Castor Oil: What are the benefits for the beard?

Thecastor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis, a shrub of tropical origin from the Euphorbiaceae family. To preserve the properties of the active ingredients of this plant, the seeds are cold pressed. Following the extraction, the obtained liquid goes through a filtration stage to eliminate allergenic actives and ricin, a toxic enzyme. Indeed, due to the presence of this harmful protein, ingestion and consumption of castor oil in its natural state are discouraged.

Castor oil has a viscous and dense appearance. However, it is low-comedogenic (comedogenicity index = 1) and does not clog pores. It exhibits good tissue absorption. It is rich in fatty acids, particularly ricinoleic acid, which is estimated to make up between 83 and 88% of its content. This vegetable oil also contains oleic acid, linoleic acid and saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid and stearic acid. Its unsaponifiable fraction consists of beta-sitosterol and tocopherol. The composition of castor oil can, however, vary depending on several factors, including cultivation conditions and the cultivar.

The beard, much like hair, shapes the face and plays a crucial role in a person's physical appearance. However, it can sometimes appear rough, uneven, and can give a neglected appearance. Applying pure castor oil to the beard or a treatment based on castor oil will bring several benefits:

• Hydrate the skin and limit potential itching associated with shaving.

  Shaving tends to disrupt the hydrolipidic film and dry out the epidermis. Castor oil is rich in fatty acids, compounds that are moisturising and lipid-replenishing. These allow for the care of the skin beneath the hair.

• Softening the hairs.
  Beard hairs tend to be coarser than head hair. Castor oil softens and adds shine to the hairs. This type of care also tames unruly hairs so that the entire beard appears neater and more styled.

• Potentially, stimulating hair growth.

  This vegetable oil, known for its strengthening and nourishing properties, is reputed to promote the growth of beard hair. However, it should be noted that so far, no scientific study has demonstrated this ability in castor oil. This reputation is actually based on scientific studies concerning the action of castor oil on hair loss. Thus, it has been shown that ricinoleic acid is capable of reversing the process related to hair loss by inhibiting the action of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). Regarding beard hair, castor oil does nonetheless hydrate and strengthen them. Healthy hairs are thus likely to grow faster.

• Purify the hair and limit the dandruff.

  Beard hairs provide a fertile ground for the colonisation and growth of "bad bacteria". These can cause irritations, itching and even dandruff. Ricinoleic acid, which makes up over 80% of castor oil, is recognised for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

In terms of its use, castor oil should be applied to a clean and dry beard. If you have a dry and brittle beard, you can use it morning and evening, daily. However, those with oily skin should rather apply castor oil once a day or even every other day, to improve the appearance of the beard without creating an overly greasy effect.

Furthermore, castor oil can also be found in a beard care product such as our beard oil. It contains several plant oils: hemp, castor, argan, sunflower. It also contains mandarin peel essential oil as well as Scots pine needle essential oil. The latter gives this oil a fresh forest and pine sap fragrance.