Coconut oil has a reputation for being the best natural cosmetics for hair and skin. Beauty stars like Shay Mitchell, Heidi Klum, and Priyanka Chopra have long sworn by the fact that they owe their strong and shiny mane to coconut oil. Reason enough to take a closer look at the vegetable oil. Indeed, there are many reasons to give coconut oil a place in the bathroom cabinet. Coconut oil not only ensures healthy hair but is also an excellent replacement for conditioner or hair mask – an all-in-one product on how coconut oil is best integrated into the beauty routine, for which hair type it is suitable, and how you can recognize high-quality coconut oil for hair.
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Is Coconut Oil Good For Your Hair?
Yes, coconut oil is good for our hair for several reasons. Although many hair care products from the drugstore promise shiny and voluminous hair, they often also contain chemical additives that only weigh our hair down in the long term. That is precisely the benefit of coconut oil. The oil is obtained from the pulp of the coconut. It is therefore completely natural and has no additives whatsoever.
Coconut Oil Contains Natural Ingredients
Coconut oil consists of around 90 percent saturated fatty acids. While these should be consumed with caution in the diet, our hair benefits from them as they donate a lot of moisture and are therefore particularly well suited for dry hair.
Coconut Oil Has Essential Vitamins
Coconut oil also contains valuable vitamin E, which acts as a natural antioxidant and protects the hair from harmful environmental influences such as solar radiation. Vitamin E strengthens hair growth and strengthens the hair structure. So anyone who suffers from brittle hair split ends or hair loss could have a vitamin E deficiency.
Coconut Oil Helps With Dandruff
Many also wonder if coconut oil can help against dandruff. The lauric acid contained in coconut oil has antibacterial properties that work against bacteria, fungi, and inflammation and can rebalance our scalp. Oily dandruff is often the result of a fungal attack on the scalp. This is where coconut oil can help as a natural home remedy. However, vegetable oil is not equally suitable for every hair type.
Also Read: Vitamins For The Hair: They Are Perfect
Which Hair Type Is Coconut Oil Suitable For?
The first step is to determine your hair type for the best application and care with coconut oil. The exotic scented oil can be used in different ways:
- Dry hair: Dry hair, in particular, benefits from care with coconut oil. The saturated fatty acids provide the hair with moisture, but the fat also covers the hair like a protective film. This makes it appear softer, smoother, and shinier.
- Thin hair: too much coconut oil can quickly make fine hair look straggly. For a well-groomed result, it is best only to apply the oil to the ends of the hair.
- Oily hair: With oily hair, coconut oil – at least in larger quantities – is not advisable, as it can make the hair appear even greasier. If you suffer from dry or brittle tips, you can put a little bit of it in the directions – but in any case, avoid the hairline!
- Thick hair: Above all, thick hair needs a lot of moisturizing – coconut oil is just right for that. It can tame hair and make it smoother.
- Stressed hair: The coconut oil grease film acts as a protective shield. In addition, the contained vitamin E protects against harmful environmental influences. It strengthens the hair structure and stimulates growth. The hair not only looks healthier, but it is also more resilient.
Coconut Oil For Hair: Tips For Use
At room temperature, virgin coconut oil is white and solid. The oil only becomes liquid and transparent at just under 25 degrees. In this condition, it is ideal for cosmetic use. Often it is sufficient to put the solid oil between the fingertips so that it slowly dissolves between the fingers due to the body heat. The following are the most effective hair uses:
- As hair oil: After washing your hair, put 1-2 knife tips of coconut oil between your fingers and then spread it over the dry ends and hair lengths. Avoid the hairline so that it does not appear greasy. If you use coconut oil in such small quantities in your hair, you don’t need to wash it off afterward. The effect is immediately visible: the hair shines more and looks healthier.
- As a conditioner: Depending on the hair length, add 1-2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil to wet hair and work it into the measurements. The oil can also be worked gently into the scalp for an extra portion of moisture. Leave on for a few minutes and wash your hair with shampoo. If you have the feeling that your hair is still oily after rinsing, you can shampoo a second time.
- As a styling product: Coconut oil is also ideal as a natural styling product for the hair. To do this, put the oil into the lengths and tips with your fingers as desired – this creates an excellent shimmer effect! In addition, you can easily conjure up a sleek look with it. A significant side effect is that the natural product helps against statically charged hair!
- As a hair treatment: To do this, work 2-3 tablespoons generously into the length of the hair (leave out the roots again!). For the best result, leave the hair treatment on overnight so that the ingredients can take full effect. To avoid grease stains on the pillow, it is best to place a towel on it. Wash out with shampoo the following day. By the way, you can easily make a hair treatment yourself.
How Often Should You Use Coconut Oil?
There are no hard and fast rules about how often you should use coconut oil on your hair. The hair treatment can be used once a week or 2-3 times a month. As hair oil, the natural product can be distributed in the tips after every hair wash. It is only essential that you concentrate on the hair lengths and ends when using it so that the roots do not look stringy. However, if you suffer from a dry or irritated scalp, you can add coconut oil to your hairline from time to time (once a week at most). It moisturizes, soothes the scalp, and helps against dandruff.
Which Coconut Oil Is Healthy?
Coconut oil can only develop its significant effects if it is a high-quality product. In the case of highly heated industrial products, the healthy and valuable ingredients are unfortunately often lost. Therefore, it is better to invest a little more money and rely on the native organic coconut oil you can get in organic supermarkets, drug stores, or health food stores. Virgin coconut oil is only rarely processed and therefore still contains all the essential ingredients. When buying, pay attention to the words “cold-pressed,” “natural,” and “not refined.” They indicate that it is good coconut oil.
Other Possible Uses
While in this country, coconut oil and coconut fat are mainly used for cooking and baking, in Asia, it has long been a beauty secret for beautiful hair and radiant skin. But that’s not all: Coconut oil is also the latest trend in dental care.
Coconut Oil For The Skin
Coconut oil can score as skin food because it stimulates cell renewal and protects the skin against free radicals. The vegetable oil provides moisture for dry and sensitive skin – and has an anti-inflammatory effect on pimples. Those prone to severe blemishes and acne prefer to keep their hands off coconut oil: It can clog the pores and thus lead to even more cuts. It is also advisable to use oily products sparingly for oily and combination skin.
Tip: Coconut oil is also ideal as a make-up remover. To do this, you put some of the oil on a cotton pad and rub it over your eyes and face. Even waterproof make-up can be removed with it.
Coconut Oil For Teeth
Coconut oil is said to be able to prevent dental diseases and bad breath. Due to the antibacterial lauric acid, it is used, for example, in oil pulling. To do this, take 1 tbsp coconut oil in your mouth and stir the liquid back and forth for 5-20 minutes. In this way, the mouth and tongue are cleared of bacteria. Coconut oil is not only good for oral flora; it is also said to make teeth whiter. But: The natural product alone does not protect against tooth decay and does not replace daily tooth brushing.
