The hair undergoes a lot of pressure, from dying, to styling, to heat tools, and harsh weather conditions. These substances can strip your hair of moisture and protein, leaving it dry, dull, and prone to breaking, splitting, and excessive shedding.
Coconut oil helps on all fronts, which is why it's commonly found in hair care products and used at home. Coconut oil is a hair and scalp treatment that is suitable for all hair types. This is because coconut oil contains lauric acid, which can enter deep into the hair shaft, unlike other fatty acids. As a result, it helps in the prevention of protein loss while also providing long-lasting moisture to the hair. Coconut oil is highly moisturizing, making it an excellent choice for treating damaged hair and promoting hair development.
Ten Benefits Of Coconut Oil For The Hair
1. Aids in the softening and conditioning of hair
Coconut oil applied to hair reduces protein loss in all hair types. This oil is also excellent for use as a daily conditioner because it is high in lauric acid and quickly penetrates the hair shaft.
2. Assists in the addition of radiance
Coconut oil for hair also helps seal in moisture, giving the hair a beautiful gloss and radiance.
3. It promotes hair growth.
Coconut oil can help your hair grow longer, thicker, and faster in a natural way. It contains vitamins and essential fatty acids that promote the scalp and aid in removing sebum from hair follicles.
4. Retention of Moisture
Coconut oil has a high moisture retention capacity due to its stability and resistance to evaporation. It prevents moisture loss, keeping hair moist and silky, and also prevents hair damage.
5. Dandruff Elimination
Coconut oil contains a variety of fatty acids that are known to be effective anti-dandruff agents. It can help you get rid of dandruff permanently if you use it on a regular basis.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Hair
6. Styling
Coconut oil can also be used as a hair styling oil because it melts when heated and condenses when cool. Due to the heat of the scalp, it thins and spreads uniformly when applied to your hair.
7. Lice Protection
Coconut oil is a popular home cure for lice, and it can help you get rid of these pesky pests. Commercial products may also be available for this purpose, but some include harsh chemicals. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is a natural remedy that many people have used to protect their hair from lice..
8. Split Ends
If you have a lot of split ends on your hair, you can cut them off, but if this problem only affects a few of your hair strands, you can treat the problem with coconut oil.
9. Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Harsh ingredients in some shampoo products can rob your hair of its natural oils. However, coconut oil can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment which will prevent shampoos with such harsh ingredients from stripping all the oils from your hair.
10. Protect the hair from UV rays
Coconut oil has a natural sun protection component that will shield your hair from sun rays.
How To Use Coconut Oil For Hair
There are several best practices to follow while using coconut oil for hair. These include:
1. Avoid Putting On The scalp
Though coconut oil appears to be suitable for some who suffer from fungal dandruff, others may experience unpleasant side effects from applying it directly to the scalp. Coconut oil can clog pores and cause irritation in specific scalp types; thus, it's preferable to use it on the hair rather than the scalp.
2. Begin with small quantities
When it comes to applying coconut oil to your hair, you may have heard the phrase "too much of a good thing is bad," and this is certainly true. Start with a small quantity and watch how it affects your hair. Warm up a small quantity of coconut oil between your palms and gently work it through your hair to get the best results. This should help in controlling frizz and making hair shine without having any harmful side effects.
3. Add other ingredients
Adding different oils to coconut oil can change how it affects hair. For example, When combined with monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil or argan or marula oil, coconut oil does not appear to cause dry or brittle hair. Honey's simple sugars nourish hair while also making it naturally silky and frizz-free. Blending coconut oil with honey and yogurt as a deep treatment may provide greater benefits than using coconut oil alone.
Other Uses
Warm the coconut oil in the palms of your hands after brushing your hair. You won't need much coconut oil because it goes a long way. Apply to the hair and scalp. For a more intensive treatment, it’s advisable to massage it into the scalp and roots. You may leave it on for as long as possible, or overnight, and shampoo in the morning if you want to go all out.
Apart from the uses and benefits listed above, it is essential to keep the hair clean by using healthy hair grooming products containing coconut oil and coconut milk. A good product to try out is the Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer which offers a unique blend of natural ingredients to boost your hair fullness and nourishes dry, damaged hair without harmful or invasive chemicals.