5 Benefits of Castor Oil On Hair for Natural Shine

When I think of castor oil, I think of some television shows where a child was forced to take a spoonful to his or her displeasure. Their grimace made me believe that it had a horrible taste, which isn’t so. In fact, it is tasteless and colorless, but it’s thick so it takes some getting used to when taking orally.

Castor oil has plenty of benefits all around including working as an organic moisturizer, an anti-inflammatory agent, and it even fights acne. But what about our hair? While every part of the body serves a purpose there is no denying that our hair holds a lot of weight. The overwhelming amount of products available to keep it beautiful is a testament to its importance.

You will be amazed at the ways this carrier is good for your hair. While we go over these effects we will also throw in hints on how to apply it for growth and shine. Make sure you use a refined version because the unrefined can be toxic. The advantages we are covering are applicable to Jamaican castor oil or the lighter version.

1 – Helps With Loss

No one wants to lose their hair, and while it might seem unavoidable, there are ways you can try to prevent it from happening. When it comes to hair loss from things like fungal or bacterial infections, this is a wonderful treatment. The properties in this oil have the power to cure the irritations they cause on your head.

There are a number of essential oils that are also wonderful advocates when it comes to fighting hair loss. Some of them include lavender, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass, and thyme. All you need to do is add a few drops of your favorite scents on this to half castor oil and half jojoba and massage it into your scalp. It needs to be mixed with another carrier for easier application.

Compounds in the mixture should give your hair a growing boost. While there is no scientific proof that castor oil actual makes hair grow, the way it works on the types of disorders that can lead to loss makes it defender nonetheless.

2 – Keeps The Moisture In

Dry hair can be the result of the environment, how you are caring for it, and even a sign of a deeper health issue. If you live in an area that is hot and dry, spend a lot of time in the sun, or are constantly swimming in water with chlorine or salt then your hair might be dry.

Other things they may zap the moisture from your curls could we that you wash it too much, use products that are damaging to the root and follicle, dyes, chemical treatments like relaxers, blow-drying frequently, and using heated irons and curlers. Medical problems include hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, anorexia nervosa, and Menkes syndrome.

As it turns out, this carrier is a natural moisturizer because it has an abundance of ricinoleic acid. This acid acts as a humectant by preserving moisture where it’s applied. Castor oil is used in commercial moisturizers but if you want to go chemical free, it’s best to create your own blend free of toxins.

A simple recipe could be a drop of tea tree oil, five lavender, and two or three ylang-ylang and then fill your receptacle with equal parts castor and avocado. Shake well and store it in the bathroom. Put some in your palm and apply it to your relaxed hair as you would any other gel or mousse. You should find your hair retaining moisture.

3 – Clears Dandruff

It would be difficult to find a person who doesn’t know what dandruff is. Even if you don’t suffer from it, the commercials offering relief from what some people believe to be an embarrassing condition. While it isn’t a sign of anything serious nor is it contagious, no one wants flaky dead skin cells showing up on their sweater.

There are several reasons why someone might develop a dandruff problem. Seborrheic dermatitis, otherwise known as oily, irritated skin, Malassezia, which is a yeast-like fungus, dry skin, not washing your hair often enough, and contact dermatitis, which is being extra sensitive to products or dyes.

Men have dandruff more often than women, and most people who develop it do so when they become an adult. Illnesses like Parkinson’s disease and HIV are more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis. The latter is due to their weakened immune system. Researchers are still searching for a link between Parkinson’s and that particular type of inflammation.

This is where this powerful carrier comes in. The ricinoleic acid that we mentioned earlier is also an organic fighter of irritations like the one that causes dandruff. A nice home remedy includes castor oil, fractionated coconut oil, and with a few drops of lavender and rosemary. You can use it once a week to start. Massage it in the scalp and let it sit.

Before you apply a homemade blend, make sure to do a spot check first in case of irritation. Also, know the proper ratios to use when creating mixtures. When it comes to essential oils, a little goes a long way. You can even add a little to your shampoo.

4 – It Fights Fungus

We’ve already mentioned the yeast-like fungus that can cause dandruff, but this isn’t the only type that can affect your hair or the scalp that holds it down. There are several other fungi that attack the hair and is able to make us lose the precious locks we wear as a crown on our head.

Ringworm is one, which isn’t a worm but a fungus that infect an area and makes a ring. When you contract ringworm on your scalp, you can develop a bald patch. Piedra is another, and this fungus infects the hair fibers and results in hard black or white bulges on the hair. Folliculitis is another that causes the hair follicles to become inflamed.

As it turns out, this seed extract is tough on fungus as well. It has been proven to work for several types of fungal strains. If you want to make a fungi-battling blend, mix some tea tree oil with lavender and maybe one drop of clove. Add some castor oil and some grapeseed to thin it out. Apply that to the infected area and watch it clear up.

5 – Adds Brilliance

If someone tells you you’re brilliant, you should say thank you and revel in the fact that you have a sharp mind. When it comes to another part of our head, the hair, brilliance means the glowing, shiny, and filled with luster. Who doesn’t want their hair to have those qualities? I sure do.

Let’s face it, when it comes to appearance, as much as we want to work toward a society where we don’t judge others by how they look, we are still very much embedded in one, especially in westernized societies. Looking good is important, but do you know why? Delilah knew, which is why she cut Samson’s off. Because hair is power.

Some believe that women are more likely to be judged by how they look but, there is a multi-billion dollar industry that revolves around restoring hair for bald men. They advertise on billboards, television, and even on our social medical newsfeeds. But, companies offering hair restoring treatments aren’t the only ones who are raking in the money.

Beauty is arguably one of the largest sections of commerce in the world today. In 2017, the cosmetics industry took in over 500 billion dollars only to be topped by a seven percent increase in 2018. They expect that number to rise to nearly 900 billion by 2024. Let’s face it, the numbers don’t lie. Looking good is big business, but do you know what goes into those products? Castor is from the Earth and has been proven to add luster to even grey hair when applied topically.

Conclusion and Cautions

We love our hair and want to keep what we have. As you can see, this carrier can help you do that if blended well with other oils like jojoba and different scents. Before you start dousing your head with castor oil, it’s important to understand the issue you are dealing with and if this is the right step.

So we always recommend consulting a healthcare professional especially if you suspect you are dealing with one of the more serious issues we’ve discussed in this piece. Thank you for reading and if you like what you read, please let us know in the comments section below. If you have used castor oil, write any reviews you have there as well.

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