There are 3 types of castor oil that can be used in hair and skincare formulations. Castor oil, black castor oil, and sulfated castor oil. Castor oil and black castor oil are oil soluble. Sulfated castor oil is water-soluble. Let’s take a look at each type of castor oil.

Castor Oil

INCI: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil

Castor oil has been used for thousands of years and a native to the West Indies. The Egyptions used castor oil as an unguent and lamp oil. Castor oil is extracted from the castor bean from Ricinus communis. It is liquid, viscous, sticky, and stable. Castor oil is excellent as a cleansing oil and drawing oil and it’s emollient. It’s soothing to the skin and slow for the skin to absorb. Castor oil is reported to reduce blemishes, hyperpigmentation (brown spots), and to encourage hair growth. When it’s used in a hair formulation, it can lighten the feel of other oils on the hair. Castor oil adds shine in hair formulations and lip stick formulations.

Black Castor Oil

INCI: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil

During the slave trade, castor beans were brought to Jamaica and where black castor oil originated. Black castor oil is from the same castor bean as castor oil but the beans have been roasted before extracting the oil. First, the beans are roasted and ground and then boiled in water to extract the oil. The color can range from light brown to dark brown. The oil includes some of the ash considered to be part of the healing properties and creates the smoky scent. Black castor oil has been used for hundreds of years as a traditional healing agent.

Jamaican black castor oil is darker and considered a therapeutic oil from Jamaica. The castor oil beans are roasted and darker color is achieved to provide antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps to reduce scalp irritation and to moisturize and strengthen hair. It is rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids and a complex composition including ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, phytosterols, and tocopherols.

Black castor oil has been traditionally used to stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth. Black castor oil is said to pull toxins from the scalp. Formulating with black castor oil, it is sticky and tacky but when combined with other hair nourishing plant ingredients it produces a creamy consistency without the greasiness. The properties of this oil make it superior in hair care formulations. Black castor oil is in our Scalp Soother formulation in the Pro Hair Care Course.

Sulfated Castor Oil – Turkey Red Castor Oil

INCI: Sulfated Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil

Sulfated castor oil is made from castor oil. Sulfuric acid is added to castor oil by the process of sulfonation. Hence the name sulfated castor oil. Sulfuric acid. Sulfated castor oil is emollient and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. The oil is viscous and an orange color. It is the only oil that is water soluble and completely disperses in water.  It solubilizes essential oils and can be added to bath water dispersing in the water, with no greasy feel or oily ring in the bathtub. It can be used in a bath oil.