Black Castor Oil actually does not grow hair. So what does it do and why many claim that Black Castor or Castor Oil grows hair? Castor Oil moisturizes, nourishes and protects hair follicles. This allows hair follicles to get stronger. And stronger hair follicles by default result in healthier and faster hair growth. And when hair is not dry and scalp is well conditioned, hair also grows better. So hair growth is a wonderful side effect from other incredible benefits of Castor Oil. Before we get to how to use Castor Oil, let's explore who can benefit from it - what types of hair (and skin) issues does Castor Oil address.

Here is how we would use Black Castor Oil for a hair treatment. We love using Castor Oil on hair as an overnight treatment once a week for 2 or 3 months. All you need to do is warm up some Castor Oil in water bath (by pouring some oil 2-3 tbsps into a tall glass and putting this glass inside of a bowl of hot water for a few minutes, letting the oil to warm up). Do not microwave or use stove to heat the oil. 

When oil is warm to touch but not hot, wet your hair a little bit by spraying some warm water on your hair roots. And then you can use a brush (a masque brush) to apply the oil to the roots of your hair similar to the way you would apply a hair dye. If hair dye is not your thing and this reference does not make sense, just simply apply oil on your roots and scalp with anything you have available - brush or fingers. Some help from family, friend or a partner might make things easier. Wear something you can easily take off when you are ready to rinse you hair in the morning. Have a towel around your shoulders if you want to make sure that no oil gets on the carpet or areas around you. It is easy enough to contain it all and not make a mess, but here are just some tips from experience. 

We suggest keeping your hair under a shower cap for your hair to stay slightly wet and warm and for Castor Oil to continue doing its work as you rest overnight. It might be a good idea to put a towel on your pillow to protect your bedding from any oil that might escape. In the morning, rinse the oil with warm water in the shower. Shampoo and condition as usual. It could take a few shampoos to get the oil rinsed out. Lather well and condition well. You can add a dash of Henna or Hoba Oil or Pomegranate Seed Oil to seal the moisture and to add some shine and extra conditioning to your hair.

Michelle, the owner of Brows on Upper 15, @browsdenver, is a firm advocate for slow beauty. She shares her insights on how to effectively use Black Castor Oil as a remedy to naturally rehabilitate and grow lashes and brows. Michelle has been doing brows before brows were 'cool' and she is the guru when it comes to natural and beautiful brows and lashes. According to Michelle, "Many pharmaceutical and over-the-counter lash and brow growth products contain an active ingredient called Bimatoprost. While these products can show relatively quick results by altering the natural growth cycle, they have a downside. If you discontinue their use, the brow and lash hairs revert back to their previous state."

According to Michelle, 'Slow Beauty' creates long-lasting effects. "Castor oil has immediate cosmetic effects, providing sheen and control, especially to laminated brows. It locks in moisture, enhancing the health and strength of each hair. But its real beauty lies in its long-term effects."

"Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. These characteristics can help improve scalp health and promote hair growth," explains Michelle. "Ricinoleic acid is thought to reduce inflammation and increase circulation to the hair follicle, thus allowing the follicle to do its hair-building magic more effectively. Brushing the brows and lashes can physically stimulate circulation as well, doubling up the effect. The antimicrobial properties of castor oil also help prevent breakout and inflammation, making it an all-around beneficial treatment for lashes and brows."

And for lashes, the same concept as above applies, but you do not need to apply Castor Oil to your lashes directly. Only apply a thin layer on the top eyelid. Do not massage or rub it in. Just leave it on. Since Castor Oil is thick in consistency, using it at night might be a good idea. And as with all natural ingredients, please stay patient, give it time and you will see the results.

The root cause of hair loss might be more than skin deep. It can be your nutrition, stress level, hydration, internal medical conditions and so much more. While natural ingredients like Castor Oil are not suitable replacements for medical advice and professional help to tackle the actual issue that causes your hair to be unhappy, it can still provide some relief and help with re-growing stronger and healthier hair faster once you know what the culprit for the hair misadventures is.

An unlikely ingredient that not too many people know, Black Castor Oil can be used to clear skin of blackheads. It goes deep into the pores and brings up comedones, little hard particles trapped in the skin. Here is how to use Castor Oil to deeply cleanse pores and help skin rid of blackheads and minimize acneic bacteria. To take advantage of the cleansing superpowers of the Black Castor Oil, all you need to do is to slightly wet your face (it will make it a little bit easier), and apply a small amount of oil to your fingertips. Massage skin for 5-7 minutes in circular motion with your fingertips until you feel little sand-like tiny grains form under your fingertips. Those are the comedones and all the yucky stuff leaving your pores. Pretty easy, eh? Then just rinse your face with warm water and apply your favorite daily moisturizer, like Katari Hoba Oil.

Let's start with the magic beans of Ricinus Communisep or Ricine Noir or Black Castor Oil. Castor Oil comes from a bean that is rich in anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory Ricinoleic (fatty) acid. The pretty light brown bean has a brittle beige shell. When the bean is harvested, it is actually poisonous (if you ingest it). So, if you stumble across a lovely field of castor plants, do not eat them.

But when those beans are roasted, similar process to roasting coffee beans, and cold-pressed into a thick, viscous oil, the poison is no longer there. So don't get scared. It is safe to use externally. Still we do not recommend snacking on Black Castor Oil. I wonder though who was the first person said, let me roast this bean and see if that makes it less deadly. LOL!

We know a bit about Black Castor Oil because we source it directly from the farms in the Egypt's Nile Delta. It is one of the special places on Earth where organic farming is actually still very organic. The rich sediments from the central Africa flow north to flood the lands in Lower Egypt, keeping this soil one of the most fertile on Earth. Plants that grow there are naturally filled with vitamins and microelements that are not as powerful elsewhere. If you want to know more about what and how we source, you might want to read more of our articles and watch our videos. It is not easy, but this is the only proper way to get the full story.