Negative side effects of Castor Oil?

[Sweet_Decadence]

Hey ho!

So I started using a castor oil & avacodo oil 50/50 mix in my hair a week or so ago. I've used it 3 times, I'd massage it into my scalp, leave it on for an hour then CWC it away but every time I did I found I was shedding alot more hair than I usually do. I was pulling out good 20 strand clumps while finger combing in my conditioner. I normally shed very, very little, I really do feel pushed to say I even usually shed 20 hairs a day.

Is this the castor oil causing this? Has anyone else had any rather unfortunate side effects with it?

[Dragon]

Maybe you are using to much or leaving it on to long or doing it to often. I have this problem with all oils but what I find works best is to not use much and not use it hot. And only use it every few weeks.

[spidermom]

I would think the increased shedding would be more due to the manipulation of the scalp than the oil mixture itself. It's probably not more than is normal for you; when you do something new, you tend to pay more attention than when things are routine.

[jojo]

I cannot see how any oil would make hair shed, its more likely the oil is just helping hair shed, which was due to shed anyway.

[BrightEyes7]

I tried using avacado oil a couple times as a pre-wash treatment. Every time I shed a lot more than normal. Is using avacado oil a new thing for you? If so it may be that, and you can try a different oil to combine, perhaps either olive or coconut.

It could also possibly be due to what spidermom said, the manipulation of the scalp.

[Sweet_Decadence]

Well, thanks all :)

I'm not terribly convinced that it could be the scalp manipulation. I frequently do scalp massages with rosemary oil (gently, of course) and haven't found any ill effect with that.

Avacado Oil is also very new to me, yes. I may try switching it out in place of something else.

[ravenreed]

I alway have a heavier shed when I do scalp oilings and massage, regardless of the oil used.

[longlockenvy]

I use castor oil with EVOO or coconut oil. I also add EO's to it. I haven't noticed any additional shedding. I've actually noticed less shedding, but i dont know what's helping me.

I started taking Biotin, MSM, multi vitamin, evening primrose oil, and using castor oil, and Monistat, all at the same time. I have noticed hair growth, less shed, and shiny hair that has less frizz. Woot!

[pixistixx]

do you have any issues with latex? avocado can cause reactions in people with latex allergy

[Kathie]

I keep oil away from my scalp, strangly it becomes irritated by oils.
I’m of the mind that it was probably going to shed anyway but you’ve helped it along i.e., the oil within the hair follicle lubricates the hair so it slides out easily. If you were losing hair with the growth bulb still attached I would be really concerned.

[HintOfMint]

Some people can't tolerate oil or conditioner on their scalps. I shed like a maniac when I did CO and I am definitely not going back to that. Sometimes things just don't work and there's no need to cling to a routine that obviously doesn't do you a lick of good.

[Dina L.]

I use castor oil and EVOO 50/50, I put it on 2-4 hours before washing my hair.
Less shed and more baby hair!

[enfys]

A change of routine can also cause shedding, which usually settles down after a few weeks.

This seems to be the case with most changes.

[CAPA7]

I used castor oil on my scalp for the first time a couple of nights ago, and I did notice more shedding right after I had applied it and massaged my scalp: I then went on to oiling the rest of my hair with coconut oil, and while I normally always lose a few strands in the process, there were definitely more this time, which worried me a bit :S
However when I washed my hair the following morning and when I combed my (dry) hair after that, I didn't notice anything different from normal.
I'll keep an eye on it for the next few weeks, I hope it was just due to the change of routine. Also, this was the first time I'd massaged my scalp properly, so reading the replies in this thread are reassuring me :)

[Kymmee]

I used castor oil and avacado for the first time, yesterday morning, too. I put a 50/50 combo of it on my scalp and massaged it in, left it for an hour, and then washed my hair. I shed a TON. Since I am shedding more already, this drastically increased amount really scared me. Reading this makes me feel a bit better- this morning, I seemed to shed less...whether its because more came out quicker yesterday, or the oil is helping, who knows?
How often do people usually treat with the oil? I'm wanting the benefits of the castor oil on my thinning hair, but I don't want to make it too greasy or shed like I did yesterday, too often.

[CAPA7]

I'm going to do it once a week for now, and hope to see an improvement in shedding.

[prettykitty]

Castor oil seems to have slowed down my shedding, but when I was using it less diluted, I think it might have goven me a headache, odd as that sounds. I diluted it with Dabur amla gold, no more headaches, and I get the lovely sleepiness of Indian oils :)

[kwaniesiam]

I love castor oil, it has really helped thicken my hair and made it grow in faster. It's also working wonders on my eyelashes.

Keep it up for another week or so, if you're still shedding stop the oil and see if the shedding stops. Some people cannot tolerate oil on their scalp or manipulation of it.

[Lianna]

Castor oil helps me grow my hair faster too (I only use it on scalp). Some bad effects for me is some headache and eye sting when used too much.

[greygardens]

I used to use castor oil on my eyelashes, but stopped because they started falling out. It may have just hastened the shedding of those that were about to fall anyway, but I wasn't keen to continue on long enough to find out.

I've heard of this happening to a few other people, but then plenty of people don't have it happening. I wonder if it has anything to do with the quality of the castor oil? Or if it just doesn't agree with some people?

[gthlvrmx]

I used to use castor oil on my eyelashes, but stopped because they started falling out. It may have just hastened the shedding of those that were about to fall anyway, but I wasn't keen to continue on long enough to find out.

I've heard of this happening to a few other people, but then plenty of people don't have it happening. I wonder if it has anything to do with the quality of the castor oil? Or if it just doesn't agree with some people?
I really don't know what is it with it, but i seem to have a sensitive scalp or something, i tried castor and it didn't work for me (big sheddings). There's gotta be something about it that does this

[McFearless]

If it makes you shed more don't bother with it.

[sugarpixie10988]

Castor oil makes me shed a lot too. Even when I use it on my eyelashes it causes them to fall out. Not doing that again!

[Roscata]

I did notice more shedding after I started doing scalp massages, but not from Castor oil. I know the difference because I did plain scalp massages first which increased my normal shedding, then when I added Castor Oil/EVOO (50/50) the shedding was reduced.
Good luck figuring out what is causing the increased shedding! :D