Castor oil: An aid for hair care and beauty

Castor oil is a valid natural remedy to strengthen and nourish the hair in depth. So let’s see how to take care of brittle hair with castor oil.

Castor oil is a slightly yellow liquid oil, very viscous, and with a little intense smell. You can buy it in herbal medicine, and since it is a stable oil, it does not go rancid quickly and can be stored at room temperature in dark glass bottles.

Castor oil is obtained by cold pressing the seeds of Ricinus communis followed by filtration to remove ricin, a toxic compound naturally present in the seed. It contains several fatty acids, including ricinoleic acid, a derivative of oleic acid.

Ricinoleic acid is the main component of castor oil and is responsible for the laxative activity of this oil; it also inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi and is used to treat certain dermatological problems, including acne, dermatitis, and skin inflammation.

Properties of castor oil

Thanks to its filming property and the affinity that it would seem to have for keratin, castor oil is used in cosmetics to strengthen hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, and nails. Castor oil is also used to relieve inflammation of the skin and heal and purify oily and acne skin and treat fungal infections of the skin.

It has an effective action against uneven pigmentation of the skin of the face and hands and is also used to treat the spots that form during pregnancy.

Castor oil strengthens dry, lifeless, dull, and damaged hair from frequent bleaching and permanent. It also prevents split ends and promotes the growth of hair, eyelashes, and nails.

Combined with grapefruit or clary sage essential oil, it is used against hair loss, while with the addition of tea tree essential oil, it is used to combat dandruff and itching due to dermatitis affecting the scalp. However, given its laxative and purgative action, the use of castor oil is reserved almost exclusively for external cosmetic use.

Castor oil for damaged hair: restructuring mask

To nourish and strengthen the hair, once a week, apply a castor oil mask on the hair before proceeding with the usual shampoo. A reinforcing mask is beneficial in the summer months, when the hair undergoes attacks from the sun’s rays and seawater, or when bleaching and permanent are carried out, which dry and damage the hair.

Just a few ingredients are needed to prepare a DIY mask in minutes. Mix:

• 2 tablespoons of castor oil.
• 2 spoons of coconut oil.
• 5 drops of rosemary essential oil.

Coconut oil is a saturated oil that appears solid at temperatures below 25 ° C: if you prepare the mask during the winter months, slightly heat the coconut oil in a water bath before mixing it with castor oil and ingredients.

In a small bowl, form a homogeneous cream by mixing castor oil, coconut oil, and essential oil.

Apply the mask on wet hair. Massage over the entire hair concentrating on the ends, where the hair is drier. Wrap your hair in a damp towel and leave it on for at least fifteen minutes. If possible, leave the mask on all night, leaving your hair wrapped in a towel. Then proceed by washing your hair with shampoo, rinsing all oil residues thoroughly.