Castor Oil and Almond Oil – Which Is Better for You?

Castor Oil and Almond Oil both have many beneficial properties–but which is best for health and wellness? Discover our test comparison too!

Today we will compare castor oil and almond oil. There are many different oils on the market today, and choosing the best oil for your needs can be a daunting task.

Some oils are great for one specific need or purpose, while others, like castor oil, are much more versatile – which is one of the reasons we love it!

We often recommend mixing castor oil with other oils and ingredients to enhance its benefits–and one such combination that has recently caught our eye is this oil and nut combination. 

Castor Oil and Almond Oil | Castor Oil Guide

About Almond Oil

Acclaim for the health benefits of almond oil started centuries ago, and the oil earned its place in the teachings of Chinese, Ayurvedic and Greco-Persian schools of medicine–and for good reason.

Almond oil is sold in two varieties, bitter almond oil, and sweet almond oil.

Discover my favorite almond oil here

When ingested, bitter almond oil can have fatal consequences, so it is best to avoid it from direct consumption. However, sweet almond oil is food-grade and perfectly safe for consumption and its variant is most commonly associated with beauty and health.

Sweet almond oil has a variety of uses that span beyond health and beauty. It has been used to treat skin conditions like eczema and acne, and now studies are showing it could prove beneficial to other surfaces, like tooth enamel and wood. It is even safe for use with pets.

Adding almond oil to your diet will help to regulate cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, protect against diabetes, promote a healthy weight, and contribute to colon health.

To take almond oil as a supplement, take 2-4 tablespoons daily. Consuming it slightly heated to your body’s natural temperature will enhance the absorption of its nutrients.

Castor Oil and Almond Oil

Castor oil and almond oil are great for applying on skin, hair, and nails.

Due to its oily consistency, you may choose to dilute almond oil to a carrier oil for better skin application. Almond oil works well as a carrier oil as it doesn’t readily evaporate and it has a milder smell as compared to oil.

Almond Oil and Castor Oil: The Break Down

Both oils bring a lot to the table and even provide some overlapping benefits. But when it comes down to the specifics, which oil is a better choice?

Hair and Skin

Castor oil works wonders for thickening, conditioning, and regrowing hair. It turns out, almond oil has a similar reputation, containing some of the same properties as castor oil. Sweet almond oil has high counts of zinc, magnesium, and calcium–all nutrients that are vital to healthy, shiny, full hair.

Almond oil is the preferred oil for sensitive skin and baby skin, and is also excellent at removing makeup, and also treats skin conditions like rashes, eczema, and psoriasis.

Similarly, castor oil is an antibacterial and antifungal, so it is also successful in treating skin conditions. Castor oil is sticky, but a little goes a long way, and like almond oil, it absorbs quickly with little to no oily residue left behind.

However, I recommend you to use the combination of almond and castor oil for hair growth and treat hair fall.

castor oil VS almond oil

Castor Oil and Almond Uses

Almond oil is dynamic and has a wide array of uses, from the prevention of disease to treating your dog’s itchy skin. It is even being considered as a renewable source of biofuel. It is good for the body inside and out-providing just as many topical uses as internal.

Castor oil is also a diverse oil (although we do not recommend to ingest it), from treating gastrointestinal distress (used as a pack) to lengthening and strengthening hair. Cleopatra even used it to brighten the whites of her eyes.

Odor

Sweet almond oil tends to edge out castor oil in the scent department. Almond oil has a pleasant nutty aroma. Some people find the smell of castor oil offensive, but the good news is, adding aromatic essential oils is always an option. Try adding lavender to castor oil, or enhance the nutty smell of almond oil by adding cinnamon oil.

Price

It appears that the prices of castor oil and almond oil are comparable. NOW Solutions brand 100% regular pure castor oil rings up at just under $9.50 USD for a 16-ounce bottle on Amazon. The same size bottle of NOW Solutions 100% sweet almond oil is a bit pricier, coming in at just under $11 USD. My preference is the organic version. Although a bit pricier, I believe the product is better (for you and the environment).

Castor Oil VS Almond Oil: Quick View Comparison

Almond oil Castor oil Winner
Hair efficiency 80/100 95/100 Castor oil has a better-known reputation for growing healthy, strong hair.
Skin efficiency 75/100 90/100 Castor oil has an advantage as it does not need to be diluted for maximum benefits.
General efficiency 95/100 90/100 Slight advantage to almond oil due to its diversity and versatility.
Texture 75/100 75/100 This is a draw; it depends on personal preference! Almond oil is very oily; castor oil is very thick.
Odor 90/100 70/100 Almond oil has a nutty aroma–while castor oil is not known for having a pleasant scent.
Easy to apply 75/100 75/100 This is a draw; almond oil goes on easier, but castor oil absorbs better.
Average price 75/100 90/100 Castor oil is a little bit cheaper.
RESULT 80.71 83.57 Castor oil wins – but it was close!


DIY Power Punch for Hair

To seal in moisture and provide vital nutrients for hair to grow longer, stronger, and more luscious, try this homemade oil mixture.

What you’ll need:

  • 1-2 tbsp. almond oil
  • 3 tsp castor oil
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2-4 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions

Mix the oils until well combined and apply to scalp on dry hair. This is a messy mixture, so make sure you wrap your head in a towel or wear a shower cap. Leave oil treatment on overnight. This works as a great weekly deep conditioning treatment.

You can make more and store the leftover mixture for months. Just make sure to keep it in an airtight container and store in a cool and dark place. Castor oil, almond oil, and coconut oil and the calm scent of lavender makes for a great moisturizing, restorative hair treatment.


Wondering where to find the best castor oil? Check out my in-depth research right here.


Final Thoughts

Castor oil and almond oil have very different characteristics that make them very complementary. But whether for your hair or skin, the oil-nut combination will rejuvenate your mind and body!

Get your own almond oil here!

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Comments

  1. Hi Brittany, I love this blog. I recently started using castor oil. Is it right to use almond oil and castor oil concurrently on (*****) massage?

  2. Almond oil is excellent, it cleared my stretch mark so many health benefits…..While castor oil does wonders on my front hair. Really in love with those oils!

    • Amazing, Kendra!! Thanks a lot for sharing 🙂 I use almond oil almost everyday! It works wonders for my skin and moisturizing has never been so easy. Glad you love them just as much as I do! xx

  3. I was gifted with a Jo Malone Shower oil which I don’t really use. is it safe to use this scent instead of lavender oil for the DIY Power Punch for Hair?

    • Hi Jannette! Thanks for your comment. I can’t really say, as I have never used a Jo Malone scented product/perfume/oil and I don’t know the oil’s quality. If it’s designed for the shower, I’d assume it would be safe to use and of course you could switch it out with the lavender oil if you wish to have the Jo Malone scent. I just recommend natural essential oils because I like that they’re natural and I always buy organic beauty/health products so I’m sure of the quality. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by!

  4. Great blog! In my opinion Almond Oil has many vitamins and nutrients. It is very effective and useful for dry skin and removing under eye dark circles. It is a popular remedy that’s widely used to reduce the skin problems. Thanks for sharing.

  5. I have used castor oil and olive oil, but I am anxious to use the almond oil. I’m sure it will smell better and sounds as if it has more benefits.

    • Hi Glenna, you should get a small bottle just to try! I use my almond oil everyday just to moisturize my hands and face when I hop out of the shower. It’s a light fragrant smell so I find it very pleasant!

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