Walk down any natural beauty aisle and you will find two kinds of castor oil. One is pale gold and almost clear. The other is dark brown, sometimes nearly black, and labelled Jamaican Black Castor Oil. They come from the same plant. So what is actually different, and does it matter?
Where does castor oil come from?
All castor oil is pressed from the seeds of the castor plant, Ricinus communis. Its defining feature is ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that makes up roughly 90 percent of the oil and is found in very few other plants. That is what gives castor its famously thick, rich texture.
What is regular castor oil?
Standard castor oil, often labelled cold-pressed, is made by pressing raw seeds. The result is pale yellow with very little scent, and it is the type used in many lip products and cosmetics.
What makes Jamaican Black Castor Oil different?
Jamaican Black Castor Oil comes from a traditional method developed in Jamaica. The seeds are roasted first, then ground and boiled, and the oil is collected from the top. Roasting gives the oil its dark colour and its distinctly smoky, earthy scent. The process also leaves a small amount of ash in the oil, which is often said to make it slightly more alkaline than pale castor oil.
The fatty acid profile stays essentially the same. Both are ricinoleic-rich castor oils. The difference is in the process, colour, scent and feel.
The two at a glance
| Jamaican Black Castor Oil | Regular castor oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Seeds roasted, ground and boiled | Raw seeds pressed |
| Colour | Dark brown to black | Pale yellow |
| Scent | Smoky, earthy | Very mild |
| Main fatty acid | Ricinoleic acid | Ricinoleic acid |
| Traditionally used for | Scalp, edges, textured hair | Lips, skin, cosmetics |
Which castor oil is better for hair?
There is no strong scientific evidence that one outperforms the other. Many people, particularly those with curly, coily and textured hair, prefer Jamaican Black Castor Oil for scalp massage and for sealing moisture into the lengths, and it has a long tradition in Caribbean and Black hair care. Others prefer the cleaner feel and neutral scent of pale castor.
Both coat the strand, help hold moisture in, and leave hair softer and shinier. For an honest look at the research on castor and hair, read what castor oil can really do, and what it can't.
How to use castor oil
On the scalp. Castor is very thick, so warm a small amount between your palms first, or mix it with a lighter oil like jojoba so it spreads easily. Massage in and leave for an hour or overnight, then shampoo. It can take two washes to remove.
On the ends. A tiny amount smoothed over damp ends.
On brows and lashes. A clean spoolie with a trace of oil at night, keeping it out of the eye itself.
On dry skin. Heels, elbows and cuticles, where its thickness is an advantage.
Our castor oils
Our Organic Jamaican Black Castor Oil is 100% castor oil with nothing added. If you would rather have castor in a ready-to-use scalp oil, Rosemary + Castor Hair Oil pairs it with rosemary in a scalp ritual oil made for massage before washing.
