Healthy hair starts from the roots! Oil scalp, massage & repeat...

You guys! We are 6 weeks into the Castor Oil Challenge!

I'm loving the challenge thus far. I'm participating at the Ultimate Level (oiling and massing my scalp with Castor oil every other day and applying 1-2 tsps of Castor Oil to my weekly deep conditioner). 

I apply the Atarah Hair & Scalp Treatment to my scalp (the tingling sensation is the best part!) and I add Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil to my deep conditioner. It may sound like a lot, but my hair is retaining moisture better than usual and my scalp is happy! It's a win win. 

Since we are at the half way point in the challenge, I wanted to address some frequently asked questions that I've been receiving over the past few weeks from Castor oil challengers.... so let's go!

Q: JBCO SMELLS REALLY BAD, WHAT CAN I DO TO GET PAST THE SMELL?

A: JBCO has a smokey/roasted scent due to the way that it's processed. Many tend to not like the scent and that's okay. For those who do not like the original scent, I typically suggest to mix the JBCO with a couple drops of an essential oil i.e. Lavender or Rosemary to help mask the scent. You should be good!

Q: CASTOR OIL WEIGHS MY HAIR DOWN, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

A: Castor oil is a dense oil! Because of its thick consistency, it can feel sticky in the hair causing it to look/feel weighed down and limp. I always suggest mixing your castor oil with another carrier oil to help thin out the consistency. Some great oils are: Jojoba oil, Olive oil, Coconut oil, Wheat germ oil etc. You can mix your Castor oil with these oils and still receive the amazing benefits. Always use oils that work best for your hair. Also, opt for hair styles that conceal the 'weighed down look' ie. bun, ponytail, etc.

Q: MY SCALP IS ITCHY SINCE I STARTED USING JBCO - WHY IS THAT?

A: Itchy scalp is common the first few weeks when you start applying JBCO to your scalp. Castor oil is known to be a hair follicle cleanser. The itchiness is a common side affect of the detoxifying process when toxins are removed from from the scalp. 

It typically tapers off with consistent use. If the itching is unbearable, try adding essential oils for instance; tea tree oil, peppermint oil to help soothe and cool the scalp. The peppermint will leave your scalp tingling - truly the best feeling ever!

If you still want to participate, but don't want to leave the Castor oil in your scalp, try prepooing with it i.e. apply oil to scalp & hair, massage (3-5 mins), and leave in for 30-45 mins. Proceed to shampoo, deep condition etc. as you normally would on wash day.

Q: IS IT NORMAL TO EXPERIENCE SHEDDING WHEN USING CASTOR OIL?

A: Shedding 50-100 hairs per day is normal. If you've noticed shedding right after introducing Castor oil into your regimen, then perhaps you may want to dilute the Castor Oil/JBCO with another carrier oil to lessen the potency. 

You can decrease your application down to the Basic Level (applying castor oil 1x/week) and see how your hair responds. 

Too, it may be an allergic reaction. Pay close attention to your shedding, especially if you think it's over the typical daily amount for normal shed hairs.

As a quick aid, try doing a Black Tea Rinse your next wash day - it's known to decrease shedding!

I hope this helped!!

Keep strengthening those follicles, ladies! 

Castor oil is amazing and super beneficial for the hair and scalp. This rich antioxidant oil composed of proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins all help to nourish the hair and scalp while creating an environment for healthier hair growth!

Atarah Hair & Scalp Treatment - My scalp oil of choice for the Castor Oil Challenge!

Atarah Hair & Scalp Treatment contains Jamaican Black Castor Oil infused with Coconut oil, Peppermint Oil, Red Pimento Oil, Wheatgerm Oil - just to name a few! 

Grab Yours & Get 10% Off Using Code: HAIRLICIOUS

Visit: https://www.myatarah.com

After stretching my relaxer for a total of 14 weeks, your girl is happily relaxed and loving it! Yes, you read that right - 14 weeks! I normally don't stretch this long, but I did for two(2) reasons:

REASON #1: I was participating in the Castor Oil Challenge from October 14, 2018 - January 14, 2019; therefore, I wanted to maximize on all of my growth achieved during the challenge and relax once the challenge was over.

REASON #2: I had a pretty bad cold towards the end of January 2019 and relaxing my hair was on the back burner. I had a fever, cough, runny & stuffy nose, aches etc.  I had zero energy for anything, much less my hair.

As soon as I got over my cold and finally able to breathe, I ran to the beauty supply store, stocked up on a few relaxer day items (gloves, hair grease, neutralizing shampoo etc.) and relaxed!! As always, I used the ORS Olive Oil relaxer in Normal Strength - Lye version.


First things first, the #HairliciousCastorOilChallenge really gave my hair life! No seriously. After applying JBCO for 3 months straight, my new growth was so incredibly thick, healthy and well nourished. My scalp was happy and so was my hair. I kind of miss playing with my new growth and feeling my roots throughout the day *sigh*.


Participating in the Ultimate Level (applying Castor oil to your scalp 2-3x/week and using 1 tsp in my deep conditioners) made me and my hair fall in love with Jamaican Black Castor Oil all over again. I feel a difference in the texture, fullness, length and health of my hair, especially after my postpartum shedding. The Castor Oil Challenge was a success and JBCO will continue to be a part of my hair regimen (wash day only), moving forward.

A trim was definitely in order! My ends are blunt girl!!!! My stylist did something a little different from the norm. I didn't ask for a "blunt trim" but whatever....it is what it is. As long as the dead old ends are gone I'm okay with that LOL. But as for my personal preference, I'd much rather a U-shape.  Overall, I'm very happy with how my ends look and feel.


Now, on to the new product I used on relaxer day....Olaplex No.3!! Yes, that's right.  What better time to use a bond rebuilder than on relaxer day when the disulfide bonds are broken down to create new straighter bonds!! Ha!

Luckily, I was able to get one (1) more application from the 1st bottle I purchased - making that a total of 3 uses from the bottle. I saved a tad bit just so I could use it on relaxer day to wrap up my full review of the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector. Boy, was my hair in for a treat!

So, I relaxed like normal (application and smoothing 20-23 mins), then I neutralized. Right after neutralizing, I towel dried my wet hair for a bit and then I applied Olaplex No. 3 all throughout my hair, in sections, focusing more so on my roots (since it was just relaxed). I applied my plastic shower cap and left it on my strands for about 10-15 mins (no heat).

As I was rinsing out my hair, I immediately noticed a difference. Typically after a relaxer, your cuticles still remain raised/open due to the high pH of the relaxer. This will make your hair feel a little rough, tangly and slightly dry. It's not until the deep conditioning phase that you notice the pH level of your hair goes down and you'll notice smoother hair as a result. Right after using Olaplex No.3, my cuticles were left smooth, flat, strong and any tangles; that I did have, quickly melted away with little manipulation. I literally had an "ah ha!" moment in the shower LOL. After rinsing out Olaplex No. 3, I proceeded with my sulfate free shampoo and deep conditioned as normal.

My freshly relaxed hair behaved so well and remained smooth, strong yet soft even after flat ironing. I would definitely use Olaplex No. 3 again on relaxer day to build back up the broken disulfide bonds that were broken down during the relaxing process! Olaplex on relaxer day was definitely a treat that I'm anxious to experience again.

So to wrap things up, I'm happy with my relaxer! My hair has definitely bounced back from my postpartum shedding and thinning. I feel as though the Castor Oil Challenge improved the overall health of my hair and I'm super excited that Olaplex was a hit during my relaxer process. Next time around I'm only stretching my relaxer to 12 weeks maximum - nothing more! :)

+ Grab a free template below for your weekly check-in on Instagram!
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Apply Castor oil to scalp twice a week followed by a scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas).

• Apply Castor oil to scalp every other day followed by scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas).
• Add 2 tsps to weekly deep conditioner. 
• Seal ends with Castor oil mixed with another carrier oil (optional).

• Apply Castor oil to scalp every other day followed by scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas). 
• Add 1-2 tsps to weekly deep conditioner.

• Apply Castor Oil to the scalp every other day followed by a scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas)
• Adding 1-2 tsps to a weekly deep conditioner

 On this wash day, I deep conditioned on dry hair overnight (the BEST EVER!!!) with:

• Keracare Humecto Creme Conditioner
• Aussie Moist Smooth
• 2 tsps of Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil
• 1 tsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tsp of Coconut Oil

How was your wash day experience? What did you use?

1) Apply Castor oil to your scalp every other day followed by scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas)

2) Add 1-2 tsps to your weekly deep conditioner.

This time around, I decided to focus more so on specific areas in my hair i.e. edges, hairline and nape. These areas are typically the weakest areas and the most vulnerable to breakage/thinning.


What I've been doing:



What I've noticed:

Only 3 days left! Be sure to head over to Hairlista.com to join the Castor Oil Challenge! All the details and challenge level information is posted.
Part 10 is the "special edition" as participants are now able to use a large variety of Castor oil based products, not just 100% Pure Castor Oil. In addition, there are a total of 5 levels that participants can join i.e. Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Extreme and Ultimate!
A lucky winner will be selected based on "most improved" hair i.e. increased thickness or increased length. Be sure to take before and after photos for comparison purposes.
Good luck and I'll see you in the challenge!!
Join the Hairlista Inc. Castor Oil Challenge Part 10 Now!

Hairlistas listen up! Get 25% off all Tropic Isle Living Products when you use the discount code: HAIRLISTA

The 10th Castor Oil Challenge is set to take place Saturday September 19th 2015!

Get your Castor oil ready & stock up!!!

Name/Hairlista Inc. Name: Lavan
Participation Level: Intermediate
Challenge Requirements: Apply Castor oil to scalp twice a week followed by a scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas). Add 1 tsp to your weekly deep conditioner. Congratulations on your retaining all that length!

Name/Hairlista Inc. Name: Rochelle Belle
Participation Level: Intermediate
Challenge Requirements: Apply Castor oil to scalp twice a week followed by a scalp massage (2-5mins focusing on damaged areas). Add 1 tsp to your weekly deep conditioner. Congratulations on your progress!!