Castor Oil Treatment for Hair

Castor oil provides many benefits for hair. Castor oil smooths the hair cuticle, adds moisture, makes hair more manageable and controls an oily scalp. For centuries, people created hair treatments out of the seeds of the castor plant, Ricinus communis, for hair growth, hair loss, dry hair and dandruff problems. Today people use both pure castor oil and commercial castor oil hair treatments. The type of hair treatment determines the preparation and application for maximum results.

Castor Oil Selection

Once you decide to use a castor oil hair treatment, you want to choose the right type of castor oil. Different grades of castor oil are available for use in cosmetics, hair care, aromatherapy, medicine, food, household care, gardening and manufacturing. Use a cosmetic or therapeutic grade castor oil for haircare. Cosmetic grade castor oil is designed for use in skincare, cosmetics and haircare. Therapeutic grade is similar to cosmetic grade, but is free of chemical additives.

Look for quality castor oil, preferably organic. Organic standards should deliver a quality castor oil in most cases, because of the rules for no-chemicals plant cultivation. A quality castor oil has a clear, yellow color with a mild, natural plant odor. You should not smell any chemicals or artificial fragrances. After applied, the castor oil does not have lingering scent.

Castor Oil Hair Treatments

A variety of castor oil hair treatment recipes are available for specific hair concerns. Castor oil is most popular as a conditioning treatment. Pure castor oil alone serves as a moisturizing conditioner for dry, damaged hair. Adding castor oil to a commercial hair conditioner can improve the moisture level of hair. You can also mix castor oil with other vegetable oils, such as olive oil, for a deep conditioner.

If you suffer from dandruff or an itchy scalp, castor oil can alleviate the discomfort. Mix castor oil with jojoba for a scalp treatment. Rosemary essential oil also works well with castor oil to balance the oils of the scalp.

Castor oil can help treat hair loss when mixed with thyme, cedarwood, lavender, rosemary, jojoba and grapeseed oil. These essential oils stimulate the hair follicles to encourage hair growth and prevent future hair loss.

Using Castor Oil

You can apply castor oil in a number of ways during a hair treatment. Place castor oil in a clean hair dye applicator bottle to distribute the oil through the hair with less spills during conditioning. Put a shower cap over your hair, and sit under a hood dryer for 20 minutes for deep conditioning.

Smooth 1 drop of castor oil onto the ends of your hair each night as a light daily conditioner. If your hair feels dry, apply 2 drops of castor oil to the entire hair shaft.

Apply castor oil with a cotton ball for scalp treatments. This will lessen mess and ensure that you put the oil on the scalp evenly.

References

• Organic Facts
• Stop Hair Loss Now
• Healthline

Resources

• Castor oil and its derivatives
• Hair Boutique: How to oil your hair
• The Hairfinder: What is castor oil?

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