The Secret to Stronger Hair Might Be in Your Pantry
It seems like everyone is crazy for coconut oil—and for good reason. It's not only a great option for cooking, but also has many purported health and beauty benefits.
You can use coconut oil to moisturize parched skin, hydrate cracked lips, remove even the blackest liquid eyeliner, whiten teeth, and—yes—make hair silkier and stronger. But before you just grab a dollop and deploy, here's how to actually use coconut oil as a treatment on your hair so your mane doesn't turn into a greasy mess.
First, you don't necessarily need to do an overnight mask...
If you have fine hair, a quick 30-minute treatment is sufficient—any longer can leave you with limp and excessively oily tresses, says Olivia Casanova, a stylist at IGK Salons. If you have thicker, dryer hair that's not prone to oil, you can leave it on for as long as a few hours or use as it as an overnight hair mask, says celebrity stylist Michelle Cleveland.
Especially if you have coarse hair...
Ready for the real catch? If you have very coarse hair, coconut oil may not be the best moisturizing agent for you, says Bridgette Hill, a stylist and Trichologist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa. This type of hair cannot absorb the oil, because of the protein structures, she explains. For these individuals, using coconut oil can actually cause more frizz.
Ready? Here's how to apply coconut oil to your hair.
Heat about one tablespoon of coconut oil in a small bowl in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds. It should be warm and melted to a liquid, but not scorching hot.
Using the pads of your fingertips, massage the warm oil into your scalp, beginning at the crown and working your way down to the ends of your strands.
Pin hair up (if longer than shoulder-length), then cover with a shower cap and let sit. Remember: If hair is fine, 30 minutes will do, but if hair is medium or coarse, an overnight mask is preferred.
Use a gentle shampoo to remove the coconut oil from your hair, repeating up to three times if necessary.
And, the best coconut oils to use are...
Both refined and unrefined coconut oils have triglycerides—an important moisturizing agent, says Dr. Hadley King, a dermatologist in NYC. Unrefined coconut oil, however, has a higher content of antioxidants, like phytonutrients, so it's generally considered more effective—provided you don't mind the stronger coconut scent, says King.
The benefits of coconut oil include moisturizing dry, frizzy hair.
Coconut oil lubricates and nourishes the hair shaft to lock in moisture, says Rina M. Allawh, a board-certified dermatologist in Philadelphia. And moisturized hair means less frizz, more shine.
As well as preventing breakage
In one study, coconut oil was the only oil that reduced the protein loss that causes breakage when used as a prewash and post-wash grooming product. Coconut oil adds luster, shine, and softness to the hair, minimizing breakage and split ends, and thus, contributing to hair length, says Cleveland.
Reducing dandruff
Because coconut oil is highly moisturizing, it can also help soothe a dry, itchy scalp, thus reducing white flakes and dandruff caused by scratching, says Allawh.
And even detangling
As an added bonus, a little pea-sized dollop of coconut oil makes for a great detangler when you encounter a stubborn knot.
But, can it help your hair grow?
Though coconut oil has been shown to improve the overall appearance, health, and durability of the hair shaft, there is no evidence that it stimulates hair growth, says Allawh.
That said, thermal damage can leave hair brittle and frizzy. This can cause the hair shaft to break—a contributing factor to hair thinning and hair loss, says Allawh.
If you're experiencing hair loss or thinning, there are better options, including vitamins, shampoos, and other hair growth treatments.
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