The awareness about castor oil and it's uses is on the increase, castor oil has a wide array of uses, from boosting hair growth to removing stretch marks. This has also become a big business to farmers who farm the castor locally and processes it into oil and importers who want to make quick money. Castor oil is very expensive and difficult to come by, this has led to the adulteration of the product. People mix it with groundnut oil and synthetic materials also, a lot of people do not know about the the different types of castor and which one will work for what you want.
Product listings of essential oils always show words like virgin, pure, cold-pressed, unrefined, raw, organic, and more. These words actually have a meaning and they are quite valuable when it comes to deciding which product to choose.

Pure and refined castor oil have different effects and uses. The common extraction method for castor oil is by cold pressing the seeds. Refined oil goes through an extra process where it gets deodorized or bleached. This means either removing or adding taste, smell, color, and scent. But these are not the only elements that change. Refined castor oil also loses some of the natural compounds that it contains before.

Some refined products also contain chemicals added during the process. If you’re looking into using castor oil for hair care, then a pure cold pressed organic castor oil is your best choice. A refined oil, on the other hand, is suitable for commercial uses.



Weighing Benefits and Disadvantages

Both types of castor oil have good points that make them a better fit depending on what you’re going to use them for. Of course, not every oil works the same way. Here are some of the pros and cons of the two types of castor oil.

Pure Cold Pressed Castor Oil

Cold pressing the seeds to extract the mineral-rich oil means that it contains copious amounts of nutrients and vitamins. This is why when you use castor oil for skin, it yields great results.

It contains high amounts of ricinoleic acid which are quite healing and soothing for the body, skin, and hair. But a con of using this castor oil is that it possibly contains traces of ricin which is a very toxic natural compound. Ricin is poisonous and ingesting it poses risks of health damage. Learn how this type of castor oil works and what it’s best for.



Soothes wounds and cuts.
It has quite the effective antibacterial property that helps speed up healing and even fights infections. If you’ve got minor wounds and cuts, you can apply this oil. This effect is also great to utilize in treating some skin conditions like acne since it reduces swelling and redness.

Moisturizes the skin and scalp deeply.
A fast-absorbing oil that does not leave a greasy feeling, this oil truly works wonders for the skin and hair. It is light and quick to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin.

Promotes stronger hair growth.
While it’s not true that castor oil speeds up or makes the hair grow, it is effective in ensuring the strong and healthy growth of the strands. It stimulates the blood circulation on the scalp which is important. Which is why a lot of people prefer castor oil for hair loss treatment.

Refined Castor Oil

An advantage of using a refined castor oil is that there are no traces of ricin and it is safe to ingest. Common uses of this oil lie in cooking and food applications. Likened to a vegetable oil, this type is great as a flavoring agent and preservatives in baked goods.

But one of its disadvantages is that it loses some of the minerals and vitamins that make it so good for skin and hair when refined. This limits its benefits and uses, putting it at a disadvantage when it comes to beauty care. But for the health and boosting the immune system, it’s the perfect candidate.