8 Benefits & Uses of Castor Oil for Skin & Hair

Move over coconut oil, there is a new beauty saviour making waves in our routines. Castor oil is the can-do-anything ingredient that’s used regularly in nourishing formulas for the hair and the skin. Used for literally thousands of years (another of Ancient Egypt’s good old remedies), castor oil is known to intensely hydrate, soothe, and detoxify when applied directly to the skin and hair – no need for any guzzling here. Naturally packed with vitamin E and essential fatty acids, the oil is far more nutritious for the hair, skin, and nails than other plant oils, meaning it is time to start giving it the credit it deserves.

It should be noted that it is not suitable to use castor oil while pregnant as it can have a contracting effect on the uterus.

Castor oil is probably best known for its hair benefits. Packed with vitamins that locks love to guzzle on, the oil can help to smooth and nourish stressed hair, leaving a fresh out of the salon sheen. We are currently obsessing over Jamaican Mango & Lime’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Original thanks to its ability to scare off split ends in between trims.

We all crave those long, bouncy locks, but if hair isn’t strong from the root, we’re never going to reach those lengths. But adding a good dose of castor oil to your haircare regime can help to strength the hair at the root and keep the scalp healthy, which in turn, leads to Blake Lively worthy hair. Swap your usual shampoo and conditioner for Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo and Jamaican Black Castor Oil Rinse Out Conditioner and wave bye bye to breakage.

Raise you hand if you have ever felt personally victimised by flyaways. No one is safe, that’s why castor oil is a universal saviour for slicked back ponytails and sleek French plaits. Rub a few drops of Jamaican Mango & Lime’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Mango Papaya over your styles for a glossy, smooth finish and a tropical mango scent.

We all love a good old brow and lash boost remedy, so you’ll be excited to know that castor oil can help to boost the health of everyone’s favourite facial features. The high fatty acid content of the oil is like a morning latte for brows and lashes, leaving them energised and strong. Simply brush over morning and evening with a spoolie or cotton bud.

Castor oil is a featured ingredient in a lot of moisturising formulas, but the oil actually works even better when applied after a moisturiser. Lather on your favourite nourishing cream and follow with a layering of castor oil on spots prone to dryness such as the knees, calves, and elbows. The oil helps to lock in all that moisture and keep you feeling silky for longer. Try adding Jamaican Mango & Lime’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Argan to your post bath routine; the infused argan oil will help to soothe dry and chapped skin too.

It seems rare to find an oil that actually fights acne, but here we are! Castor oil is naturally antimicrobial, meaning it can help fight acne causing bacteria when applied directly to the skin. The oil is also great for reducing inflammation, a factor which can make acne worse. Try applying a small amount of Jamaican Mango & Lime’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Tea Tree to the skin; the added tea tree will help to regulate oil production and rid of dead skin.

Inflammation might sound like an ailment that needs medical attention, but it is actually the root cause of many at-home-treatable hair and skin woes. Castor oil is a natural anti-inflammatory, making it great for warding off problems associated with inflammation, such as dandruff, sunburn, psoriasis, and acne. By applying a few drops to the affected area, the oil can help to reduce pain, irritation, and swelling.

Cuticles could be one of the most neglected parts of the body, even though they are one of the most visible. Peeling cuticles and pull skin around the fingers not only ruin the look of a fresh manicure, but they can also get quite sore. Try lathering on Jamaican Mango & Lime’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Argan at bedtime and applying a pair of gloves to sleep in. The fatty acids in the castor oil will nourish and strengthen the cuticles and nails, leave the hands silky soft by morning.