If you’re trying to grow a fuller, more voluminous beard, you’ve probably come across online chatter about the potential benefits of castor oil for hair growth. 

Found in skincare and hair treatment products, castor oil does have moisturising properties that are good for hair follicles. But is the sentiment that it can help grow your beard a myth? Let’s find out.

Does Castor Oil Work For Beard Growth? 

Here’s a definitive answer: No, castor oil won’t help you grow a beard if you don’t already have facial hair growing in the area.

There is no scientific evidence that castor oil works for new beard growth - a 2022 review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found no strong evidence that castor oil improves hair growth. 

The science of growing a beard is more dependent on factors such as your genetics, hormone levels, and overall health. So, if you are looking for a solution to grow out a longer or fuller beard, smearing castor oil over your face is unlikely to get you the results you’re looking for.

How Castor Oil Can Help With Beard Care

While castor oil will not help you grow a beard, it can technically provide benefits to the skin underneath and your existing facial hair.

Castor oil contains fatty acids such as ricinoleic acid, offering anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties that can benefit beard hair. 

Reduce skin irritation from beardruff

Castor oil’s anti-inflammatory properties provide a soothing effect on irritated skin around facial hair, especially in cases where beard dandruff is present.

Hydrate beard hairs

Beard hair can become brittle and wiry without hydration and moisture. Castor oil can act as a hydrating agent for beards to keep hair moisturised and shiny. 

Prevent bacterial buildup

Castor oil is also known for having antibacterial properties. Castor oil in your beard care can protect it from the buildup of bacteria from your sweat, skin oil, and the environment. 

Considerations for Using Castor Oil On Your Beard

Castor oil can be found in beard oil products as a carrier oil along with other fragrances and ingredients. It’s also possible to use castor oil directly on your beard. However, applying too much pure castor oil directly to the beard and surrounding skin can result in clogging pores and hair shafts. Clogged hair shafts prevent the hair follicle from growing out, leading to inflammation or infection in the form of itchy bumps on the skin. 

Should You Use Castor Oil For Your Beard?

The choice to use castor oil for beard care depends on your personal preference - there are no obvious downsides when using it sparingly on your beard, but the potential benefits of castor oil are not well-documented compared to other oils or ingredients. 

Applying castor oil on its own should not replace your regular beard care routine. Washing your beard with specially formulated beard shampoo and conditioner, combing it, and applying beard oil should still be your daily routine if you want to maintain a lush and healthy mane. 

From our perspective as beard care experts, there’s little reason to use castor oil as a substitute for high-quality beard oil. Most beard oil products on the market cover the same hydrating and antibacterial properties as castor oil.

Look for beard oil products containing natural ingredients that are proven to promote beard hair health, such as avocado oil, grape seed oil, organic hemp seed oil, shea oil, and almond oil. These ingredients can relieve beard itch, address beard dandruff, and provide sufficient hydration for beard hair and the surrounding skin. 

Jericho Australia provide a wide collection of beard oils that are designed to help your beard look its best, so that you can too. Our beard oils are locally made with natural ingredients and fragrances, and have hundreds of 5-star reviews from satisfied customers. Explore our beard oil collection online - we ship across Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the world.