How To Use Black Castor Oil For Hair Growth And Get Results
We’ve all heard the myths, the tricks, and the old wives tales that claim to have the secret recipe to achieving long, mermaid-worthy hair. Some distant relatives claim that scratching your scalp daily with a fork is the key to long hair, others guarantee that apple cider vinegar is nature’s secret elixir to hair growth, some say you should lay upside down for a few hours a day.
Black castor oil is another age-old remedy we’ve all been told is a miracle worker for gaining inches, but is this just another tale our grandmas have passed down through generations or is it actually true?
Black castor oil has been commonly used in tons of hair and skin care products as it’s believed to accelerate hair growth, fight scalp infections, heal acne, and balance pigmentation. With a list like that, it does sound like a miracle product.
Thankfully, most of the benefits black castor oil claims are true. It’s why African Pride created an entire black castor oil collection around this nourishing and revitalizing ingredient. Not all products however, are created equal. Specialized formulas with pure black castor oil are necessary to ensure you’re getting the maximum benefits you can. Let’s take a closer look at how to use black castor oil for hair growth and added moisture. Plus, the best methods to ensure you see results.
What is Castor Oil?
Unlike olive oil or coconut oil, the origins of black castor oil aren’t as commonly known. Castor oil comes from the seeds of the tropical Ricinus communis called castor beans. The beans are harvested and pressed, sometimes with chemicals depending on the manufacturer, creating a thick oil rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids.
Ancient Egyptians supposedly used a version of this oil as an elixir meant to boost the immune system. There are two basic types of castor oil, black or yellow. Yellow castor oil is made by cold pressing fresh castor beans while black castor oil is made by using heat to extract it from roasted castor beans.
Sometimes this is referred to as Jamaican black castor oil because that’s where the idea to roast the beans first originated. Some versions are thicker in consistency because they are boiled with ash, giving the oil a roasted scent.
How Castor Oil Moisturizes Natural Hair
Humectants are moisturizing agents often found in various lotions and shampoos to promote hydration. They are the base for many African Pride products because curly hair is especially prone to dryness.
Castor oil is a wonderfully effective humectant, as it moisturizes and conditions the hair and scalp naturally. It locks in moisture and shields strands from dust and dry air, making it ideal for keeping your wash and go hair hydrated in warm temperatures.
Many cleansing products with harsh ingredients end up causing more harm than good because they strip away the hair’s natural oils, causing increased dryness and irritation. Castor oil’s essential fatty acids help restore the skin’s natural moisture, soothing and reviving dull, dry hair from the root to tip.
How Castor Oil Protects the Scalp
Many oils typically offer only surface-level benefits, but castor oil thoroughly enriches the scalp with Vitamin E, proteins, minerals, and fatty acids. Trusted research shows that its high concentration of omega-9 fatty acids, specifically ricinoleic acid, gives it many anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
These special properties help the scalp fight bacteria that may cause infection or irritation. Castor oil’s omega-9 and omega-6 fatty acids also help increase blood circulation and stimulate the hair follicles. All of these nutrients keep the scalp healthy and clean so it can feed your curls the nourishment they need.
How Castor Oil Promotes Hair Growth
Countless testimonies of curly queens have claimed they saw major hair growth after using castor oil. While using this ingredient won’t cause your hair to grow overnight, it essentially gives your hair and scalp the best possible starting point for growth.
Black castor oil provides the intense moisture and natural conditioning that encourages your locks to flow and if your length has been stunted by inactive hair follicles, the ricinoleic acid in black castor oil can reactivate them and increase blood circulation, which will jumpstart new growth.
The nourishing fatty acids and Vitamin E also keep hair strong against split ends, so new growth will stick around and add to your inches instead of being subject to breakage. Its deep cleansing ability also clears excess oil and buildup away from the scalp, eliminating a common prohibitor of growth. All of these things that black castor oil accomplishes each contribute to healthier, stronger hair follicles that control growth.
Using Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth
The primary goal of our Black Castor Miracle collection is to support hair growth in protective styles. Two of the main reasons we choose protective styles are to give hair a break from constant manipulation and to lock in moisture so it can spend more time growing and we’ve formulated each product to leverage black castor oil’s benefits throughout the entire process.
The first and most important part of growing out your hair is stimulating the scalp. Essentially, the scalp is where the magic happens. Before putting hair in a protective style or in-between wash days, reach for the Hair & Scalp Sealing Oil paying special attention to massaging the formula into your scalp and midsection.
Use a similar method with our Scalp Cleansing Rinse, this time leaving the formula in for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out to allow your scalp to fully soak up all the benefits. For a more intense, ultra-hydrating treatment reach for a weekly or bi-weekly deep conditioner like our Deep Penetrating Conditioner Treatment.
To get the most out of this formula, apply conditioner generously to clean, wet hair, cover hair with a plastic cap, and apply moderate heat for up to 30 minutes. Rinsing thoroughly when done.
Each of these products utilizes black castor oil in unique ways to nourish your curls and stimulate hair growth. While you can’t expect instant results, proper natural hair care and specialized black castor oil products will help to elongate and moisturize your curls and coils. Happy growing!