Can Jamaican black castor oil actually help regrow hair and stop hair loss?
My research led me to hundreds of testimonials from people who have used castor oil or Jamaican black castor for hair growth and helping their hair look fuller or feel healthier.
I also found studies that can back these amazing stories.
However, the clinical evidence supporting dramatic hair regrowth or stopping hair loss is limited.
That said, many people still use castor oil because it’s simple, low-risk, and often improves how hair and scalp feel – which can matter more than chasing miracle growth claims.
This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
Quick note before we start:
- If your hair feels dry, breaks easily, or looks thinner than it used to, start with pure castor oil.
- If your scalp is flaky or you want something easier to spread, Jamaican Black Castor Oil is often more comfortable.
I’ve linked the exact oils I personally trust below – so you don’t have to guess.
Page Contents
- 1 How Does Castor Oil Help with Hair Growth?
- 2 How to Use Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth
- 3 What’s the Best Castor Oil for Hair Growth?
- 4 What to Really Expect from Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)
- 5 Castor Oil VS Jamaican Black Castor Oil
- 6 Pro Tip: Combine with Red Light Therapy
- 7 Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth Before and After
- 8 More Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair & Scalp
- 9 How Often Should You Use Castor Oil for Faster Hair Growth?
- 10 Can You Leave Jamaican Black Castor Oil in Your Hair Overnight?
- 11 Castor Oil vs. Argan Oil
How Does Castor Oil Help with Hair Growth?
Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid known for its moisturizing and calming properties.
It’s been used for scalp and hair care for generations, mainly to soothe dryness and support scalp comfort.
That said, there’s limited direct clinical evidence showing that castor oil stimulates new hair growth in humans.
Where it likely helps most is by improving the scalp environment – keeping it hydrated, reducing irritation, and creating better conditions for healthier-looking hair over time.
That’s also why the quality of the oil matters – heavy additives or poor processing can cancel out these benefits.
Centuries ago, the plant was referred to as “Palma Christi” (hand of Christ) because the leaves were said to resemble the hand of Christ.
Traditionally, Castor oil has been used as a laxative and topically for acne, rashes, and any skin condition.
See more amazing castor oil uses!
How to Use Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth
To make your own castor oil hair growth treatment, mix black castor oil with another hair-healthy oil (such as Coconut Oil or Argan Oil) and one or more essential oils for hair growth (such as the amazing Rosemary Oil).
With castor oil, less is more, and you’ll only need a small amount of it on your scalp to reap the benefits (especially if you have a dry scalp!)
That’s another reason quality matters – a cleaner oil works better in smaller amounts.
If you’ve never used castor oil before, start simple. You can always build up later.
Here’s how I make my mix, which lasts for about 5 uses:
- 2 TBSP Jamaican Black Castor Oil
- 1 TBSP Pure Argan Oil / Coconut Oil
- 3 drops pure Rosemary Oil
(Rosemary oil is one of the few essential oils with human studies behind it)
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients in a dark dropper bottle for easy application.
- Apply a few drops of the mix on different parts of your scalp until you’ve coated everywhere (use a shower cap if you have one).
- Massage your scalp for about 2 minutes.
- Repeat the treatment 1-2 times a week.
For me, the treatment works better on damp hair, not entirely wet.
If you want to try this without mixing oils yourself, a ready-made castor oil mix can save time and mess.
Leave it on for 1–2 hours. Some people use it overnight occasionally, but shorter treatments are easier on most scalps.
Leaving heavy oils on overnight intermittently may increase buildup for some people, so be sure to wash it out thoroughly
To wash the oils off your scalp, you’ll need to shampoo twice, preferably with a natural shampoo.
( See 22 amazing health and beauty uses of activated charcoal)
You can rub this mix on your eyelids and eyebrows if you’d like them to grow thicker and healthier (but not the Jamaican one, only the pure, cold-pressed, and hexane-free castor oil can be used around your eyes!)
This is optional and cosmetic -not a proven growth method – and should always be patch-tested first.
If you prefer not to make this hair treatment on your own, here’s a good product.
NOTE
The Castor oil plant can be a skin irritant for some people, so test a tiny amount on your inner arm first.
What’s the Best Castor Oil for Hair Growth?
This part matters more than people think.
Castor oil is thick, and a low-quality one can feel sticky, heavy, or irritating, which is usually why people give up on it too soon.
If you’re trying castor oil for the first time, choosing a clean, well-processed oil makes the experience much easier.
This one is a good choice if you want a traditional Jamaican oil that spreads more easily and doesn’t feel as sticky on the scalp.
The seeds are roasted and boiled the Jamaican way, and the oil has a higher ash content.
If you’re using pure Castor Oil, make sure it’s cold-pressed and hexane-free.
My favorite is Ella & Eden Organic Castor Oil.
I recommend this one if you want something simple, cold-pressed, and safe to use around brows or lashes.
What to Really Expect from Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)
Who it helps (most):
- Dry/tight scalps, breakage-prone hair
- For growth, mix black castor oil with rosemary essential oil and/or low-level laser therapy (LLLT).
Expected Results Timeline
If you use castor oil consistently, most people first notice changes in how their scalp feels: less dryness, better moisture, and often less breakage over time.
What’s important to know is that there isn’t reliable clinical data that can predict when (or if) you’ll see new growth or noticeable density changes.
Any growth-related results tend to vary a lot from person to person and usually take patience. That’s normal – this is a slow, supportive approach, not a quick fix.
Patch-test, and avoid eye contact.
If you’re trying castor oil for the first time, starting with a reliable product makes the whole process easier.
Castor Oil VS Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Cold-pressed Castor Oil is a natural oil with a pale yellow color and no smell.
The clear castor oil you’ll find in stores is the result of filtering this natural yellow oil to further lower the iodine content, making it yellow.
The higher the purity of the castor oil, the lighter the color it will be.
(Read: 10 reasons to use Castor Oil on the face overnight)
Jamaican black castor oil’s black color comes from adding ash from roasted castor beans into the oil (and it does smell like someone’s been smoking nearby when you apply it on your scalp…)
This ash is an addition to the oil and not just the pure thing. Is the ash beneficial?
No science behind it, but Jamaican black castor oil is less sticky and easier to apply to your hair.
Pro Tip: Combine with Red Light Therapy
Did you know?
Red light therapy (Low-Level Laser) is scientifically proven to promote hair regrowth and reduce hair loss.
It’s not magic, but it’s one of the few non-drug options with real clinical backing.
Combining Castor oil with a red light therapy home device (I recommend a laser cap or the laser comb) and a daily scalp massage can make your hair loss treatment much more effective and powerful.
Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth Before and After
Here are a couple of images of people using JCBO for hair regrowth. I find them quite uplifting:
Results like these usually come from consistency, not strength, which is why starting with a quality oil matters.
More Benefits of Castor Oil for Hair & Scalp
Castor oil is more than a hair growth remedy.
This is also why many people keep a bottle on hand – not just for hair growth, but for scalp care and conditioning.
Here are more castor oil benefits for your hair and scalp:
1. Dandruff – castor oil’s anti-bacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties make it a great remedy for scalp infections and issues such as dandruff from a dry and itchy scalp.
See the 6 most effective home remedies for dry scalp
– Mix 1 tbsp of pure Castor Oil with some olive oil and juice from half a lemon and apply on your scalp. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash off.
2. Natural conditioner – Castor oil is moisture-rich and penetrates deep into the scalp to condition your hair.
The result is a great shine and soft hair for all hair types.
Always mix it with another hair-healthy oil, such as coconut oil or Argan oil, and shampoo twice when you’re done.
Try this mix:
- 1 tbsp Castor Oil
- 1 tbsp natural Aloe Vera gel
- 1 tbsp honey
Apply to your roots and leave on for 30 minutes before a thorough wash.
See how to make your own homemade hair products
How Often Should You Use Castor Oil for Faster Hair Growth?
How often you use castor oil really depends on your hair type and how your scalp reacts to it.
Some people do well using it once a week, others 2–3 times a week – but there’s no solid evidence that following a specific schedule guarantees faster or better hair growth.
In some severe cases, you can use castor oil daily, but mix it with 50% coconut oil, since the oil can create a sticky buildup.
Can You Leave Jamaican Black Castor Oil in Your Hair Overnight?
You can use black castor oil on your hair for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
Since it’s very heavy oil, make sure to shampoo twice to ensure you remove any oil residues that may clog your hair follicles.
While you can technically leave castor oil in your hair overnight, leaving any oil on overnight or for longer than four hours should only be done intermittently, as it can lead to possible inflammation.
It is up to you to decide how long you want to leave the oil in your hair, but I recommend washing it out after treatment to prevent the heaviness of the oil weighing down the hair.
Castor Oil vs. Argan Oil
Castor oil and Argan oil are both known to benefit the hair. When comparing argan oil vs. castor oil for hair growth, there is no clear overall winner.
While castor oil is known for helping damaged hair grow better, Argan oil is usually used as a deep conditioner or as a pre-styling product. It helps restore shine to your hair and mend split ends.
People with fine hair may have a tougher time with castor oil because it’s so thick.
If this is you, castor oil isn’t off the table. You just need to mix it with another oil to thin it before you get the results you want.
On the other hand, Argan oil is light and can be an easy and hassle-free way to improve your hair over time.
Conclusion
In my experience and according to many user reports, Jamaican Black Castor Oil can help improve hair moisture and scalp condition.
Some people feel it makes their hair look thicker or healthier, but strong scientific evidence that it grows hair or stops hair loss is lacking.
I’ve linked the castor oils I personally trust above, so you don’t have to experiment blindly.
To your health and happiness,
Meital
Studies
Novak, A.F., Clark, G.C. and Dupuy, H.P. (1961), Antimicrobial activity of some ricinoleic acid oleic acid derivatives. J Am Oil Chem Soc, 38: 321-324. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02638439
Jamshed Iqbal, Sumera Zaib, Umar Farooq, Afsar Khan, Irum Bibi, Saba Suleman, “Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Free Radical Scavenging Potential of Aerial Parts of Periploca aphylla and Ricinus communis“, International Scholarly Research Notices, vol. 2012, Article ID 563267, 6 pages, 2012.
Patel VR, Dumancas GG, Kasi Viswanath LC, Maples R, Subong BJ. Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Production. Lipid Insights. 2016;9:1–12. Published 2016 Sep 7.
Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. Skinmed. 2015 Jan-Feb;13(1):15-21. PMID: 25842469.
Yes, you can. The oil is partially absorbed and the remaining oil will act as a conditioner.
African Americans don’t wash their hair daily can you apply the castor oil, say twice a week, and wash hair weekly?
Nope, won’t ruin it at all – go ahead and mix in rosemary oil, which is also great for the hair.
Meital:
The Castor Oil Treatment, can be mixed with some aromatic herbs (for example, Rosemary) or some petals for adding a nice smell to the mix? Or if is mixed with a natural fragance could ruined it?
You can use it every day as long as you wash it out well, otherwise, it may clog your scalp skin. Water is not enough to wash it off, but you can use water with baking soda to remove the JBCO without soap. If you are trying to promote hair growth for your baby – I recommend that you stop worrying, your baby will grow healthy hair exactly when it’s supposed to happen. Both my boys were almost bald until they were 1.5 years old, and now they have healthy hair.
Can you use JBCO as baby’s everyday hair oil and can it be washed off with only water daily as I shampoo my baby’s hair once in a week
Yes, JBCO is safe to apply on your scalp, just remember to wash it off after an hour or after leaving in it for the night. As for food grade rosemary oil, here’s one I found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pBmo6s – and yes, it’s just as effective. Good luck!
Hi Meital thanks for the quick reply I thought all essential oils were the same how would you acquire food-grade rosemary oil for instance and would it be as effective? also, would it be OK to just using the JBCO with the derma roller for now till I find out about the essential oils because I’m assuming that JBCO is OK for ingesting if not please advise me otherwise?
I have through a lot of things at my hair loss over the years as I’m sure a lot of people that have responded on here have done also even tried the onion juice it stank and so did I lol not sure if it did anything but it has been reported to help with alopecia conditions caused due to stress my hair loss is male pattern baldness though I first noticed when someone brought it to my attention back when I was 27years old never really paid attention though probably in denial back then lol I’m now 47 and it has been a gradual loss over the years.
My only regret is not looking into natural remedies more sooner than I did especially the essential oil side of things instead of using regain minoxidil because I do think it worked to an extent but if you stop taking it just goes back to what it was like before sometimes even worse that’s why I wish I new about rosemary sooner because in latest tests it has shown to be nearly as effective as regain minoxidil but now I think it is going to be a fight to keep what I have but I will certainly look into the red light treatment you suggested also thanks.
It seems like a good idea, though I would use food-grade essential oils, since they will enter your blood stream. I also highly recommend, as said in the post, to combine this with red light therapy – a proven way to stop hair loss and regrow hair – in a natural and non-invasive way. Good luck!
Hi just lately I have been reading about the benefits of JBCO peppermint, rosemary, sage essential oils as well all can be used in the hopes of stopping and maybe even encouraging hair growth the essential oils I mentioned have shown promise in studies to block DHT.
So I made a mixture of coconut oil rosemary, sage, and peppermint and put it in my hair overnight, next time I will add JBCO into the mix.
So after doing this I thought of maybe adding something else to this regimen I was thinking of maybe trying some derma rolling on my scalp then adding some JBCO and maybe a little rosemary and peppermint essential oils afterward and leave on overnight I used to use minoxidil but never really seen any great change but I know some guys on youtube were derma rolling then adding minoxidil I gave it a thought but then decided against it as it was a drug.
So what do you think about the derma rolling idea do you think it is worth a shot obviously with the rolling it would open up the pores in the scalp with the small wounds and may allow the castor oil and essential oils to go deeper into the scalp and derma rolling is also supposed to encourage better circulation thanks.
Hi, I’ve recently bought the JBCO and in just a week I have seen results, I use it as a hot oil treatment along with my hair conditioner and it’s really working fast.
I suffer from hair loss and am amazed that after 2 days of applying the JBCO I haven’t seen my hair dropping out as much.
Excited to see more results a few months from now.
Yes you can.
Can you use jojoba oil in place of aran oil for the mixture?
Joe,
I don’t know if it can “cure” it, but I do know that red light therapy is proven to regrow hair.
Hi Meital. Can the Jamaica castor oil cure baldness in men? What is your experience on that?
It’s not a must, but if you don’t it will keep your hair quite oily…
Is washing out the black Jamaican castor oil a must for the process of growing my hair to work
Yes, it’s definitely possible. Go ahead and let me know how it works for you o.k?
Hi,
It is possible to mix all of them
Castor oil + argan oil+ olive oil+ coconut oil oil + Rosemary EO.
for not only to grow my hair and also to keep their shine and soft too?
thank you,
Karen,
My recommended JBCO is linked to in the post. As for washing it off – yes, wash it off after at least half an hour, or after leaving it on for the night. And yes, you can use it when your hair is straightened.
See more of the best remedies for a dry scalp. here’s my post:
Good luck!
Thank you so much for this article. I have shared it with many friends.
I just have a few questions. I am actually of Jamaican heritage but I was born and still live in London (UK). I am 19 years old, and my hair is flat ironed about 6 times a year. I’ve been doing this for about 5 years now. But I’ve noticed that my hair is not as thick as it used to be and I do suffer from a very dry and flaky scalp.
So because the castor oil promotes growth, thickness, and a healthy scalp I am considering giving it a try.
However, I do not know where to start. I believe I do have quite low porosity hair.
Which type of castor oil do you recommend I use?
And every time I apply the oil to my scalp do I have to wash it off?
Can I use the oil on my scalp even when my hair is straightened?
You can definitely try. I would also recommend considering red light therapy, which is proven to promote hair growth via increased local blood circulation.
Thank you so much for your post. I have scarring Alopecia. Do you think this JBCO can work for me? I get relief from symptoms by using coconut oil and aloe Vera juice. I wonder if I can mix all three to get my hair back.
I think that you can make enough to fill the entire bottle, if you finish it in up to one week. I wouldn’t keep it longer than that.
Would you say it’s better to whip up enough of the mix you make to fill the entire dropper bottle or only make it as we go? I wonder if making a big batch would cause over-exposure. Specifically, I made a batch already but I have to order a new dropper bottle like the one I have is not as good as it could be. The mix in it is good but once the new bottle gets here I want to pour the existing mix into the new bottle as well as put a new batch in the new bottle as well.
I may just be paranoid but is this okay?
Great Tiffany:), looking forward to read your update..
I just bought two bottles of the black one today. I put it on wet hair after I got out of the shower and massaged it for a while. The front of my hair is thinning and everywhere else is thick cause I have naturally thick long hair. Stress thinned my hair. I’m hoping to see it thicken I’m only doing in on the front of my hair. My boyfriend uses the yellow one and told me about castor oil. His hair is very thick but does shed a lot. Also, he is the only one out of his brothers and father that has not gone bald as yet and he’s the oldest brother. He also told me eating meat will make you go bald. I don’t color or put chemicals in my hair. Did it a few times in the past never again. Let’s see what happens. I will use this as much as I can 3-4 times per week. I will update. I used the yellow organic one b for 6 weeks saw nothing. I’m hoping this will show me something
Hi:)
The answers to your question are inside the post. Good luck!
I’ve just heard of Jamaica castor oil…. how can I apply it on my scalp? and after applying,when should I wash it away?
Yes, very much. Just remember to wash it off on the morning.
I don’t see why not…
Will the Jamaican castor oil, argan oil and rosemary mix work for black males hair?
So basically Jamaican black castor oil (without mixing any other oil) to apply on your scalp before going to bed can be effective?
You can do this every day, but I would start with twice a week and see how it goes.
Come back and tell your results, o.k?:)
Thank you! so basically i need to only put it on my hair and eyelashes before bed and let it sit & shower in the morning. How many times a week should i apply to my hair and eyelashes?
Amanda,
No, it won’t affect your hair color but yes, it is greasy. It’s thicker and greasier than coconut oil. However, you don’t need to use a lot to get results. With CO, more is less.
I hope this helps and good luck!
I color my hair..will the oils affect it? And how greasy does it make your hair? I’ve noticed my hair is thinning so im wanting something for the thickness and for my eyelashes to grow. I’ve tried biotin, eyelash serum, vaseline, coconut oil… I stopped using coconut oil just bc how greasy it left everything
In my experience, there’s no problem with leaving castor oil in your hair as long as you want.
I am doing this hair challenge and it said to use the Jamaica Black castor oil 3 times a day on your scalp but wash your hair every 7th day is that a good thing or should I wash it out in hours ?
Mary,
There’s no reason why it should affect your natural hair color. Don’t worry about it.
I have naturally blond hair and wonder if this recipe would affect the color?
Thanks for sharing your experience with us!:)
I used regular castor oil for up to 6 months and saw results. Not the results I expected to see after 6 months but it did thicken it.
Then I switched to Jamaican castor oil and found that I saw better results within 2 months than I did with the 6 months of regular castor oil. I stopped using oils on my eyebrows for about 4 months but now I’m back at it but this time I used organic argan oil.
I see results from the argon oil and I have been using it for about a month now. From the argon oil, I have grown more hair around my arch and ends of my eyebrows but I noticed that the hair on my eyebrows is getting thinner.
I don’t know why but I’m growing hair outside my eyebrows but losing hair inside my eyebrows and maybe it’s because of the argan oil. I am now switching back to Jamaican castor oil as I had the best experience from it. Regular castor oil did take the longest so that will be my 2nd choice after I try Jamaican castor oil.
I will upload updates on which one I’m doing and how it helped.
Persis,
To use on your eyelids I would recommend to only use the Castor oil, without mixing it with other oils.
Good luck!
Hi Meital I live in Dubai.
Been reading a lot on both C Oils.. it said the Jamaican oil is the best!! Made my sister send me 5 bottles from the UK. Have seen some results on the front hairline & eyebrows, not much on eyelashes.
Used 3 bottles on my son’s hair, not very promising results. Also, it’s an easier oil to apply being thinner.
I used the regular C Oil…before the Jamaican. It’s a heavy/viscousy oil… didn’t get to use it long enough to see results because half way I read about the Jamaican oil being better so switched to Jamaican Oil.
Now after reading yr readers’ comments & yr replies I’m gonna switch back to the regular c oil for my eyebrows and lids.
Will it be ok to mix the reg c oil with coconut or olive oil?
Can I use this mix esp on my lashes??
Thank you
Persis.
Sus,
Jamaican black castor oil is not as pure and can’t be found pure and clean like Castor oil. I wouldn’t risk my eyes getting infected from something that is n’t absolutely pure.
That’s what I would recommend anyway…
Hope this helps!
Hi. Great post. I was just wondering, why can’t I use the jamaican castor oil on the eyelids and brows?
Wow! I have always had thin hair, and I’d love to try this to see if it works. Thanks for sharing!
Deborah,
I love it when you stop by and your blog hop is a joy every week…thank you for taking the time for commenting and sharing!
I’ve been using Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil for a while now and I know a lot of women who are using this product to enhance hair health and appearance and to stimulate hair growth.Thank you so much for sharing How to Use Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth at the Healthy Happy Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I’m pinning and sharing.
Wow, I didn’t know the difference between the two castor oils although i’ve been using regular castor oil for detoxification for a while. Thanks for the post
Joyce,
Thanks so much for sharing my post and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it!:)
This is great so many women can benefit from this, pinned for future use. Followed you here from Wildcrafting Wednesdays.
Carol,
That’s awsome! Thanks for sharing your success with Castor oil, very encouraging!
I will say that using this oil really worked for me. I have chronic pain due to spinal disc degeneration which causes lots of stress. Both of my eyebrows became sparse and one nearly disappeared to half its size. I only had to apply the oil a few times before I noticed my brows growing back in. I really hated trying to paint them on as it rarely looked natural and I didn’t want to use standard make up loaded with unhealthy chemicals. I was so pleased.
I found a small bottle of pure, organic, cold pressed oil on Amazon. I just applied a little with a q-tip and left it on before bed. No mess.