Coconut oil is rapidly growing in popularity for a wide variety of uses and benefits. For everything from cooking to moisturizing skin, this miracle oil tops the list of natural alternatives to improve your health and well-being.
Whether you decide to start eating coconut oil, swishing it around your mouth or topically applying it to your hair and skin, coconut oil is something you need in your home. One of the greatest applications of coconut oil is for your hair, whether it be to intensely moisturize and condition, to stimulate faster growth, detangle, defeat dandruff and more.
Here are six reasons you should start putting coconut oil in your hair.
1. Coconut Oil For Deep Conditioning
Because it is comprised mainly of smaller medium-chain fatty acids, the oil of the coconut penetrates hair more deeply and faster than other conditioners.
To use coconut oil as a leave-in treatment to repair split ends, moisturize your scalp, and add a healthy glow to your tresses; just follow these easy steps:
– First make sure you have at least an hour or two for this treatment. (The longer you leave coconut oil on your hair, the more effective it will be!)
– Wash your hair and let it air dry while you prepare the next steps.
– Gather your materials: a comb or hair pick, shower cap or small towel to wrap your hair in, two small bowls of different sizes (one should fit inside the other), and of course your jar of organic virgin coconut oil.
– Scoop a small amount of coconut oil into the smaller of the two bowls.
– Set the smaller bowl in the bottom of the larger one.
– Fill the larger bowl with hot water so the smaller bowl is partially submerged, but not floating or taking on water.
– Once your coconut oil comes to temperature and is completely melted, use your fingers to gently massage the oil into your hair, then work through with a comb or hair pick.
– After you’ve finished applying the oil, wrap your hair up in a shower cap or small towel and allow it to soak in for thirty minutes or longer.
– Shampoo to remove oil.
– Optionally, you may reapply a small amount of coconut oil to the ends of your hair and / or work a small amount through all of your hair again – just enough to give it a healthy shine.
– Then style as usual.
Alternatively, try this brilliant coconut oil deep conditioning hair mask recipe which also includes honey (a humectant that draws moisture from the air) and apple cider vinegar which clears away residue, detangles and repairs split ends amongst other things.
2. Coconut Oil As a Daily Detangler
If you have long or curly hair, dealing with tangles may be a daily battle for you. Coconut oil can help here, too!
Also, because it’s 100% natural, organic virgin coconut oil won’t leave any residue or long-term damage to your tresses! Before brushing or styling your hair, just follow these few steps to use coconut oil as a detangler:
– Gather your hair brush, a comb or hair pick, two small bowls of different sizes (one should fit inside the other), and your jar of organic virgin coconut oil.
– Scoop a small amount of coconut oil into the smaller of the two bowls and set the smaller bowl in the bottom of the larger one.
– Fill the larger bowl with hot water so the smaller bowl is partially submerged, but not floating or taking on water.
– Let your coconut oil come to temperature so it is completely melted.
– Use your fingers to gently massage the oil into the ends of your hair, then – starting from the ends and working your way toward the roots – gently work out tangles with a comb or hair pick.
– Let the oil soak in, then brush and style as usual. No need to rinse or shampoo. Coconut oil will continue to nourish your hair all day long!
(Further reading: Top 10 Home Remedies For Thinning Hair)
3. Coconut Oil To Defeat Dandruff
If long-time use of chemical shampoos, conditioners, styling products, or colorants has left you with itchy, flaky, dandruff – you can use coconut oil to heal your scalp. Just follow these easy steps daily and watch your dandruff problems disappear:
– At the end of the day or shortly before bedtime, wash your hair with an all natural shampoo and condition as usual.
– Gather the following supplies: a comb or hair pick, two small bowls of different sizes (one should fit inside the other), a towel or cloth to cover your head overnight, and your jar of organic virgin coconut oil.
– Scoop a small portion of coconut oil into the smaller of the two bowls then place it into the bottom of the larger bowl.
– Fill the larger bowl with hot water so the smaller bowl is partially submerged, but not floating or taking on water.
– While you wait for your coconut oil to come to temperature, use your comb or hair pick to remove any tangles.
– Once the coconut oil is completely melted, use your fingers to gently massage the oil into your scalp. (If you have long hair, it may be easier to flip your head upside-down in order to apply oil to your entire scalp.)
– Wrap your head with the towel or cloth and leave coconut oil on your scalp overnight for best results.
The following morning, you may wish to use an epsom salt treatment to remove excess shed skin cells from your scalp.
4. Coconut Oil As a Base for Hair Coloring
Coconut oil makes an excellent medium for mixing your all-natural hair coloring. Because coconut oil penetrates hair more deeply and faster than many other natural oils, it can help your color to be more vibrant and keep it from fading too quickly.
– Gather your materials: a shower cap or small towel, a comb or hair pick, coloring herbs, gloves, two bowls of different sizes (one should fit inside the other), a container for mixing color, and your jar of organic virgin coconut oil.
– Scoop a few spoonfuls of coconut oil (enough to liberally coat your hair) into the smaller of the two bowls and set it into the bottom of the larger bowl.
– Fill the larger bowl with hot water so the smaller bowl is partially submerged, but not floating or taking on water.
– Let your coconut oil come to temperature so it is completely melted.
– Mix coconut oil with your coloring herbs and apply as you normally would.
– Once color has set, shampoo hair with lukewarm water to remove excess oil and colorant.
– Wrap your hair with a shower cap or towel to let color continue to set overnight.
(Further reading: 12 Home Remedies To Combat Grey Hair)
5. Coconut Oil For Faster Hair Growth
Use coconut oil as a natural way to help your hair grow longer, thicker, and faster. The vitamins and essential fatty acids naturally found in coconut oil nourish the scalp and help to remove sebum build-up from hair follicles.
Use as a daily treatment by following these simple steps:
– At the end of the day or shortly before bedtime, wash your hair with an all natural shampoo and condition as usual.
– Gather your materials: a comb or hair pick, shower cap or small towel to wrap your hair in, two small bowls of different sizes (one should fit inside the other), and of course your jar of organic virgin coconut oil.
– Scoop a small amount of coconut oil into the smaller of the two bowls.
– Set the smaller bowl in the bottom of the larger one.
– Fill the larger bowl with hot water so the smaller bowl is partially submerged, but not floating or taking on water.
– While you wait for your coconut oil to come to temperature, use your comb or hair pick to remove any tangles.
– Once the coconut oil is completely melted, use your fingers to gently massage the oil into your scalp. (If you have long hair, it may be easier to flip your head upside-down in order to apply oil to your entire scalp.)
– Wrap your head with the towel or cloth and leave coconut oil on your scalp overnight for best results.
6. Coconut Oil To Protect Hair From Sun Damage
Coconut oil makes an excellent all natural sunscreen. In the morning – especially on a day when you know that your hair will be exposed to the elements more than usual – apply coconut oil to protect your hair by following these simple steps:
– Gather your hair brush, a comb or hair pick, two small bowls of different sizes (one should fit inside the other), and your jar of organic virgin coconut oil.
– Scoop a small amount of coconut oil into the smaller of the two bowls and set the smaller bowl in the bottom of the larger one.
– Fill the larger bowl with hot water so the smaller bowl is partially submerged, but not floating or taking on water.
– Let your coconut oil come to temperature so it is completely melted.
– Use your fingers to gently massage the oil into your hair then brush and style as usual.
3 More Cool Coconut Oil Uses For Hair
Healthier Eyelashes – Fill a roller bottle with fractionated coconut oil (coconut oil that remains in liquid form) and apply to your eyelashes at bedtime after having removed your makeup. If it is too oily, use a clean cloth to blot away any excess.
Do this treatment 3 times a week for extra lubrication and nourishment.
Fuller Eyebrows – Apply a few drops of melted coconut oil to your eyebrows with a clean fingertip to soften and thicken your eyebrows.
Shaving – While all of the above methods discuss using coconut oil to improve the condition of your hair, it can also work as a great alternative to shaving cream to remove hair from your body.
For shaving legs, simply apply a tablespoon of coconut oil to each leg and shave as usual. It might be wise to wash your hands after applying to prevent the razor from slipping out of your hand.
How To Buy The Best Coconut Oil
When purchasing coconut oil, it’s important to opt for cold-pressed, unrefined, virgin coconut oil that has been ethically sourced, and is preferably stored in a glass jar.
This jar of Spring Of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil meets all of the criteria above and is also one of the best reviewed on Amazon, as well as being one of the more affordable bottles.
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