Castor oil is a long-standing home remedy for a variety of maladies ranging from constipation to hair loss. Women have used it as a beauty aid for centuries to help cleanse skin, re-grow over-plucked eyebrows, and smooth frizzy hair.
Lately, men have been wondering if castor oil could be a good product to use on beard hair. After all, the oil is beneficial to facial skin and the hair on your head, so why wouldn’t it be useful for beards?
- What Is Castor Oil?
- Does This Mean It Isn’t Good To Use Castor Oil For Beard Care?
- Oil Cleansing Helps With Beard Maintenance
- What Kind Of Castor Oil Is Best For Beard Growth?
- Smart Use Of JBCO In Custom Beard Oils
- What Are Carrier Oils?
- Is Castor Oil a Carrier or An Essential Oil?
- Top Carrier Oils for Skin, Hair & Beard Care
- Essential Oils Add Fragrance & Benefit To Beard Oil
- Make Your Own Beard Oil
- Recipes To Try
- Assemble A Beard Care Tool Kit
- Add Black Jamaican Castor Oil For Beard Care Routine
In this article, we will explore the use of organic castor oil for healthy beard growth and maintenance. We will also offer some sound advice on using this old-fashioned oil to care for your beard from start to finish. Read on to learn more.
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil comes from the pressed seeds of the castor plant. Its chemical composition is unique. It is made up of:
- Omega 9 Fatty Acids
- Triglycerides
- Vitamin E Oil
- Minerals
- Proteins
These are vital for healthy hair and skin.
Castor oil can be used to help cleanse and purify the scalp and facial skin. It is both antibacterial and antifungal, so it is an effective component in remedies aimed at treating problems such as dandruff, ringworm, and folliculitis.
Castor oil works in these kinds of remedies by breaking down impurities in the pores and hair follicles so that they can be easily washed away. It is also thought to encourage better blood circulation and promote the production of prostaglandins responsible for stimulating hair growth. Combine these castor oil benefits for beard growth and help promote healthy skin.
Although many articles aimed at promoting castor oil for beard growth maintain that the oil is an excellent moisturizer, this is not exactly true. Castor oil is a drying oil. That’s why it is such an excellent component for use in treatments such as oil cleansing, wherein it helps break down congealed oil deposits in the pores without adding excessive oily residue.
In addition to helping break down impurities on the skin and scalp, it also dries the skin and prevents excess oiliness following the oil cleansing treatment. In fact, some people with very dry skin leave the castor oil out of oil cleansing treatments because it is too drying.
The same holds true when using castor oil as a hair treatment. While a few drops of the heavy, sticky oil can work wonders to give your hair the appearance of being smooth and silky, you would not want to apply the oil to your hair generously for several reasons:
- It’s messy.
- It is drying.
That’s why it is best to just use a few drops of this oil as a hair dressing or a beard dressing if you plan to use it as a standalone product.
Does This Mean It Isn’t Good To Use Castor Oil For Beard Care?
Absolutely not! Castor oil has an important place in stimulating beard growth and caring for your beard and your face. Here’s how!
When you first take a notion of growing a beard, you should begin thinking about making your facial skin as healthy as possible. Castor oil used in oil cleansing is excellent for cleaning your pores, stimulating blood circulation, and the production of prostaglandin E2, which promotes hair growth. Castor oil also tones your skin, and if you have had problems with acne or other skin conditions, these treatments will help clear those problems up so your beard can grow freely.
To perform oil cleansing, you will need:
- A carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut, or almond oil
- Purchase a cold pressed castor oil (yellow)
- A few clean towels
- Hot water
You can also add essential oils for specific purposes if you wish. More on that later!
To clean your face with oil, just pour a teaspoonful (or so) of the carrier oil of your choice into the palm of your hand. Add about 3-6 drops of castor oil. Rub your palms together to warm the oil, and then massage it into your face and throat.
Take your time with the massage part of this treatment. The more you massage, the more you break down impurities blocking your pores and hair follicles. Additionally, massage stimulates better circulation, which promotes hair growth.
Soak the towel in hot water, wring it out, and lay it over your face, barbershop-style. Lie back and relax for 5 or 10 minutes. Rinse the towel in hot water again, wring it out, and gently wipe the oils off your face and neck. Don’t scrub.
Pat your face dry. You may wish to splash your face with cool water or witch hazel as a toner.
You can do oil cleansing every day if you want to, but just doing this once or twice a week will help cleanse your facial skin and get it ready to grow a great beard.
Oil Cleansing Helps With Beard Maintenance
You can continue with this treatment on a weekly or bi-weekly basis even after you have grown a full beard. The oils are great for conditioning your beard hair and keeping your skin healthy. In this case, instead of doing the hot towel part of the treatment, just apply the oils to your face, neck, and beard 5 or 10 minutes before showering, and then wash them off (gently) in the shower. [source]
If you want to, you can include your scalp and the hair on your head in this treatment. If you are experiencing hair loss, you’ll want to do this a couple of times a week, and add six drops of oil of rosemary or peppermint essential oil to your oil cleansing mixture to further promote hair growth.
For maximum hair growth benefits on both your scalp and your face, make your carrier oil almond oil. It is full of magnesium and zinc, and both are great for boosting hair growth.
What Kind Of Castor Oil Is Best For Beard Growth?
These days, Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) is getting a lot of attention as a beard dressing and growth stimulator. The reason for this is that it is thicker and darker than the standard cold-pressed yellow castor oil, so it really promotes a dark, rich, healthy-looking beard when used lightly as a dressing product. [source]
JBCO is handmade castor oil from Jamaica. It is made from the roasted beans of the castor plant. The ash content in JBCO results in a dusky scent and a darker oil than the cold-pressed yellow oil (which is fine for use in oil cleansing).
The roasting of the castor beans results in higher pH levels, which some say impart even more skin and beard care benefits. The oil is very thick. It is available in three shades ranging from a light golden brown to a very dark brown. This quality is beneficial if you wish to darken your beard or hide gray.
It is also said to be more nourishing to the facial skin and hair. It contains a high percentage of specific monounsaturated fatty acids known as Ricinoleic Acids that have been found to potentially inhibit the production of prostaglandin D2, which may be responsible for hair loss. [source]
Simultaneously, this type of fatty acid stimulates the production of the prostaglandin E2, which reduces inflammation and can lead to increased hair growth and thicker individual hairs. This presents a thicker, fuller, more masculine-appearing beard. [source]
No matter what brand of castor oil you purchase, there are a few things you should look for. Make sure that the oil you buy is:
- Fresh
- Unrefined
- Unprocessed
- High in Ricinoleic Acid
One of the most popular brands of JBCO is Sunny Isle, and it does deliver consistently on these qualities. You should take note that this product is offered as “castor oil” and as “beard oil”.
The two products are identical in content and quite different in size and price. If you purchase the “beard oil” version, you will pay a lot more for a smaller bottle.
Smart Use Of JBCO In Custom Beard Oils
While you can use castor oil on its own as a beard dressing and to promote the growth of your beard, even with the very best-quality JBCO, this is not the most effective or affordable solution. Instead, a smart combination of the right castor oil, carrier oils, and essential oils blended into custom beard oils can work wonders. [source]
Aside from that, blending your own aromatic beard oils can be fun and saves you a lot of money. Here are a few ideas for using high-quality carrier oils, JBCO, and essential oils to grow and maintain the best beard ever.
What Are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils are natural oils that are used to dilute and deliver more powerful, volatile or essential oils for use in home remedies and homemade personal care products, such as DIY beard oil. These oils are usually light and beneficial; however, adding the right essential oils can really make a huge difference in terms of effectiveness. Essential oils can add powerful antifungal, antibacterial, healing, and aromatic benefits to your homemade beard care products.
Is Castor Oil a Carrier or An Essential Oil?
Many people use castor oil as a carrier oil, but because it is so dense and rich, and has such strong and specific effects in terms of antifungal and antibacterial capabilities, cleaning pores, drying oily skin, and boosting hair growth, it really has more in common with an essential oil. Using it as a small component in your beard care regimen and in your beard oil recipes really makes more sense than using it in large amounts or exclusively.
Top Carrier Oils for Skin, Hair & Beard Care
#1 – Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a light oil similar in composition to your skin’s natural oils (sebum). It is a good choice for oily skin as it is absorbed quickly and moisturizes lightly. This oil is especially helpful for nourishing dry beard hair and split ends.
#2 – Cosmetic-Grade Argan Oil
It is an excellent skin softener. It has antioxidant powers that make it an excellent choice for combating fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.
#3 – Sweet Almond Oil
It has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It is useful if you have a problem with acne or ingrown hairs. Also, it has high levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals (most notably biotin and magnesium). Sweet Almond oil is an exceptional choice if you have problems with flaky skin and/or dandruff.
#4 – Virgin Coconut Oil
VCO is a wonderful, all-around oil that can be used for almost any personal care task you can imagine. It is naturally rich, hydrating, and protective. It makes the perfect choice as a component of beard oil or beard balm if you live in a dry climate.
#5 – Hazelnut Oil
It has a pleasant, nutty scent and is effective as a beard oil base if you are suffering from eczema or acne.
#6 – Hemp Seed Oil
The hemp seed oil has powerful healing and moisturizing qualities. It is a good choice if your beard hair is brittle.
#7 – Castor Oil
Castor Oil is a thick, sticky oil that is not typically used alone or as a carrier on its own. Instead, it is customary to use it for no more than 10% of any given recipe. It provides powerful cleansing, healing, and moisturizing properties. It also stimulates blood circulation and hair growth. Using it full strength is neither necessary nor desirable.
If you want to try them all, order this carrier oil gift set from Amazon.
Essential Oils Add Fragrance & Benefit To Beard Oil
The bottom line is that for great beard growth, your beard oil should be a balanced combination of the right carrier oils and the most effective essential oils. These volatile oils are natural, concentrated compounds distilled from an assortment of medicinal and therapeutic plants. [source]
Adding essential oils to your beard oil provides health benefits to the hair and skin along with valuable aromatherapy qualities. Most essential oils have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Many have numerous other benefits, as well. Here are some of the best choices for beard oil.
- Eucalyptus and Tea Tree oil have a slightly medicinal scent. These cooling oils are antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. They are very helpful in soothing skin irritation.
- Olive oil stimulates facial hair growth making it a great alternative.
- Lemongrass, orange, and lime oil have antibacterial and antifungal properties paired with an invigorating, uplifting scent.
- Lavender oil is calming and moisturizing with antimicrobial properties that fight dandruff.
- Peppermint is another cooling oil that smells great and brightens your mood.
- Sandalwood, clove, and cinnamon oil provide a rich, warm, comforting scent.
- Frankincense has powerful healing and antioxidant properties for the skin.
- Cedarwood smells great and helps treat and prevent acne.
- Amla is beneficial to dry, brittle, damaged beard hair.
- Castor oil can be considered an essential oil in that it delivers specific benefits, such as antifungal and antibacterial properties, detoxification, hair growth, circulation enhancement, and pore cleansing properties.
These are just a few of the many interesting essential oils available at your local health food store or online. Learning about them and experimenting with them to make your own beard oil and other personal care products is interesting, enjoyable, and thrifty.
Get this majestic aromatherapy essential oils set from Amazon!
Make Your Own Beard Oil
Making beard oil using carrier oils, castor oil, and the volatile essential oils of your choosing is a quick, easy, inexpensive DIY project that can result in healthy skin and a big, bushy, shiny beard! [source]
Here’s how!
- In a small, dark glass or opaque ceramic bottle with a tightly fitting lid, combine your oils as follows:
- 9 parts carrier oil of your choosing (you can combine one or two as you like)
- 1 part castor oil
Essential oils: Add 6 drops total per ounce of carrier and castor oil mixture. You can combine the essential oils for benefits and scent as you wish. Don’t do more than 2 at a time or exceed a total of more than 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier/castor oil combo unless you are following a specific recipe.
- Put the lid on the bottle and tilt it back and forth gently to combine the oils. You can use your new beard oil immediately. Be sure to cap the bottle and store it in a cool, dark place protected from light. Remember that essential oils are volatile, so they evaporate rapidly. Failure to cap the bottle or store it correctly will result in a loss of scent and benefits.
Troubleshooting: If you have decided to use coconut oil as your carrier, you will find that it becomes solid at cooler temperatures. To mix it, you can simply set your jar of coconut oil in a bowl of hot water until the amount you need has liquefied. Spoon or pour it off for use. Coconut oil is a very stable oil, so you can warm and cool it multiple times with no damage to the product.
The fact that coconut oil is solid at room temperatures makes it a good choice if you prefer the consistency of a beard balm over a liquid oil product. If you make a solid beard dressing product, you will naturally mix and store it in a small tub rather than in a bottle.
Recipes To Try
Sweet Mint
Combine:
- One tablespoonful of liquefied coconut oil.
- 3 or 4 drops of Peppermint Oil
- 20 drops of castor oil
Note that with this very basic recipe, you can substitute any single carrier oil or essential oil as you wish. This is a good way to familiarize yourself with a variety of ingredients.
Refreshing Castor Oil For Hair And Beard Plus Acne-Prone Skin
Combine:
- One tablespoonful of jojoba oil
- 2 drops of Oil of Peppermint
- 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil
- 20 drops of castor oil
You can substitute Eucalyptus oil for Tea Tree in this recipe if you wish. Any type of mint oil is also fine to use. If you prefer the scent of lavender to peppermint, that’s a good substitution, too.
Constant Comment
Combine:
- One tablespoonful of Hazelnut Oil
- 3 drops of Orange oil
- 2 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
- 1 drop of Cinnamon Oil
- 20 drops of Castor Oil
The perfect combination of scents for the autumn months.
Holiday Happiness
Combine:
- One tablespoon of liquefied Coconut Oil.
- 2 drops of Cedarwood Oil
- 20 drops of Castor Oil
- 2 drops of Sandalwood Oil
- 2 drops of Peppermint Oil
A very festive mix! [source]
Assemble A Beard Care Tool Kit
Smart use of the right beard oil and/or beard balm can really help you grow a great-looking, healthy beard, but that’s not all you’ll need. If you are serious about growing and maintaining impressive facial hair, there are certain tools you must have right from the start. Your beard care tool kit should contain:
- Sharp, barber-quality scissors
- A good, natural bristle beard brush
- A static-free wooden beard comb
- A top-quality beard trimmer
- Mustache wax, if desired
Keeping your supplies in a good-looking travel bag will help you keep things organized. It also makes packing easy whenever you go on a trip.
Add Black Jamaican Castor Oil For Beard Care Routine
It’s easy to see that castor oil is an excellent addition to your beard care toolkit, and BJCO is the very best choice of all. This product helps cleanse and nourish your skin while improving circulation and stimulating the production of the prostaglandin E2 in your hair follicles. It smooths, moisturizes, and evens out the tone of your beard hair. Follow the information presented here for successful beard growth and care from start to finish.