9 Castor Oil Beauty Hacks

Step aside coconut oil, there's a new kid in town. If you're not already familiar with it, castor oil definitely deserves a spot on your shelf. Whether you're looking to help your skin or hair, these castor oil hacks will make you look and feel beautiful. You literally have no excuse not to try them!

If you're wondering what the heck castor oil even is, let me explain. Natural Living Ideas shared, "Castor oil is derived from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plants that grow wild in wastelands across tropical regions ... Castor oil has been around for a very long time, and has been widely used for medicinal purposes across Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Mediterranean basin." It's always funny when an ancient beauty treatment becomes "trendy" again!

Bustle's Kristin Collins Jackson is kind of a master when it comes to castor oil, and offered some advice for those using it for the first time. She said, "Castor oil is not for cooking or oil cleansing if you have any existing gastro problems; although it is used to treat constipation, castor oil can wear down the digestive lining. Another warning: it has a super greasy scent, so feel free to mix it with some better smelling essential oils."

Cammile Q Organic Castor Oil, $15, Amazon

Feeling ready to check it out the hacks? Scroll on to learn how to use this awesome ancient oil.

1. Hot Oil Hair Treatment

Want strong locks? Kristin Collins Jackson shared recipes for castor oil treatments whether your hair is fine, medium, full of ringlets, or kinky. Time to get your DIY on!

2. Stye Fighter

If you tend to get painful eye styes, castor oil might be able to help. Another Kristin Collins Jackson tip: "The castor will help bring down the size of the stye even quicker when you make a paste with the turmeric, another anti-inflammatory that is actually known to decrease infections. Clean your stye first with warm water before applying this directly on the location. Repeat three times daily until the stye is gone." Easy, right?

3. Brow Lengthener

For fuller brows fast, Nicoleta Barbarasa from Brighton Salon in Beverly Hills told Bustle, "You put a drop [of castor oil on] in the morning and a drop in the evening" until you see results. "It's not that I don't believe in those brow growing serums," said Barbarasa, "it's just that I see the most hair growth from castor oil. It's amazing."

4. Lip Moisturizer

Beauty blogger Fengshui Dana shared, "I put a tiny bit of castor oil on my lips when I moisturize my face in the morning and at night. I have found that a drop soaks in quite quickly and I can feel the difference in plumpness and smoothness after this tiny drop of oil."

5. Split End Corrector

Though nothing but a good trim can totally get rid of split ends, you can apply castor oil to hair tips to moisturize and seal the hair shaft to prevent further damage.

6. Dandruff Treatment

If you struggle with dandruff, try rubbing a few drops of castor oil on your scalp before bed to moisturize and stop the itching and flakes!

7. Acne Queller

To naturally combat acne, Style Craze advised rubbing a few drops of the oil on your face and leaving it overnight. The site explained, "Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid that fights off the acne-causing bacteria. It effectively penetrates the skin layers, making it an excellent remedy for acne." Don't fear "good" oil to fight "bad" oil!

8. Hair Thickener

Got lackluster locks? Beauty and Tips explained, "Castor oil contains omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, both of which are useful for encouraging healthy hair growth. With regular use, castor oil will encourage new growth and thicken existing strands to give you a beautiful and shiny head of thicker hair." Try Kristin Collins Jackson's hot oil treatment above to get thick hair fast!

9. Eczema Soother

Thanks to the unsaturated fatty acid content and ricinoleic acid in castor oil, applying it topically to eczema outbreaks reduces inflammation and kills bacteria. Of course, consult with your doctor first before pursuing this treatment strategy.

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