Take a peek inside your kitchen cabinets, and we bet you have a jar of coconut oil hiding out in there. While it’s an excellent baking ingredient, have you considered using coconut oil for your hair? DIY beauty fans swear by its multitude of benefits. You can rub it all over your body and face to make your skin softer. You can even swish it around your mouth for whiter teeth like Gwyneth. But where it really shines (literally) is in your hair routine. As versatile as it is nourishing, there are tons of ways you can use the kitchen staple to boost shine, repair damage, and protect your strands. Read on for the best ways to use coconut oil for hair that’s strong and healthy.
Coconut oil benefits for hair
First things first, while coconut oil works like magic on a wide range of concerns (like dullness and frizz), there’s one thing it doesn’t do: moisturize. In fact, no oil does. Rather, like most oils, coconut oil is a powerhouse emollient (meaning it softens and smooths), and it’s occlusive (meaning it helps trap moisture and emollients in your hair). Think of it as a sealant. It goes to work to keep nutrients and moisture in, as well as any damaging chemicals (like chlorine) out.
While all hair types can benefit from the reparative Vitamin E and amino acids in coconut oil, according to hairstylist Lauren Grummel, it’s best for thicker hair types. She says you’ll want to check the label to make sure you’re using pure, extra virgin raw coconut oil, since anything with additives can be harsh on your scalp. And if you do have thin hair? Try using a product that contains coconut oil as an ingredient (more on those below) instead of applying it straight from a jar.
So, what does coconut oil do for your hair exactly?
1. It adds shine and softness.
If your hair’s looking or feeling a little lackluster, coconut oil can help bring back its healthy, glistening sheen. That’s mostly thanks to its occlusive properties, which again, help lock in moisture.
2. It helps repair damage.
Because of it’s unique structure, coconut oil is actually able to prevent protein loss, keeping hair from becoming damaged and fragile.
3. It helps smooth down frizz.
Oils are a great alternative to silicone-based frizz tamers, which can weigh down your hair. Just keep in mind that a little goes a long way. A few drop where you need it will do the trick.
How to use coconut oil for hair
Coconut oil can be used to as a hair treatment to repair damage and add shine in tons of different ways, here are nine of our favorites.
1. Use it as a traditional hair mask.
Hairstylist Alex Brown likes to use coconut oil to whip up a homemade hair mask that’s great for repairing damage. She says to whisk together two tablespoons of coconut oil and one egg, and apply it evenly to towel dried hair. After 20 to 25 minutes, shampoo and condition as usual. You’ll find that your hair will look and feel softer and smoother.
2. Wear it as an overnight treatment.
If your hair is really damaged, Grummel says it’ll benefit from an eight-hour soak. Apply virgin coconut oil to dry hair, pop on a bonnet or headscarf, and go to sleep. If you don’t wrap your hair, Grummel warns that the oil may ruin your pillowcase, so be sure to use one you don’t care about or replace it with an old t-shirt for the night. The next morning, rinse out the oil and shampoo and condition as usual.
