Hair loss or hair thinning affects people of all genders and ages. Causes of hair loss range from being purely genetics to stress or lifestyle-related. Moreover, hair loss along with other hair problems constitute one of the most searched beauty problems on Google.
We live in a time where people can go to any extent for styling their hair no matter how damaging that is to their hair. As a result, a lot of people are worried about hair problems nowadays.
On the other hand, you can be tempted to go for some quick-fix chemical products which may make your hair shine for a day or two, but in the long run, they are going to leave your hair dull and damaged. So, what is the solution to all these problems, yes you have guessed it and you probably knew where it was going – Jamaican black castor oil (JBCO).
You can use JBCO as oil and apply it directly or add it to your shampoo, conditioner, or other hair products. However, in today’s market, there are a lot of hair products that use organic Jamaican black castor oil and are easily available online.
For your ease, we have picked some of the best Jamaican black castor oils and their products available, what they are good for and how to get the best out of them. So, let’s get on with it.
A-List of the 10 Best Jamaican Black Castor Oil 2021
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1. Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil – Perfect remedy for filling up bald spots
Tropic Isle Living is the company behind the commercial introduction of Jamaican black castor oil back in 1992. Before then, only the people of Jamaica, the surrounding Caribbean, and history books knew this ancestral remedy.
Tropic Isle Living is almost a synonym of Jamaican black castor oil. They go by the motto of “to inspire you to embrace your natural, beautiful you by embracing natural and traditional remedies”. They produce a variety of JBCO products from hand-processed wild-crafted organic castor oil beans. A little insight into this company was necessary because you are going to see a lot of their products on this list.
Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil is produced using orthodox Jamaican techniques which have been passed down to the new generation. Basically, they handpick organic castor beans. They are then processed, roasted, and then boiled. Thanks to the immiscibility of water and oil, hot water extracts oil from beans, but doesn’t dissolve in it. The water is then evaporated and oil is skimmed off. The end product of this process is a light to a dark-brown oil and it serves multiple purposes.
Tropic Isle’s black castor oil is really thick and rick which is why it doesn’t drip and is not messy at all. One thing though you wouldn’t help yourself noticing is its smell, it has a burnt smell. This particular smell is because of the process.
In terms of value for money, unlike many cosmetic products, this doesn’t cost much and a bottle of this deserves to be in your regular cosmetic kit. Basically, it is best for scalp hair growth, beard growth, and filling up bald spots.
- Too thick to drip
- Help with hair growth
- No synthetic additives
- Has a burning smell
2. Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil – High ash content stimulates hair growth
If improper facial hair growth worries you, Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil is there to help. Basically, the name “Extra Dark” implies the process where the beans are roasted for a longer duration. This, in turn, produces more ash content than any of the other black castor oils available in the market. This property makes it more potent.
A feature to really admire about this product is that it is pure and doesn’t contain any salt or impurities. This is a multipurpose oil. Basically, it works by trapping the moisture in the hair. Therefore, you can use it as a hot oil treatment and avoid fungal and bacterial infections on the skin. Additionally, black castor oil possesses some good healing features and we can use it for itching and in treating wounds.
In terms of its price, the bottle of Sunny Isle Extra Dark is really affordable and if you are going through some hair problems this is worth a buy. As stated earlier, it is best for filling up bald spots.
- A multipurpose oil
- High ash content
- Pure
- Has a strong burning smell.
3. Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil – Makes your hair smooth and strong
This Jamaican black castor oil has a greater quantity of ash as compared to the previously mentioned oils. This, in essence, is a great natural oil for skin and hair without harsh chemicals. It’s thick and hard to smooth around. For some, its consistency may be an issue, but for me personally, I believe it is just fine.
The best quality about this oil is that it works well on improving hair growth, making them smooth, and imparting a luster on them. I have used this product for more than a month regularly. I used it on my hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows to test the product. To be honest, there wasn’t any significant growth in scalp hair, but the eyelashes definitely experienced noticeable growth.
This oil comes at a relatively higher price than the Extra Dark version. But, if you want something with less ash quantity, you can go with this one.
- Better for eyelashes and eyebrows growth
- Comes at a lower price
- Smells bad
- It is really thick
Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil vs Sunny Isle – which one is better?
Tropic Isle is a more known brand of Jamaican black castor oil and Sunny Isle is a relatively new brand. In terms of price, the extra dark version from Sunny Isle comes at a slightly lesser price, but the standard preparations come at almost the same price. When it comes to usefulness, they are almost similar. Sunny Isle promotes itself to have more ash content making it more potent, but there is no solid evidence to prove it. Essentially, there isn’t much between them to separate and you can go with either one, it is down to your personal preference.
4. SheaMoisture Leave-in Conditioner – Perfect Formula to Repair Split Ends
SheaMoisture is a family-owned personal care company originally established in 1912. It basically focuses on shampoos, conditioners, and body washes. They were voted as Overall Favorite Brand in Naturally Curly in 2016. This product we have in our hand, Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave-In conditioner, is one of their top-selling products.
This basically, a natural leave-in conditioner, is one of their black castor oil products. It has a cake batter type of texture. As opposed to normal conditioners, which are very thick, this comes in a very liquid state.
One of the first things you are going to notice about it is the smell which is a really nice fruity smell. However, the nice plain dough to vanilla type smell gradually wears off over the day. In terms of quantity, you don’t need to go heavy-handed because a larger amount can leave your hair greasy.
When it comes to ingredients, SheaMoisture conditioner contains Jamaican black castor oil which promotes healthy hair growth. In addition, it contains organic shea butter which is known for its deep moisturizing abilities. Shea butter also conditions the scalp and hair. Peppermint is one of its key ingredients that stimulates the scalp for a vitalizing experience.
Moreover, if you want to balance your protein-moisture ratio, this is really the conditioner you should consider. SheaMoisture also has a masque preparation with essentially the same ingredients and properties except you can use it as a deep conditioner.
- Non-Greasy
- Great for moisturizing and detangling
- The newer version has a strong smell
5. Tropic Isle Living JBCO with Lavender – Releases Stress and Nourishes Hair
Black castor oil with an anxiolytic odor of lavender? Yes, you read it right. Black castor oil to help with your hair problems and a touch of lavender-containing linalool to release all the stress of your body. This is what this oil has to offer.
Made with pure Jamaican black castor oil, this oil enhances healthy hair growth and shine. Moreover, its formula is specially designed to control and reverse hair loss. Above all, one of the benefits of the JBCO product is that it helps in reducing acne, fading dark spots, and evening skin tone.
I used it for a couple of months and experienced thicker and smoother hair growth. It especially is good for edges. I know people who have used it to repair their alopecia spots with hair thinning. They experienced considerable improvement in their hair growth and some of the balding spots are completely gone.
- Multipurpose oil
- Anxiolytic
- Can be used anytime
- Lavender can cause skin allergy
6. SheaMoisture JBCO Shampoo – Washes and Makes Frizzy Curls Straight
SheaMoisture produces certified organic products and this shampoo is one of their finest products. I said that for their conditioner as well but the fact is that they are producing some of the best hair products around. This shampoo contains JBCO making it very potent. It made to our list as it doesn’t just wash the hair but make your hair thick and smooth.
First of all, its basic formula contains rice proteins that thicken the individual hair and make the fizzy curls straight and smooth. In addition, raw shea butter is rich in vitamins and fatty acids and provides maximum hydration keeping the hair healthy and nourishing it for proper growth.
Amongst its ingredients are peppermint and coconut oil which energize the scalp and stop hair breakage. Its formula has reparative properties which means it is damage repair and dry hair by providing proper nourishment to the hair follicles.
You can use SheaMoisture black castor oil shampoo daily and apply it for two to three minutes, then rinse it off and trust me your like hair will become so smooth and soft like wool. Above all, this shampoo washes off every bit of dust and grittiness present in hair.
When compared with other shampoos, it’s a bit on the pricey side, but considering its ingredients and efficacy I would say it’s worth each penny of its cost. It is a complete hair treatment, something people pay a couple of hundred bucks for high-end salons.
- Pleasant Odor
- Natural Cleanser
- A bit pricey than regular shampoo
- Does not produce much lather
7. Tropic Isle Living Strong Roots – Strengthens Hair Follicles with Red Pimento
This JBCO product from Tropic Isle comes in combination with Red Pimento which is known for its antiseptic and antioxidant properties. It is also known to improve blood circulation.
First of all, this oil contains all the natural ingredients and is perfect for hot oil treatment and scalp massage oil. Additionally, this oil detoxifies your scalp and reduces breakage and frizz by improving the blood circulation in the scalp. It also helps in restoring the natural moisture of hairs.
We also know Red pimento as an anti-aging product and it works by ceasing the greying of hair. Along with that, 100% pure castor oil, as we know, is good for softening, growth, and giving a shine to the hair. However, it’s a bit pricey when compared to other Jamaican black castor oils, but red pimento adds to its functionality by stopping the shedding and breakage of hair.
You can use put two or three drops of it in your conditioner or in your shampoo. Red Pimento works really well by adding volume and can give a nice hold to your curls. People report significant growth after two to three weeks of its application.
- Contains 100% pure black castor oil
- Stops hair breakage
- Smells bad
8. Tropic Isle Living Shampoo – Detoxifies the scalp and imparts a nice smell
Tropic Isle, as said earlier, has become a synonym for Jamaican black castor oil and JBCO products. This shampoo from them makes our list of the best JBCO products for good reasons. Essentially, this is an additive and preservative-free African-American shampoo containing pure Jamaican black castor oil. It strengthens the hair follicles consequently enhancing healthy, vibrant, and strong hair.
Basically, this shampoo has specially formulated to hydrate the dry, colored, and brittle hair which is treated by chemicals. In addition, this oil also enhances the elasticity of hair and makes them soft.
JBCO imparts its known qualities of scalp detoxification, moisturization, and cleansing. It surprisingly has a nice smell for a JBCO product. Above all, you won’t need to go heavy-handed with this shampoo, a small quantity would suffice. So, this shampoo will leave your hair clean as heaven without drying or emptying half of the bottle.
it is noteworthy that this shampoo is best for people who like it natural and want to stretch their relaxing time. This shampoo creates a protective coat on the hair. However, it may seem too thick at first, but on following up with conditioner the hairs become as soft as butter.
- Smells nice
- Contain pure black castor oil
- Prolonged use may damage the hair.
Difference between regular shampoos and Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo?
Most regular shampoos contain sulfates and paraben which help in cleaning but will leave your hairs dry and damaged. These substances extract the natural oil present in your scalp. Tropic Isle Living Shampoo doesn’t contain any of such chemicals and that’s why is more effective and free of side effects.
9. Tropic Isle Living Protein Conditioner – Removes Dandruff and Stops Itchiness
This Jamaican black castor oil protein conditioner is another fine product by Tropic Isle Living. It basically has its effectiveness in the fact that it strengthens hair follicles. This, in turn, rejuvenates hair and enhances strong hair growth. Protein conditioner stops scalp build-ups by cleansing and exfoliating the scalp and by treating fungus and dandruff on it.
Above all, this protein conditioner is the best remedy for the itchy scalp as it moisturizes the scalp and prevents itchiness. It additionally imparts softness to hair by increasing the elasticity. Even more, it increases volume by decreasing frizziness and gives a nice shine to hair.
For people living in cold weather, this is a great go-to conditioner because hairs often get dry and brittle due to low temperature. However, after using Tropic Isle Living protein conditioner you would witness the life of your curls getting back. Additionally, you would be able to get through the detangling with a lot less breakage and ease.
Just like most JBCO products, this condition also has a pretty strong smell and some people may not be a fan of it. However, the smell is not bad in itself, it is just too strong for a conditioner. Having said that, there may be people who would actually like its smell just like I do.
In terms of price, you can term it as a medium-range all-natural protein conditioner.
- Best remedy for itchy scalps
- Makes hair shine
- Has a strong smell
10. Tropic Isle living Hair Food – Imparts a Long-Lasting Lustre
Last but not least, this is one of the finest and unique JBCO products from Tropic Isle. This formula not only provides proper nourishment to hair but also imparts a long-lasting luster and shine to hair. First of all, the uniqueness of the formula lies in the fact that it has penetrating power which makes it penetrate directly into the scalp and promote hair growth.
This is a great African-American Hair product as it seals the hair cuticle for extra moisture retention. It additionally works well as a scalp massager and as a leave-in conditioner.
Moreover, the consistency of this product is really nice, it is not too thick like the other castor oil product which makes them difficult to wash off, and at the same time not too thin too which may drip.
This product is equally good for fine and straight hairs if they are starting to thin. You would see a significant difference in a month if you apply it two to three times a day. It works really quickly and gives you the desired effects within no time.
When it comes to price, it comes at a reasonable price and is even cheaper than some of the regular shampoos. So, if you want some really nice affordable product into your hair care routine, this could be a good addition.
- Quite affordable
- Moderate consistency
- Smell is not good.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil Vs. Castor Oil - Which One to Go With
The natural question to ask would be which of the two castor oils in better. However, the better question to ask is which one is better for me. Every person has different needs, so it is better to understand your specific needs and go for the product which would address your problems.
The basic difference between JBCO and yellow castor oil lies in their extraction process. Yellow castor is made from processing fresh castor beans and there is no heat involved, hence it is also called cold-processed castor oil. JBCO, on the other hand, is extracted after roasting of the beans.
Basically, JBCO is generally considered good for hair because of the ash content. However, cold-processed castor oil is known to detoxify the skin. But, this is not to undermine their functionality in the counterpart areas of personal care.
Secondly, because of the ash content, the pH of the JBCO is higher or alkaline which helps to clarify the scalp and open the pores. Additionally, the alkaline nature of JBCO helps to penetrate the hair cuticles which increases the effectiveness of the oil. It is also believed that ash forms a layer on the hairs which has a thickening effect, thus it is believed that JBCO boosts hair volume.
Both of these oils are also known as heavier oils which makes them perfect for winters and cold weather. It is said that both castor oils contain around 18 fatty acids and because their anti-inflammatory properties make them suitable for any scalp and hair conditions.
Things to Consider Before Buying Jamaican Black Castor Oil Products - A Buyer's Guide
You have read about why you should use JBCO or its products and if you are wondering which JBCO or which product is good for you, we are here to help. We will go through some of the characteristics you need to consider before going for any JBCO product.
Type of Castor oil
Whenever going for a castor oil product, you need to consider whether it is cold-processed castor oil or it is black castor oil. As said earlier, the main difference between them is the process involved in their extraction.
This is why regular castor oil is used for other purposes like laxatives and excipients in some pharmaceutical products. On the other hand, black castor oil is only used in hair products to enhance better growth.
Type of product
As you have read, there are many different products containing black castor oil, the question is how to select which one is best for you. There is not much science involved in that.
Basically, the choice of product depends on the type of use. If you are using the product for mere cleansing purposes, your best choice is shampoo. On the other hand, if you are using it for hair growth and building up the bald spots, you should go for the pure oil. Conversely, if the purpose is to impart shine and smoothing of hair to make a purchase of conditioner.
Ash Content
What makes a black castor oil a black oil, the ash content, right?. Ash is the essence of the black castor oil. There is a difference in ash content in every product some contain a huge proportion of it while some just have a moderate amount in them.
The choice of how much ash content you want entirely depends on your hair condition. If the hair is completely gone and you want to regain your hair the product with high ash content will help you in this regard. However, if your hair is just going through breakage and some of them are still left meaning no bald spot has appeared yet, then a product with less ash content will also do it for you. We tried to specifically address this aspect for each product in their reviews.
Smell of Oil
The smell might not be an important factor if you are applying the oil at night but it might be a major factor if you want to apply it in the daytime outside your place.
Normally, almost every black castor oil smells bad but there are some products containing excipients that can make that smell really nice. So, if you want to wear it in the day time you should definitely purchase the ones with a good smell.
Organic or Non-Organic
Purity is one of the major factors which should not be overlooked when going for JBCO or its products. After all, it is your hair. We would recommend you for organic or wild-crafted and hand-processed JBCO. In our list, we tried to include all the products which are either purely hand-processed or are free from any harsh chemicals.
Additionally, in almost every commercial product, there are excipients that are used in the formulation. Some are used for stability, while others are used to keep the formulation free of bacteria and other microorganisms. Sometimes, manufacturers add some additional substances to make the product long last these substances might not be very good for the scalp.
Paraben and sulfates are added for this purpose, but they extract all the natural oil present in the scalp and make the hair rough and weak. In our list, there is no such product, so you can go for any of them without having to worry about it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Conclusion:
Since the commercial introduction of Jamaican black castor oil, it has become a household name because of its usefulness and effectiveness. Its usefulness ranges from treating acne to having anti-aging properties. In terms of hairs, it not only moisturizes the hairs but is also an effective remedy for hair loss and hair thinning. Additionally, it is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties because of its natural ingredients.
In today's market, there are a lot of companies producing Jamaican black castor oil or its products. But, there are some who lead the way because of their quality and effectiveness. Tropic Isle Living is a great name in JBCO and its products. SheaMoisture, on the other hand, has been producing some amazing JBCO products for some time now and has made a name for itself.
Commercial production of JBCO has been no less than a revolution in personal care and we would highly recommend having some of its products in your hair care routine. We tried to include a number of Jamaican black castor oils and JBCO products in our list. The criteria were their known efficacy and their organic nature. We hope this piece would have been of help. If you have any further questions or queries, we would love to respond.
