Why Castor Oil is Highly Beneficial for Your Grey Hair

Castor oil is a rich, thick oil that comes from the castor plant and has been used for ages in healthcare care and also the beauty industry for its excellent benefits for the skin and hair. While there seems to be a general consensus that castor oil has amazing benefits for hair growth, little to nothing is known about its action on grey hair. In this article read to learn more about the benefits of this oil for premature grey hair. 

Benefits of castor oil for grey hair

Castor oil is known to have certain benefits that can prevent premature greying or maintain already grey hair:

Nourishes damaged hair

One of the high points of castor oil is that it is one of the few oils that contain both essential fatty acids and other nourishing nutrients such as vitamin E, antioxidants, polyphenols, and carotenoids that help reinforce the health of hair follicles and strengthen hair strands. 

Prevents hair loss

Gray hair more often than not is more fragile than more pigmented hair. As such, it is thinner and drier than pigmented hair and is more prone to breakage and hair loss. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that improves blood circulation in the scalp which may result in healthier hair follicles and stronger hair strands. 

Moisturizes hair strands

Castor oil has emollient and occlusive properties that allow it to condition grey hair as well as, seal moisture within the hair shafts when applied on wet hair. This makes it an ideal choice for grey hair that tends to be very dry and brittle. 

Can castor oil reverse grey hair?

There exists no scientific proof that castor oil can reverse premature greying. Most claims to this effect are based on anecdotal reports. However, Castor oil does contain strong antioxidants and vitamin E which can protect and/or prevent premature greying by reducing oxidative stress on hair caused by free radicals. 

Will castor oil cause premature graying?

The short and simple answer is no. Using castor oil will not cause premature greying as this oil does not have melanin-inhibiting properties. If anything, using castor oil will boost your scalp health, and facilitate blood circulation for healthier hair follicles to develop slowing down the greying process. 

How to apply castor oil on grey hair

Below are the various ways you can integrate castor oil into your hair care routine:

• As a pre-shampoo

Pre-shampoo or pre-poo treatments are a great way of nourishing your hair before washing it. It is particularly beneficial for grey hair as this hair type is most vulnerable when wet. To use castor oil as a pre-poo treatment, apply a good amount of oil from your hair root to strand tips and let sit for 30min. Then follow with your regular shampoo and conditioner to rinse off the excess oil.

• As a leave-in conditioner 

Castor oil contains fatty acids like linoleic and oleic acids that act as incredible conditioners for softer and smoother hair. After washing your hair, applying natural castor oil directly to your hair as a leave-in conditioner will help detangle and trap moisture within grey hair strands with ease without any risk of breakage.

• For a scalp massage 

Keeping your scalp healthy is essential to prevent premature greying as well as to maintain already grey hair. A healthy scalp means healthy hair follicles where enough melanin can be produced to avoid greying. Castor oil helps increase blood circulation to hair follicles thus a great choice for a scalp massage. Apply a few drops of natural castor oil to your scalp and massage gently with wet fingertips for a nourishing scalp massage. 

Castor oil recipes for grey hair

Castor oil can be combined with other grey hair treatments for optimal results. Here are a few recipes you could try at home:

Castor and coconut oil overnight hair treatment

Coconut and castor oil can be combined as an overnight hair mask for grey hair to strengthen and promote healthy hair growth. 

• Mix ½ teaspoon of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• Apply all over your hair and cover it with a shower cap
• Let it sit all night and rinse off the following morning with a mild shampoo

Castor oil and mustard oil hair treatment

A blend of castor and mustard seed oil will have the benefit to nourish and revive dull grey hair. 

• In a bowl mix 3 tablespoons of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of mustard seed oil 
• Apply and massage gently on your scalp for 10 mins 
• Let the mixture sit for an hour and wash it off with a mild cleansing shampoo 

Castor oil and Amla powder natural hair dye recipe

Amla powder is one of the most popular natural hair dyes used in ayurvedic therapy. Combining amla powder with castor oil help temporarily darken grey hair.

• In a bowl mix 5 tablespoons of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of amla powder 
• Apply the mixture evenly to all grey hair strands and massage gently 
• Let the mixture sit overnight covered in a shower cap to trap heat. 
• Wash off the next morning with a mild shampoo and follow with a conditioner

Ayurvedic Grey hair recipe with castor oil

According to The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies,” by Vasant Lad, a world-renowned ayurvedic practitioner a mixture of castor oil, mustard seed oil, and jojoba oil may help reverse gray hair. 

• In a bowl mix 2 tbsp of castor oil, 2 tbsp of jojoba oil, and 1 tbsp mustard seed oil
• Gently massage this mixture into wait hair and let it sit for 20 minutes 
• Wash your air thoroughly with warm water 
• Reapply tried at least once a day for the best results