Coconut Oil For Hair

Coconut Oil For Hair

What coconut oil does for the skin it can also do for the hair. Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants, and has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. When used on hair, it improves scalp health, fights infections and fungus, supports hair growth, all while adding volume and shine without the common harmful chemicals.

It makes a great conditioner, for all types of hair.

It can be used as a leave-in conditioner, or used as an intensive conditioner for a couple of hours, or overnight. The key to using all natural coconut oil as a leave-in hair conditioner, is finding the right amount for your hair. A little goes a long way. You don’t want your hair to look or feel greasy.

To Condition

For short hair, start with just a ¼ teaspoon, warmed in your palms.

For longer, thicker hair, you may need up to a ½ tablespoon. You want to use sparingly on thinner hair, as it can weigh hair down if too much is used.

As an intensive conditioner to restore hair

After washing with a gentle natural shampoo, apply:

1 teaspoon for short hair

2 teaspoons for shoulder length hair

1 tablespoon for long hair after warming in the palm of your hands.

Apply to hair shaft and ends, and then rub into scalp. Cover with a shower cap, and leave on for 1-2 hours, or overnight. Wash with gentle shampoo, and style as normal.

Coconut oil is a great styling agent, and free from the dangerous chemicals in conventional hair care products. Style the hair with coconut oil used as a gel substitute or protection coat. This product is oil, so minimal application is recommended. The coconut oil adds weight to the hair and is specifically used to style thick, curly, or dry hair types.

To help control dandruff and improve the appearance of your hair, apply the oil to your scalp and massage it in. Work it into the skin. Let the oil soak into your scalp and hair for a period of time, at least 15 minutes, the longer the better. You can leave it on overnight. Just be sure to wear the shower cap to avoid staining bed linens. In the morning wash it out.

One of the best uses of coconut oil for hair is in the treatment and prevention of lice. According to a study published in the European Journal of Pediatrics, combination of coconut oil and anise spray is more effective, than the commonly used prescription lice treatment permethrin.

Because coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft, and the scalp, it helps to repel lice and can keep their eggs from attaching to the hair. With the addition of essential oil of anise, lice don’t have a chance. You can read more about how to do it here.

Sources:

Bruce Fife (2004) Coconut Oil Miracle. USA, New York: Avery

5 Best Uses of Coconut Oil For Hair

Burgess IF, Brunton ER, Burgess NA. “Clinical trial showing superiority of a coconut and anise spray over permethrin 0.43% lotion for head louse infestation” European Journal Pediatrics. 2010 Jan;169(1):55-62

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