Castor oil for skin and hair: types, uses and how to try it

Castor oil is the thick, glossy oil pressed from the seeds of the castor plant, and it has been a bathroom-cupboard staple for generations. Here's how to choose a bottle, how people use castor oil for skin, hair, brows and castor oil packs, and the few precautions worth knowing before you start.

What castor oil is

Castor oil comes from castor beans, the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, which is native to northeastern Africa and India. India is still the world's largest producer. It's a vegetable oil, but it behaves differently from other vegetable oils: about 90% of its fatty acid content is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes the oil very thick and slow to absorb. You'll sometimes see it called Palma Christi, an old name that's still printed on the Heritage Store bottle.

The raw seeds contain a toxin called ricin, but it doesn't carry over into the oil: purified castor oil doesn't contain ricin. In cosmetics, castor oil is a common skin-conditioning ingredient in lip balms, soaps, lotions and all kinds of skin and hair products. Castor oil and its related ingredients are considered safe as used in cosmetics.

Types of castor oil: cold-pressed, hexane-free and Jamaican black

Every bottle starts with the same seeds. The differences come down to how the oil is pressed, what happens to it afterward, and how it's grown.

The castor oils we carry are the clear kind: cold-pressed or expeller-pressed, and most say hexane free right on the label. We don't have Jamaican black castor oil on the shelf at the moment. These are the bottles people ask us about most:

Castor oil, coconut oil or argan oil?

People often keep more than one oil on hand, and they feel very different on the skin. Castor oil is the heaviest of the three, which is why many people mix it with a lighter carrier oil.

A blend of one part castor oil to two or three parts argan oil, sweet almond or jojoba is easier to spread and less sticky. If you add essential oils, keep them to a drop or two and patch test the blend first.

How to use castor oil for skin

Castor oil is an emollient. It helps skin hold onto moisture, so it's a good fit for the dry spots that winter leaves behind: elbows, heels, knuckles and cuticles. Because it's so thick, small amounts go a long way. Here's how we suggest applying castor oil to skin:

1. Start with clean, slightly damp skin. Oil seals in water, so right after a shower or washing your hands works best.
2. Warm a few drops between your palms. It spreads far more easily once it's warm.
3. Press it in. Pat and press rather than rubbing hard, and give it a few minutes to settle.
4. Go slowly on your face. Start with one drop mixed into your usual moisturizer or a lighter oil, at night, and see how your skin feels after a week.

Using castor oil for skin on your face is where people are most careful. It's heavy, and if your skin is oily or prone to acne, a little goes further than you'd think. If you notice itching, redness or new breakouts, stop and go back to what worked before.

For less mess on the face and neck, Queen of the Thrones bottles its castor oil in a roll-on.

Queen of the ThronesOrganic Golden Castor Oil Roll-OnCold-pressed organic castor oil in a 50 mL rose quartz roll-on.Shop →

Castor oil for hair and scalp

For hair, castor oil is mostly used before you wash. Work a small amount into the scalp and along the lengths before you shampoo, or add a few drops to your usual shampoo for softer hair. On dry or frizzy ends, warm a drop or two between your palms and smooth it through.

How long you leave it is up to you. Leave the Heritage Store castor and rosemary treatment on for 30 minutes or overnight, then shampoo and condition as usual. If you're leaving it overnight, an old pillowcase or a towel saves your sheets.

A little goes a long way on hair. Use a small amount, comb it through gently, and wash it out well. Very rarely, heavy use has been linked to acute hair felting, where hair suddenly mats into a tangle, which is one more reason to keep amounts small.

Brows and lashes

This is one of the most common ways people use castor oil. Brush a tiny amount along your brows and the base of your lashes at night with a clean mascara wand or spoolie, never your fingertip. Keep it out of the eyes themselves: castor oil in the eye can cause pain, irritation and blurry vision. If you wear contacts, take them out first, and stop if your eyes feel irritated.

The St. Francis bottle comes with its own applicator wand, and Queen of the Thrones makes a ready-to-use wand.

Queen of the ThronesCastor Oil Lash & Brow Wand100% organic golden castor oil in a 10 mL precision wand.Shop →

Castor oil packs: what they are and how to make one

A castor oil pack is a piece of soft fabric, usually cotton flannel or wool, soaked in castor oil and laid on the skin, most often over the abdomen. It's covered, kept warm and left in place while you rest. Castor oil packs are a long-standing home practice and come up often in naturopathic care, and many people find a warm pack relaxing and comforting: a quiet half hour to rest.

1. Gather your things. Castor oil (we'd choose hexane-free), a piece of cotton flannel or wool about 30 by 25 cm, plastic wrap or a thin plastic sheet, an old towel, and a hot water bottle or heating pad if you like.
2. Soak the cloth. Pour on enough oil that the cloth is saturated but not dripping.
3. Lie down on the towel. Castor oil stains, so protect your sheets and clothes. Lay the pack on your skin and cover it with the plastic.
4. Add gentle heat. A hot water bottle or a heating pad on low on top of the plastic. Never fall asleep with a heating pad on, and don't heat the pack in the microwave.
5. Rest for 45 minutes to an hour. Then lift off the pack and wipe your skin with a warm, damp cloth.
6. Store and reuse. Keep the pack in a covered container in the fridge and add a little fresh oil each time.

Packs use more oil than anything else on this list, so a big bottle makes sense. A reusable wrap holds everything in place so you can sit or lie back without the cloth slipping.

Some people also massage castor oil into tired, achy muscles and joints, and many find the warmth and massage soothing. Ricinoleic acid, the main fatty acid in castor oil, has been studied for anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, mostly in the lab.

Castor oil works best in small amounts: a few drops, warmed in your hands, on clean skin or hair.

Patch test first, and other safety notes

Castor oil is gentle for most people, but an allergic reaction is possible. Some people do get contact dermatitis from castor oil, though it's usually mild and clears up once they stop using it. A patch test takes a day and saves a lot of bother.

1. Dab a few drops on your inner forearm. Use the same oil or blend you plan to use.
2. Wait 24 hours. Leave it alone and don't wash the spot if you can help it.
3. Check for redness, itching or swelling. If you see any, wash it off and don't use it.

Questions we get a lot

What does castor oil do on skin?

It's a thick emollient that sits on the surface and helps skin hold onto moisture. That's why people use it on dry patches, heels, elbows and cuticles.

Can I use castor oil on my face every day?

Some people do, but start slowly. Use a single drop mixed with your moisturizer or a lighter oil a few nights a week, and build up only if your skin is happy.

Can I leave castor oil on my face overnight?

Yes, as long as you've patch tested it and keep it away from your eyes. Use very little, because a heavy layer can feel greasy and may not suit skin that breaks out easily.

How long should you leave castor oil in your hair?

Anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight before you shampoo. Two shampoos are often needed to get it all out.

Can I apply castor oil to my hair daily?

Most people don't need to. Once or twice a week as a pre-wash treatment is plenty, with a drop on dry ends in between if you like.

Is St. Francis castor oil good?

It's one we like, and it comes from a family business: two generations of the Rivett-Carnac family have run St. Francis Herb Farm in Ontario's Madawaska Valley for more than three decades. The castor oil is certified organic, cold-pressed and hexane-free, with castor seed oil as the only ingredient. It comes in amber glass with a fine wand for brows and lashes.

Which Canadian brands of castor oil do you carry?

Naka castor oil is Canadian, with a "Proudly Canadian" mark on the bottle, and St. Francis Herb Farm is a family-run herb farm in Ontario. We also carry Heritage Store, NOW, Divine Essence and Queen of the Thrones, so you can compare labels side by side in store.

Why do people put castor oil in their belly button at night?

It's a social media trend built on the idea of a special "navel gland." There's no scientific evidence that such a gland exists. A few drops won't harm most people, but all it does is moisturize the skin there.

How often should you do a castor oil pack?

There's no agreed schedule. Some people use a pack a few evenings a week. If you're working with a naturopathic doctor, follow the plan you've made together.

Does castor oil pull toxins out of the body?

There's no good evidence that it does, on its own or as a pack. Your liver and kidneys do that work. If that's what you're hoping for, our naturopathic doctors in Bedford are a good place to start the conversation.

What does rubbing castor oil on your feet do?

It softens dry heels and rough skin. Massage in a few drops at bedtime and pull on cotton socks so it doesn't end up on your sheets.

What are the downsides of castor oil?

It's sticky, it stains fabric, and it can take a couple of washes to get out of hair. A small number of people have an allergic reaction, and it doesn't suit everyone's face. Patch testing and small amounts take care of most of that.

Castor oil is in our beauty and personal care section at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. For more on keeping skin comfortable through the winter, read our guides to body lotion, cream and balm and natural face moisturizers, and for hair, see our natural shampoo guide or browse hair care online. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

Sources: Use of castor oil in dermatology: a narrative review; Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil; St. Francis Herb Farm, Castor Oil; St. Francis Herb Farm, About Us. This article is general information, not medical advice.