Castor oil: an Afro hair beauty ritual

Afro and textured hair is often dry due to its elliptical structure (sebum struggles to travel along the hair shaft from root to tip to lubricate it), which makes it dull, brittle, and fragile. This type of hair therefore requires special care. Even more so for those who use relaxers or other chemical products that damage the scalp. We won't go into the details of the morning joys of detangling kinky hair...

 

To remedy this without breaking the bank on expensive salon sessions or "miracle" products, nothing beats Carapate oil, also known as Karapate oil, found mainly in Guadeloupe but also throughout the Caribbean region. Its production and use make it an ideal hair beauty ritual for afro, frizzy, and kinky hair.

 

 

Guadeloupe Carapate tree _ Copyright Noireônaturel

 

What is genuine Carapate oil?

 

Introduced by the first inhabitants of the Antilles, the Caribbean Indians, Carapate oil, also known as black castor oil, also has anti-inflammatory properties. The Caribbeans used it to protect themselves against insect bites and various itching. They often mixed it with annatto, a red pigment, and coated themselves with this mixture to draw their war paintings.

 

It was also ingested as an intestinal "purge" or as an expectorant by applying it to the chest for productive coughs. Today, the interest in this oil has mainly been reduced to its cosmetic properties.

 

A natural hair oil derived from Antillean beauty traditions

I have fond memories of moments of complicity with my maternal grandmother in Guadeloupe, in the Grands Fonds du Moule, initiating me to the traditional, handmade production of this black elixir: Karapate oil.

I remember the large zinc basin, the wood fire and the large wooden spoon that allowed us to stir, and that shimmering smell of grilled nuts when obtaining the Holy Grail: a thick, viscous oil with a brown color tinged with shades of red or orange. It's the scent of childhood on my beloved island!"

Personal memory of Fétia, the Creator of Noireônaturel

Traditional and ancestral manufacturing process

 

Guadeloupe Carapate Seed

 

Passed down by our elders, the first step in the traditional production of Carapate oil is harvesting and drying the fruits. The second step consists of collecting the seeds to roast them (hence their characteristic color and smell) before crushing them. The crushed seeds are then cooked in a pot of water.

 

During this cooking, as the temperature rises, oil will begin to appear on the surface.

This oil is collected and heated for two hours: this is how Carapate oil is obtained. A natural, inexpensive, and accessible product, Karapate oil remarkably hydrates and softens hair. A daily application, for the most severe cases, or once a week for "maintenance," quickly eliminates problems of dry ends.

 

Also, no more brittle hair left in the comb or scattered on the floor. By consolidating the hair fiber, carapate oil allows hair to stay where it should be, on the scalp.

 

Some uses and hair care recipes

 

Carapate oil is ideal for caring for damaged, dry, brittle hair and is an ally for textured hair, especially afro-kinky hair.

 

Carapate oil bath recipe:

 

Perfect as an oil bath that you apply after your shampoo to damp hair. Simply apply it in sections to your hair, focusing on the ends. Leave it on for several hours. Rinse off any excess only if your hair hasn't absorbed everything.

 

Carapate children's styling lotion recipe:

 

Traditional recipe passed down from mother to daughter: put 2 to 3 teaspoons of carapate oil, mineral water, and a capful of rum in a spray bottle. Mix and use immediately. This preparation softens and detangles hair in a single step, without tears!

 

👉 More recipes here

 

Where to get it?

 

While "Msindzanu" remains very difficult to obtain outside of the Comoros or Mayotte, Karapate oil and Monoi are accessible almost everywhere, both in specialized stores and supermarkets. Internet sites also offer easy ordering, and often offer products in various variations. Holidays are therefore the perfect opportunity to try them...

Beware of unscrupulous brands that sell you classic (white) castor oil by adding a dye to brand it "Carapate"!

 

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