Nourishing your hair by using castor oil for scalp is a great way to keep them healthy. Read on to know more about common scalp problems along with two recipes!
The health of our scalps often gets overlooked. It always surprises me how much hair brands focus on the health and radiance of hair, without thinking first about our roots. After all, healthy hair starts at the roots! But who needs big brands and lame marketing when all you need in order to have healthy hair (from root to tip!) is natural castor oil!? In this article, I talk about castor oil for scalp health and give you all the info you need to take care of your scalp, naturally.
In this article, you’ll find:
- Common scalp problems
- Castor oil for scalp health (my recipes!)
Common Scalp Problems
There are various reasons for the dry scalp problem. The scalp, just like the rest of our skin, is made up of the dermis and epidermis layers. Like the skin on our face or body, the skin on our scalp is sensitive to the heat, cold, wind, etc. Our scalps need just as much care as the rest of us! Perhaps we don’t pay as much attention to our scalps as we do other parts of our skin. Nonetheless, scalps need lots of love even if they don’t like being the center of attention.
Scalps get can dry just like our elbows, face, knees, etc. Just because they’re hidden most of the time, doesn’t mean they are invincible from developing minor (to major) irritations or infections, like the rest of our skin.
Top factors that influence our scalp health
There’s a wide range of factors that influence our scalp health on a daily basis.
The climate
Hot or cold temperatures can damage your scalp’s health. If your scalp is exposed to the sun’s hot rays, it’s likely your scalp will become easily sunburned which of course has bad effects on your skin and scalp health.
Hormones
Your hormones have a huge impact on the health of our skin and hair. In my teenage years, my skin was extra oily and it made my hair appear greasy. Thankfully my hormones settled down because now I have a more normal oil production and with the help of a natural castor oil routine, I can balance between oily and dry.
Anxiety or stress
We all experience bouts of anxiety or stress, sometimes more or less depending on a multitude of factors (work, home, lifestyle, etc). Though we all experience anxiety or stress quite differently, we all share one thing in common: stress has its way of expressing itself in our bodies.
Stress is often the underlying cause of lots of common health problems. It’s the same for our beauty, too! When I get stressed, I notice I get lots more acne breakouts, in addition to an upset stomach. 🙁
Unhealthy lifestyle
An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to an unhealthy scalp. Try and quit (or at least cut-down!) on smoking, eating too salty or sweet, and make sure to get plenty of sleep. All of these factors (and more) have a great influence on the health of your skin, hair, nails, and well, on your whole body inside and out!
Bad hygiene
Taking care of yourself properly means having a good care routine. Washing your hair too much or too little, or using the hairdryer every day can lead to scalp problems.
I have friends who wash their hair every single day, and then don’t understand why their hair is so fragile and dry. This can be easily avoided if you take into consideration the best care routine adapted to your needs. It’s all about finding your balance.
Chemical products
Using too many hair products (that are packed with a paragraph of chemicals, etc) can irritate and damage your scalp. Getting rid of unnatural hair products will save your hair’s (and your scalp’s) life! Switching to natural shampoos, and using castor oil in my care routine has worked wonders. No mess, no damage, no dandruff, no-nonsense! Just organic castor oil. Not to mention how much less I waste in terms of plastic bottles and how much money I save! These are just some of the additional benefits of castor oil on the scalp.
Castor Oil for Scalp Health: My Two Recipes
Many skin enthusiasts wonder: is castor oil good for scalp health? And the answer is obviously yes!! as castor oil offers many benefits for your scalp. You may already know that castor oil has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, which makes this the perfect natural combatant to ward off any infections. In addition, castor oil deeply cleanses as it nourishes, ridding your scalp and hair of any unwanted microbes.
It’s no secret that castor oil is widely used to stimulate hair growth, but more specifically castor oil nourishes your scalp, right down to the roots. Castor oil reinforces, nourishes, cleanses, and strengthens your hair.
Find my recipe below for a pH-neutral castor oil shampoo that will take care of your scalp, so you don’t have to. 😉
1. DIY castor oil hydrating shampoo (pH-neutral)
I use this recipe below as needed when I feel my scalp is in need of a boost. I recommend using it once or twice a week for normal care. Increase usage (2-3 times per week) if you feel your scalp is dry. For the ingredients listed below, I always opt to buy organic.
Ingredients:
- 1 can of coconut milk or cream
- 1 tsp. of castor oil
- 1 tsp. of jojoba oil
- 1 tsp. of essential oil (of your choice)
- I use lavender, but mint, tea tree, etc., are also good ones
- 2 tbsp. liquid honey
- 2 tbsp. cider vinegar
How to Apply Castor Oil to Scalp?
Mix the above ingredients in a bowl until the paste becomes smooth and consistent. Apply a quarter-sized amount of castor oil on scalp and massage gently all over your head. Let the paste nourish your scalp and hair for 3-5 minutes (I do 5) before washing out thoroughly.
2. Simple hair mask for a healthy scalp
I have another recipe that I like to use that is just as simple and efficient as the first. Castor oil and coconut oil is an excellent combination for a hair mask that you can apply once or twice a week.
The ingredients are simple: castor oil and coconut oil. These two make an awesome mixture that is easy to apply and takes seconds to mix together.
You can easily take a palm-full of coconut oil and add a few drops of castor oil and rub together until well mixed (do/apply while in the shower or just before going to bed). Rub and massage the mix all over your hair. You can leave it on while you wash the rest of your body in the shower and then rinse it all out right after, but I prefer to take advantage of all the benefits and leave the hair mask on overnight.
Overnight the castor oil and coconut oil will soak into your hair and give your scalp plenty of time to reap the nourishing benefits of the mixture. Protect your pillow with a towel and wrap your hair up in a shower cap or small towel.
Rinse and repeat once or twice a week for a scalp that is super healthy-not too dry, not too oily, just right.
Final Thoughts: Castor Oil for Scalp Health
Sometimes we can’t control the factors in our lives that contribute to skin problems. We can ensure, however, that we do our best to try and have a healthy lifestyle, that reflects itself in the health of our hair, skin, or scalps.
Castor oil is super efficient for maintaining the health of your scalp. Try it and see for yourself! Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Good luck!