12 Benefits Of Using Coconut Oil For Hair

My grandparents house in the countryside has 22 coconut trees surrounding it. Yes, you read that right guys. Grandma makes use of homemade oil for pretty much everything from cooking to hair care. Holding my grandma’s hand and going to the mill through the paddy fields is a memory that i will always treasure.  I guess that’s enough reminiscences for today before I stray further away from our main topic which is, benefits of using coconut oil for hair.

CONTENTS

• Frequently Asked Questions
• How To Use Coconut Oil For Hair
• 12 Benefits Of Coconut Oil

IS COCONUT OIL GOOD FOR HAIR?

In one word, YES.

Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiviral properties which help keep infections at bay while also deep moisturising the hair and sealing the moisture in.

CAN I USE COCONUT OIL ON MY HAIR EVERYDAY

As a leave-in conditioner, you can use a couple of drops of the oil to control frizz and fly away hair but, too much oil can result in greasy hair and build up. So use a light hand.

You could also apply a few drops over your leave in conditioner and then blow dry your hair. This ensures that the moisturizer is properly sealed in and your hair will not dry out either.

Hot oil treatments and hair masks can be used 2 times a week. This is adequate to keep your hair and scalp nourished and healthy.

WHAT KIND OF COCONUT OIL IS SUITABLE FOR HAIR

You can use virgin coconut oil for best results.

If you are interested, I hope my previous article 📌how to make virgin coconut oil at home with video instructions will help you out.

WHAT TO MIX WITH COCONUT OIL FOR HAIR GROWTH?

Herbs like Bhringaraj, Amla, Onion, Moringa, curry leaves, hibiscus flower and black seeds are most commonly infused with coconut oil especially for hair growth and thickness.

You can also dilute essential oils with coconut oil and use this to massage your scalp. My personal favourites would be Rosemary, Tea tree oil and Lavender essential oils.

Here you can find homemade Amla oil recipe for premature greying of the hair and the second one is a Coconut oil for hair regrowth recipe.

HOW TO USE COCONUT OIL FOR HAIR

You can use coconut oil just as it is or make a hair mask out of it. Infusing herbs to the oil is another way to boost its benefits.

📌HOT OIL TREATMENT

Warm the oil for 20-30 seconds first.

Gently apply the oil on to your scalp with your finger tips and comb through your hair too.

Massage your scalp for 10 minutes to encourage blood flow to the scalp.

Wrap your head with a hot towel and leave it for 30 minutes to an hour.

Shampoo and condition as usual.

It is also safe to use coconut oil for baby hair. Leave it on for 20 minutes, Doing so helps alleviate the symptoms of cradle cap. Use a mild baby shampoo to rinse off the oil.

📌COCONUT OIL HAIR MASK

For a hair mask, Just whisk an egg with coconut oil and apply it to your hair and scalp. Leave it on for an hour.

To get rid of the egg smell from your hair, you can pour a mixture of water and lemon juice or vinegar.

Always rinse off the egg mask with cold water.

Shampoo and condition as usual. Use this hair mask once a week for soft, shiny hair.

📌HERB INFUSED COCONUT OIL 

You can use the double boiler method of infusing the herbs in coconut base oil or the traditional Ayurvedic method where you make a decoction out of the herbs to increase its potency.

WHAT DOES COCONUT OIL DO FOR YOUR HAIR

Here are the 12 benefits of using coconut oil in your hair care routine.

1. MOISTURISES THE HAIR AND SCALP

Coconut oil is high in fatty acids and this helps in replenishing moisture deep in to your hair and scalp. Well nourished hair naturally appears to be bouncy, tangle free and lustrous.

2. PROTECTS DAMAGED HAIR

When used as a hair mask or a leave-in serum, Coconut oil is the only oil proven to be capable of preventing the loss of protein from your hair. Applying a thin layer of the oil also prevents dryness and frizz by locking moisture in.

3. PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH

Massaging a herb infused coconut oil or just the plain oil itself works well in encouraging blood supply, nutrients and oxygen to the surface of the scalp. The fatty acids in the oil nourish the scalp and also penetrates deeper into the hair strands.

You can leave the oil for a couple of hours or even overnight to let the oil sit and do its work.

4. REPAIRS SPLIT ENDS

One of the best oils capable of penetrating in to the deeper layers of the hair shaft and repairing it. This makes your hair softer, smoother and shinier. Rather than instantly repairing the split ends, coconut oil kind of hides the problem areas and makes your hair look relatively healthy.

5. STREGHTHENS THE HAIR

Regular use of coconut oil twice a week ensures that your hair is not only thoroughly nourished but also well protected from environmental pollutants and daily wear and tear. Regular use of this oil  does make your hair thicker and longer.

6. ADDS SHINE TO YOUR HAIR

Healthy hair naturally reflects light that falls on it. When the hair cuticles are damaged, your hair does appear dry and frizzy. Coconut oil nourishes, repairs and smoothens the hair cuticles leaving your hair soft, shiny and manageable.

7. PREVENTS DANDRUFF

Being antimicrobial and owing to the presence of Lauric acid, coconut oil does protect the scalp from dryness and also helps eliminate and prevent mild scalp infections like Malassezia which is a type of fungus that causes dandruff and itchy scalp.

8. UV RAY PROTECTION

Coconut oil has a natural spf of 8 which protects the hair against the harmful UV rays of the sun. So it helps repair and protect your hair inside out keeping it healthy.

9. TAMES FRIZZ

Coconut oil does provide a smoothening effect by preventing the hair cuticles from absorbing too much water. It also deep moisturises the hair shaft and repairs frizzy damaged hair.

Take a few drops of the oil and spread between your finger tips. Gently comb through your hair until the tangles are smoothened out. Now use a brush to comb your hair.

10. GETS RID OF HEAD LICE

Mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil with coconut oil and apply it on to your scalp. It is better to leave it overnight so wear a cap and go to bed. You can shampoo and condition as usual. Repeat twice a week until you get desired results.

Studies have proven that a mixture of coconut oil with a few drops of anise oil and ylang ylang oil helps eliminate head lice in less than a week.

11. SOOTHES SCALP IRRITATIONS

Coconut oil has antioxidants which is proven to help reduce inflammation and pain. This property helps soothe dandruff related dry and itchy scalp conditions.

12. USE IT WITH YOUR CONDITIONER

After you apply your conditioner on your hair, take a couple of drop of the oil and comb through your hair. Doing so makes the conditioner penetrate deeper into your hair leaving it softer and frizz free.

Rinse off the conditioner after 15-60 minutes.

WHEN NOT TO USE COCONUT OIL

If you have a history of balding in your family, using coconut oil is most certainly not the answer. Get professional help before it is too late.

If you have severe dandruff or other scalp infections. There is a chance that adding another layer of oil may aggravate the condition and cause even more hair fall.

Hope this article gave you a clear idea on the benefits of using coconut oil for healthy hair. If this was helpful, show me some love by clicking the emoji’s below.

Have a good day!