How Castor Oil Can Help Moisturize Your Scalp and Hair (2025)

There's no science to back up claims that castor oil is good for hair. Nevertheless, some put this age-old traditional medicine remedy on their scalp to moisturize the skin, reduce dandruff, and improve hair smoothness, strength, and shine. Some say castor oil can also help grow eyebrows and eyelashes.

Castor oil comes from the castor bean, which is rich in ricinoleic acid—a type of fatty acid known to fight inflammation.

This article discusses how to use castor oil for your hair and the purported benefits. It also covers what to look for when choosing a castor oil product and the possible side effects.

Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair

Many claims have been made about the benefits of using castor oil on your hair. However, little evidence supports the anecdotes that say it improves hair health and growth.

Here are a few claims about castor oil and hair growth:

• It increases blood flow to the scalp, which promotes healthier hair.
• Applying castor oil once a month can boost hair growth up to five times the usual rate.
• It can moisturize a dry, irritated scalp.
• Castor oil's antibacterial and antifungal properties can reduce dandruff.
• It can help grow hair in other body parts, like the eyebrows and eyelashes.

Some people claim castor oil's benefits for hair are related to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants keep free radicals from damaging the body's healthy cells. This destructive process is called oxidative stress, and it's linked to many health effects, including hair loss.

Castor oil also contains omega-6 fatty acids—a type of essential fatty acid that may promote hair growth and reduce inflammation in the hair follicle.

How to Use It

If you're interested in using castor oil for hair growth, try rubbing just a few drops into your scalp. You can also massage a few more drops into your hair's midsection and ends to help protect against breakage and improve its texture.

Castor oil is heavy and very sticky, which makes it hard to remove from hair. It's best to mix castor oil with other natural oils like coconutor jojoba.

Diluting the castor oil can also tone down the scent, which many people find unpleasant. Mix one part of castor oil with two parts of another carrier oil to dilute it.

No exact guidelines exist for how long you should leave castor oil on your hair. That said, leaving it in too long can dry out your hair and scalp. To prevent drying, wash the castor oil from your hair after about two hours.

Applying Castor Oil to Eyebrows and Eyelashes

If you want to use castor oil on your eyebrows or eyelashes, be very careful not to get any of the oil in your eyes.

Do a patch test before you use any new product, including castor oil, on your skin. Put a little drop of the oil on your hand or face and wait a few hours to see if it causes irritation or an allergic reaction.

A clean eyelash brush or mascara wand and a brow brush are cosmetic tools that will make the application process easier.

To apply castor oil to your eyebrows:

1. Make sure your brow brush is clean. If you don't have a brush, you can also use a clean Q-tip.
2. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
3. Pour a small amount of castor oil into a cup or small bowl.
4. Dip the brush into the oil and let the excess drip off.
5. Run the brush over each eyebrow to coat the hair. Make sure that the oil is not dripping down into your eyes. The amount of oil you'll need to create a thin layer will depend on how thick your eyebrows are. (You may not need very much if your brows are thin.)
6. You can decide how long you'd like to leave the castor oil on your lashes. If you do it as part of your morning routine, you might leave it on for a few hours. If you do it before bed, you might leave it overnight.
7. When it's time to remove the oil, wash your face as usual (for example, in the shower or with warm water and a gentle cleanser).

To apply castor oil to your eyelashes:

1. Make sure your lash brush or mascara wand is clean.
2. Gently cleanse your face and pat dry.
3. Pour a small amount of castor oil into a cup or dish.
4. Dip the brush into the oil and let the excess drip off.
5. Carefully apply to your top and bottom lashes as you would mascara. Be careful not to get any of the oil in your eyes.
6. There is no hard rule about how long to leave the castor oil on your lashes. If you've used it on your hair before, use that as your guide. Generally, you can leave the oil anywhere from a few hours to overnight. Just make sure you wash it off before you put on any cosmetics.
7. When you're ready to remove the oil, wash your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser.

What to Look For

When shopping for castor oil, you might see some products that say "cold-pressed" on the label. This means the castor seeds were pressed into the oil without heat or harsh chemicals. Many say cold-pressed oils are the best quality and more nutrient-rich than those processed with heat.

One of the most popular castor oil products for hair care is Jamaican black castor oil. This variety is made with roasted castor beans and the ash the roasting process produces. Jamaican black castor oil is considered especially good for thick, dry, and/or coarse hair.

Side Effects of Using Castor Oil on Hair

There's some concern that using castor oil as a hair treatment may lead to acute hair felting—a rare disorder in which the hair becomes tangled into a hard mass. Since the condition is irreversible, cutting off the affected hair is the only solution.

Consuming large amounts of castor oil can also be harmful. Castor oil should not cause these side effects when applied to your hair, but ensure that you or others in your home do not accidentally swallow it.

Side effects of ingesting castor oil include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Hallucinations
  
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath and chest pain
• Skin rash
• Throat tightness

Precautions and Concerns

Castor oil can stain your clothes and towels. Covering your head with a shower cap, an old t-shirt, or a towel until it's time to wash your hair will help prevent the oil from dripping onto your clothes or other items.

Remember that your hair may require two applications of shampoo to remove the castor oil completely.

If you're considering using castor oil as a remedy for hair loss, remember that hair loss can be a sign of an underlying health condition. Before treating it at home, talk to your provider if you notice unexplained hair loss.

Summary

Castor oil is popular among natural beauty enthusiasts who claim that applying it to your scalp can boost your hair's health, shine, and growth. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims, although some nutrients in castor oil—like antioxidants and fatty acids—are known to be beneficial for health.