Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. Castor oil for hair has been used for claiming its place as one of the best hair oils for growth, shine, and hydration. TikTok's obsession has slightly taken the shine away from castor oil for hair. Although, FYI, castor oil works way better for shiny locks and growth. Slowly but surely, castor oil for hair is finally getting the recognition it deserves (although we never forgot about it). #Castoroil currently has over 725 million views on TikTok because of its benefits for skin and period pain but primarily for healthy hair and growth. Similarly to , castor oil has so many benefits for our scalp and strands that it's hard to know what is fact and what is TikTok fiction. So I asked the experts to give us a low-down on castor oil's benefits and the best way to use it. Because I'm not trusting another TikTok hair-oiling video. Although it's been used since the dawn of time, castor oil for hair is used less in its raw form and more so mixed with other ingredients. This means it's probably in more haircare products than you would've guessed. If you've been searching for the benefits of castor oil for hair, you're in the right place because I asked the experts everything we want to know, from how to use it to how long we should leave castor oil on our scalp. "Hair oiling is something that has been done for hundreds or even thousands of years in some cultures and can be beneficial for helping your hair retain moisture, prevent dryness as well as stimulating growth," says Leading Hair Transplant Surgeon, Dr Furqan Raja, of . "Like many viral trends there is often little clinical evidence to support the theory of Rosemary Hair oil. People can often have unrealistic expectations and I find it concerning when my patients may expect a miracle cure," explains Dr Raja. But what about castor oil? What makes castor oil good for hair growth anyway? The oil is made from castor seeds, meaning castor oil is high in vitamin E and essential unsaturated fatty acids. These stimulate blood circulation on the scalp, which in turn stimulates hair growth. If you're a fan of scalp treatments and head massages, then using castor oil for hair as a pre-wash treatment is one of the best ways to give yourself that me time, and give your strands some love. "Castor oil can improve the look of your eyelashes, hair and eyebrows. It hydrates moistures and prevents breakage. It has high levels of essential fatty acids that can help with the healing of hair and skin," explains Dr Nick Fisherman, trichologist at "Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid and acts as an inhibitor of prostaglandin D2 synthase which is believed to be the cause of androgenetic alopecia. Castor oil is a great addition to any beauty routine," Dr Fisherman explains. As a beauty writer, I doubt most of the before and after hair growth videos I see on TikTok as a way to sell oil on TikTok shop, and the same is true here. "Castor oil may be beneficial for hair, although there is very little evidence to suggest it helps with hair growth," says Leading Hair Transplant Surgeon, Dr Furqan Raja. He says: “People do claim it can increase blood flow to the scalp to promote hair growth. I have seen little evidence for this but I would say it can help moisturise a dry scalp, which can lead to healthier hair in the long run. It can help to soften the hair.” Dr Raja tells us if you do want to try using castor oil for hair, you would just need to rub a few drops into your scalp and you could try massaging a few drops into the ends of the hair to protect against breakage. “I wouldn’t recommend using it more than once a week because it can cause a build-up of oil. “Hair loss itself is a very complicated issue and can be caused by a wide variety of things so if you are suffering with hair loss, it is best to see an expert who specialises in hair loss to come up with a scientific treatment plan. However, using a bit of castor oil for hair health won’t do any harm," explains Dr Raja. Because castor oil can work its magic in so many ways, you might be tempted by TikTok to opt for castor oil in it raw form. Expert hairstylist, Vincent Allenby warns that using the oil in its raw form (if you do manage to get hold of it) is not a good idea. "If using it on your hair make sure it is diluted with something such as argan oil or jojoba oil as on its own it's too heavy for the hair and could be a little troublesome rinsing," Allenby explains. “I would suggest diluting castor oil as the smell can also be slightly unpleasant. People with oily hair will find castor oil makes their hair greasy," explains Dr Raja. If you do want to try it in its raw form, it's suggested that you mix three spoonfuls of castor oil, with one of and one of jojoba oil. Massage into the scalp and ends, then rinse. But in my opinion, the Fable & Mane pre-wash oil, saves so much time and smells much better. "In its natural state castor oil is thick and hard to spread, with a slightly tacky consistency, so rather than opting for a home-made recipe, I would recommend using a formulation adapted for a scalp application such as Grow Gorgeous Sensitive Ceramide Rich Hair and Scalp Mask, an intensive overnight treatment designed to provide instant soothing relief to dry, itchy and sensitive scalp," says Dr Leray. Does it make a difference if you use Jamaican castor oil? Not really, although it has become super popular on TikTok and it seems to be everyone's go-to, there isn't much that set them apart. "Castor oil is available in two different types this includes cold-pressed and Jamaican black castor oil. Jamaican black castor oil is mainly used for hair. Not much difference between the two and it’s essential you source castor oil from a pure, organic brand that has a good reputation," explains Dr Fisherman. You can use castor oil for hair before washing, as a pre-wash hair oil, add a little bit to the ends after washing for its soothing powers, and find it in plenty of styling products. Now we are wiser about the benefits of castor oil for hair, keep scrolling for our edit of the best hair masks and hair oils infused with castor oil. I use this as a pre-wash treatment before every wash and I swear by it for healthy strands. Made with the ancient tradition of hair oiling in mind, this oil is made to be a part of a self care routine, and it is simply perfect. Leave on for 10 minutes before you wash or overnight for stronger and smoother strands. If hair growth is the aim, then this is the castor oil product for you. As recommended by Dr Fisherman, you can turn this into a multi-use product and use it on body as well as hair. Add a little bit into the ends for super smooth and hydrated hair. If your hair is dehydrated, then this Jamaican black castor oil will hydrate your strands in one wash. Dr Leray suggests using this as one of the best products infused with castor oil for hair. Apply it before bed and wake up with a calm, soothed scalp and super healthy strands. A sulphate free shampoo infused with Jamaican black castor oil, which gently cleanses while hydrating strands. Use it with the matching conditioner for your softest hair yet. One of the best hair oils I've ever used, it's not just their patented TFC8 Complex, it's infused with castor oil too, which explains why my strands are so silky. An oil with all the oils. The amika hydrating hair oil is super hydrating as it's infused with castor oil, jojoba oil coconut oil and even more added goodness. Yes, this is the one you may have seen on TikTok, but it is one of the original castor oils for hair, so we know it's good. It's 100% pure castor oil, so if you were planning on making your own DIY castor oil mask, this is the one you need. Use a little bit of this cream on damp hair to get a hold on flyaways and define curls. Hair is left feeling hydrated, but dries weightless and helps hold curls for longer.