Shown: ricinoleic acid, the main fatty acid in castor oil. This is not the triglyceride oil.
Ingredient
Castor Oil
Strong consumer interest in natural haircare, scalp care, and hair-growth ingredients. Castor Oil combines a natural botanical positioning with hair conditioning and scalp-care benefits, making it highly visible in the HairGrowth and Natural HairCare trend. Kitsch…
Strong consumer interest in natural haircare, scalp care, and hair-growth ingredients. Castor Oil combines a natural botanical positioning with hair conditioning and scalp-care benefits, making it highly visible in the HairGrowth and Natural HairCare trend. Kitsch also highlights Castor Oil as a key ingredient in its Smoothing Air Dry Cream.
Trend evidence
Position Castor Oil as a Natural HairGrowth / Scalp Care trend ingredient, rather than a clinically proven hair-regrowth active. Its strongest established cosmetic functions are conditioning, emollience, moisturization, smoothing, and improving hair feel.
What it does
Hair conditioning; emollient; moisturizing; smoothing; improves softness and shine; helps reduce dryness and frizz.
Notes
Biological / industrial source: Extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor plant) through pressing and refining; naturally rich in Ricinoleic Acid.
R&D / institution: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) — reviewed the safety of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil and related castor-derived ingredients.
Developer / supplier: OLVEA; Gustav Heess; Sophim; Croda.
Origin: Originally native to tropical Africa; India is a major commercial production region.
Representative product: Kitsch Smoothing Air Dry Cream.
Approx. retail price: US$16–32 / 5.3 oz.
Evidence maturity: Mature Ingredient — strong cosmetic-use evidence; limited clinical evidence specifically supporting hair regrowth.
Publishing notes: Position Castor Oil as a Natural HairGrowth / Scalp Care trend ingredient, rather than a clinically proven hair-regrowth active.
