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If you keep hearing buzz around castor oil and rosemary oil for hair but have no clue what distinguishes them, you’re not alone. The never-ending growth oils on the market can seem a bit daunting to sift through, especially if you’re new to such products. However, now is definitely not the time to start stressing. Since both ingredients benefit your strands, why not mix the two into a single oil?
Handcraft Blends did just that with its Castor & Rosemary Oil ($10 on Amazon). The 100 percent pure and natural formula promises to moisturize and strengthen hair follicles
so that your strands look and feel healthier than ever. You can apply this game-changing oil to the hair on your head, but also to your eyelashes and eyebrows if they need a little boost.
Now let’s dive into each ingredient. You might be asking yourself (or Google), “What is castor oil?” Regenerative medicine expert and WeThrivv Founder, Dr. Sanjay Batra, previously shared with StyleCaster that castor oil comes from the bean of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.) and is rich in triglycerides, fatty acids, and ricinoleic acid. “Castor oil has been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years for skin, hair, and digestive concerns.”
What does that all have to do with hair growth, though? Per Dr. Batra, ricinoleic acid boasts anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help to calm irritation on the scalp and fight fungal overgrowth or bacteria that has the potential to lead to thin, weakened hair. “The most important thing is that castor oil may reduce the production of prostaglandin D2 by a stressed scalp, thereby lowering the amount of this hair growth inhibitor in the hair follicles,” he noted.
RELATED: Can Castor Oil Really Help Your Hair & Brows Grow? We Asked a Derm For the Truth
As if castor oil wasn’t enough to help solve your hair woes, Handcraft Blends’ oil also incorporates rosemary oil, which is equally beneficial for your locks. Dr. Brian Abittan, the Director of Skin and Hair Rejuvenation and Director of Hair Transplantation at Mount Sinai Health System, shared with StyleCaster that there are two studies that show rosemary oil has the potential to help grow hair. “While certainly more trials and data are needed, rosemary oil does seemingly have potential to help with hair growth,” Dr. Abittan explained.
Although he says that the mechanism of action causing hair growth is not fully understood yet, it seems that there are multiple ingredients in rosemary oil (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, camphor, etc.) that could possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties. “Together these may help contribute towards hair growth,” he added.
RELATED: Can Rosemary Oil Actually Make Your Hair Grow? A Derm Explains the Benefits
Now that you’ve gotten the full breakdown of the only two ingredients in this hair growth oil, it’s time to hear from folks who have actually used this product and seen positive results. After all, it’s the No. 1 best-seller in its category on Amazon.
“The product is very thick on the hair but after two months [of] using it every two weeks, I can see my hair is getting thicker
and some baby hairs are showing up,” wrote one five-star reviewer.
A user who has been dealing with hair loss due to Covid wrote, “I have used this maybe three times. I wash my hair twice a week and use it the night before I wash my hair. I’ve noticed a few more baby hairs than normal already around my hairline, but I’ve really noticed my scalp being less itchy and flakey between washes.”
“I need to continue using, but I do think this is helping to improve my thicknesses with new regrowth
and keeping hair moisturized,” another one commented.
Everyone’s hair has its own unique attributes and needs, but it’s safe to say that if you’re looking to see new growth, Handcraft Blends’ Castor & Rosemary Oil is a great option, especially since it’s currently only $10 on Amazon.
Keep scrolling for additional hair growth oils that are also available on Amazon.
