Coconut oil is recognised as one of the best natural ingredients for hair and skin care in many ayurvedic practicing traditions.
In fact, Coconut has been used as a versatile multi-tasker, from hydrating your skin to removing makeup and whitening your teeth.
Coconut oil is said to help nourish our hair from deep within the follicle roots, unlike other oils which just protect your hair with an outer-layer.
Read on to understand why this oil is good for your hair, what the benefits are and why you should incorporate massaging into your scalp for healthier, fuller hair.Â
In this article
4 reasons why your Hair needs Coconut Oil
Every day, your hair takes damage that you don’t even realise. Through washing, brushing, blow-drying and styling with product, we subject our hair to constant scrubbing, hardening, sapping the natural oils from the strands of our hair. This can lead to hair loss, dry, frizzy hair or breakages.
It may help stimulate hair growth and longer hair
There are no solid studies behind this, but hear us out with this one.
Coconut oil can possibly help with hair growth and grow your hair longer. It does this by providing extra moisture to your hair reducing breakages which lead to less hair fall.
This can also protect your hair from loss of proteins which are vital in building your hair. After all, your hair is essentially protein.
Research indicate that this oil can help prevent protein loss when applied to hair either before or after washing, largely due to the medium-chain fatty acid chemical structure of this oil.
This means coconut oil can be more easily absorbed into the scalp. And that protects your hair from the root, as opposed to just coating it on the surface like other mineral based oils.
This can have the effect of preventing hair loss in the first place, and providing a healthier scalp in which the hair follicle can grow. Lack of protein will affect hair growth. As will damage by washing and the environment.
So while it won’t magically make hair grow, it can provide the right environment to stimulate a healthy head of hair and future growth.
Coconut Oil can protect against water damage
Your hair gets damaged when its wet as your hair and scalp begin to absorb water, which causes swelling and changes in the cuticle.
This change in the cuticle and structure of your cuticle can make your hair more susceptible to damage when drying or styling, as your hair begins to stick up from your scalp.
By applying a little bit of oil before washing your hair, you can prevent the level of absorption which in turn can help reduce the swelling and consequent damage to your hair when brushing, drying or styling after wetting.
Dandruff and Lice Treatment
Coconut oil contains anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties which could help prevent against or fight off dandruff / lice.
As it is massaged into your scalp, this oil can go one step further than most typical remedies by absorbing into your skin and entering the blood stream to build up further immunity against the bacterial or fungal infections affecting your scalp.
Coconut Oil is a Natural Conditioner
Applying a small amount of coconut oil to your hair daily can act as a natural moisturiser / conditioner to your hair.
As coconut oils MCT structure goes straight to the hair shaft, your hair is conditioned from the inside and out, providing extra nourishment and reducing the loss of internal moisture through brushing, drying and sun exposure.
Excessively brushing and styling your hair can damage your hair follicles and shaft, which can lead to loss of hair. Coconut oil can help prevent this by giving your hair extra protection against grooming, and the chemicals which contribute to the weakening of your hair.
How to use Coconut Oil on your hair
A couple of ways to use this in your hair include:
- As a pre-wash scalp massage: ideally 30 minutes before washing your hair, warm up 2 – 3 tablespoons of coconut oil (depending on thickness of your hair) and massage into your scalp to stimulate blood flow and add a protective layer to your hair before washing.
- As a post-wash conditioner: after shampoo, comb in a fine layer into your hair to give your hair that extra protection and internal moisture without resorting to chemical conditioners
You can even mix it with Castor oil and enhance the benefits of both with a traditional Indian / Ayurvedic oil treatment.
Another solution, as prescribed by Wellness Mama is to just eat it!
Coconut Oil is rich in MCT (Medium Chain Fatty Acids) and antioxidants which can improve your overall health and, the growth of your hair from the inside.
Ultimately, Coconut is a superfood, and the fatty acids have benefits including helping fat loss and preventing dry skin.
So try adding a couple of table-spoons to your Vegan Protein Shake, or swap out the Vegetable Oil when frying food.
Recommended Product
Coconut Merchant Organic Coconut Oil 500mL | Extra Virgin, Raw, Cold Pressed, Unrefined | Ethically Sourced, Vegan, Ketogenic and 100% Natural | for Hair, Skin & Cooking
When should you not use Coconut Oil for your Hair
While we’ve spoken about the many benefits of coconut oil, and how to apply it to your hair – there may be some instances where this is best left later in your regime.
There is insufficient research, but a lot of content out there suggesting that this oil may not be right for all hair types.
As Coconut Oil helps retain protein, it can be beneficial to those who suffer with low protein; and those with fine hair.
However, if your hair is dry – this is probably due to lack of hydration. Applying Coconut Oil will compound the issue, by coating your hair and providing a barrier internally and externally, preventing the hydration of your hair at all.
It can also clog your pores, so if you suffer from excessively oily scalp; it is advisable to refrain using any oil which will only make sebum production worse.
Summary
Coconut oil is a great addition to your hair care regime. With the benefits of contributing to hair growth and reducing the damaging effects of harmful chemical exposure, coconut oil can help you attain healthy, shiny and fuller hair.
Frequently Asked Questions on Coconut Oil
Is Coconut Oil good for hair?
Yes! Coconut oil is a great addition to your hair care regime. With the benefits of contributing to hair growth and reducing the damaging effects of harmful chemical exposure, coconut oil can help you attain healthy, shiny and fuller hair.
How to use coconut oil for hair growth
A couple of ways to use coconut oil in your hair include:
As a pre-wash scalp massage: ideally 30 minutes before washing your hair
As a post-wash conditioner: after shampoo, comb in a fine layer of coconut oil into your hair to give your hair that extra protection and internal moisture without resorting to chemical conditioners
Or you could mix in with Castor Oil to enhance the benefits!
Is Coconut Oil good for your Face?
It is. Coconut oil contains nutrients which hydrate the skin, while providing a protective barrier against the elements. Vitamin F helps the skin retain moisture. It can also be used as a primer before applying makeup, and can also help clean off makeup from your skin.
What is Virgin Coconut Oil?
Virgin Coconut Oil is essentially unrefined coconut oil. Unrefined coconut oil is pure, as it is scooped out of the coconut shell and cold pressed to extract the oil. It retains most of the smell and taste compared to refined coconut oil.
How to make Coconut Oil at Home?
This maybe a good article to review – https://www.alphafoodie.com/diy-how-to-make-virgin-coconut-oil/
How to Eat Coconut Oil?
Adding a teaspoon of coconut oil to your smoothies or protein shakes is a healthy way of adding this into your diet.
Alternatively, adding a couple of tea spoons or substituting vegetable oil in your cooking is a good way of consuming the benefits of coconut oil.
