What is a Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Whenever you look for bits about castor oil, more often than not, the term “cold pressed castor oil” pops up. Whether you are a regular user of castor oil or someone who has just heard about it, this term will get in your way for at least a dozen times. Now, it’s time to set the story straight.
Cold pressed castor oil, just like any other types of castor oil, comes from the seeds of a castor plant. These seeds contain oil, which is about 50 percent of its total composition. This oil is rich in nutrients, including vitamin E, protein, and essential fatty acids. With the various methods employed to extract this valuable oil comes the different types of castor oil.
Some manufacturers use heat, additives, and chemicals to extract and produce the oil. While some of these methods are quicker and cost less, the quality of the products is inferior. They compromise the purity and decrease the amounts of nutrients and important compounds you are supposed to get.
The production process of cold pressed castor oil is totally different and instantly puts it on a high level. It does not use excessive heat or chemicals to obtain the oil from the seeds. Instead, a mechanical press such as a hydraulic press is used. The pressure applied forces the oil out of the seeds.
For it to be “cold pressed”, the temperature must not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. With little to no heat involved, the term “cold pressed” came about. This is a way to preserve the oil’s natural healing properties and benefits. This process takes time, but the product is of the highest quality. It contains the highest amount of nutrients your hair, skin, and body needs.
Advantages of Using Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Generally, making castor oil a part of your daily routine has tons of benefits. It gives you a better way of taking care of yourself especially when used for hair care and skin care. You can use it to relieve body ailments and it works as a natural laxative as well. Choosing a cold pressed castor oil particularly is better and gives you these advantages:
Rich in Essential Nutrients
It is no secret that heat can affect the properties of the oil. In fact, keeping your bottles of essential oils in a cool dry place helps make them last longer. Some oils lose their natural properties when subjected to heat. The process of taking oil by cold pressing uses very little or no heat, thus the nutrients stay intact. A cold pressed castor oil contains a superior amount of nutrients than any other type of castor oil.
Hexane Free
Hexane is one of the most common types of chemicals used when obtaining oil by solvent extraction. This method is said to be the easiest way since it is cheaper and requires less time. But, the integrity of the oil can be compromised. Hexane is a volatile liquid found in petroleum products. You definitely don’t want to put anything like that on your face or hair, do you?
Pure and Organic
A pure castor oil product is free of any harmful chemicals. Using 100% cold pressed castor oil provides you with this kind of product that does not contain additives like color enhancers or fragrances. It does not contain alcohol that often causes dryness and irritation of the skin.
Most pure castor oil products, if not all, are organic as well. Organic ones must be made from organic castor seeds. These seeds come from plants raised via natural farming practices. They must be free from toxic substances such as pesticides and artificial growth enhancers.
Cold Pressed Castor Oil vs. Other Types of Castor Oil
Different types of castor oil may come from the same type of plant but they have different properties and effects on the body that make them unique from each other. Cold pressed castor oil is called as such due to the low temperature (cold) while forcing (pressing) the oil out. Here are the unique qualities, properties, as well as benefits of the other castor oil types.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Jamaican black castor oil is an extract of roast castor seeds. Unlike cold pressed castor oil, this type of castor oil uses heat. Roasting the seeds before extraction is a method common to Jamaica. This gives the oil a distinct characteristic of a darker color and burnt smell. It is said to have higher purifying properties that may help increase the oil’s benefits for reducing acne and balancing the scalp.
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Hydrogenated castor oil, or simply castor wax, is a product of adding hydrogen to castor oil. Unlike cold pressed castor oil, this type of castor oil contains an additive. The oil becomes harder, more brittle, and insoluble in water. This material is a common ingredient in many cosmetic products. You can find it in lotions, creams, and cleansers. Due to its property to resist oil and moisture, it has various commercial applications as well. Waxes, candles, crayons are few examples.
Chemical Extracted Castor Oil
Chemical extracted castor oil is the least expensive type of castor oil. The reason is that it’s produced using solvents such as heptane and hexane. Using these substances make the extraction quicker and less complicated than making cold pressed castor oil. However, it may leave some chemical impurities that result in a low-quality product.
Curious on how other types of essential oils are taken? Go to this next link to read more information on the various extraction methods used for essential oil production. How are they done and when did essential oils extraction even begin?
Common Uses of Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Cold pressed castor oil has a multitude of benefits you can get through various uses. To give you a glimpse of these benefits that await you, here are common uses of castor oil you wouldn’t want to miss:
Hair Care
The most popular use of castor oil is for hair care due to a wide range of benefits. It helps boost hair growth while keeping the scalp clean and hydrated. The oil is a powerful liquid that contains essential nutrients and vitamins that your hair needs to stay healthy. It is rich in vitamin E, protein, and fatty acids that work together to make hair strong and resilient to damage. You can also apply castor oil to eyelashes and eyebrows. It makes them thicker and bolder for a more eye-catching gaze.
Skin Care
By using castor oil for skin care, you can finally stop worrying about your worry lines. Cold pressed castor oil quickly absorbs into the skin and starts working on your flaws. It effectively prevents skin aging reducing wrinkles and fading scars. The oil softens and moisturizes the skin for a youthful glow. It also makes a good treatment for common skin problems such as acne, dry skin, and sunburn. Your skin stays beautiful, nourished, and healthy.
Treatment of Some Health Problems
Castor oil is a head-to-toe treatment that improves bodily functions. While it makes you look good, it also makes you feel great. You can mix it with lighter essential oils like coconut oil to create a soothing massage oil. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid with the anti-inflammatory property that relieves sore muscles and joint pains. When taken at a proper dose, castor oil relieves constipation and other digestive problems. Putting few drops of oil on your nails keeps them strong and fights toenail fungus. It also helps treat warts and prevent them from spreading.
Use as Carrier Oil
Some essential oils evaporate quickly and therefore needs an effective carrier oil such as castor oil. Castor oil blends well with other types of essential oils. You can use it for any essential oil recipe you want to try. Due to its thick texture and skin-absorbent property, castor oil effectively delivers the nourishing value of any essential oil you mix it with. Most importantly, it works well with any hair or skin type.
Home Use
Castor oil has some surprising uses for the household that are both practical and quite clever. A few drops of castor oil can be used to lubricate mechanical joints of scissors, meat grinders, and squeaky hinges. A solution of castor oil with water can effectively repel moles in the yard and perk up ferns in your garden.
Castor oil is truly a valuable oil with many uses from head to toe. This is a natural quality of most essential oil products available in the market today. Being versatile makes many essential oil products a must-have item for homes and on our personal care kits!
Want to learn more tips on how to use essential oils? Find out how different types of essential oils are used for healing, aromatherapy, and others.
Top Brands of Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Looking for the top brands of cold pressed castor oil you can use? Thank goodness because you are in the right spot! We give you five of the best names that offer high-quality castor oil products.
Shiny Leaf
Shiny Leaf is the brand name to look out for if you are going for natural products that are safe and effective. Their product line includes nourishing essential oils, hair care, and skin care products. They offer cold pressed castor oil that is USDA Certified Organic and pure. It’s a nutrient-rich oil you can use for hair, face, and body!
Aura Cacia
Aura Cacia is home to pure essential oils perfect for your various needs. Along with essential oils, they offer body and face products infused with plant extracts. Castor oil is one of their most-prized offers. It is organic and additive-free. You can use it for making a heat pack that’s good for soothing joint pains.
BioFinest
BioFinest provides a collection of essential oils that promote harmony between health and beauty. In line with that, they offer organic castor oil that is pure and undiluted. Among its top benefits are anti-aging, fighting infection, and relief from constipation.
Pure Body Naturals
Pure Body Naturals envisions their products to be a catalyst of beauty in everyone. They offer natural beauty products including organic cold pressed castor oil. It comes with sets of applicators to help you grow thicker eyebrows and longer eyelashes.
ArtNaturals
ArtNaturals provides a vast set of products such as essential oils, hair care, skin care, and bath goodies. The cold pressed castor oil they offer is one of their best-selling carrier oils. It is unrefined and chemical-free. You can use it as a regular moisturizer that cleanses, softens, and hydrates the skin.
Want to meet the rest of our top picks for the best essential oil brands? Read our reviews to get a background on each brand to help you make informed decisions when buying essential oils.
How to Check if Castor Oil Product is Cold Pressed
Finding the perfect bottle of cold pressed castor oil could be quite a task. But, having the knowledge of what you are supposed to look at makes the job really easy. Keep these tips in mind to help you:
- Check the label if it says “cold-pressed”. It’s pretty much basic but it’s your first step to determine if the type of castor oil is cold pressed.
- Read the ingredients list carefully. This will help you verify if the product is 100% pure and natural. It must be free from chemicals and additives such as fragrances.
- Look for the USDA seal. The USDA seal is a legit indicator of an authentic organic product.
- Finally, search online for trusted reviews, testimonials, and product details. You can check not only the brand’s own website but also visit trusted review sites such as ours – Essential Oils Care – for more information.
Where to Buy Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Cold pressed castor oil is available in pharmacies, beauty shops, and organic health stores. You can opt for these physical stores or order online. Buying castor oil online actually makes it more easy and efficient for you. Just make sure to buy on trusted online stores such as Amazon or go to the brand’s official website.
Pure castor oil improves its qualities and benefits when blended with other oils. You can always buy other essential oil products from castor oil sellers. Many organic product brands offer different kinds of essential oils for various uses.
What are the qualities to look for in an essential oil product? And how do you even check for them? We got that and more safety tips covered for you! Learn all the exciting benefits and uses of essential oil products for everyday use.
