Castor Oil for Hair Growth: Myth or Magic?

For decades, people have sung about the benefits of castor oil for hair growth and hair thickening. But at The Hairy Pill®, we like to maintain some healthy scepticism. 

So we’ve taken a good look at castor oil and the science behind it to see if there is any credibility to the miracle hair growth claims or if there’s an imposter in our midst! 

Key takeaways

• Castor oil is a vegetable oil cold pressed from castor beans.
• It contains an omega-9 fatty acid called ricinoleic acid which may be anti-inflammatory. It’s also antibacterial and antimicrobial. 
• There’s no scientific evidence to support claims that castor oil can grow your hair faster, make it longer, or prevent hair loss.
• There are other, more effective men’s and women’s treatments for hair loss and hair growth. 

Jump ahead

• What is castor oil?
• Is castor oil good for the hair?
• The benefits of castor oil for hair growth
• How to use castor oil on your hair
• Side effects of castor oil for hair
• Can castor oil cause hair loss?
• Try a hair growth treatment backed by clinical studies

What Is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is a vegetable oil made from castor beans. It’s odourless, pale yellow, and a favourite with masseurs (hello!). 

Traditionally, castor oil has been used as pain relief, a laxative, and to induce labour. The great Egyptian Queen Cleopatra herself even believed the thick oil would brighten the whites of her eyes (disclaimer: it does not). 

Here in the 21st century, many people still swear that castor oil is great for the hair. Anecdotally, it may seem like we’re onto a good thing. But scientists remain on the fence about it.

Is Castor Oil Good for Hair Growth?

Castor oil contains many potent properties but whether any of them will help you grow your hair longer and stronger remains to be proven. 

No published research exists that can verify any claims that castor oil is the miracle hair growth cure you’ve been looking for.

So as much as we’d love to give you a solid answer, the truth is that we just don’t have the data to back up the hearsay yet. Fortunately, there are other hair loss and hair growth treatments that have been clinically proven to work. So maybe you won’t need to resort to castor oil after all.

Long story short: we don’t know for sure that castor oil is good for hair growth or hair thickening. It doesn’t contain any of the active ingredients typically associated with hair regrowth yet many people swear castor oil is good for the hair.

Let’s look into why that might be…

The Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair Growth

While the so-called magic of castor oil for hair growth remains anecdotal for now, there are a few benefits that suggest castor oil may have a role in improving the health of your hair..

It’s a proven anti-inflammatory

A whopping 75–95% of castor oil is made up of ricinoleic acid. This omega-9 fatty acid is a proven anti-inflammatory and may help reduce inflammation of the scalp that causes flaking, dryness, or tenderness. 

It has antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties

Castor oil is also a triglyceride, which is known to have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties to help with the skin’s healing. For this reason, castor oil is commonly applied topically to protect, moisturise, and hydrate the skin, including the scalp. 

It contains emollients and occlusives

A lot of people swear that castor oil improves the health of their hair thanks to the emollients and occlusives found in the fatty acids in castor oil.

Emollients act like hair conditioner, hydrating and softening the scalp and hair strands. Occlusives wrap around the strands and seal in the moisture while protecting against further damage.

It’s rich in antioxidants

Castor oil is also rich in antioxidants (like Vitamin E), which have been found to protect the body’s cells from free radical damage (which may play a role in the aging of hair). 

How to Use Castor Oil on Your Hair 

As we’ve said, there are better hair health treatments out there than castor oil but if you’re keen to give it a go, a word of caution: 

Castor oil is sticky, heavy, and hard to clean out of your hair. It doesn’t boast the nicest smell either. Many people recommend diluting it by mixing one part castor oil with two parts of another carrier oil, like coconut oil. 

It can also stain your clothes and towels. Cover your head with an old t-shirt, towel or shower cap until you wash your hair. 

To try castor oil at home, you can simply massage a few drops into your scalp, especially around your hair’s midsection. Don’t forget the tips of your hair. 

Leave it in for about two hours to allow the oil to penetrate the hair follicles and shafts — any longer and it may dry out your hair and scalp. Simply wash your hair as normal — you may need to shampoo twice to get it all out. 

Since too much caster oil can cause a build-up, it’s best not to use this treatment more than once a week. 

Watch out for these side effects if you use castor oil on your hair

Before you figure there’s nothing to lose by giving castor oil a go, it’s worth looking at the potential hair-raising disadvantages of castor oil topically. As with any new topical treatment, it’s best to test a small amount on a patch of skin first.

• Some people may have an allergic reaction to castor oil — in fact, a study has found that castor oil may even be the possible cause of allergic contact dermatitis. 
• Although exceptionally rare — as in, only one case has ever been documented — castor oil may cause acute hair matting, which can only be fixed by cutting off the affected hair. 
• If you have seborrheic dermatitis, castor oil may also exacerbate your symptoms since the fungus that causes it feeds on the lipids in oils. 

Not hair-related but a hairy detail to mention: Castor oil has strong laxative effects while overdosing on it can lead to intestinal cramping and nutrient malabsorption. It should not be ingested.

Since it has been used naturopathically to induce labour, women who are pregnant should also consult with their medical professional before using castor oil.

Can castor oil cause hair loss?

Possibly. Again, there are not a lot of studies to verify this claim, but castor oil is astringent, which means it may irritate the skin. That in turn can lead to dry or sensitive skin and possibly even hair loss. 

Try a hair growth treatment backed by clinical studies

We don’t know everything there is to know about castor oil yet. Its dermatological effects are still being studied. But we DO know that the best course of treatment for hair loss or thinning hair involves medical professionals. 

At The Hairy Pill®, we will connect you with both a doctor and a pharmacist to create a hair growth treatment made just for you. You may even be recommended The Hairy Pill® hair loss treatment for men or women’s hair loss treatment.

To apply, you just fill out a 5-minute online questionnaire. Get started now.