In our pursuit of all things beauty, we’re constantly looking for new and innovative ways to look our best. Eyebrows are a girl’s best friend, and they need to be bold and striking.
Sometimes, however, we can feel time melting away waiting for our eyebrows to grow to the length we want. This begs the question, does castor oil make eyebrows grow faster? We looked into it.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is an ancient ingredient that people have been using for thousands of years for multiple reasons. It is a vegetable oil that is extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. Using a thorough heating process, the toxic and dangerous ingredient, ricin, which is found in the seeds, is neutralized, which allows people to use the extracted oil safely.
How castor oil is used
Castor oil has been used for numerous purposes throughout history, and today it is widely used in many industries and products.
It is commonly used as an additive in foods, medications, and cosmetics. It can also be used for industrial purposes and as fuel, as well as an aid for women in labor. Of course, castor oil has a reputation for helping hair growth, but we’ll touch on that later.
The biggest benefits of castor oil
Castor oil has many positive benefits if used correctly. Here are some of the best advantages you might notice.
Natural moisturizer
Castor oil contains a strong component of ricinoleic acid, which is a fatty acid. This is a fantastic ingredient for hydration and moisturizing, as it prevents water loss from the outer layers of the skin. The thickness and richness of castor oil’s texture make it a perfect addition to face creams and body butter.
Effective laxative
This may surprise you, but castor oil is often used to treat constipation and improve digestion. It works by stimulating the muscles in the intestines to increase movement. The more you know!
Wound healing
The fatty acids in castor oil provide anti-inflammatory benefits and can speed up the healing process along with wounds. The oil creates a healthy and moist environment around the wound that encourages healing.
Can castor oil promote hair growth?
This is what you want to know, isn’t it? Castor oil is great for general hair health because of its powerful moisturizing elements. It can lubricate the hair, increase flexibility and durability, and give it a better chance of avoiding damage or breakage.
However, and this may be disappointing to hear, there is currently no scientific or practical evidence to suggest that castor oil causes hair to grow quicker or thicker, or reduces hair loss. Yes, this also includes eyelashes and eyebrows. Even though castor oil is an ingredient that is used widely in haircare such as in anti-dandruff products, castor oil alone hasn’t been proven to reduce any symptoms or cure any conditions.
Final word
While there may be a lot of anecdotal accounts of castor oil apparently helping people grow their eyebrow hair, unfortunately, the official science doesn’t back this up.
It’s entirely possible that castor oil, when used alongside other ingredients, can create a more balanced and healthy environment that allows your hair to gain more strength and durability, it can’t magically cause hair growth.
However, castor oil has a host of other benefits that you may find appealing. Try it out for yourself to gain some personal experience, and figure out whether you want to include it in your haircare routine.