castor oil for eyebrows

I'll be honest I was skeptical. But after years of patchy brows from my teenage over-plucking disaster, I was desperate enough to try anything.

My Journey Down the Castor Oil Rabbit Hole

It started with a TikTok video. You know how it goes you're scrolling at 11 PM, and suddenly you're watching someone claim that a $10 bottle of oil transformed their barely-there brows into Cara Delevingne arches.

I'd seen these claims before. Castor oil for hair growth, castor oil for lashes, castor oil for literally everything. But something about this particular video made me pause. Maybe it was the before and after photos that actually looked real, or maybe I was just tired of filling in my brows every single morning.

So I did what any reasonable person would do: I went down a research rabbit hole at midnight.

What I Found Out About the Science

Here's the thing about castor oil it's not magic, but it's not snake oil either. The main ingredient is something called ricinoleic acid, which makes up about 90% of the oil. This fatty acid has anti inflammatory properties and might help create a better environment for hair growth.

I called up Dr. Hadley King, a dermatologist in NYC, to get the real scoop. She told me something that made a lot of sense: "Castor oil's moisturizing effects can make hair appear thicker and reduce breakage, but it won't stimulate new growth like prescription treatments."

So basically, it's more about protecting what you have than magically growing new hairs. But hey, sometimes that's exactly what you need.

My 60 Day Experiment

I decided to test this properly. I recruited four friends to join me—we all had different brow situations:

• Sarah (my college roommate): Over-plucked her brows in 2003 and never recovered

• James (my neighbor): Naturally sparse brows that fade to nothing at the ends

• Priya (coworker): Normal brows but wanted them fuller

• Me: Patchy spots from years of aggressive tweezing

We agreed to take weekly photos in the same lighting and actually stick to a routine for once in our lives.

The results after 8 weeks?

Sarah saw the most dramatic change—her brows looked about 30% denser, and those stubborn patchy spots finally started filling in. James noticed his brow ends looked a bit fuller, though no major new growth. Priya's brows didn't get thicker, but they definitely looked darker and shinier.

As for me? I was honestly surprised. My patchy spots weren't completely gone, but they were way less noticeable. My brows felt softer and looked more defined even without makeup.

What I Learned About Doing It Right

Through trial and error (and one unfortunate breakout), here's what actually works:

Get the Good Stuff

Not all castor oil is created equal. After trying three different brands, I learned to look for:

• 100% cold-pressed, hexane-free oil

• Dark glass bottles (keeps it fresh longer)

• Jamaican black castor oil if you can find it it's less processed

Skip the drugstore bottles with mystery ingredients. Your eyebrows deserve better.

My Nightly Routine (That I Actually Stuck To)

1. Clean slate: Remove all makeup first. Seriously, all of it.

2. Weekly exfoliation: Once a week, I'd gently scrub my brows with a clean toothbrush and a tiny bit of honey. Game changer for getting rid of dead skin.

3. Application: Used a clean spoolie (I bought a pack of 50 on Amazon) to brush the oil through my brows in the direction they grow.

4. Mini massage: Pressed my thumbs along my brow bones for about a minute. It felt nice and supposedly helps with circulation.

5. Sleep on it: Left it on overnight and washed my face normally in the morning.

The Mistakes I Made (So You Don't Have To)

• Using too much: Less is more. I learned this after developing tiny white bumps called milia. Not cute.

• Skipping the patch test: Always test on your inner arm first. I found this out the hard way.

• Expecting miracles: This isn't Latisse. Manage your expectations.

How Does It Stack Up Against Other Options?

Let me break down what I discovered about different approaches:

Castor oil: Cheap ($10), takes 6-8 weeks to see results, best for maintenance and mild improvement.

Latisse: Expensive ($120+), works in about 4 weeks, actually FDA approved for growth. But it's prescription-only and can change your eye color permanently.

Microblading: Pricey ($500+), instant results, perfect for sparse or uneven brows. But it's semi-permanent and requires maintenance.

DIY serums: Super cheap ($5), takes 8+ weeks, fun to experiment with but results vary wildly.

I talked to Dr. Shereene Idriss about this, and she made a good point: "For serious hair loss conditions or hormonal thinning, see a doctor. Natural remedies have their place, but they can't replace medical treatment when you need it."

Little Tricks That Made a Difference

Through my experiment, I discovered a few hacks that seemed to boost results:

1. Double duty: I started using the same oil on my lashes with a disposable mascara wand. Why not?

2. Soothing mix: When my skin got irritated, I mixed the castor oil with a tiny bit of aloe vera gel.

3. Progress photos: I took weekly photos in the same spot with the same lighting. Seeing the gradual change kept me motivated.

4. Diet bonus: I started eating more biotin rich foods (eggs, nuts, salmon) around the same time. Correlation or causation? Who knows, but it didn't hurt.

The Questions Everyone Asks

"Can it really regrow over-plucked brows?" In my experience, yes but only if you haven't completely killed the follicles. Sarah's results proved this. It takes patience though, like 6+ months of consistent use.

"Why doesn't it work for everyone?" Genetics play a huge role. Some people's hair just doesn't respond the same way. Also, underlying health issues like thyroid problems can affect hair growth everywhere, including your brows.

"Does it actually make brows darker?" Temporarily, yes! It's like a natural brow gel that coats each hair and makes them look more defined.

My Honest Take: Should You Try It?

Go for it if:

• You're patient and can stick to a routine

• Your brows are thin from over-plucking (like mine were)

• You want a natural, budget friendly option

• You're not expecting overnight miracles

Maybe skip it if:

• You have patchy hair loss that might be medical

• You want dramatic results fast (consider professional treatments instead)

• You're not willing to commit to at least 6-8 weeks of consistent use

What I'm Doing Now

It's been six months since I started this experiment, and I'm still using castor oil about 3-4 times a week. My brows aren't perfect, but they're the best they've been since my teenage plucking rampage.

More importantly, I've learned to work with what I have instead of constantly trying to change them. Sometimes the best beauty hack is just taking better care of what you've already got.

Have you tried castor oil for your brows? I'd love to hear about your experience the good, the bad, and the "why did I think this would work?" moments. We've all been there.

P.S. - If you decide to try this, take before photos! You'll be surprised how much gradual change you miss without them.