Jamaican Black Castor Oil | Black Hair Care
Should I Use Jamaican Black Castor Oil?
Most people have heard of castor oil. Some of you may have had to swallow a spoonful for medicine. But what about Jamaican black castor oil? Everyone knows that natural plant oils are great for black hair care. Which oils are the best? Despite the name, Jamaican black castor is not necessarily made on an exotic island. This oil comes from the same source as regular castor oil, Ricinus communis, castor oil. Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) is very similar to the regular white or slightly yellow castor oil that you are familiar with. The difference is in the way it passes from the bean in the form of oil.
How it is extracted
Oils are extracted from plants or seeds in various ways. Sometimes chemicals or heat are used, altering the natural composition of vegetable oil. The use of heat or chemicals extracts more oil, but can compromise with the quality. This is why virgin or extra virgin olive oil is popular. It is processed without heat or chemicals, the most expensive processing method but resulting in a superior product.
Regular castor oil comes from pressing the seeds of the castor plant, resulting in a pale yellow liquid. If there is no heat, it is referred to as "cold pressed". Jamaican black castor oil comes from the same seeds of plants, but they are roasted, pulverized, and then slowly boiled. No chemicals are involved. Because no chemicals are used, Jamaican black castor oil is superior to some extraction methods. However, a large amount of heat is involved and ashes are left in the oil. Ash is the main difference in the product. The end product is thick and dark in color, which is why the oil is called black castor oil.
The claim is that roasting the seeds leads to better hair growth and skin health. This claim has neither been proven true nor false. What we do know is that castor is excellent for the hair and the skin.
JBCO's color is actually ash. The beans are ground and finally the mash is boiled to extract the oil. Sunny Isle JBCO says:
“Our organic seeds are roasted and ground by a manual grinder, then the ground beans are boiled to extract 100% pure, dark brown, organic oil. It is the best quality oil on the market. Why are you wondering? Compared to other brands, this is the darkest Jamaican black castor oil because we roast our beans for longer, which produces more ash content in our oil than any other oil on the market. A greater ash content increases the efficiency & effectiveness of the oil. "
Now, does ash somehow increase the effectiveness of castor oil when it comes to hair growth? Or does the oil itself undergo some sort of transformation when the seeds are roasted or boiled? Frankly I do not know. It would certainly go against the conventional wisdom that storing oil is as natural a state as possible. There are a lot of women who swear by this product and tons of testimonials about the amazing results that people have seen from using it.
Benefits of castor oil for the skin
Jamaican black castor oil is a great facial cleanser for those who suffer from acne and can also help soothe and moisturize chapped lips. It also has antifungal properties, which help treat skin infections. Jamaican black castor oil also has incredible healing properties - apply it to your face to prevent signs of aging or to scars to help reduce their appearance.
Benefits of castor oil for hair
Jamaican black castor oil is great for hair, especially for those with thick, coarse hair which needs extra hydration. Castor oil is hygroscopic, drawing moisture from the air into your hair. The oil hydrates the hair and scalp, helps prevent breakage, and makes the hair stronger, shinier, and healthier overall. The antifungal properties make it an excellent scalp treatment to help fight dandruff.
The Basics on Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Overall, castor oil is fantastic for a number of reasons. Jamaican black castor oil will cost more. Is it worth it? I'll leave it to you to decide. Regular castor oil is also very good for the hair and skin both. Either way, we think you'll be amazed to see what castor oil does for your hair and skin.
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