT wet your hair 2. Apply shampoo to DRY hair and lather thoroughly. Very, very carefully. 3. When we have treated everything with shampoo, then you can rinse with water and rinse with shampoo a second time.

I used the oil 3 times a week. After 3 weeks, the hair became thick, but remained flexible and manageable. I also noticed that my hair stopped being frizzy, although previously it could stick out unattractively in different directions, no matter how I styled it. The oil is not washed out very well; you have to use shampoo in two batches. But all this torment is worth the result, when within a week you can notice strong hair growth and the disappearance of dandruff and split ends.

I have been using castor oil for many years. With its help, I strengthen my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and use it on dry facial skin against wrinkles, dryness and flaking. For hair, I take castor oil in its pure form or mix it with Tea Tree essential oil. You can add a few drops of vitamins A and E. I heat it a little in a water bath and rub it into the scalp. The effect after such masks is always obvious and amazing. The hair is strong, shiny, grows well and does not fall out.

Excellent oil! An indispensable product for my hair and eyelashes. Pour castor oil into a bottle and in the evening apply this oil from the tips to the middle of the eyelashes, after 15 minutes we soak the residue, but do not rinse it off, and go to bed. I also used this oil on my hair, applied it to the ends once a week and left it for a couple of hours. The result is thicker eyelashes and healthier hair.

Castor oil is a rather unique remedy. Too thick, too dense, too smelly, it's not for everyone. But if you are not afraid of some difficulties when using castor oil, and have enough patience to put cosmetic procedures with it on a regular basis, after 2-3 weeks you will notice the first positive changes. A full course of 10–12 procedures will simply transform your curls, giving them thickness, strength and a well-groomed appearance.

The main thing is, do not forget about precautions, buy a mild shampoo and do not be lazy to prepare decoctions for rinsing. Then the care will be as complete as possible.