We all want beautiful shiny hair that looks healthy. Have you ever suffered from dry, listless or damaged hair, unruly curls, split ends or hair that breaks easily? Then your hair is begging for some extra care. Coconut oil is regarded as a real miracle cure for hair. In several cultures, it is even a custom to rub it in daily. Scientific research also shows that extra virgin coconut oil is good for hair and scalp. Whatever type of hair you have, coconut oil usually offers added value.

What does coconut oil do to hair?

1. Coconut oil is a natural oil with special properties. It contains a lot of lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid with nourishing properties that is also found in breast milk. Lauric acid has small molecules and can therefore be absorbed by the body more quickly. This ensures that coconut oil, as one of the few oils, can penetrate deep into the hair shaft and even into the hair follicles. It is a penetrating oil that is quickly absorbed by the hair, moisturising and nourishing. 
2. In addition, coconut oil is antibacterial. Scientific studies have shown that applying coconut oil to the scalp has a positive influence on the microbiome or the micro-organisms on your scalp. It can soothe and moisturise a restless, itchy scalp with dandruff or flakes.
3. Other studies show that coconut oil, more than other oils, works very well to reduce protein loss in the hair. It provides the necessary protein to nourish and help repair damaged hair. The hair shaft is largely made up of keratin, a fibrous protein. The less protein loss, the less the hair cuticle breaks and the hair breaks down.

What are the benefits of coconut oil for hair?

Coconut oil is therefore a must-have product in your bathroom if you want to take care of your hair in a natural way.

• It’s great for curly, frizzy and dry hair. Because coconut oil moisturises the hair deep into the hair shaft, it is especially useful for caring for curly hair. Curly hair often tends to be rather dry. Coconut oil also quickly tames frizzy hair. In addition, coconut oil gives your hair a 100% natural shine, without chemicals.
• It helps with tangles and to untangle the hair. Rub some melted coconut oil into your hair and it becomes easier to comb.
• It protects against hair damage. Frequent brushing or combing, drying your hair roughly with a towel and chemical treatments like hair colouring or a perm can damage your hair. You can prevent or limit damage by using coconut oil in your hair.
• Coconut oil makes for strong hair because it can penetrate deep into the hair with all its vitamins and proteins. It leaves the hair intensely nourished, whereas a regular conditioner stays more on the hair.
• It stimulates hair growth in a natural way. The fatty acids and vitamins in coconut oil nourish the scalp and remove excess sebum from the hair follicles. This supports healthy hair growth.
• Coconut oil protects against hygral fatigue. When you wet your hair, the cuticles open and retain water. The hair swells and the cuticles are put under pressure. If this happens too often, hair cuticles can stay open and break off. Normally, our natural hair oils create a hydrophobic or water-repellent film over the hair shaft to prevent this from happening. But if you use too many moisturising or purifying shampoos, conditioners or hair care products, this protective layer can be damaged. Coconut oil helps to rebalance, protect and nourish your hair.
• It helps with dandruff or dry scalp. Flakes are often caused by a shortage of certain fatty acids or by sunburn. Massage your scalp with a few drops of coconut oil. This provides extra hydration and care. Do this once or twice a month. Keep in mind that if you use too much coconut oil, it can close off or suffocate the scalp and hair.
• Coconut oil protects hair from the sun thanks to its natural sun protection factor of about 7 SPF. So a little oil in your hair provides both nourishment and protection from sun, sea and beach.
• It protects against lice. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in some coconut oil and distribute this over your hair. The tea tree oil kills the lice. Coconut oil itself will not kill lice, but it numbs them and makes it easier to remove them.

How to use coconut oil in your hair?

Coconut oil works particularly well for dry or curly hair. Depending on your hair type and condition, you will need more or less oil. This may take some trial and error at first. If you use too much coconut oil, your hair can look and feel greasy.

As a hair mask:

This is undoubtedly the most obvious method. Just putting a few spoonfuls of coconut oil into your hair does not work. It is best to heat the oil in a pan first so that it becomes liquid. Let it cool down a little and spread the oil from the crown of your head to your hair ends. Massage in briefly. Wrap your hair in a towel and leave for 15 to 30 minutes. If you need an intensive treatment, leave the coconut mask on overnight. Rinse well afterwards and wash your hair as usual.

As a pre-wash or (leave-in) conditioner:

Before you jump into the shower, rub a few drops of coconut oil into your hair. This protects your hair from swelling due to water ( hygral fatigue) and acts as a conditioner at the same time. Wash your hair as usual and rinse it well. Afterwards, your hair will be easy to comb and will have a beautiful natural shine.

As a serum on your hair ends:

In between washes, you can take care of your hair ends by rubbing a little coconut oil into them.

Coconut oil as beard oil:

A beard needs beard oil. For extra hydration, shine and a soft feel. The best time to apply beard oil is after showering and on a dry beard. Then your beard is clean and the pores of your skin are open, so the coconut oil can do its job even better.

It is best to start with a small amount of coconut oil. If necessary, you can always add more. Rub a teaspoon of oil between your hands, making it warm and liquid. Massage the oil onto your chin and rub in a downward motion towards the tips of your beard as you shape it. Finish by massaging excess oil into the tips.

Which coconut oil is good for hair?

When it comes to hair care, you want to take advantage of the many nutrients in coconut oil. Therefore, it is best to buy a jar of extra virgin coconut oil. Many cheap coconut oils are refined and processed with chemicals to make them nice and white or to make them last longer. It is best to avoid this oil.

Are there any disadvantages of coconut oil for the hair?

Help. You enthusiastically apply coconut oil to your hair and instead of nice shiny hair, you get a greasy mess that feels and looks uncomfortable. Why is this? You have used too much oil!

Coconut oil is a heavy oil that is not always easy to rinse out. In low-porosity hair, some of the oil will remain on the hair as a greasy layer.

Low porosity hair is hair with flat, closely packed scales that do not open easily. This type of hair often feels dry. Because it can penetrate deep into the hair, coconut oil is an ideal oil to moisturise this type of hair. Except if you use too much of it. Then you get ‘build up’. It is therefore a question of finding the right balance in how much oil is beneficial for your hair.