Cold Pressed Castor Oil for Hair Growth & Lashes

Castor oil is thick, sticky and genuinely difficult to wash out — and it remains one of the most used hair oils in India, because it works.

The trick nobody tells you is that you are meant to dilute it.

What It Is

Cold pressed from the seeds of Ricinus communis. Brown castor oil is the plain cold pressed version — pale yellow to light brown, unroasted.

It is around 90% ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid found in almost nothing else, and that is what makes it behave differently from every other carrier oil.

What It Is Used For

Hair thickness and density

The most common reason people buy it. Used on the scalp over months.

Eyelashes and eyebrows

Castor oil's best-known use, and the one with the strongest word of mouth behind it. A tiny amount along the lash line at night.

Edges and thinning hairline

Massaged into the hairline and temples, where hair thins first.

Scalp conditioning

Heavy and occlusive, which suits a dry, tight scalp.

Dry skin, cracked heels

Thick enough to seal moisture in overnight.

Dilute It — Here Is Why

Neat castor oil is so viscous that it coats hair in a film shampoo struggles to lift. People end up washing three times, which strips everything, and conclude castor oil damaged their hair.

Use	Mix
Scalp treatment	1 part castor to 2 parts coconut or almond oil
Very dry hair	1 part castor to 1 part olive oil
Lashes and brows	Neat, a tiny amount
Heels and elbows	Neat

How to Use It

For hair

1. Mix 1 part castor with 2 parts coconut oil
2. Warm slightly
3. Section the hair and apply to the scalp
4. Massage 10 minutes
5. Work the rest through the lengths
6. Leave 1-2 hours
7. Shampoo on dry oiled hair first, then wet and lather

Twice a week.

With castor oil the dry-shampoo-first step is not optional. It is the difference between one wash and four.

For lashes and brows

1. Remove all eye makeup
2. Put one drop on a clean spoolie or cotton bud
3. Wipe most of it off — you want barely any
4. Sweep along the lash line and through the brows
5. Leave overnight, rinse in the morning

Every night. Give it eight to twelve weeks.

Use far less than feels right. Too much migrates into the eye overnight and you will wake with puffy lids.

Brown or Black Castor Oil?

	Brown (this one)	Black
Made by	Cold pressing raw seeds	Roasting seeds before pressing
Colour	Pale yellow to light brown	Dark brown to black
pH	Neutral	More alkaline, from the ash
Best for	General hair and scalp, lashes, skin	Thicker, coarser hair; edges
Strength	Gentler	Stronger, can be drying

Brown is the better starting point and the more versatile of the two. See our Black Castor Oil if you have thick or coarse hair.

How to Tell Good Castor Oil

• Pale yellow to light brown, clear rather than cloudy
• Very thick — it should pour slowly. Thin, runny castor oil has been cut with something
• Faint, slightly nutty smell. Harsh or chemical means solvent extracted
• Cold pressed on the label, not "refined"
• Dark bottle

What to Expect

• Week 1-2: hair feels thicker and heavier, scalp less dry
• 4-6 weeks: less breakage
• 8-12 weeks: lashes and brows look fuller
• 3-6 months: visible difference at the hairline

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use it neat on my hair?
You can, but it is very hard to wash out. Dilute it 1:2 with coconut or almond oil.

Does it actually grow lashes?
It conditions them, reduces breakage, and makes them look fuller and darker. It is not a prescription lash serum and nothing herbal is.

Will it get in my eyes?
Only if you use too much. One drop, most of it wiped off, along the lash line and not on the lid.

Why is it so hard to wash out?
Its viscosity. Shampoo dry oiled hair before wetting it and the problem mostly disappears.

How often for hair?
Twice a week, diluted.

Can I use it on my face?
It is heavy and comedogenic for some people. Fine on dry patches; patch test before using it broadly.

Product Information

How to use: Dilute 1 part castor to 2 parts carrier oil. Massage into the scalp. Leave 1-2 hours. Shampoo on dry hair first. For lashes, a trace amount on a clean spoolie at night.
For external use only. Avoid getting it into the eyes. Patch test before first use.
Storage: Cool, dark place.

Dilute it with our Virgin Coconut Oil, or see our ready-made Eyelash & Eyebrow Growth Serum.