Benefits of coconut oil for hair

A 14-year-old boy was sitting before me with his Hair in a man bun. His friends made fun of him, provoking him to the point where he caved and pulled out his hair tie. I watched his hair cascade into a flowy luscious locks that made me gasp, “Your hair is so beautiful! What is your secret?” His response: coconut oil. I felt a bit embarrassed to be asking a 14-year-old boy about his hair routine, but I couldn’t help it. He told me his method following an Intagrammer and I was so fascinated that I went on a mission to find out ways that coconut oil can be used to benefit hair.

We all know the various benefits of coconut oil for hair, especially hair that lacks natural protein in its hair follicle. People who use coconut oil for hair, and the right amount of it, will notice that their hair comes out looking stronger, shinier and with more volume. Coconut oil also enhances hair growth by:

Preventing Breakage

Coconut oil contains fatty acids that work with natural proteins in the hair to protect it from breakage.

Conditioning

The fatty acids of coconut oil penetrate the hair more deeply and faster than the average conditioner, repairing split ends, moisturising the scalp and adding a healthy glow to your hair.

Boosting Blood Circulation

When massaged into the scalp, coconut oil helps to promote blood circulation and therefore supports healthier hair growth.

Adding Nutrients

Rich in vitamin K and E, coconut oil helps to reduce the production of dandruff and makes hair follicles healthy.

Antibacterial

Coconut oil contains antibacterial and antifungal properties that helps protect against dandruff and lice. Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft and helps to repel lice by preventing their eggs from attaching to the hair.

Here are some ways you could use coconut oil for hair to make it stronger and shinier:

1. Leave-In Conditioner

This is the method the young boy had used for his gorgeous hair. First heat the oil between the palms of your hands, or heat the jar gently in warm water before wetting your hair and applying.

Depending on how long your hair is, you will need to massage one to four table spoons of oil and massage it into the hair follicles by applying it to the roots.

Once your hair is covered, you can wear a shower cap or wrap your hair with a towel and leave it on overnight before washing it off.

Ta-da! Super smooth and silky hair.

2. De-tangler

If you have very long, curly and knotty hair and you’re looking for a natural remedy to detangling your hair, coconut oil might be the solution.

Melt a tiny amount of coconut oil using warm water (1/4 teaspoon – 1 teaspoon) and use your fingers to gently massage the oil to the ends of your hair and work up towards the roots.

Gently work through the tangles with a comb. You don’t need to rinse or shampoo after as it will continue to nourish your hair throughout the day.

If you have thin hair, be careful not to apply too much as it can weigh your hair down.

3. Treat Dandruff

Combine coconut oil with other essential oils such as lavender, wintergreen, thyme, and tea tree to help fight off fungus and yeast. According to Dr Axe, combine 5 drops of any of these oils mentioned and 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and massage onto the scalp thoroughly.

Cover up with a shower cap for 20-30 minutes to allow it to heat up, or use a hair dryer on low setting to heat the cap. Remove and wash hair with natural shampoo. You can repeat this as often as you like.

4. Lice Treatment

Coconut oil is a perfect natural remedy for lice infestation. According to Dr Axe, mix 3 tablespoons of coconut oil with 1 teaspoon of ylang ylang, anise and tea tree oil. Apply the solution all over the scalp, massage it in and pull through the ends. Comb through the hair and cover it with a shower cap.

Leave for 2 hours and if possible, apply heat from the hair dryer periodically or sit in the sun. Carefully remove shower cap and seal in a zip lock bag for disposal. Comb hair once again prior to washing and rinsing thoroughly twice.

While hair is still wet, combine 2 cups of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water in a small spray bottle. Saturate the hair, spraying half the bottle on the scalp and hair. Rinse thoroughly and comb hair once again with a fine tooth comb.

Repeat this treatment every 5 – 10 days for a couple of weeks as you would a normal treatment. Coconut oil for hair repels and kills lice, so start using it as you first notice an outbreak and as a leave in conditioner.

5. Hair Mask

Use coconut oil as a hair mask by mixing 5-10 drops of essential oils (rosemary and ylang ylang) in 2-4 tablespoons of coconut oil. Massage into your hair and leave in for 30-60 minutes before washing out.

If you already have an oily scalp, then you may want to avoid your scalp as the scalp already produces natural sebum.

We hope coconut works wonders for your hair! Let us know in the comments below if you notice a difference afterwards.

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