Does castor oil stimulate beard growth?

Thecastor oil is a vegetable oil that offers numerous benefits to the beard. It notably helps to hydrate the facial skin after shaving and to soften the hairs. It is also credited with the ability to stimulate beard growth. This reputation actually comes from scientific studies based on the action of castor oil on alopecia, or hair loss. During these studies, it was demonstrated that the ricinoleic acid in castor oil had an inhibitory effect on prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). It is observed that this protein is about three times more present in the bald areas of the scalp than in the hairy areas.

If we delve into the biological mechanism, PGD2 and its metabolite 15-dPGJ2 halt hair growth by binding to the GPR44 molecular receptor. By inhibiting prostaglandin D2, thecastor oil restores hair growth. Regarding beard hair growth, no study to date has demonstrated the ability of castor oil to stimulate it. However, this natural ingredient helps to hydrate and strengthen the hairs, and healthy hairs tend to grow faster.

Before applying castor oil to your beard, first wash it with a cleanser or a suitable beard shampoo. Once the cleaning is done, you can proceed to the application of the vegetable oil. Here is the procedure we recommend you to follow.

1. Pour two or three drops of castor oil into the palm of one of your hands;

2. Apply the vegetable oil by gentle massage over your entire beard;

3. Completely cover your beard with a towel dampened with warm water so that the treatment can deeply penetrate the hairs;

4. Allow the treatment to rest for approximately 30 minutes;

5. Rinse with warm water.

Note: to dislodge dead skin cells and impurities that may accumulate in the beard, the implementation of a scrub is necessary. This type of care also contributes to the cellular renewal of the skin under the beard. To optimise results, it is recommended to perform a scrub once or twice a week.