What Happens When You Put Castor Oil In Your Hair

If you're looking for DIY hair treatments, you've probably come across multiple sources suggesting your try using castor oil. And while many believe it promotes hair growth, cosmetic chemist and author Perry Romanowski told Allure that this isn't the case. "Castor oil will not grow hair," he said, adding, "There is no evidence for it and no scientific theory supporting that it would work, so yes, it's a total myth." But that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad for your hair. Here's what actually happens when you put castor oil in your hair.

Michelle Blaisure, certified trichologist from Bosley Professional Strength told Cosmopolitan that using castor oil in your hair can actually help with dandruff. "Castor oil is not only anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, but it also helps maintain moisture in the skin," Blaisure explained. And Romanowski backs her up, noting that castor oil has "antimicrobial properties which may be useful in terms of fighting off bacterial or fungal overgrowth on the scalp."

According to Zoë Passam, trichologist at Philip Kingsley, using castor oil on your hair can also lock in moisture and add shine. "Castor, like many other natural oils, will act to trap moisture in the hair, smoothing the cuticle," she explained to Elle. "It's moisturizing properties will also significantly help surface shine." Sign us up!

If you're looking to add castor oil to your hair care routine, stylist and founder of My Hair Doctor, Guy Parsons, recommends using only a few drops at a time. "I'd suggest using castor oil in minute quantities," he advised Elle, suggesting you mix it with other products instead. "If you use it neat beware, as it is very difficult to rinse out of the hair and remove from the scalp," he continued. Passam agrees, adding, "To avoid making your hair feel coated and weighed down, fuse castor oil with other ingredients."