What to know about castor oil for eyelashes. To date, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that castor oil can help the eyelashes grow. However, it may help make the eyelashes appear thicker or glossier. Castor oil is a vegetable oil that comes from the seeds of the castor oil plant.
The only way to achieve effective results with castor oil is to use it every night religiously. To give you an average estimate, it takes about 3-6 months for eyelashes to grow back and for you to notice a significant change in their thickness, length, and overall appearance.
“There is no evidence that conclusively demonstrates that castor oil causes eyelashes to actually grow,” says Dr. Haberman. Dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, agrees: “Castor oil may help your lashes look thicker, denser, or fuller, but it won't help them grow.” Womp, womp.
The fatty acids that make up castor oil are believed to be extremely nourishing to the skin. Many people report that with regular application, castor oil has helped them to grow thicker, longer eyelashes and eyebrows.
Growing long healthy lashes isn't always easy. This is where castor oil comes in. Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, a natural moisturizer. Applying it to eyelashes creates a healthy environment that supports lash growth.
Castor oil versus lash serums.
Efficacy-wise, there isn't much of a difference between using straight castor oil and those castor-oil-infused serums. The only difference is that the lash serums probably lend a more appealing application.
Castor oil: Apply a small amount of castor oil on the eyelashes each night before bed and wash it off in the morning. Aloe vera: Apply a small amount of aloe vera gel on the eyelashes before bed and wash it off in the morning. Eyelid massage: Gently massage eyelids along the lash line.
Castor oil is a safe, affordable, natural home remedy that has been used for years to treat a variety of conditions, including hair loss. While there haven't been scientific studies that prove that castor oil can regrow hair, it's a low-risk remedy that may help you get thicker eyebrows.
Castor Oil
It will create a wondrous effect on your lashes in a few days only. Mix one drop of Lavender oil or Neem oil and two drops of Castor Oil and apply it on the eyelashes with the help of your old mascara wand. You can keep it overnight for the best results.
It's rich in the monounsaturated fatty acid ricinoleic acid, a known humectant. Humectants help retain skin moisture by preventing water loss through the outer layer of your skin. Because of these qualities, castor oil can be applied to lips and skin, either on its own or as an ingredient, to promote hydration.
Oils. Oils such as vitamin E, castor oil, olive oil, and even petroleum jelly have a positive effect on eyelashes. Dip a disposable mascara wand in your choice of oil and coat the lashes from base to tip. Leave it on overnight.
The time it takes for eyelashes to grow back depends on what caused the loss of eyelashes initially and the health of the hair follicle and eyelid. In most scenarios, it will take between 6 weeks and 3 months for eyelashes to fully grow back.
Anagen (growth) phase — Each eyelash follicle goes through a four- to 10-week growth phase at a daily rate of 0.12 to 0.14 millimeters per day. Catagen (degradation) phase — During the catagen phase, your lashes stop growing for about two to three weeks. This is also when your hair follicles start to shrink.
In fact, all hair prevents growing after a certain length! Leg hair, arm hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, head hair, and even the hair on your butt will stop growing after a specific period of time. Precisely how long your hair can grow relies most importantly on your genes, age, hormones, and common health.
The cycle is actually quite slow and very specific to the part of the body on which it grows. Hair on your head has a longer cycle, which is why eyelashes and eyebrows never get as long and stop at a certain length.
Also known as the growth stage, the Anagen part of the eyelash growth cycle usually lasts between 30 and 45 days.
Our verdict in a nutshell: in the battle of Latisse vs. Castor Oil, it's a clear win for Latisse. No studies have shown castor oil to improve eyelash growth, and users report very mixed results. Doctors explain that the reason people think castor oil works is because of its moisturizing and conditioning benefits.
Myth 2: Apply Natural Oils To Your Lashes
Natural oils like castor oil and coconut oil have been declared across many blogs as eyelash “miracle oils”. Castor oil, unlike Vaseline, is easily able to penetrate deep into the skin due to its low molecular size. That is true.
Grab a clean spoolie or cotton swab before bed. Dip it in the castor oil, then swipe a small amount of oil along your lash line, starting at the base of your lashes. Let sit overnight; wash off with warm water in the morning. For best results, do this daily.
“When applying castor oil to your eyelashes, be very careful that it doesn't get into your eye. In the event that it does, flush your eye with water. Castor oil is generally regarded as safe. However, some people may have an allergic reaction to castor oil.”
Bottom line
You can definitely try castor oil for eyelash and eyebrow growth, especially if you want to keep them moisturized (a proven benefit of castor oil that we love). Just remember that it's probably not as effective as some people claim when it comes to improving hair growth.