Fact: The internet loves castor oil. A quick search of the words will yield millions of results (over 60,000,000 and counting), ranging from fervent Reddit threads to DIY recipes on Pinterest boards and beauty blogs from all corners of the world swearing by its ability to grow lush, long hair—and fast!
Based on the reviews (and some pretty convincing before and after photos), we were ready to promptly pour a large bottle of the stuff on our heads and let it work its purported magic, but we thought it would be wise to vet this beloved ingredient by an expert first.
Enter Dr. Sheel Desai Solomon, a board-certified dermatologist at Preston Dermatology and Skin Surgery in North Carolina.
According to Dr. Solomon, "Women account for 40 percent of Americans who are struggling with hair thinning or loss. And because the options for treating this issue are often very costly, it is completely understandable why many women seek out natural remedies such as castor oil." Glad we’re on the same page, here, doc, but give it to us straight...