Although you can apply castor oil to dry hair, dampening your hair may help the oil absorb better. A quick way to dampen your hair is to fill a spray bottle with water, and spray just your scalp. Your hair should just be a little damp, not dripping wet.
As long as you are applying on clean hair, it's completely alright if the hair is damp or dry. However, damp hair has the tendency to absorb better so if you are looking for an effective treatment, apply oil when your hair is damp. To ensure the hair is not dripping wet, you can towel dry it once.
To use castor oil for hair growth, apply a few drops to your scalp and massage it in. You can also apply castor oil to dry hair as a hair mask. Rub the oil into your hair, then cover your head with a shower cap for around two hours. Wash well with shampoo and style as usual.
It should be thought of as a weekly treatment and is not meant for daily use. He suggests applying a small amount of castor oil to dry hair once per week, leaving it on for 30 minutes or longer, then washing it out with a clarifying shampoo.
Fine and medium hair should smooth castor oil through their mid-lengths and ends, leaving it on for up to 30 minutes before shampooing. Coarse, thick, and ultra-dry hair types, on the other hand, can leave castor oil in as an overnight treatment or smooth it over their ends as a leave-in.
Applying the Castor Oil:
You can put a few drops of your oil mixture into the palm of your hand and then massage it through your wet hair, being sure to get it into the roots, the scalp, and down to the ends of your hair. Then, leave it on for several hours, or overnight, before rinsing it out.
Massage it nicely on your hair and scalp and let it absorb. Let the oil stay for at least 15-20 minutes. Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo followed by a conditioner. Use a towel to dry your hair.
Leave it in for 15 to 20 minutes minimum, and then shampoo it out of your hair. You can wet your hair beforehand in order to make the oil soak in better. Do note that, for some, castor oil can be difficult to work with because of its tendency to stick.
A common side effect of using castor oil on hair is acute hair felting. This is a serious condition, where the hair twists and entangles and turns into hard mass like a stone that resembles a bird's nest. This condition, if started once, is hard to get rid of.
The tl;dr: no. "Castor oil will not grow hair," says Perry Romanowski, a cosmetic chemist and the author of Beginning Cosmetic Chemistry. "There is no evidence for it and no scientific theory supporting that it would work. So yes, it's a total myth."
You can wash out a castor oil mask with warm water by using your usual shampoo. Possibly you will need to shampoo multiple times.
Unlike other oils, castor contains several nutrients that consist of a powerful mix of proteins, vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants. Hence, it provides the scalp with the nourishment it requires. This doesn't just prevent hair loss but also ensures healthy hair growth.
Essentially, castor oil traps moisture in the hair, smoothing the cuticle, which makes it the perfect ingredient for those with frizzy, coarse or curly hair that typically lack moisture. By nourishing and protecting against future breakage it improves hair texture that in turn can aid healthy hair growth.
Prevents Hair Fall
Massaging your scalp with castor oil helps make the roots stronger and prevent hair fall. It has the ability to trigger and stimulate hair growth from dormant follicles.
Depending on your hair type, and your purpose for oiling up, you can use castor oil on your scalp, your ends, or all over. An overnight application is always best in our opinion because it gives lots of time for this thick seed oil to penetrate hair.
Allow castor oil to deeply penetrate and nourish your scalp by doing a hot oil treatment. Heat up your castor oil in a pot or microwave to a safe to touch temperature and apply to freshly washed or dampened hair. It's best to apply the oil section by section, smoothing the oil down the hair shaft from scalp to tip.
Castor oil is a common ingredient in soaps, coatings, lubricants, and other commercial products. It contains several allergenic proteins, including ricin, which research indicates is a potent and dangerous plant toxin.
While castor oil is considered safe in small doses, larger amounts can cause abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea ( 2 , 5 ). Although it can be used to relieve occasional constipation, castor oil is not recommended as a treatment for long-term health concerns.
Applying oil does not cause hair growth either on the face or on the body.
Being very astringent in nature, castor oil can cause irritations to the skin. This could further lead to dryness, sensitivity, and even loss of hair and that's clearly not something you would want. In fact, there have been a lot of instances where people have developed dermatitis after using castor oil.
It's best to apply the castor oil before taking a shower. You can wet your hair first if you wish. You can also use it early in the morning, before your morning shower. If you shower every morning, leaving it in overnight isn't a big deal, and for people with dry scalps, it might even be beneficial.
No, there is no evidence that using castor oil can cause hair thinning or hair loss.
Many hair care professionals suggest castor oil should not be used more than once a week. Castor oil is heavy, and if used often, the oil can build up on your hair and make it appear greasy.