The Internet is abuzz with beauty bloggers raving about the results of using castor oil for eyelashes. But does this humble lash solution live up to the hype? Or is just a new old wives tale? Let’s deep dive in.
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil isn’t an everyday product for most of us but take a quick look under the hood and you’ll see that this thick, viscous oil is incredibly multi-functional.
It’s a natural laxative. It’s a magical hair growth oil. It’s wonderful for reducing wrinkles. It’s even used to repel garden moles and perk up ferns!
And now, thanks to the fact that it’s highly moisturizing and rich in Vitamin E, it’s being touted as an all natural, very budget-friendly eyelash growth product.
But does it work?
The Benefits of Using Castor Oil for Eyelashes:
Eyelashes frame your eyes, flutter every time you blink and are one of the most underrated yet important features on your face.
Most girls use mascara to make them look more defined, fuller and darker ’cause after all, we all love that big doe eyed, fluttery eyelash look. Longer, more lustrous lashes make the eyes seem larger and more striking – and who doesn’t want that?
Unfortunately not all of us are lucky enough to be born with naturally gorgeous long lashes. The good news? There are many home remedies out there that can work well in creating that pretty long-lashed look.
The easiest home remedy for natural eyelash growth? It’s gotta be castor oil.
But than again, there’s a huge range of eyelash growth products out there that will help you grow covetously long, thick lashes…so why should you try a humble home remedy like castor oil?
Well, apart from the fact that it’ll save you a bunch of cash – castor oil has been found to be surprisingly effective when it comes getting longer, thicker eyelashes. It can also help prevent breakage and even stimulate faster, healthier eyelash growth.
Castor oil works by moisturizing and deeply hydrating dry, brittle and tired lashes, giving them the nourishment they need to grow to their full length and height and making it easy for new lash growth to come through.
That’s because castor oil is actually jammed packed with fantastic nutrients that promote natural lash growth. This thick oil is rich in fatty acids, antioxidants and proteins that help strengthen your lashes and create a naturally full lash line.
By applying castor oil on eyelashes, you allow the nutrients found in castor oil to soak into your lashes and your eyelash hair follicles. The result? You can help turn dry, damaged lashes on the verge of falling out into smooth, healthy and clearly defined ones.
What’s the best castor oil for eyelashes? Go organic – it’s going near your eyes so you want the purest stuff possible.
Does Castor Oil for Eyelashes Work?
Okay, so you know that castor oil can provide deep nourishment for your lashes, but you’re still curious – “does castor oil help eyelashes grow?”
Well, yes…and no.
Here’s what we mean. Despite the fact that castor oil is fantastically moisturizing and chockfull of nourishing antioxidants, it doesn’t contain any ingredients that can reliably and measurably affect the length and thickness of eyelashes.
Which is why most doctors, dermatologists, ophthalmologists and even lash experts will tell you that castor oil for eyelashes is not an effective solution.
Because compared to, say, an eyelash growth serum that has a clinically tried-and-tested and proven ingredient (i.e. a prostaglandin analog) to cause measurable eyelash growth in the majority of users – castor oil pales in comparison.
Case in point: Latisse, the most well-known eyelash growth serum on the market, has clinical studies to back up their claims. One such study included 278 participants aged 22 to 78 and at the end of 16 weeks, the results showed that 78% of participants experienced a significant increase in the length, fullness and darkness of lashes.
As far as we know, there have been no such controlled trials in regard to castor oil.
Should You Use Castor Oil for Eyelashes?
Just because something hasn’t been subject to rigorous clinical trials, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
It just means you need to have reasonable expectations. As in, don’t expect the same kind of results from castor oil that you would get from using an eyelash growth serum that contains a prostaglandin ingredient, like the GrandeLash MD serum below.
Castor oil nourishes, hydrates and conditions eyelashes into a healthier state. Prostaglandin analogs, on the other hand, actually lengthen the natural lash growth cycle so that each and every eyelash can grow longer and thicker.
To compare the two is simply not fair. You can get solid results with castor oil – just don’t expect Snuffleupagus-like lashes.
So is castor oil still worth using? We’ll let you decide – here are some results people have seen from using castor oil for eyelash growth…
“I use this every night on my eyebrows and eyelashes and I have seen a great improvement in length and thickness. I see a few people have a problem with the oil going in their eyes (it doesn’t cause any damage, it just gives you blurry vision), but i just apply a little to the tips of my lashes and this is enough to coat you lashes because it will slowly slide over the rest of you lashes as you sleep, so you don’t end up with too much excess.”
“I bought this for my thinning eyelashes and have been putting this on after I shower at night before bed, right at the base of my lashes and it has dramatically helped and conditioned my lids and lashes.”
“My goal is to have fuller longer eyelashes. I noticed an improvement in 2 weeks. As of now I’ve been using the oil for a month and a half now and will continue for more months until I reach my goal! My husband has noticed the difference ; the other day when we were dining he told me ” wow you have nice long eyelashes” this made me feel good as others are noticing too!!!”
“I have been using this for several months and have had really noticeable results. I use it on my lashes and they definitely look both longer and thicker. They also are falling out a lot less than they used to.”
“My lashes thinned out after years of wearing fake lashes. I started using this product after a friend recommended it. I saw a difference with my lashes and eyebrows after using it consistently for a few weeks.”
“I’ve used this every other day for a few weeks on my lashes and eyebrows, and especially in my lashes I’ve seen a change. They might’ve gotten a little longer, but most of all they’ve gotten a lot stronger. I’ve had problems with my eyelashes breaking off a lot, sometimes so much that there’s a noticeable “gap” in my lashes where several has fallen off. Since I started using castor oil I’ve seen significantly less lashes break off when taking off makeup etc.”
Ready to try it for yourself? Here’s how to use castor oil to grow lashes…
How to Apply Castor Oil to Eyelashes
You only need a minimal amount of castor oil for lashes – which is great as it means it will last for absolutely ages when you buy it. Invest in a disposable eyeliner brush or mascara wand to help you. If not, you can simply use a Q tip.
The best time to apply castor oil on eyelashes is at night before bed since this gives you plenty of time to let the oil naturally sink into your eyelashes for maximum benefit. However it’s important to take care when applying – if the castor oil gets into your eye, it can be a bit irritating. It’s not harmful, but your vision will be blurry because of the oil so don’t use too much!
Before you apply castor oil on eyelashes, make sure that your skin is really clean before you start, then gently and carefully apply the oil to just the tips of your lashes. Don’t worry about making sure you start at the roots since the oil is thick and heavy and will naturally distribute itself along your lashes during the night.
Try not to touch or rub your eye to give the oil time to fully saturate into the lash and hair follicles. In the morning give your face and lashes a good clean, but remember to go easy near the delicate skin around your eyes.
That’s it!
Castor oil is an affordable, effective home remedy if you are hoping to grow thicker, healthier eyelashes. It can strengthen your lashes and even prevent the loss of them too!
If you regularly use castor oil on eyelashes, you can expect to see some fantastic results and enjoy your beautiful longer lashed look within as little as 2-3 weeks. So go on – give it a try!
Want to take natural lash growth up a notch? Why not make a homemade eyelash growth serum using castor oil and other lash growing ingredients?
Is There Any Research To Support Using Castor Oil For Eyelash Growth?
Although, there is no evidence or scientific studies that prove that castor oil can help eyelashes grow.
But, there has been adequate evidence to conclude that ricinoleic acid, a chemical compound that is present in quantities for up to 90% in the making of castor oil.
Now, There have been studies that prove that ricinoleic acid can come in handy when looking to reverse the process of hair loss.
One study concluded that the Protein prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is found to be present in higher numbers when studying the male baldness pattern.
Due to presence of this prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), The subjects of the following study were not able to regain their lost hair.
Apart from this study, there has been one study as well that proves that ricinoleic acid works as a chemical that can inhibit PGD2, allowing the person’s scalp to be grown back.
Although there is a need of more studies to be done to give a clearer perspective on whether castor oil can prevent hair loss, and allow a person to gain their hair back, There is also enough material presented in the studies enough to prove that as of now, Castor oil is one of the ways to prevent hair loss and regain hair and feel young and healthy again.
We are impatiently waiting on other studies to be done on the methods and things that can be used by a person who has hair loss and wants to grow their hair back!
Things to know Before You Apply Castor Oil to Your Eyelashes:
Of course, Castor oil is a chemical, and there should be a few things a person should know about before they start using chemicals for their own usage. Before you apply castor oil to your eyelashes, make sure of these following things:
Make sure that Castor Oil doesn’t get exposure to your eyes: Without a doubt, the eyes are the most sensitive visible part of the human body. There are many things that if eyes directly come with, it may cause eyes harm. Harmed eyes can be a real problem as you might have issues with your sight and you might not be able to see as clearly as before.
Now, Castor oil is usually regarded as unharmful for the human body but Castor Oil, regardless of its benefits for the hair and be available to users at a very effective price, Castor Oil can be really harmful if it comes in direct contact with the eyes of the person.
In case if it does go into your eyes, be sure to take prompt action and wash your eyes immediately. In case that you don’t you might get swollen eyelids and tenderness on them.
There have been some cases in which people have reported to have an allergic reaction to the castor oil, before using Castor oil in larger amounts, it is vital that you apply it to a smaller area of your skin. Let the castor oil sit for 24 hours and see if you have any allergic reactions to it. If you get all clear, then go ahead and apply the castor oil!
Castor Oil Versus Lash Serums:
When it comes to choosing between castor oil and Lash serums, Lash serums happen to be found in larger quantities in markets.
When the users go through the long variety of lash serums when looking to purchase them, most of these lash serums include star oil as one of their main ingredients.
When it comes to the efficiency of both the castor oil and lash serums, there isn’t much of a difference that will make them stand out from the other options. This is so because these lash serums are usually infused with Castor oil.
The main and key difference between the two mentioned items is that lash serums are likely to have a comfortable and easy application.
The castor oil has a very increased viscosity which makes it rather difficult to use. Some versions of castor oil specifically, the Jamaican black castor oil. In this variant of castor oil, the beans are roasted and boiled before they are further used in making the Jamaican Black Castor Oil. This feels goopy and when applied on the lash line, feels rather heavy.
The use of lash serums introduces its users to a tad new healthy ingredients, such as aloe vera and peptides. This gives them a slight boost over the castor oil option. However, if you find castor oil more working and suitable, then you should stick to it.
But, when it comes to the new upcoming lash serums, it’d be unfair not to mention that they are way better than the castor oil and have proven results that using them can increase eye lashes.
3 Best Castor Oils For Eyelashes:
From the article above, users can conclude that Castor Oil is one of the best ways for increasing eyelashes. These are the best castor oils that a user can buy for their eyelashes:
1. Kate Blanc Cosmetics Castor Oil
For anyone that is looking to have better eyelashes, this is definitely the right product.
This is made from USA Certified components and costs no more than the $10 dollars which make it a great choice. Moreover, this product comes with Full kit which makes it easily applicable. There is also a dropper included which allows a person to use this castor oil on their scalp or skin.
The pointed brush allows the users to disperse the oil in a thin line across the eyelids near the root of the eyelashes.
2. Live Fraiche Organic Castor Oil
What can be better than a product that is ready to be used right after it is unboxed? The tube of this castor oil is pure, The components it is made from is pure US materials which accounts for great quality.
The complete kit provided with it is what makes this product a great choice. Apart from being the most user-friendly option, the quantity it comes in is rather less and would send you in the market looking for more.
3. Pura D’Or Castor Oil
The price of this castor oil is only a low 15 dollars! This product provides complete value for money.
Apart from being made from the best and pure ingredients, this product comes with two mini bottles in which you can disperse the castor oil. One bottle comes with a spoolie brush top, and the other one has a pointed brush, making it one of the user-friendly options on this list.
Conclusion!
Castor oil is an affordable, effective home remedy if you are hoping to grow thicker, healthier eyelashes. It can strengthen your lashes and even prevent the loss of them too!
If you regularly use castor oil on eyelashes, you can expect to see some fantastic results and enjoy your beautiful longer lashed look within as little as 2-3 weeks. So go on – give it a try!
Want to take natural lash growth up a notch? Why not make a homemade eyelash growth serum using castor oil and other lash growing ingredients?
I’m using castor oil, almost 1 month i seen a new growth eyelashes after 3 weeks
but my problem is every morning i woke up there are 5 to 3 eyelashes fall out
I’m afraid to lose all my eyelashes because of castor oil but i did not stop putting it every evening because i seen new eyelashes growth even if my old eyelashes are fall out
should i stop using it or should i continue
please reply
Thank you
I too use Castor Oil which had the same effect at the beginning. The falling lashes subside and eventually the castor oil make you lashes growth more full and lashes get stronger. I am totally satisfied with the result and have been using it for the last 5 months. Castor oil has to be used continuously as lashes do have a natural cycle of falling out and new ones grow.
Can I still use fake lashes the next day I’m almost bald and I have to have something on my eyes lol
You can, just make sure you cleanse the oil off thoroughly and try to use a gentle, latex and formaldehyde-free eyelash glue.
Yes, just wash them real GIF it your fake lashes will fall off… That’s been my experience…
I’ve used castor oil everyday for months my eyelashes still don’t grow.
But my hair on my head is still growing pretty good although I still get a hand full of hair every time I comb and brush my hair.
I’m in poor health and take a lot of medicine.
Do to my physical limitations I can’t exercise good either. I aware that my health affects my hair growth.
Still I’m hoping to find something out there that works.
Is anyone else having problems like me?
Debbie, please please please check out my website!! Don’t hesitate to email me with any questions and if you would like a sample to try just shoot me an address.
I too am on heavy medication which resulted in poor hair and eyelash growth. Our bodies need too absorb the product and takes much much longer to see the effects of hair growth. It’s encouraging that you are experiencing head hair growth and hopefully with time you will start seeing a difference on your eye lashes. It may not be the full desired effect as everyone else but still something. I am happy with my gradual growth and plan to continue for life. Hang in there, don’t give up!
Get an alternative natural doctor to do a work up on your thyroid, and eventually you may be able to rid yourself of some of the symptom treating medication.
is it not harmful if it mistakenly put in eyes ? Thanks of sharing information related to eyes lashes.
Can I ask…where did you find the nail polish bottle with the mascara wand? That seems really handy!
You can find a bunch of them on Amazon – some even have funnels to make the DIY-ing easier 😉
That is not a nail polish bottle.
I’ve always worn waterproof mascara and about a year ago I started to touch my lashes and they would feel “un-even” or clumpy and I would pick the lashes in an attempt to make them feel less clumpy and a LOT of my lashes are missing. I’ve definitely stopped picking so much, but what can I do to actually stop touching my lashes and will apply castor oil to my lashline help my lashes actually grow back?
Hello Tara and thanks for stopping by! It sounds like you may have gotten into the habit of eyelash pulling, thanks to the clumpy mascara. The crappy news is that once something becomes a habit, it takes a little while to fix. The good news is that it can be fixed – on average, it takes around 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. So you can definitely overcome this!
The first thing we’d advise you to do is to stop wearing clumpy mascara. You can either go with a thinner liquid mascara to avoid clumps or a clear mascara in the daytime and then use oils (it doesn’t have to be castor – there are several natural oils great for lashes) at night to nourish your lashes. Oils don’t technically make lashes grow but they do provide nourishment and nutrients for healthier lash growth.
Another option is to skip mascara altogether and use falsies in the daytime or even go for lash extensions. This may help put a lid on the eyelash pulling in the same way that nail polish is used to deter nail biting. Since falsies and extensions don’t play well with oil, you can use an eyelash growth serum at night to boost your actual lash growth. In a few months, you may not even need mascara or falsies.
The last tip is to maybe channel the lash pulling urge into a healthier or more harmless habit. Like, when you find your hand unconsciously moving to your lashes, instead of pulling out a lash, maybe train yourself into giving yourself a short eye massage by circling your fingers around the contour of your eyes. Or twirl your hair. Or gently pull the outer ends of your eyes. Whatever you choose, it’ll help you become aware of each time you’re tempted to pull your lashes so it’s no longer an unconscious habit. If this sounds challenging – just tell yourself that you’ll do it for just 66 days. And that your lashes are in “therapy” during that time. It’s always easier to quit a habit when you know you only have to do it for a short time. And by the end of that short time, you may be free of this pesky habit and have longer natural lashes to boot! Good luck and all the best!
Another little tool – a metal eyelash comb. I’ve had one for years and would use it to comb out and declump my lashes after applying mascara (I hardly ever wear any makeup these days). I also have a plastic one with an eyebrow brush on the other side of it and that’s what I’m using right now to apply the castor oil to my lashes. I only just started with the oil so there’s nothing to see yet, but I’m hoping my lashes will come back fuller, longer and stronger than they’ve ever been. Thing is, I also sleep with an eye mask to block out any light in my room and it’s no doubt absorbing the oil. I do have another eye mask that has concave areas over the eyes so lashes don’t rub against the mask. Going to use that one from now on. I think, too, when I have the time available during the day, to apply the castor oil to my lashes for daytime as well as at night. More is more, yes? 😉 But I’ve also been applying it right at the lash line as well as the whole length of the lashes. Will stop that and just do the ends, but I think I’ll still comb it through but not be quite so fussy about getting to the roots.
Those are very useful tips, as I was using the castor oil in a wrong way and my eyes have always been irritated, my vision clouded, and my nerves on the limit. ;)) Thanks, I will try once again now. Lately I switched to modern natural serums like Cherish Lash serum, and it helped to grow my eyelashes too. But now I have your good pieces of advice.
Hey Serena, thanks for stopping by! Honestly, if it didn’t work for you – why go back? Especially if you found something else that works?
The oil-in-eye thing is no joke, by the way. When applying, I usually have to just skirt it onto the fringe of my lashes and even then, sometimes I wake up all cloudy-eyed. So my two cents is…do what works for you 😉
Is Castor oil good for your eyelashes by itself or should you mix it with coconut oil?
Respectfully, I noticed a description in this article that we all want that “dopey eyed look.” I think it’s a typo that should read “doe-eyed.” Like a female deer, not a clumsy dwarf from Snow White. 🙂 It gave me a giggle.
I’ve ordered castor oil and cannot wait to try it. My daughter has been using it and told me about castor oil when I complimented her on how pretty and thick and healthy her lashes looked.
Lol, thanks so much for catching that – how embarrassing 🙂 Correction made and all the best luck with castor oil!
So I’m using Castor Oil Usp, will that help promote growth in my eyebrows?
My eyes water and burn from pollen. I started using. Castor oil and no more watering and burning. I was amazed. I started using castor oil on my eyelashes because a friend told me about it for growing more eyelashes. We are both surprised. It seems to be a barrier to the pollen that has irritated my eyes. I have tried all sorts of meds and eye drops with no success. Castor oil is like a dream come true. I don,t know if it will give me more eyelashes,but I am so thrilled it is blocking the pollen that has irritated my eyes.
I love Castor Oil its helping me properly .
Be sure not to rub your eyes or tug or pull on the extensions because this can cause lash loss and even damage to your natural lashes. BTW, nice tips here! Very informative.
For how long I have to apply castor oil?
Has anyone tried the grocery store castor oil????
I have noticed some people buy the organic black castor oil. I am starting with the kind from Walmart. Users, please give me your opinion.
Could it be that some types don’t work?
I ordered mine from Amazon, but its regular castor oil. Not one packaged specifically for eyelash/eyebrow growth. I think those are the exact same product, but more expensive. A 4oz bottle was like $9. But I got a 16oz bottle for $5. So my guess is, yes. You can use the kind from the grocery store. I cleaned an old mascara wand to apply mine and got a little cosmetic (liner) brush at the dollar store. No need to spend a bunch of money on branding.
At wal mart they have the castor oil for your eyelashes that you can buy and it comes with a few brushes as well. It’s called Organic Castor Oil eyelash enhance serum with 10 free applicator brushes. I found it over by the Burt’s Bee stuff.
i use it for my hair growth and it’s really helpful