He castor oil It is a very popular remedy for hair care. For centuries in different cultures, castor oil has been used on hair to beautify and strengthen it.

They are granted moisturizing, conditioning and anti-inflammatory properties beneficial not only for the hair, also for eyelashes and eyebrows.

What is castor oil?

Castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from castor beans (Ricinus communis), a shrub native to Africa and India. It is a colorless or pale yellow liquid whose main component is ricinoleic acid (it makes up around 90% of its fatty acids).

This oil has various medicinal and cosmetic usesfrom the treatment of constipation to skin or hair care, and is present in a multitude of products (soaps, creams, hair conditioners,…).

In this video you will find a summary of the main uses of castor oil for skin and hair:

Castor oil for hair: benefits

Castor oil is traditionally used for hair care for its moisturizing and conditioning properties. These are its most notable benefits for hair:

• Ricinoleic oil and other fatty acids present in castor oil help retain moisture in the hairthey keep you hydrated and reduce the risk of breakage. In this sense, it is especially beneficial for the dry hair.
• Additionally, castor oil provides a natural shine to hair and gives it a healthier and more beautiful appearance.
• Its regular use also can improve hair thickness and give volume to the hair.

• Castor oil is also believed to can help hair growthby increasing blood flow to the scalp, although at the moment there are no conclusive scientific studies that support this effect.
• On the other hand, and thanks to his anti-inflammatory propertiescastor oil is good for the irritated scalp care and can help reduce dandruff and other scalp problems that could cause hair loss.

Some of these properties are what make, as we will see later, castor oil also used on eyelashes and eyebrows.

How to apply castor oil to your hair

Castor oil is found in many hair care products, such as shampoos and conditioners, and you can also find it in the form of pure cold pressed vegetable oil (without additives) in herbalists or natural products stores.

Can apply castor oil directly in hair or dilute it in a carrier oil (e.g. jojoba oil) to make it lighter in texture and easier to apply and remove. Before using it, it is advisable to do a test on a small area of ​​skin to check that it does not cause allergies.

To use castor oil on hairfollow these steps:

• Lightly moisten hair with water (either with a spray or by wetting your hands and running them through your hair) to facilitate the absorption of the oil.
• Heat a small amount of oil with your hands and apply it with a gentle scalp massagefor about five minutes. Do not apply too much so that the hair does not become excessively greasy.
• Next, spread the oil to the endsmaking sure it spreads evenly throughout the hair.
• Leave it on for at least 20 minutes before rinsing it out and washing your hair with your usual shampoo. You can repeat it once a week.

Other uses of castor oil: eyelashes and eyebrows

Castor oil is not only good for hair care, it is also beneficial for maintaining hair. hydrated eyebrows and eyelasheswith a greater thickness and shine and prevent them from being weak or breaking.

Furthermore, its richness in fatty acids can contribute to a healthier environment for hair growth on eyebrows and eyelashes.

When applying castor oil to the eyelashes you must be special care so that it does not get into the eyesas it could irritate them. It is not advisable to use it if you have sensitive eyes or any type of eye problem.

It’s better apply it at nightso that it acts for longer:

• First of all, remove your eye makeup well and wipe your face.
• Apply a small amount of castor oil on the eyelashes or eyebrows with a small brush or cotton swab of cotton and let it act.
• In the morning, wash your face with soap and water to delete it.