Castor oil can be magical for hair growth, as long as you’re not making these mistakes

The internet seems to be filled with information suggesting how you can use castor oil for hair, scalp, brows, and lashes. While different sources will give you different explanations as to why it is a magical potion, they also come with at times inaccurate suggestions on how to use castor oil for hair.

As a result, you might be using castor oil for hair wrong! This seemingly mystical potion can indeed transform your mane, but if you’ve been committing any one of these mistakes, then you could damage your hair.

1. You’ve been using castor oil even though you have dandruff

Multiple sources will say that castor oil is useful in dealing with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial issues on the scalp as it contains antioxidants and balances the scalp’s pH, or even that it stimulates the hair follicles. However, there is no scientific backing to these claims.

So, for those suffering from dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, this could actually backfire and prove to be highly problematic instead. The fungus that causes such skin conditions and allergies actually feeds on the lipids in oils and so applying castor oil on top of it might just make the situation worse.

2. Your dry and/or sensitive scalp is not stopping you from using castor oil

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Being very astringent in nature, castor oil can cause irritations to the skin. This could further lead to dryness, sensitivity, and even loss of hair and that’s clearly not something you would want. In fact, there have been a lot of instances where people have developed dermatitis after using castor oil.

Castor oil is not for all skin types. It is advised that you should apply some on your elbow and leave it overnight to check if your skin reacts to it. If not, then you are good to go.

3. You use a whole lot of shampoo to wash castor oil off

Castor oil is really thick and it makes the scalp very greasy once applied. So naturally, washing it off can seem like herculean task. And if you have been using more shampoo than usual to get squeaky clean results, then we have news for you: you’re stripping away all the goodness the oil bestowed in your hair.

The solution? Use a clarifying shampoo and leave it on for a little while before rinsing, instead of shampooing your hair twice or thrice. If the oil still persists, you can always wash your hair the next day.

4. You’ve been using castor oil directly

The problem with castor oil usually comes from using it at full strength. No matter what your skin type, you should always mix it with either coconut oil or almond oil.