How to Use Castor Oil to Promote Healthy Hair

Does castor oil promote hair growth? How long do you leave it in? Your questions, answered

Co-authored by Shun Pittman and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: March 18, 2023 References Approved

Mixing the Oil

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Using the Castor Oil

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

Castor oil has long been used to remedy a number of common hair troubles. It can reduce frizz, ease tangles, and add a lustrous shine to your ‘do, all thanks to its high amounts of vitamin E and antioxidants.^{[1]
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Research source} And while claims that it promotes hair growth aren’t medically certified, there’s little reason not to give it a shot.^{[2]
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Research source} We’ll show you how to mix and prepare your castor oil, then massage it into your scalp and hair to give you the mane you deserve!

Things You Should Know

Combine a small amount of castor oil with an equal amount of another hair oil, such as argan, avocado, or jojoba oil. Thoroughly mix the oils in a jar.
Place the jar in a large bowl, then surround it with hot water for 2-4 minutes to create a hot hair mask.
Dampen your hair with water, then dip your fingertips into the oil mixture. Massage the oil into your scalp for about 5 minutes.
Distribute the oil through the rest of your hair with your fingers, then throw on a shower cap and let it sit for 20 minutes. Finally, shampoo it all out.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Mixing the Oil

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Gather your castor oil, a secondary oil, and your other supplies. Treating your hair with castor oil is simple enough, but there are a few ingredients and tools that make it even more effective and easier to apply, such as a secondary oil to mix with the castor oil for easier application.^{[3]
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Research source}. Here’s what you’ll need for this method:
- Castor oil
- Other hair oil (We recommend argan, avocado, coconut, jojoba, or sweet almond oil.)
- Hot water
- Large bowl
- Jar
- Shower cap
- Towel
- Old shirt (recommended)
2
Dilute the castor oil with an equal amount of another hair oil. Castor oil is fairly thick, and mixing it with another oil makes it a little easier to apply. In a jar, combine 1 part castor oil and 1 part of another common hair oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil.^{[4]
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Research source} You only need about 2–3 US tbsp (30–44 mL) of each, and you can always mix more.
- Use cold-pressed castor oil if you plan to distribute the oil throughout your hair, and black castor oil if you only want a scalp treatment. It’s thought that cold-pressed oil is gentler on hair.^{[5]
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  Research source}
- Try the following combination: 3 tablespoons (44 ml) of castor oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of jojoba oil, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of coconut oil.
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3
Add a few drops of essential oil to mask the smell. Some people find the scent of castor oil unpleasant. If this bothers you, add in 2 to 3 drops of a fresh-smelling essential oil, such as tea tree oil. Or, mix a few drops of rosemary, peppermint, cedar, and thyme oil to create an essential oil mixture that targets hair growth.
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Shake the jar vigorously to mix everything together. Once all your ingredients are inside the jar, close the lid tightly. Then, shake the jar for a few minutes, or until everything is well-incorporated. Ideally, the mixture will be uniform and free of any separation.
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Place the jar in a large bowl of hot water for 2-4 minutes. Heat water on the stove or in a kettle until it just begins to boil. Then, place the jar into a large, heat-resistant bowl, and pour the water into the bowl around the jar, until the lower half of the jar is submerged. Heating the oil this way makes a hot oil treatment. The warm oil more easily saturates your hair and seeps into your scalp.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Expert Interview. 11 May 2021.}
- Do not attempt to warm the oil in the microwave, which can overheat the oil and cause injury when you apply it to your scalp.
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Pour the warmed oil into a small, shallow bowl. This will make it easier for you to dip your fingers into when you go to apply it. Also keep an eyedropper handy, if you have one, which will make for more precise and easy application.
- If you don’t have an eye dropper, you use a spray bottle.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Using the Castor Oil

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Dampen your hair to help the oil absorb into your scalp. Although castor oil can be applied to dry hair, dampening your hair may help the oil absorb better. Mist your scalp with a spray bottle of water, or wet your hands and run them along the length of your hair, starting at your scalp. Make your hair just a little damp, but not dripping wet.^{[7]
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Research source}
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Cover your shoulders with a towel. This will protect your clothes from oil splashes or drips. In addition, wear an old T-shirt to avoid getting oil stains on your good clothes.
3
Massage the oil into your scalp for 3 to 5 minutes. Dip your fingers into the oil, then spread it between your roots and across your scalp. Massage your head with your fingertips using small, circular motions.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Mark Rosenfeld
Dating & Relationship Coach
Expert Interview. 14 April 2021.} Don’t use too much oil, but just enough to coat your scalp. A little bit goes a long way!
- Alternatively, use an eye dropper to drip the oil onto various points on your scalp. This may be easier and less messy. Be sure to massage the oil into your scalp for about 5 minutes.
- Alternatively, dip a cotton ball in the oil and use it to apply the oil to your scalp.
4
Apply the oil to the rest of your hair. Wet your fingers with a little more oil and rub it between your palms. Then, run your hands across your hair, from the roots to the ends. Use your fingers to comb the oil through your hair; this helps distribute the oil. Again, start with a small amount. You do not need a lot of oil.
5
Cover your hair with a shower cap. Loosely pile your hair on top of your head, then put on a shower cap. If you need to, keep it in place with a claw clip. The shower cap will trap the heat inside, and it will keep your hair from drying out.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Expert Interview. 11 May 2021.}
6
Wrap a hot, damp towel over the shower cap. Warm up a towel by soaking it with hot water under a shower head. Twist the towel to get any excess water out, then wrap it around your head. Tuck the end of the towel in under your "turban," or secure it with a large hair clip. The heat from the towel will make the oil more effective.
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Wash the oil out of your hair after 20-30 minutes. After about 20 minutes, step into the shower and shampoo the castor oil out of your hair.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Expert Interview. 11 May 2021.} Wash your hair until the oily feeling is completely gone. Some people find that washing with just conditioner—skipping the shampoo—is more effective than using shampoo.
- If your hair doesn’t feel overly oily or heavy after the treatment, you may choose to leave the oil in instead of washing it out.
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Apply oil to your scalp once a week, or according to your preference. Start by applying the oil once a week, and then shift to more applications if your hair continues to feel dry. Or, use fewer applications if your hair becomes uncomfortably oily.^{[11]
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Research source} Keep in mind that you may not see results like thicker or stronger hair the next day; use the castor oil treatment for 2-3 months before expecting any dramatic changes.
- If you begin to notice buildup from the castor oil on your hair and scalp, use a clarifying shampoo. This helps remove any buildup in between castor oil treatments.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you use castor oil on curly hair?

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)".

Shun Pittman

Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author

Expert Answer

Yes, it works great for really curly hair types. It can help lubricate the hair and weigh down the curl pattern so the curls are longer.
Question

Can we use castor oil for hair daily?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Castor oil is too heavy for most hair types to use on a daily basis. However, if you have very dry hair you may be able to add a few drops to your ends every day.
Question

How does castor oil stimulate hair growth?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Castor oil contains many beneficial nutrients and hydrating oils. If your hair is already healthy, using castor oil probably won't increase its rate of growth. But if your hair is damaged, nutrient deficient, or dry, castor oil can help correct these imbalances and increase growth. When combined with scalp massage it also increases blood flow to the follicles, encouraging growth.

Warnings

Castor oil may darken light-colored hair. This is not too noticeable, and it is not permanent.

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Apply a small dab of castor oil to the inside of your wrist as a test for irritation before applying it to your scalp. Wait 24 hours, observing the spot for adverse effects.^{[14]
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Avoid ingesting castor oil if you are pregnant or suffer from long-term digestive issues.^{[15]
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Note that castor oil has not been clinically proven to promote hair growth.^{[16]
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