Castor oil makes beards grow faster: myth or reality?
You've probably heard of castor oil and its almost magical properties on hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, nails or... beards. Beauty blogs only talk about that. It seems like we've discovered a prodigious elixir to make hair grow faster... At Monsieur BARBIER, we have a bit of a psychorigid Cartesian side so we wanted to get to the bottom of it. This is the result of our investigation.
And believe us, we put our heart and soul into it!
A hair accelerator?
In Tintin in the Land of Black Gold , the Duponts accidentally swallow a pill that they mistake for aspirin. Result: their hair and beards start to grow at full speed. We would suggest you do the same, but there are some undesirable effects: your hair turns green, bubbles come out of your mouth... So we prefer to test castor oil, identified by its English name “castor oil” in the list of ingredients on cosmetic packaging. Rest assured, castor oil cannot be ingested and has nothing to do with beavers. It is a natural plant component which comes from the cold pressing of the seeds of a plant of tropical origin: castor oil.
Tintin in the Land of Castor Oil
Rich in vitamin E, castor oil's main component is a fatty acid: ricinoleic acid. It is this active ingredient which gives it its anti-inflammatory properties. It also protects against the development of bacteria and mold, acting as an antibacterial and antifungal. It therefore prevents infections and fungal infections, as well as dandruff on the scalp or under the beard. By improving the health of hair follicles, castor oil prevents premature beard or hair loss. In short, only positive...
The magic potion does not exist...
But be careful, we don't set ourselves on fire. Because beyond the aforementioned virtues, castor oil does not work miracles. There is currently no scientific evidence or serious studies showing that castor oil makes beards grow faster, thicker or tougher.
At best, if you perform the massages correctly at the time of application, you will activate blood microcirculation, thus increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygenation of the hair bulb. This could then constitute, to a certain extent, a factor in stimulating the growth of your beard, regardless of the composition of the treatment oil .
In any case, this is what several sources close to the matter say: the American chemist and cosmetologist Perry Romanowski , the dermatologist Adam Friedman or the anonymous author of the blog “ The Cosmetologist ”.
Castor oil is good
However, castor oil will give your beard a “strengthened” or “thicker” effect, thanks to its viscosity. It attaches to the hair fibers and gives the illusion of larger, shinier hair. (See for example this American study …)
Without being miraculous, castor oil still does your beard good, even a lot of good. It allows you to lose less hair prematurely: your beard has time to develop and grow in complete peace of mind. It doesn't grow faster, but it grows longer.
Race review: rather than using pure castor oil, opt for one organic complete care oil , which combines castor oil with other ingredients such as sandalwood oil and poppy seed oil. Combined with a voucher beard shampoo , this dry oil will allow you to protect your beard and allow it to grow at its own pace, in the best conditions.
Discover our range of Beard & Hair care products by clicking below!
No hope of growing faster?
Well yes, certain natural compounds other than castor oil seem to show encouraging signs in this direction. A 2014 Korean study highlights peppermint essential oil. Tested on mice with physiological serum, minoxidil (treatment for androgenic alopecia) and jojoba oil as comparators, PEO (Peppermint Essential Oil) shows a significant impact on hair growth. It seems to cause hair follicles (hair production factory) to enter the rapid anagen phase.
For your information, body hair follows a cycle of 3 phases, called the hair cycle. The first is the anagen phase, the one during which the hair grows. This phase has a specific duration for each individual, between 2 and 5 years on average. No, hair doesn't grow forever. Then, they enter the catagen phase, a sort of stasis during which the hair no longer evolves. This phase lasts on average 2 to 3 weeks. Finally comes the telogen phase, characterized by hair loss. For some, the cycle is broken, and there is no longer an anagen phase. The hair falls out, but no longer grows. Perhaps the PEO will correct this error in a few years, but it still needs to be tested in real conditions on human beings. Volunteers ? 😉
Alternatives?
Sandalwood nut oil also seems to have exploitable properties in this sense. We have also devoted an article to it which you can find just here !
If not, have you thought about looking at what you eat? You have no idea to what extent your diet impacts your body, and in particular your hair system.
The final question to ask: is it really that important? The total bald look is stylish too, and it’s much more economical! Don't be afraid of change, and take the time to think about what life offers you. Look at Bruce Willis, he looks unhappy?
One last word !
We have created a free Beard and Hair Care course which will provide you with advice, knowledge and ancestral tips passed down from barber to barber for stronger and silkier hair!