How to Grow Thicker Hair Strands with Castor Oil

Learn how to thicken your hair strands, regrow bald spots, and thin hair with these castor oil recipes for hair. 

Castor oil is obtained from the castor bean native to Africa and Asia. The oil is usually cold pressed from the castor seeds.

Most castor oil is colorless and odorless but some brands appear to be a pale yellow. Castor oil is thick and has a viscous consistency.

In this castor oil for hair post, I’ll be covering:-

• Benefits of castor oil for hair
• Why castor oil is great for growing hair
• Castor oil vs Jamaican black castor oil
• Best castor oil recipes for hair
• Castor oil side effects
• Where to buy the best castor oil for hair

My earliest memory of castor oil was being forced to imbibe it to treat constipation as a child.

Fortunately, by the time I reconnected with it as an oil for recovering from hair loss, I had gotten over my aversion to it.

Castor oil contains high amounts of ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid found only in castor oil.

Castor oil is a common ingredient in cosmetic formulations and has many benefits for the hair and skin. 

Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair

1. Anti-inflammatory and Antifungal

The ricinoleic acid content in castor oil has high levels of anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.

This makes it effective for eliminating dandruff and treating other scalp conditions such as dryness. It can also help calm irritated skin.

2. Moisturizing

Castor oil contains triglycerides, which help maintain moisture, combat frizz, and smoothen the hair cuticles.

3. Regrow Bald Spots and Stop Thinning

Castor oil is known to stop hair loss, regrow thin areas of the scalp, and thicken the hair strands in particular.

It was one of the primary tools in my arsenal when I was dealing with hair loss and it went a long way in helping me regrow bald spots my bald spots.

Castor oil can also help with eyelashes and eyebrows.

Read Grow Thick and Luscious Eyebrows and Eyelashes with Castor Oil & Vitamin E.

4. Can Enhance Henna & Indigo Treatment

I noticed a hot oil treatment that includes castor oil a week or so after a henna and indigo treatment may have helped retain the color longer than usual.

It should also help to enhance natural hair color when used in treatments. 

Related Hair Growth Resources

Castor Oil vs Jamaican Black Castor Oil

There are some views that Jamaican Black Castor Oil, which is processed differently from castor oil, works more effectively.

For more information on these two different oils, read:-

• Thicken Your Hair Strands with Jamaican Black Castor Oil 
• Differences Between Castor Oil and Jamaican Black Castor Oil

How to Use Castor Oil for Hair 

Scalp Massage Treatment 

You will need 3 – 5 tablespoons of castor oil depending on your hair length for this scalp massage treatment. 

• Apply castor oil directly to your scalp and massage in thoroughly then leave on for about an hour.
• Wash with a mild shampoo then follow up with a good deep conditioning session.  

Castor Oil Hair Growth and Thickening Treatment

You will need castor oil and another carrier oil with a thinner consistency for this recipe. 

• Massage castor oil into your scalp in the evening every few days. No need to wash out.
• As it is extremely thick and can be a little annoying to work with, thin out with other natural oils for hair growth such as emu oil or pumpkin seed oil. However, you can mix it with any carrier oil you prefer if hair growth isn’t your primary concern.
• Add in 3 – 5 drops of hair growth essential oils such as peppermint essential oil or tea tree essential oil.
• On the weekend or your next wash day, add a few tablespoons of castor oil to your deep conditioning treatments.

Castor Oil Recipe for Frizzy Hair

• Apply a dash of the diluted castor oil version to the length of the hair to help fight frizzy and/or dry hair.

For best results, wet the hair slightly before applying castor oil. It smoothens on better when hair is damp.

Always buy castor oil that is cold-pressed and hexane-free. Refined and adulterated castor oil will clog up your pores and lead to breakouts. The right kind of castor oil is tasteless, odorless, and colorless.

Castor Oil for Hair Side Effects

Castor oil is a gentle oil. However, some people have reported skin irritation, itching, and breakouts when using castor oil or JBCO.

In this case, check if the culprit is something else in your product stash or if the castor oil brand you’re using is 100%  cold-pressed.

If you’re able to pinpoint it to castor oil though, then it means castor oil just doesn’t agree with you.

In this case, there are several other oils that are equally effective for hair loss. A lot of them have been featured in the Hair Loss Archives. 

Where to Buy Castor Oil?

There are several brands of castor oil out there but after research and testing, I’ve narrowed it down to the top 5 picks below: –

Now Foods Castor Oil

Banyan Botanicals Organic Castor Oil

Molivera Organics 100% Pure Castor Oil

Heritage Store Castor Oil

Home Health Castor Oil

How to Grow Your Hair Healthy and Long with Natural Oils

Interested in learning more about natural oils and how to use them for specific purposes to achieve optimal length and health?

Have a look at How to Grow Your Hair Healthy and Long with Natural Oils.

It’s a comprehensive guide about natural oils and is available in Kindle and paperback format. Subscribers get up to 10% off. Check it out HERE.

Castor Oil for Hair Growth FAQs

Can You Put Castor Oil in Your Hair Every Day?

You can put castor oil in your hair every day but in moderation and diluted with other oils. It still depends on the reason though.

If you’re using as a scalp massage oil or hair sealing oil then every day should be ok. When your hair is in a protective style, applying oils every day is a big no.

Can Castor Oil Make Hair Curly?

Castor oil cannot make your hair curly. That’s not how natural oils work on hair. It can form a cast against your hair after gel application which will enhance curl formation and longevity.

How Do I Wash Out Castor Oil?

You should be able to wsh castor oil out with a regular shampoo or a sulfate free shampoo. You can also wash it out with a shampoo bar.

Ideally, you should dilute castor oil a bit before application as the consistency is quite thick and might make your hair greasy.

Can Castor Oil Thicken Hair?

Yes, castor oil can thicken hair and improve hair density when used frequently and properly as directed.

Jamaican black castor oil is another oil that can help thicken hair. Learn more here.

If you have any more questions about using castor oil for natural hair, drop them in the comments section.

Abi is a curly hair expert who delved into the world of natural oils after severe hair loss issues. Through her research, study, and testing, she was able to regrow her bald spots & a healthy head of hair. She is the founder of Healthy Natural Hair Products & Ade Ori Hair Care, and the author of the highly-rated Healthy Hair Care Series. She continues to study hair science, Ayurveda, and natural and healthy solutions for hair and skin. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines…