Castor oil is often overlooked for use in beauty routines due to its very thick, sometimes “sticky” consistency. Who wants to layer something like that on their skin – unless it’s on the elbows or another place that tends to dry out excessively? While it’s true it’s not the right type of oil to use allover the face, it definitely has some practical uses.

To Thicken, Strengthen and Regrow Eyebrows

One that’s gained attention over the past few years is its use as a potential eyebrow thickener. As touched on in a previous post “Top 5 Facial Aging Factors”, losing your eyebrows as you age is one of the factors that gets overlooked. It’s not something you typically think of as aging the appearance of the face because it’s not directly skin related.

But losing eyebrows definitely does age the face. It tends to make the eyes look more sunken, and takes away that wonderful face and eye framing symmetry. We just don’t consciously think about it because we lose facial hair and eyebrows so gradually. Then one morning we wake up and notice that our eyebrows have thinned significantly.

Castor oil, when applied nightly to each eyebrow, can really help to not only help regrow the eyebrows, but also may be useful in protecting the hairs that exist. Oh by the way - castor oil is also FANTASTIC for your lips. Protects, stays put and nourishes all in one - that's why it's one of the primary oils in our All Natural Lips Balms!

Hair-Nourishing Properties

First off, castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid is a very effective natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent. This can help fungus and bacteria in check, and is well known for being beneficial to the skin by keeping it clear of hair growth inhibiting fungus (think of how keeping your scalp clear of fungus helps facilitate healthy hair growth).

Since the oil has a very thick consistency, it may help to prevent hair loss simply by helping to coat the hair and preventing it from falling out. If those tiny, fragile hairs can survive long enough, they become larger, darker and thicker hairs that actually form noticeable eyebrows.

Aside from the bioactive properties of the oil, the thickness may actually be the biggest reason it works so well to help protect eyebrow hairs. Other potent but thinner oils like Argan oil may not have as much effect due to their thinner consistency.

Omega 3’s Less Well-Known Cousin Omega 9

Castor oil is also high in omega 9 fatty acids, which are nourishing to both the hair and the follicle, as well as the surrounding skin. Castor oil has a unique ability to be deeply penetrating, and this helps it to deliver its active constituents deeply into the pores and the follicles that sprout tiny hairs.

Since castor oil is so inexpensive, it really is a great way to help protect your eyebrows with nightly application. If you are going try it out for eyebrow thickening, give it plenty of time to work. Nothing works right away. If you’ve been applying nightly for six months and nothing happens, then there are plenty of other uses for castor oil.

It actually works as a stimulant-style laxative (perhaps one of the it most well known and frequent uses in the mid 1900’s). It’s also excellent for applying to extremely dry patches of skin like the elbows or even rough, dry or cracked hands.

Another use is for scar protection and softening. When applied daily to old scars, it can help to soften, lighten and flatten scar tissue. AND, you can use this to help soften crows feet at night. Dab some around the sides of the eyes for overnight protection of this delicate eye area - it may also help to mitigate the wrinkle-forming effects of side sleeping.  So there, if you don’t particularly love it for eyebrow thickening, there are plenty of other uses!