Home remedy for hair growth: Mix castor oil with coconut oil

Hair loss is one problem that I have been dealing with since my early 30s. Many people suggested home remedies for hair growth. Some said using castor oil can help to grow my hair faster as it is known for its nourishing and moisturising properties. My mom told me to mix castor oil with coconut oil for hair growth! When I applied this mixture to my dry hair, I noticed lesser hair strands on my floor. It helped me to control hair loss to some extent. Read on to find out what an expert has to say about using castor oil with coconut oil for hair growth.

What are the benefits of castor oil for hair?

You get castor oil from the seeds of a plant called Ricinus communis. The oil is filtered and steamed to remove ricin, which is a toxic component, says dermatologist Dr Sneha Krishnoji Rao.

Castor oil is good for moisturising hair. The fatty acids in castor oil provide nourishment to hair follicles. The oil also protects the scalp and hair shaft from fungal and microbial infections, as well as promote hair growth.

What are the benefits of coconut oil for hair?

Coconut oil is widely used in skin care and hair care products. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Coconut oil forms a coating over the hair shaft, so it seals the cuticle and traps the moisture inside. It helps to detangle hair, smoothen and flatten the cuticle surface which improves the health and appearance of hair strands. Coconut oil can also easily penetrate inside the hair shaft, and can prevent loss of protein from hair.

How does mixing castor oil with coconut oil help in hair growth?

Mixing castor oil and coconut oil and then applying over the scalp can help in improving the hair and scalp health. This mixture provides good nourishment to the hair if the contact time is maximum 30 minutes, Dr Sneha Krishnoji Rao tells Health Shots.

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A mixture of coconut oil and castor oil can be prepared by mixing one part each of coconut oil and castor oil. The mixture can be heated to reduce viscosity. A small quantity of rosemary oil can also be added to the mixture to help accelerate hair growth. This mixture can be left on your hair and scalp for a maximum of 30 minutes. Then you should wash it off with a shampoo.

How to use castor oil and coconut oil for hair growth?

While mixing castor oil with coconut oil, make sure you follow some rules.

• Apply the mixture once a week, preferably start with a short contact time of 5 minutes with the scalp and gradually increase to 30 minutes.
• Add oils like rosemary oil and almond oil to the mixture for hair growth.
• Don’t keep castor oil on your scalp and hair for a long time.
• Don’t go for extremely hot oil application.

Are there any side effects of this oil?

Castor oil, if kept in contact with skin over a long period of time, can cause pigmented contact dermatitis. So, start with applying the mixture over a small area. Leave it on for less time, and follow it by immediate rinsing of the scalp, suggests Dr Rao.

The coconut oil and castor oil mixture can be applied once a week, but excessive use can lead to oily scalp and seborrheic dermatitis, which causes red skin and scaly patches mostly on the scalp.

Even though mixing castor oil and coconut oil is a good home remedy for hair growth, you need to check with a dermatologist, who can find the cause of hair loss and suggest treatment options.