My Best Friend Has Alopecia, but This $12 Hair Oil Grew Back Her Edges

Here’s the thing: My best friend has been getting braids every two months during the summer and a silk press every two weeks in the winter—and this has been the case for over two decades. With such a strict hair maintenance schedule and then throwing wigs into the mix, the frequent manipulation took a toll on her strands and scalp. Over time, she started experiencing significant hair loss with minimal regrowth around her perimeter. She was later diagnosed with traction alopecia by her trichologist.

So, she completely overhauled her hair care routine. Now, she wears her hair in natural styles that avoid tension, does daily scalp massages to improve blood circulation and stimulate growth, and applies Iqnatural’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil to sparse patches. She told me,  “Healing from traction alopecia doesn’t happen overnight,” and “it’s certainly been a process of trial and error.” However, it’s worth noting that this castor oil has stimulated growth quicker than any other product she’s used.  

Iqnatural Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Orig. $15$12 at Amazon

Iqnatural’s hair oil features Jamaican black castor oil as a key ingredient. It nourishes weak and brittle strands, leaving them stronger, softer, smoother, and more moisturized. The bottle even features a pointed nozzle for a mess-free and precise application. It can also be used to regrow thinning brows and lashes, or on the skin as a moisturizer.

After being diagnosed with traction alopecia, my best friend took a major step back to find all the problem areas in her routine. She “no longer detangles or styles dry hair” by keeping her strands and scalp moisturized with Iqnatural’s castor oil. Three to four times a week, she sections her hair, applies the oil directly to her scalp, focusing mainly on her edges, and runs it down to her ends. She massages with her fingertips and then with a massage brush for about 10 minutes for deeper stimulation. 

Once a month, before washing her hair, she also uses it for a hot oil treatment. She warms the oil, follows the above steps, but then puts a shower cap on top and lets it sit for a few hours. She washes it out, and her hair immediately feels “moisturized and super soft.”

Worth mentioning: This has been a two-year-long process for her, and she emphasizes that avoiding tight styling, checking in with her hair specialist, consistently applying Iqnatural’s castor oil, and taking better care detangling have all helped stimulate growth. Her once balding perimeter, that stubbornly wouldn’t regrow, has sprouted new healthy and thick strands that are now 2.5 inches long. That, and she’s had less breakage throughout and much more fullness at her crown. As an unexpected benefit, it’s even grown her overplucked brows back to their original thickness.

Unsurprisingly, Iqnatural’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil has nearly 12,000 five-star ratings with raving reviews to match. Shop it on Amazon for $12 along with more hair growth products below.

Tropic Isle Living Red Pimento Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Orig. $14$8 at Amazon

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil 

$10 at Amazon

Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Orig. $8$7 at Amazon