Castor oil is linked to a range of benefits for general hair growth, including:
- Activating hormones that support healthy hair growth.
- Nourishing and moisturizing hair follicles.
- Making beard hair thick and giving it a lush and sleek appearance.
- Preventing skin infections that might cause hair loss.
A rich and sleek beard can be just the thing you need for a more striking and impressive appearance. Unfortunately, a full beard is not always guaranteed, and sometimes it takes extra effort to get the hair to grow. One popular solution is using castor oil for beards, which is said to boost hair growth.
Castor oil for beards is the real deal, and it has benefits that go beyond boosting your facial hair growth. Here is a comprehensive overview of one of the best beard growth oils.
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the castor plant. It is regarded as one of the best oils for beard growth, as supported by its long list of benefits.
There are three common types of castor oil. The different types are determined by the oil preparation process. They include:
Castor Oil
This is castor oil derived directly from castor seeds without any other preparation measures. Fresh castor seeds are pressed hard, and the fresh oil extracted.
Black Castor Oil
Castor seeds are roasted before they are pressed, and their oil is extracted. Roasting turns the seeds black, giving the oil its black color.
Jamaican Castor Oil
Jamaican Castor Oil undergoes extensive preparation before extraction. The castor seeds are first roasted, crushed, and then boiled in water before extraction. The boiled seeds are then pressed, and the oil is extracted.
Research does not support one type of castor oil over the rest. However, organic Jamaican Black Castor Oil is said to be the best, particularly for beard hair growth, because it is not processed. All types of castor oil have numerous benefits, with the number one boosting hair growth.
Properties of Castor Oil
Castor oil contains a range of nutrients associated with healthy hair growth, including:
- Minerals
- Vitamin E and F
- Proteins
- Triglycerides
- Fatty Acids
Most notably, castor oil contains an omega-9 unsaturated fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid supports healthy blood circulation to the follicles of your facial hair.
It has shown to affect the amount of PGD2 (Prostaglandin D2) and PGE2 (Prostaglandin E2), two natural, multifaceted substances that are directly linked to healthy hair growth from the roots. PGD2 is known to limit the growth of hair follicles, while PGE2 is said to make hair thicker and denser.
Benefits of Castor Oil for Beard Growth
Castor oil for beard hair growth has a wide range of benefits, including:
1. Boosting Hair Growth
Castor oil has a range of nutrients and properties associated with hair growth. It contains ricinoleic acid that is said to activate and increase the amount of PGE2 around the beard, consequently increasing the rate and amount of hair growth. Castor oil also contains nourishing nutrients that add life to your beard, making it more noticeable.
2. Strengthening Hair
You can grow lots of beard hair and still appear to have a poor beard because of weak hair follicles. Weak follicles tend to break off and come loose easily, essentially resulting in hair loss.
Fortunately, the nourishing properties of castor oil help strengthen the hair follicles, making them more resistant to breakage. Additionally, castor oil improves blood flow under the beard skin, making it easier for nutrient-carrying blood to reach the hair.
3. Thickening Beard Hair
There is a distinct difference between strength and thickness. Strong hair can be thin and still resistant to breakage, while thick hair looks and feels lush. Castor oil helps add both of these properties to beard hair by nourishing the hair follicles.
4. Promoting Even Hair Growth
Uneven hair growth in the beard can be frustrating, especially when there are patches on thick hair and others that are distinctly bare. Castor oil activates PGE2 and other hair growth hormones evenly, promoting even hair growth. It is advisable to apply castor oil for patchy beard thoroughly and evenly across the skin for even hair growth.
5. Moisturizing Hair
Castor oil is also rich in water and other moisturizing fluids, in addition to the aforementioned nutrients. One application is enough to keep your beard hair moisturized all day. It also helps to moisturize the skin underneath for an even and toned complexion with the rest of your face.
6. Darkening Beard Hair
Grey hair can look sexy, or it can make you look old. Castor oil helps keep the hair naturally black in several ways. For starters, it promoted nutrients absorption in the hair, keeping it healthy and restoring its natural color. Additionally, Jamaican black castor oil for beard growth is dark in color because of the extraction process, and it helps turn grey beard hair white after every application.
7. Helping to Prevent Hair Loss
There are several factors that contribute to hair loss, including insufficient blood and nutrient supply to the hair follicles. Castor oil helps remedy these factors and offers additional benefits that minimize hair loss. For example, it helps improve blood supply underneath the beard skin, consequently letting more nutrients reach the hair follicles.
8. Fixing Split Ends
Splitting at the hair’s tips makes it weak and unappealing. It is caused by a wide range of factors – most of them can all be remedied using castor oil. For example, castor oil makes the hair follicles strong and uniform, minimizing the risk of splitting. In addition, it moisturizes the hair strands and makes them thick and lush. This helps to minimize the effects dry air is having on beard hair.
9. Detangling Facial Hair
Entangled beard hair looks and feels rough and unhygienic. It also increases the risk of the hair breaking and becoming detached at the root. Castor oils keep your hair strong, thick, moisturized, and straight, preventing entanglement.
10. Combating Dandruff
Dandruff is unhygienic, unhealthy, and unpresentable – especially when it is dangling from your beard. It is a sign that your skin is dry, and it may also be an indication of an underlying skin condition. Castor oil moisturizes the skin, as mentioned. Additionally, it moisturizes the hair follicles and makes the hair thick and lush, minimizing the risk of developing dandruff.
11. Preventing Skin Infection
Castor oil has anti-microbial properties, in addition to its nutritional properties. These properties help to kill bacteria and fungi that cause dandruff and a range of other mild skin infections. To this end, it is often sold as a popular anti-fungal agent. Castor oil also helps to keep the hair follicles clean and moisturized, keeping pathogens away.
12. Sleek & Shiny
Castor oil helps remedy many of the factors that make a beard look bad. It eliminates patches on the chin by supporting even hair growth. Additionally, it keeps the beard hair moisturized and thick, adding a rich and healthy appearance to your body. More importantly, it keeps the hair follicles nourished and healthy, giving the beard a sleek and shiny appearance.
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How to Use Castor Oil
The manner in which you use and apply castor oil will determine whether or not it works. Don’t worry, however, as the application process is quite simple. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use castor oil for beard hair growth:
Step 1: Washing
Washing your facial hair before applying the castor oil will help you increase your skin’s absorption capability. Washing gets rid of sweat and body oil that can act as an unwanted barrier for the castor oil. Additionally, shampooing your hair helps open up and unclog the pores, making it easier for the castor oil to seep into the skin.
with a quality product or beard wash It is recommended to use warm water to break down body oil and open up the skin’s pores. Additionally, ensure that you wipe the skin dry, as moisture can also act as a barrier for the castor oil.
Step 2: Application
You only need a few drops of castor oil per application. The application process should be thorough to ensure that you cover all your facial hair and reach the skin, especially if you already have a thick or long beard.
It is recommended to apply the castor oil methodically, starting at the roots and finishing at the tips. You can use your fingers if your beard is short and sparse, however, it is best to use a quality beard comb if the beard is long and thick. Additionally, rub the oil on the skin underneath in a circular motion to get into the pores.
A couple of drops of castor oil may be too little to cover your whole beard plus the skin underneath, which is why it is best to use a carrier oil for beard growth. A carrier oil absorbs the castor oil without changing its properties, increasing the amount required to cover the whole beard and skin. Carrier oils such as jojoba oil have properties that can promote an additional hair growth effect for your beard.
Step 3: Rinse & Repeat Regularly
It takes several hours for the castor oil to seep into the hair and skin. As such, let it settle for at least two hours – beard experts advise to leave it on overnight. Next, rinse it off using warm water and wipe your beard and face dry using a clean towel.
Additionally, it takes at least a dozen applications for the castor oil to boost beard growth. As such, repeat this process regularly, at least thrice weekly. You can also apply it daily for faster results, especially if your beard is exceptionally difficult to grow.
Best Castor Oil Brands for Beard Growth
There are hundreds of castor oil brands, and some are better than others. Here is a brief overview of three of the best castor oil brands:
Sky Organics Castor Oil
Sky Organics Castor Oil is produced and processed organically using castor seeds grown in India, the plant’s native home. The seeds are cold-pressed straight out of their pods, therefore retaining all of their nutritional and health properties.
This castor oil brand is recommended for overall hair growth, including on the scalp and eyebrows. It works especially well for beard hair, and it offers many of the benefits listed above.
Some of the key benefits of Sky Organics Castor Oil are:
- It supports faster, thicker, and healthier hair growth.
- It strengthens hair follicles to prevent hair loss.
- It is safe for people with sensitive skin, and it helps protect against a range of mild skin infections.
- It is versatile and can be used for other applications, including growing hair on the scalp.
Tip (Best For): Sky Organics Castor Oil is especially recommended for people with sensitive skin that may be affected by additives present in non-organic castor oil.
Kate Blanc Cosmetics Castor Oil
Kate Blanc Cosmetics Castor Oil is also processed directly from castor seeds grown in native India. It is marketed as a general remedy for hair loss, and it is especially popular for growing hair on the scalp. It also works wonders for beard hair, from increasing hair growth to fixing split and weak hair follicles.
This brand of castor oil is 100% certified organic. The seeds are cold-pressed, and the oil is collected and packed without any processing or additives.
To this end, the oil is ideal for people with delicate skin or prone to getting skin rashes. It is worth noting that it contains anti-microbial properties that help prevent certain skin infections as well as minimize the risk of allergic reactions.
Tip (Best For): Kate Blanc Cosmetics Castor Oil is ideal for remedying weak and damaged hair follicles. It promotes excellent nutrient distribution, making the hair follicles stronger and healthier. It also helps to make your facial hair darker and blacker, therefore improving its overall appearance.
Home Health Castor Oil
Home Health Castor Oil is designed for giving your beard hair maximum nutrition. It is 100% organic, with the seeds being cold-pressed without any chemical additives. To this end, the packaging specifically states that the oil does not contain hexane, one of the common ingredients that cause allergies in people with sensitive skin.
Home Health Castor Oil contains added nutrients that are designed to nourish the skin beneath your beard or mustache.
Tip (Best For): This castor oil is particularly safe when used in conjunction with other facial hair products. This includes when used in combination with other carrier oils.
Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil has been created to help you moisturize your skin and scalp. It supports healthier hair growth, contains Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Argan Oil, and Jojoba Oil. This oil is often used as a pre-shave oil to prevent irritation from shaving.
It’s 100% natural, designed for all beard types, and used by professional barbers as one of their go-to quality hair and scalp treatment products. The cap can be adjusted to drip oil directly on the beard. So you can control easily how much oil is dispensed.
Tip (Best For): This Jamaican Black Castor Oil is simply superb for the skin beneath your facial hair as well as your hair follicles. Its added nutrients have calming qualities plus provide full-range nourishment.
Final Thoughts
The smallest detail can drastically change your overall appearance and impression on other people. A beard is one of the most striking details on a man’s face. It commands authority and helps accent other facial features.
A natural beard is not always guaranteed, but castor oil can help improve any beard’s size and health. These benefits of castor oil are real, and castor oil is readily accessible and easy to use.