Coconut Oil: The Holy Grail in Hair Conditioning

When talking about hair care, there is but one particular ingredient that almost everyone knows – coconuts. This tropical fruit, which comes from the coconut tree, lives up to its name as one of the most popular ingredients for hair growth and conditioning products because of its extracts from coconut meat. Coconut oil and milk are, in fact, so effective in treating damaged hair that they have become the holy grail of hair care ingredients. But why is that so? Learn more about coconut oil by learning about the processes it goes through, the benefits it offers, and the ways you can make use of it.

 
Coconuts have meat and water inside the husks, and you’ll need the fleshy parts to separate coconut oil. How does it happen? If you want to get both the milk and the oil, you can use a machine to compress the fresh coconut meat firmly. Then, the extracted liquid undergoes fermentation to separate the milk from the oil. However, you may also dry the coconut flesh first before pressing the pulp to extract the oil. 
 
Don’t worry; you can still make your coconut oil without a machine, although it will take some time. Heating the coconut milk at a low temperature for at least two hours allows the water in the milk to evaporate before it starts to solidify. When you see the oils separating from the solids, carefully scoop them out to avoid burning the greasy liquid. 
 
There are also two main types of coconut oil: unrefined and refined. The popular virgin coconut oil is the unprocessed variant of this plant oil. As mentioned earlier, when you squeeze coconut meat firmly, you’ll be able to separate the milk from the oil. You may use either the dry or wet method to extract the substances. On the other hand, refined coconut oil undertakes some processes for flavor and component enhancement.

 
Why should you consider using coconut oil as part of your hair care routine? Here are the top reasons why coconut oil is a top-tiered ingredient when it comes to hair care.

 
Lauric acid is the primary reason why coconut oil is effective in moisturizing one’s hair. This medium-chain fatty acid serves as a natural sealant that locks in your hair’s moisture from the inside. It is easily absorbed by your hair shaft, which also makes moisture retention fast and effective. All of the lauric acid’s capabilities matter for preventing frizz and dryness from causing any hair fiasco.

 
Split ends happen due to your hair’s dryness. Coconut oil may not be able to mend your split ends back to their original state, but it can tame them for a while. By slathering a few drops of coconut oil onto your split ends, you can smooth them to reduce the frizz from roots to tips. With continuous and consistent application, you may thwart future split ends from appearing, making your hair soft, smooth, and tangle-free.

 
Dandruff is one challenging enemy to defeat for your hair and scalp condition. It makes your scalp very flaky and itchy, thereby pushing the victim from scratching his or her pate aggressively. Coconut oil can help resolve this scalp issue by softening the flakes and relieving the itch. Its lauric acid content also has antimicrobial and antifungal components that can fight off the dandruff-causing fungi Malassezia feeding on the excess sebum atop your scalp. As a matter of fact, you can use coconut oil to remove oils such as sebum, a method also known as oil cleansing. 
 
However, dermatologists warn people to be careful when using coconut oil as an oil remover. Too much coconut oil may aggravate and block your pores, thereby worsening the dandruff issue. Make sure to do a patch test first and measure the amount to avoid pore-clogging. It is also recommended to double-cleanse your hair, starting with coconut oil and ending up with shampooing afterward. 

 
High consumption of coconut oil can do more harm than good to you. Not only is it packed with calories, but it also increases the bad cholesterol in your body. However, when coconut milk undergoes a cold-process extraction, you will get virgin coconut oil, a healthier substitute to coconut oil since it doesn’t have much trans-fat. It also contains good cholesterol, which doesn’t hamper your cardiovascular health. You can also massage your scalp anytime during the bath with coconut oil because it does the job even better. 

 
While coconut oil is primarily used to tame frizz and moisturize your hair and scalp, studies show its contribution to healthy hair growth. It may not be directly involved in growing new hair strands, but it can protect your hair cuticles from thinning and breakage. Coconut oil also aids in the repair of damaged hair sheaths. All of these benefits from coconut oil allow your hair to grow thicker and longer. 

 
Many people use coconut oil to protect their hair and skin from the sun’s invading UV rays. While this capability might be good news to everyone, some people are against coconut oil as a sun protectant. Sunscreens sold in the market have been long-studied for their SPF levels. However, studies on coconut oil as sole sun protectants are very limited. In reality, many plant oils don’t have enough SPF to protect your hair and skin against sun and heat damage. Specifically, coconut oil can only thwart 20% of the sun’s UV rays. To sum it up, you can use other natural and effective sun protectants enriched with coconut oil. However, coconut oil can’t stand alone as your hair’s sunscreen.

 
How can you benefit from coconut oil for the sake of your lovely tresses? Here are five ways for coconut oil to complement every woman’s hair care regimen regardless of hair type, length, density, thickness, and texture.
 

 
You can use coconut oil alone to nourish your hair strands and scalp on another level. All you need to do is dampen your palms with coconut oil and gently rub your pate with it. Ensure to melt the coconut oil until it is greasy enough before slathering a generous amount of it on your hair strands. Then, massage your scalp thoroughly to calm the nerves and stimulate blood flow. Then after the massage session, wrap your hair with a warm towel and leave the oil on your head for at least 30 minutes. After that, wash your hair with lukewarm water and shampoo to remove any hint of greasiness. You may do this easy-peasy hair mask treatment at least once a week.

 
Hair mask mixtures vary in ingredients since you can’t obtain everything from a single component. Coconut oil goes well with kitchen staples like egg yolks, ACV (apple cider vinegar), lemon juice, and olive oil. It can also be mixed with other essential oils such as castor and jojoba oils or fruits like avocado and bananas. Coconut oil can go a long way in homemade hair mask treatments; you can choose what ingredients to use according to your hair care needs.

 
Coconut oil itself is an ultra-conditioning substance that can be rubbed onto your hair and scalp, and mixing it with your favorite hair conditioner will condition your tresses even more. Mix one to two tablespoons of coconut oil with a few pumps of your conditioning product and wrap your hair strands carefully with this moisturizing substance. If you don’t prefer combining both ingredients, you may moisturize your hair with a conditioner first then apply coconut oil post-washing.

 
If coconut trees are the trees of life, coconut oil is a holy grail in hair conditioning. Coconut oil can do hair growth wonders that people shouldn’t take for granted. Not only is it safe for hair and scalp application, but it is also healthy enough to be included in your everyday diet. With coconut oil, your hair will not only look and feel amazing, but you will be able to enjoy the perks of having healthy hair for a long time.

While coconut oil can do the job of maintaining smoother and softer hair strands, your hair still needs more than hydration. It also needs help from other hair growth products to prevent thinning hair and hair loss in women. Therefore, always accompany coconut oil with the best shampoo and conditioner to make your hair shinier, fuller, and healthier than ever.