5 Amazing beauty uses for castor oil

I've been using a lot of natural ingredients these days to help restore my heat-damaged hair. My latest obsession: Castor oil. Funny thing is, I had NO idea how good castor oil was until I tried the new Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner. This stuff is serious! I've only been using it for a few days and I'm already seeing the difference in my hair. My hair feels softer and stronger. I even noticed a lot less pelos in my shower drain, proving this treatment really does help prevent breakage. That's because castor oil does beauty miracles my friend!

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I've always heard castor oil was good for healthier and longer hair, but I needed to try it out myself to believe it. After using the new Shea Moisture Jamaican Castor Oil line, Im convinced I need to have a couple of bottles of actual castor oil in my medicine cabinet. What took me so long, you may ask? Well, for starters, castor oil has a really thick and sticky consistency that could wind up turning into a hot mess for a natural klutz like me. Plus, it doesn't have the best smell in the world. But I suggest you put all those cons behind you because when it comes to castor oil, the pros are totally worth it! Not buying it? Here are 5 reasons why you should be using castor oil in your beauty routine!

It makes your hair grow: I've been noticing more and more hair brands include castor oil in their products. That's because it contains vitamin E, proteins and omega 9 fatty acids that improve circulation in the scalp and stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, leading to growth. It also works as a great deep conditioning treatment.

It gives you thicker, longer lashes: You can even use castor oil as a DIY eyeslash serum. It's high in ricinoleic acid which is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent that can help any fungus or bacteria from getting in the way of hair growth. And because it's so thick in texture it helps seal hairs, locks in moisture and prevents lashes from falling out. Dip a clean or disposable mascara wand into some castor oil and gently brush onto lashes from root to tip.

It helps you grow out brows: Trying to grow out over-plucked brows? Dip a Q-tip into a bottle of castor oil and apply it to your brows and the surronding skin before bed. Do this every night and you should start seeing growth in a matter of weeks. It might even make your brow hairs look darker.

It treats split ends: When it comes to split ends, the trick is to get regular trims. But if you want to squeeze time in between appointments, apply a few drops of castor oil to the ends of your hair. It makes them look instantly smoother and shiner.

It smooths chapped lips: Castor oil doesn't just do wonders on hair, it also nourishes skin due to its ability to deeply penetrate tissues. Apply a drop or two to your lips using a cotton swab. Not only does it nourish your pout but its thick texture protects your lips from environmental factors that can cause peeling and drying.

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