If you have an itchy scalp or dry hair, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it in fantastic shape. You’ll probably invest a lot in expensive products to fix those issues. But you don’t have to splurge to treat your hair. In fact, one bottle of castor oil may solve all your hair problems.
Castor oil is a colourless or sometimes pale-yellow substance derived from castor beans. The beans are rich in ricinoleic acid, which helps against inflammation. It has moisturising properties, which make it ideal for treating dry skin and hair. Many people also vouch for castor oil’s ability to encourage hair growth.
So for maintaining good hair health, castor oil could be an excellent addition to your regimen. Keep reading this blog to know what you can do with this “miracle” oil.
Make A Hair Mask With It
Hair masks are great for eliminating frizz and moisturising dry hair strands. Many hair masks are available in most places that sell skincare and haircare products. But making your own hair mask at home is considerably better since you can adjust the amount of ingredients. And castor oil can be an excellent addition to your homemade mask.
You can buy castor carrier oil online to dilute the other potent oils in your hair mask. Diluting oils is necessary because ingredients are too intense or thick and may negatively affect sensitive skin and hair. So you must dilute the oils in your hair mask before applying them to your head.
Consider this three-ingredient hair mask recipe for your next at-home spa date with yourself:
- 1 tbsp. castor oil
- 1 tbsp. organic honey
- 1 egg yolk
This simple recipe is ideal for people working with castor oil for the first time. The three ingredients are mild enough to treat your hair while protecting your scalp from inflammation caused by allergens.
Use It As Your Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Did you know that you can pre-treat your hair before shampooing it? A pre-shampoo treatment prepares and detangles hair for shampoo and conditioner cleansing, which often involves thorough massaging and scrubbing. The rubbing process while shampooing could be why you may experience hair fallout in the shower.
You can apply undiluted castor oil by combing it through your dry or damp hair with your fingers. Let it rest for 10–15 minutes. Rinse it before starting your regular shampoo and conditioner routine.
Add It To Your Leave-In Conditioner
If you’d instead step into the shower immediately, you can use castor oil as your leave-in conditioner after washing your hair. Put a small amount mixed with your current leave-in conditioner on your palms, and apply it in the middle until the ends of your hair. You can do this conditioning treatment every week to make your hair healthier and stronger.
A leave-in conditioner made with castor oil can also be an excellent hair protectant for when you’re out swimming. Saltwater or chlorine in pools can dry your crowning glory, making them more brittle and prone to hair fall. Castor oil can shield your strands from the harsh chemicals in the water and keep them moisturised for longer periods.
Apply It Directly To Your Scalp
You can apply pure castor oil directly on your scalp despite it being thick and heavily scented. It might be the best way to encourage hair growth, starting from the follicles. Use a dropper to put small amounts of oil where you want it. It can prevent messes by letting you control how much goes out. Otherwise, you can use a cotton ball to dab castor oil onto your scalp.
You may also apply the oil on your eyebrows and lashes. Dip a clean mascara wand into your castor oil, remove the excess, and comb it through the strands. It might make your brows and eyelashes grow thicker and faster in a short amount of time. You can leave it be for a few hours or overnight. Afterwards, wash it off with clean, warm water.
However, you must also know that undiluted castor oil can be sticky and difficult to remove. It may take several runs under the shower to clean off the excess. So you must work with as little product as possible. Too much pure oil might also result in flare-ups or irritation. If your skin reacts badly to it, wash it off immediately.
Final Thoughts
Castor oil is an ideal organic hair product and an alternative to other natural oils such as coconut and jojoba. You can buy it online in stores with pure and organic oils available. So you’ll always have somewhere to get your own bottle of castor oil to apply to your hair.
Note that castor oil, like many beauty products, won’t show its effects overnight. It might take weeks to a few months to see any significant changes.