The History & Benefits of Castor Oil
By Qhemet Biologics
Castor Oil has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to 4,000 B.C. and is native to the Ethiopian region of tropical East Africa. Evidence of its cultivation was discovered circa 500 B.C. in central Egypt where it was used in cosmetics, medicines and as a lamp oil. Castor oil is mentioned in the Ebers papyrus in recipes intended to treat numerous health conditions and ailments. Castor oil was used in other areas of ancient and medieval Africa to cure leather, in skin and hair preparations and as a medicinal agent. In the Sudan, Tanzania and Kenya, it was held in higher regard than the popular sesame oil and was valued above olive oil. Castor oil was used extensively outside of Africa as well in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Today, castor oil is produced principally in India and Brazil and is widely used in the industrial, cosmetic and phamaceutical industries.
Castor oil has been a prized staple in African hair and body care traditions for centuries and was used to treat various skin, scalp and hair conditions. Castor bean seeds were brought to the Americas and cultivated by Africans as a medicinal as early as 1687.
Castor oil is currently used in hair care products to soften, lubricate and moisturize dry hair. Its unique chemical structure gives it the ability to act as both a non-drying oil and a humectant, making it capable of drawing moisture to the hair and locking it in. This thick, rich oil is easy to fall in love with, not just for its softening effect on afro/coily hair but also on skin where it acts as a barrier agent and protectant. Castor oil makes a smart addition to hydrating hair and scalp treatments and leave-in moisturizers due to its ability to add softness and pliability to dry, coarse and damaged hair.
The Exceptional Benefits of Castor Oil
This natural oil possesses a multitude of properties that make it unique. Naturally harvested from the castor bean, the pressed oil can range from pale yellow to dark brown depending on the processing method. Yellow castor oil is unaltered and is cold pressed from the seeds of raw castor beans. Black castor oil is extracted from the seeds of roasted castor beans which darkens it, giving it it's characteristic dark brown to black color. Both forms yield similar therapeutic benefits. Castor oil is the only oil that contains ricinoleic acid, an unsaturated omega 9 fatty acid. Rich in glycerides, castor oil is a non-drying oil and hygroscopic emollient.
Castor oil boasts anti-inflammatory properties and can increase blood flow to the scalp giving it its reputation for thickening hair, stimulating healthy hair growth, reducing shedding and strengthening follicles. It possesses analgesic properties which helps it soothe and alleviate tender and irritated scalp conditions. Applied to edges and ends, it combats brittleness and breakage, helping to preserve length. Castor oil adds shine, sheen and luster to dull hair.
Our Castor Oil Products:
At Qhemet, we combine the unique properties of castor oil with nutrient packed ayurvedic botanicals to create exceptional products that maximize moisture retention and encourage healthy hair growth. We are inspired by the phytomedicinals used in African, Ayurvedic and Mediterranean hair care systems and incorporate many of them into our products to nourish your hair from the inside out using time tested, therapeutic ingredients. Whether your hair is thick or thin, high or low porosity or a mixture of textures and densities, we have a nourishly rich, growth enhancing castor oil product for you.
Heavy Duty Moisture
Dry, high porosity hair requires extra care and is guaranteed to thrive under the therapeutic benefits of castor oil. Our Castor & Moringa Softening Serum adds sheen, softness and pliability to coarse, thick hair and is an exceptional moisturizer for locs. Distribute throughout wet or dry hair after applying our Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee to further enhance in its moisturizing and conditioning properties. This serum also forms an effective, moisturizing base layer to our castor oil enriched Amla & Olive Heavy Cream. This simple, two product pairing will not only keep the driest hair super soft and supple for days, it'll help prevent breakage and preserve length. We carefully curated our Castor Oil Collection for Maximum Moisture & Growth to contain our 3 richest castor oil products as keeping your scalp healthy and your ends soft is essential to healthy hair and growth retention. We combined our Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee with our Amla & Olive Heavy Cream and Castor & Moringa Softening Serum in our L.O.C. Method Collection for High Porosity Hair to give you everything you need to not only soften your hair but to easily and effectively detangle it as well.
Lightweight Hydration
For those with low porosity hair, the lighter combination of ingredients found in our Coconut & Green Tea Softening Serum provides the right amount of softness and lubricity. This silky serum is essential to the L.O.C. Method Collection for Low Porosity Hair as it revitalizes thin, dry strands without weighing them down. Featuring a delicate citrus scent, use this product as your go-to finishing oil for taming frizz and unravelling braids and twists. You can even add it to your favorite shampoo to enhance slip for easier detangling.
Scalp Nourishment & Growth
Like all of our other castor oil enriched products, the Castor & Amla Nourishing Pomade contains ingredients that promote growth, increase softness and enhance sheen. By pairing castor oil with amla oil, this mineral oil-free pomade effectively nourishes the follicles and conditions the scalp to reduce shedding and stimulate growth. It's the perfect pomade for smoothing edges, softening new growth and adding shine to dull hair too.
Moisture Replenishment
Our exceptional castor oil products have been named among the best products for natural hair and specifically 4C hair by Essence, Harper's Bazaar, Allure, Vogue and the Strategist. Our Amla & Olive Heavy Cream, Castor & Amla Nourishing Pomade and Castor & Moringa Softening Serum get the most press due to their ability to deliver exceptional softness to the driest hair. Don't be surprised if you cry happy tears after using them for the first time.
Explore our rich assortment of incredibly moisturizing castor oil products now to find the perfect solution for all of your natural hair needs.
