Oils like castor oil or coconut oil accelerate hair growth: rather FALSE
In order to stimulate hair growth , some advise applying these oils (castor and coconut alone or combined with other oils such as olive oil) directly on the scalp, then performing scalp massages and possibly to leave on as you would with a hair mask. Obviously, you cannot keep this mask, which should be rinsed well with shampoo . Rather, two shampoos are recommended, as these oils are very greasy and therefore very difficult to rinse off.
From a strictly scientific point of view, these recipes are more a matter of belief than a demonstrated reality.
It should be noted, however, that the components of these oils and the massages that are suggested to be associated with them obviously allow local stimulation of micro blood circulation and therefore bring to the roots the nutrients necessary for hair growth. So a priori, the solution may seem interesting.
That being said, and this is what we see almost every day at the Clauderer Center, the “dose response” effect is essential. This principle of “dose-response” (or “dose-effect”) is well known for all active ingredients, both in the field of drugs and in that of ingredients incorporated into cosmetic products or for ingredients applied directly as is the case with oils on the scalp.
What is it about ? It is very simple. Each active ingredient is associated with its optimal dose so that it produces a positive effect on health, in this case on the speed of hair growth. This optimal dose is moreover very rigorously sought for the active ingredients incorporated into Clauderer skincare .
If the active principle is under-dosed (or if it is not applied often enough), the active principle will produce no or very little effect. On the other hand, if we apply this same active principle (in this case oils) in too large a quantity (or too often), it will not produce any effect either, or even we will produce an effect exactly opposite to that expected.
In this case, as often, “the best is the enemy of the good” according to the well-known adage.
This is indeed exactly what we see at the Center Clauderer. We are regularly consulted by clients who diligently apply these oils (castor and coconut often associated with other lighter oils) on their scalp. These customers describe a positive effect after the first applications. They are therefore obviously encouraged to continue noticing these first beneficial effects. But in the long run, problems appear: they describe hair that grows more slowly, hair that begins to break, hair that becomes increasingly dry, ends that are increasingly damaged and dehydrated.
We verify this by carrying out a microscopic analysis of the hair of these clients:
these oils (castor, coconut or others) end up infiltrating the scalp and stagnating inside the hair follicles . As a result of which, these oils end up coating the roots of the hair thus hindering the good nutrition of the same roots. Finally, these oils therefore prevent the hair from growing well since, surrounded by oily residues, the roots can no longer be properly irrigated and nourished by blood micro-circulation. We therefore understand the reason why these clients are worried about the fact that their hair grows less quickly:
the cause is simple, the roots of their hair are asphyxiated!
As for the hair that becomes brittle as reported by these clients, again we can understand this by means of microscopic examination. Difficult to rinse off, these oils (castor or coconut) indeed end up forming a barrier around the hair which stiffens the hair, like a shell and in the end, makes it dry and brittle as the use of a treatment would do. containing silicones.