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Remove any makeup or dirt from your eyelashes and eyebrows with a gentle cleanser. "Castor oil comes from the seeds of a castor bean plant known as Ricinus communis," says Dominic Burg, MD, chief scientist and hair biologist at Evolis Professional. "It's considered to be poisonous, but the oil extracted from the seeds is quite beneficial for the hair."
Everything Castor Oil Can—and Can’t—Do for Your Skin, Hair, and Lashes
Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. 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. I prefer to make my own, but there are some pre-made options (this is a good one that I’ve tried in the past). Dr. Clay is a board certified dermatologist who studied at Dillard University.
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Risks and Side Effects
Since then, in addition to practicing dermatology, she has founded her own skincare line, Maei MD. Mix four parts of a carrier oil (jojoba or coconut oil both work) with one part castor oil. “Castor oil tends to have a moisturizing and nourishing effect on the hair, so typically those with dry, brittle, or curly hair may benefit most from use,” Dr. Luke says.
Hair Products
But there's no science to back up claims that it treats dandruff or promotes hair growth. In other words, “it’s difficult to draw conclusions on how influential these properties will be on our actual skin,” Dr. Hollmig explains. Still, there are some science-backed reasons to consider adding castor oil to your routine, like the following. Some people use castor oil to grow longer hair or to treat hair loss, also known as alopecia. It’s marketed as a treatment for dry scalp and other scalp conditions as well. Explains that if you looked at the molecular structure of castor oil, you'd see that it's a glycerol with a long-chain fatty acid.
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“Castor oil helps nourish hair, leaving strands feeling and looking stronger and healthier,” Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC and New Jersey, adds. Both Dr. Amin and Kingsley agree that there are no quality scientific studies clearly showing a benefit of castor oil for hair growth. "The thinking is that castor oil increases blood flow to the scalp and reduces inflammation, both of which are beneficial for hair growth," Dr. Amin explains. However, as with any hair oil, it's important to start small and be aware of how your hair type responds to oil products. "For those with coarse, curly or dry hair, they may wish to apply castor oil to the ends of hair and leave in, as it’s a fairly light oil," says Dr. Marcus.
Antibacterial

Studies indicate that the ricinoleic acid in castor oil protects the scalp and shaft of the hair from fungal and microbial infections. After being extracted from the seeds, the oil is filtered and steamed to remove ricin, a toxic component that could cause rancidity. What’s left is a vegetable oil rich in compounds such as ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, proteins, antioxidants and more. The thing about castor oil is that it's very dense, so it's important to use it on your hair correctly and sparingly. "It doesn't spread very well, so it takes forever to wash off, which can have a negative impact on the hair and scalp health," says Catalá.
How to Use Castor Oil to Promote Healthy Hair
And there’s a good reason it’s so noteworthy in the beauty arena for both skin and hair. Plus, it also contains high concentrations of fatty acids, which naturally have emollient benefits to hydrate and soothe the skin, scalp, and hair. Even though some people regularly use castor oil as part of their hair care routine, there’s no scientific evidence that castor oil helps promote hair health, stimulates hair growth, or reduces hair loss.
Or, get rid of dandruff with a DIY treatment.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the many castor oil benefits for hair that your strands need to know about. “Fatty acids provide essential proteins and nutrients to hair follicles and prevent hair follicle inflammation,” says Bridgette Hill. Dr. Garshick points out that although castor oil can be used by all hair types, it is especially good for those with dry hair. But the condition of your scalp plays an important role when deciding to use castor oil on your hair or not.
But that’s if you’re prioritizing nutritious foods, incorporating positive coping mechanisms for stress, and keeping your scalp and hair consistently moisturized. And even then, it can take up to 90 days to see a long-term change in the health of your hair, explains Hill. Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from castor beans that’s usually colorless, but can also be yellow or deep brown, depending on how it’s made. Jamaican black castor oil is one of the more popular variations and has a thicker consistency, due to the fact that it’s boiled with ash, giving it a warm, roasted scent. If you want to use castor oil on your eyebrows or eyelashes, be very careful not to get any of the oil in your eyes.
This versatile oil has been used to treat various health conditions, from joint pain to digestive issues. Castor oil - it's not just for your grandma's medicine cabinet anymore. This unassuming little oil packs a serious punch when it comes to skin and hair health. I'm talking moisturizing, nourishing, and even promoting hair growth. There is not enough research to know if castor oil is safe for breastfeeding people.
It's a natural vegetable oil, so it will biodegrade in the environment and will keep your locks moisturized while you swim. Here's how you can take advantage of the powerful attributes of castor oil in your homemade hair care products to fight frizz, condition your strands, moisturize your scalp, and protect your hair. There's also anecdotal evidence to suggest it can be effective on the eyelashes and eyebrows.