Everything you need to know about castor oil (ricinus oil)
Curious about castor oil, or ricinusolie, for your hair and lashes? Let’s start with what you probably most want to know: what the oil can and cannot do.
In brief
- Castor oil and ricinusolie are the same oil.
- It softens and adds shine to dry hair, skin and lips.
- A few drops are enough, even for long hair.
- In Denmark, many people also know it as amerikansk olie.
What is castor oil (ricinusolie)?
Castor oil is the English name for ricinusolie, a thick plant oil pressed from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). In Denmark, many people also know it as amerikansk olie.
Whether the bottle says castor oil, castorolie or ricinusolie, it is the same oil. You can recognise it on the ingredient list by the name Ricinus Communis Seed Oil.
Castor oil feels so thick because of ricinoleic acid, which makes up to 90 % of the oil’s fatty acids.1 The pale yellow oil feels slightly sticky between your fingers.
What is castor oil good for?
Castor oil softens and adds shine to dry hair, skin and lips, so it is widely used in lip balms, ointments and makeup.
Do you know the feeling of dry ends that stick out or lips that feel tight on a cold morning? The oil can make a difference here. It forms a thin layer that adds shine, making hair and skin feel softer and look better cared for.
- Dry hair: softer lengths with a lovely shine.
- Lips and dry skin: feel softer and gain a little shine.
- Makeup: the oil makes lipstick easy to apply and gives your lips shine.
Castor oil for hair
A little castor oil in dry hair can make it softer and add shine. However, we know little about how much shine the oil gives hair.2
Does castor oil make hair grow?
No studies show that castor oil makes hair grow.2 Use it to care for the hair you already have.
A hair mask with castor oil does not have to take all evening. Enjoy a little break to yourself while the oil cares for your hair.
- Take just a few drops. They are enough even for long hair.
- Spread the oil between your palms and smooth it through the lengths and ends of dry hair.
- Leave it on for a little while, for example while you enjoy a warm bath.
- Wash it out thoroughly with shampoo, preferably twice, and comb your hair gently.
Good to know
In rare cases, very thick oil can cause long hair to become so tightly tangled that it cannot be combed out again. This has happened after using castor oil as a hair mask.3 So use only a little, comb gently and wash the oil out thoroughly.
Castor oil for lashes and brows
But can castor oil also give you longer lashes and fuller brows? We would rather be honest: no studies show that castor oil makes eyelashes or brows grow.4 The hairs simply gain a little shine while the oil is on.
The shine can also make them look slightly darker. Both effects disappear when you wash the oil off.
Keep the oil well away from your eyes. If it gets into your eye, it can sting and feel uncomfortable.5 Stop if your eyes become red or watery.
Dreaming of lashes that look longer and fuller? We have gathered our best advice in the guide how to get long lashes.
Castor oil for skin and face
You can use castor oil on your skin and face. The oil forms a thin layer and softens dry areas of skin. It is thick, so a few drops go a long way.
Castor oil is part of the secret behind lip balm’s shine. It is also what you feel when the stick glides smoothly over your lips. It also makes ointments easy to spread and helps distribute the colour in a lipstick.
At ECOOKING, you will find castor oil in lip care, skincare and makeup, but not in hair masks or lash oils.
Castor oil is thick and adds shine, while jojoba oil, for example, feels lighter on the skin. Which oil suits you best? Compare the oils for skin.
Is castor oil dangerous?
Castor oil has been assessed as safe in the amounts used in skincare and makeup. The seeds contain the toxin ricin, but it does not pass into the oil. Fortunately, allergy is rare.5
However, a few people have developed an allergy to castor oil in a lip balm.6 Stop if your skin becomes irritated.
And can you drink it? Castor oil intended for hair and skin must not be drunk. It has a strong laxative effect.1 If you want to use it for anything other than care, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.
Talk to your doctor
Is it itchy, are your lips or skin becoming red, or do you have small blisters? Stop using the product. If it does not go away, talk to your doctor.
Castor oil in the belly button and castor oil packs
You may have seen the trend of putting a few drops of oil in the belly button before bed, or placing an oil-soaked cloth on the stomach as a compress, also called a castor oil pack.
There is no evidence that castor oil in the belly button cleanses the body of toxins or benefits your digestion, hormones or sleep. The oil softens the skin where you apply it, but it does not help with stomach pain or lumps. You should talk to your doctor about those.
Myth or fact?
Castor oil in the belly button cleanses the body of toxins.
Myth. There is no evidence of this. The oil cares for the skin where you apply it.
Castor oil gives you longer lashes in a few weeks.
Myth. Nothing shows that it makes lashes grow. They gain a little shine while the oil is on.
The more oil, the better.
Myth. Castor oil is so thick that too much makes hair heavy and difficult to comb out. So stick to a few drops.
Ricinusolie and castor oil are the same.
Fact. They are the same oil, just with a Danish and an English name.
Cold-pressed, organic or black castor oil?
When choosing an oil, you may come across the terms cold-pressed, organic and black castor oil. These terms tell you a little about the oil and how it is made.
- Cold-pressed: The seeds are pressed while the temperature is kept low. Cold-pressed oil is lighter than oil extracted with solvents.1
- Organic: The term tells you how the plants were grown, but not how the oil feels on the skin.
- Black castor oil: This is a darker version of the oil.
Nothing shows that one type cares for your skin and hair better than the others. Choose the one you like using best.
What does castor oil do for hair?
- Makes it softer and adds shine
- Makes it grow
- Colours it darker
The oil cares for your hair, but nothing shows that it makes it grow.
How much should you use in your hair?
- A few drops
- A generous handful
- Enough to cover all your hair
The oil is very thick, so a few drops go a long way. Too much makes hair heavy and difficult to comb out.
Can the oil get into your eyes?
- Yes, it is good for lashes
- Yes, just a little
- No, keep it away from your eyes
Oil in the eye can sting and feel uncomfortable.
Our care products with castor oil
At ECOOKING, we do not sell pure castor oil. Instead, you will find it in our lip balms, caring ointments and makeup. Reach for the lip balm when your lips feel tight on a cold day. And if you are not happy with your care products, you have our 100 % satisfaction guarantee.
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Frequently asked questions
Is castor oil the same as amerikansk olie?
Yes. Amerikansk olie is an older Danish name for ricinusolie, which is called castor oil in English. They are one and the same oil.
What is castor oil called in Danish?
In Danish, castor oil is called ricinusolie. You will find it on the ingredient list under the name Ricinus Communis Seed Oil.
What is castor oil good for?
It makes dry hair and dry lips softer and gives them shine. That is why you will often find it in lip balms, ointments and lipsticks.
Does castor oil make lashes longer?
No, no studies show that it makes lashes longer. They simply gain a little shine until you wash the oil off.
Can you put castor oil on your face?
Yes, but it is thick, so use only a little and keep it away from your eyes. Stop if your skin becomes red or itchy.
Can you drink castor oil?
No, you must not drink castor oil intended for hair and skin. If you need it for anything other than care, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What does castor oil do in the belly button?
It softens the skin around the belly button, but there is no evidence that it cleanses the body or benefits digestion.
Sources
- Patel VR et al. Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production. Lipid Insights. 2016. PubMed
- Phong C et al. Coconut, Castor, and Argan Oil for Hair in Skin of Color Patients: A Systematic Review. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2022. PubMed
- Maduri VR et al. "Castor Oil" – The Culprit of Acute Hair Felting. International Journal of Trichology. 2017. PubMed
- Sullivan DA et al. TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of cosmetics on the ocular surface. The Ocular Surface. 2023. PubMed
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate … International Journal of Toxicology. 2007. PubMed
- Sánchez-Herrero A et al. Allergic contact cheilitis in an adolescent to Ricinus communis seed oil (castor oil) in a lip balm. Contact Dermatitis. 2018. PubMed
