Is Castor Oil Good for Frizzy Hair?

Castor Oil for Frizzy Hair is an excellent, natural remedy to tame and smooth frizzy, out-of-control hair and making it easier to manage.

It is no secret that castor oil is helpful in the treatment of so many different hair conditions. Frizzy hair is just another in the line of conditions that castor oil has successfully treated. Castor oil is known to moisturize and condition hair, grow hair long and thick, and even treat conditions like alopecia. It is the proven effectiveness of ricinoleic acid, one of castor oil’s main fatty acid compounds, as well as nutrients such as vitamin E, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, proteins, and minerals, that causes castor oil to have such a breadth of therapeutic effects for hair, skin, and nails.

Today, we will be specifically talking about castor oil for frizzy hair.

What Is Frizzy Hair?

Frizzy hair can be the root of any bad hair day, especially in humid climates. It tends to be more common in curly hair than in naturally straight hair. When the cuticle of our hair is raised, the strands of the hair swell, which is what outwardly appears as frizz. Curly hair tends to be more dehydrated, which is why it is more susceptible to frizz.

What Causes Frizzy Hair?

Frizzy, dehydrated hair can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Genetics
• Poor eating habits
• Too little water intake (shoot for 8 glasses of water a day as a baseline)
• Shampoo that doesn’t deposit enough moisture
• Certain medications
• Overly-processed, bleached hair
• …and more

The key to taming frizz is moisture, especially where chemically-damaged hair is concerned. Making sure that you are drinking enough water, that your shampoo is moisturizing rather than drying your hair, and that you are engaging in deep conditioning treatments are key to managing the frizz.

You will also want to determine how porous your hair is. Knowing the porosity of your hair will help to determine which products are right for you and how to best manage your natural texture. 

Try this: Take a few strands of hair from your brush and place them in a bowl of water. After 2-4 minutes, If your hair floats, you have low porosity; if it sinks, you have high porosity. Medium porosity hair will require the least maintenance.

There are a few other tried-and-true methods of taming frizz, including sleeping on silk pillowcases and using a microfiber towel after washing hair. However, one of the first courses of treatment is the use of natural oils, and we believe castor oil for frizzy hair is the best treatment.

Castor Oil for Frizzy Hair

The scientific makeup of castor oil primes it to be an excellent product in preventing and treating certain scalp and hair conditions. As castor oil is an antibacterial as well as an antifungal, it fights against scalp infections, dandruff, and folliculitis. All in all, it is an effective castor oil natural frizzy hair treatment.

Castor oil’s unusually high ratio of ricinoleic acid also increases circulation to the scalp, which in turn improves hair growth. Ricinoleic acid also reportedly helps balance the pH of the scalp, which can help replenish natural oils and provide damage control for chemical hair products and processing.

Lastly, the antioxidants in castor oil support the keratin in hair. Keratin protects cells from damage, which helps hair grow stronger, healthier, and even reduces frizz.

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Try These Castor Oil for Frizzy Hair Treatments

Castor Oil Deep Conditioning

Keeping hair hydrated and conditioned will help tame the frizz. For deep conditioning, rub castor oil into the scalp and through the hair-careful not to use too much, as its viscosity can make it difficult to wash out.

Allow castor oil to sit on scalp/hair for at least 20 minutes before washing out. Alternatively, apply a shower cap and sleep with the treatment on overnight. The omega fatty acids will moisturize and smooth the hair cuticle, making this an excellent conditioning treatment to repeat a few times a week, depending on hair porosity.

For a little extra help, you can heat the oil in a microwave-safe dish making a hot oil treatment. Add oil to an applicator bottle to make it easier to apply to the scalp/hair, following the same steps as above. The heated oil will provide a little bit extra in terms of moisture and conditioning. This treatment is excellent for highly-damaged hair.

Castor Oil Styling for Curls

Taking a very minimal amount of castor oil on your fingertips, run your fingers down the strands and coat individual curls with the oil while styling. The castor oil will help smooth, style hair that is prone to frizz and tame flyaway hairs as well. Use caution to not oversaturate your hair with the oil! Castor oil is very viscous, so you should use minimal amounts as a leave-in styling product.

Castor Oil for Frizzy Hair: The Bottom Line

Frizzy hair can be a frustrating problem that can be the result of genetics or exposure to certain damaging chemicals. Fortunately, there are many treatments available, a large number of which associated with natural oils such as castor oil.

While we recommend making sure you eat a balanced diet and drink enough water as a first response to the issue of frizzy hair, we also recommend castor oil as a conditioning and moisturizing tool as well as a styling tool. Castor oil can help nourish damaged hair, making it shiny, strong, and healthy again. As an added bonus, it is a natural product, so you won’t need to worry about harsh, drying chemicals.

Try castor oil for frizzy hair and see the benefits yourself!