Natural Beauty Series Part 2: 1-Ingredient Castor Oil Scalp Treatment

Healthy long hair starts with a healthy scalp.

I’ve been using organic coconut oil as a scalp treatment for ages but recently tested something new and this other oil is my new go-to. Coconut oil does work to nourish the scalp and get rid of flakes, but I’ve noticed even better results with castor oil.

Castor Oil & Hair Growth

Castor oil has been used for centuries as a scalp and hair growth treatment, but the recent popularity of coconut oil has pushed it out of the spotlight.

Castor oil is mostly made up of a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid, which is what gives it that thick, rich texture.

An oil treatment is my favorite way to nourish a dry, flaky scalp. (If you have true dandruff, a medicated dandruff shampoo is usually the better fix, since some oils can actually make dandruff worse.)

Women and men can both use this 1-ingredient treatment. If you feel like you’re losing more hair than usual, check in with your doctor or a dermatologist first, since hair loss can have a lot of causes, like thyroid issues or low iron.

Let’s back up for a minute though…

Does castor oil help your hair grow?

Honestly, there’s no good scientific evidence that castor oil makes hair grow faster. What it does do well is condition. Dr. Joshua Zeichner, dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York has stated:

“[Castor oil] is rich in fatty acids and helps coat hair shafts themselves to enhance shine and make the hair itself look thicker. In addition, castor oil has antimicrobial properties. By reducing levels of yeast along the hair follicles, it can help reduce inflammation and subsequently allow hair follicles to function optimally.”

Although it’s anecdotal, I’ve been testing castor oil as a 1-ingredient scalp treatment over the past six months, and I love how my scalp and roots look and feel.

Who shouldn’t use a castor oil scalp treatment:

• Anyone who has hair extensions, as the oil might damage them. If you have hair extensions ask your hairstylist before applying oil to your scalp.
• Anyone with a castor oil sensitivity. Just like with any natural oil, it’s possible castor oil can be irritating to some people. If you’re concerned about this, test a small patch on the inside of your arm and wait 24 hours to see if you have a reaction.

What to look for:

You can find organic cold pressed castor oil in the beauty and body section of most natural foods stores. Look for one in a dark glass container that protects the oil from direct light. I also purchased a small dropper bottle in the body section of my natural foods store for around $3, which makes it way easier to apply the oil to your scalp (see below).

How to Apply a Castor Oil Scalp Treatment

1. Do this treatment once per week for optimal results, or once every two weeks for maintenance.

2. Grab some organic cold pressed castor oil in the beauty and body section of your natural foods store. I like to use a dropper to apply the oil as close to my scalp as possible.

3. Using the dropper (or your fingers) apply the castor oil to your entire scalp. I usually use about two tablespoons total. It will soak into a few inches of hair, but do not apply it down the length of your hair. It’s too heavy and thick, which makes it difficult to wash out and doesn’t really benefit the length of your hair. This is a scalp treatment, not a whole hair treatment.

4. Once the oil is distributed throughout your scalp, use your fingers to gently massage your scalp for 4-5 minutes to ensure it’s evenly distributed and improve circulation to your scalp.

5. Put your hair up and take a rest. Let it sit for an hour. Your head will be visibly oily and almost look wet, with dry ends, so this usually isn’t the time to go run errands. I like to use that time to do a Manuka honey face mask (we’ll talk about that next week!), do some work or chores around the house, or cozy up with a book. Sometimes I apply it the night before I know for sure I’m washing my hair in the morning, but over time the oil can saturate and ruin your sheets and pillowcase so I prefer to not sleep with it in.

6. Shampoo & condition per normal with your favorite sulfate-free, paraben-free shampoo and conditioner. Take extra care when shampooing to gently scrub your scalp with the pads of your fingers to remove all of the oil.

7. Air dry or style as usual. And voila! Your scalp will feel soft and your roots will look shiny.

What about eyebrows and eyelashes?

You can also put castor oil on your eyebrows, and some people use it on their lashes. However, it’s unclear if castor oil is safe for the eye area. You can read more about longer eyelashes without extensions in Part 1 of this Natural Beauty Series.

Nutrition and Hair Growth

Your hair needs good nutrition to grow, and low levels of nutrients like iron, zinc or protein can show up as thinning hair. Eating well comes first, and a good multivitamin can help fill in the gaps.

I’m not an advocate for people taking one-off nutrients, like just biotin for hair growth, as nutrients work together. (High doses of biotin can also throw off the results of some lab tests.)

But remember, supplements don’t work if you don’t take them. Simply buying the bottle doesn’t help, and looking at it every day on the counter doesn’t help either. Opening the bottle and taking the supplement helps.

More in the Natural Beauty Series:

• Natural Beauty Series Part 1: Longer, Thicker Eyelashes without Extensions
• Natural Beauty Series Part 3: The Beauty Benefits of a Manuka Honey Face Mask

Happy Hair Growing!