You would have heard of castor oil and the black castor oil. But do you know which of these is better? What could be the difference between black castor oil and castor oil? This post has the answers! Want to know them? Go ahead with your read!
Castor oil is the oil extracted methodically from the seeds of the castor oil plant. The benefits of castor oil are countless, and is widely used across the world. It can be used externally on the body and as well as can be internally ingested. The oil is well renowned for its therapeutic properties. This medicinal concoction is predominantly used for hair growth, skin care, health & wellness, body massage, treating ailments, labor induction, home remedies and more. Castor oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral by nature.
Castor oil comes in varied colors – yellow, clear and black. Crude castor oil in its natural form is pale yellow in color. Raw, unadulterated yellow oil is extracted from the seeds by squeezing the seeds at high pressure, and this method is known as cold pressing. When oil extraction is done via the cold pressing method, it allows the properties of the oil to remain intact as compared to using heat which degrades the very essence of the oil.
Once the crude oil undergoes the refining and bleaching process, it turns colourless or rather becomes clearer and hence is referred to as clear castor oil. This process is meant to reduce the iodine content in the clear castor oil. This is because the more it is filtered, the more it becomes refined and purer in form, and the color of the oil lightens in the process. However, the oil being more clear doesn’t necessarily mean it is better. In the market, you will find clear versions of castor oil and these tend to have additives, fragrances, mineral oils etc., making it not so pure. So always check the list of ingredients before buying a bottle of castor oil.
Legend has it that the black castor oil is black in color because it is more concentrated, natural and less processed. However, this is so not true. The reason behind the castor oil being black is because the castor seeds are roasted, and the roasted ash that remains from the process is added into the oil taking it from its original yellowish color to its darker variation. The black castor oil is more commonly referred to as the Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO), since the process of adding the ash from the roasted seeds originated in Jamaica.
It is not just the color, but the odor of the oils is quite distinct too. The black castor oil has a smoky scent – the smell of burnt seeds. On the other hand, the crude yellow oil has a distinct odor too, but it is easily softened or lifted during the refining process. Further, there is a slight difference in the viscosity levels of the regular castor oil and black castor oil. While all variants of castor oils are generally quite thick, the black oil is a tad bit thicker in consistency as compared to the clear castor oil.
Coming to the crux of the matter, that is determining which castor oil is better is simply a matter of debate. Some would argue that the presence of ash from the roasted seeds makes the black castor oil not as pure as the one without, while other might disagree saying that the ash is simply a by-product of the same castor seeds and thus only adds to the essence of the oil. However in terms of results, all the variations of castor oils give identical benefits. Finally it all boils down to your personal choice and what works for you!
Hope you got a clear idea on the difference between the black castor oil and castor oil. Feel free to share your views in the comment section below.