Pure Castor Oil

Most carrier oils are light and absorb quickly. Castor does the opposite. It's roughly as thick as honey, it sits on the surface rather than sinking in, and it leaves a distinct sheen. That sounds like a drawback until you want an oil that stays put: a pre-wash hair treatment that doesn't run, a brow or lash application that holds, or a heavy overnight balm. 

Its thickness comes from ricinoleic acid, which makes up around ninety per cent of the oil and is found in almost nothing else. It's what gives castor its unusual texture and its tackiness. 

Because it's so heavy, castor is almost always blended rather than used alone on large areas. A common approach in hair oiling is one part castor to two or three parts coconut, jojoba or sweet almond, which keeps the staying power while making it far easier to wash out. 

India grows most of the world's castor crop. Cold pressing keeps the oil closer to its natural state than heat extraction, and gives it a pale yellow colour and a faint, slightly waxy smell

Castor oil benefits are simply amazing.

We consider our castor oil to be the best for healing, and we use it in skincare products to treat dry skin, acne, and to improve the health of your hair. Castor oil face oil is also highly sought after for its ability to moisturize, enhance skin elasticity, and promote a glowing complexion when combined with skincare products.

• Pre-wash hair treatment: blend one part castor with two or three parts of a lighter oil, massage through the scalp and lengths, leave 30 minutes or overnight with a towel on the pillow, then shampoo out. Expect to wash twice. 
• Brows: a small amount along the brow with the applicator, brushed in the direction of growth, usually at night. 
• Lashes: if you use it on lashes, use very little, keep it on the lash line rather than the eye itself, and stop if your eyes become irritated. See the FAQ below on what castor oil can and can't do here. 
• Rich balms and salves: castor is a traditional ingredient in lip balms and heavy barrier balms because of the film it forms. 
• Cuticles and heels: places where you want the oil to stay put rather than absorb. 
• Soap making: castor is a standard soap oil and contributes to a stable, creamy lather. Soap makers usually keep it to around five per cent of the oil blend. 
• Carrier for essential oils: workable but heavy. Jojoba or sweet almond is easier for a general body blend. 
• Getting it out of the bottle: castor pours slowly, and more slowly when cold. Stand the closed bottle in warm water for a minute or two.

• Product name: Pure Castor Oil 
• Botanical name: Ricinus communis 
• Part used: seeds 
• Extraction method: cold pressed 
• Type: carrier oil 
• Texture: very thick and slow to absorb 
• Aroma: faint and slightly waxy 
• Common uses: hair oiling, brows and lashes, balms and salves, soap making 
• Size: 100 ml, with applicator 
• Shelf life: up to 2 years when stored cool and dark. Castor keeps better than most plant oils. 

1. For external use only. Do not swallow. Castor oil is a strong laxative and swallowing it, particularly by a child, can cause cramping, vomiting and dehydration. Keep the bottle up high and out of sight. 
2. If any is swallowed, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice. 
3. Do not use castor oil if you are pregnant. It has a long history of use to bring on labour, and self-treating with it is not safe. 
4. Patch test before your first use, on the inner forearm, and wait 24 hours. 
5. Around the eyes, go carefully. Keep the oil on the lash line rather than in the eye, use very little, and stop if you notice redness, watering or blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses, put them in after the oil has been on for a while, not before. 
6. Use it sparingly. Castor is heavy, and more of it does not work better; it just takes longer to wash out. 
7. If your skin is very sensitive or reactive, patch test on a small area and build up slowly. 
8. When you blend essential oils into it, follow that oil's own dilution guidance. 
9. Castor stains and is difficult to wash out of fabric. Use a towel on the pillow for overnight treatments. 
10. Store tightly capped somewhere cool and dark, out of reach of children.