Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Curly Hair

Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Curly Hair:

When it comes to knowing how to care for curly hair, hydration is key. Curly hair is the driest hair type of them all because of the shape and texture.

Natural oils struggle to travel from the scalp to the ends, so it leaves curls dry and brittle.

I can’t tell you how many bottles of conditioner I have got through when caring for my curls– too many. But the issue with high porosity curls is while moisture is easily absorbed, it is also easily lost due to the raised cuticle.

This is where coconut oil shines.

Using coconut oil along with your moisturizing leave-ins can help seal in moisture. It works as a sealant so moisture cannot escape the cuticle and be held within the cuticle for longer. It even works to strengthen the hair from within!

There are some insane benefits of coconut oil for curly hair. In this guide, I will be talking about the top benefits of using coconut oil on curly hair and why it is a need in your hair care routine.

There is no wonder why it is so popular in the natural hair community!

What Is Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil is an edible oil that is often used in cooking, hair care, and skincare. It is derived from the wick, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit.

It is solid white fat and melts at room temperature; in the summer, it is often a clear, thin liquid oil, but in winter, it is often solid.

It is made up of 99% fat, containing fatty acids like lauric, which help with restoration, particularly in hair. It helps to restore protein loss, promote healthy hair and strengthen the hair shaft.

Those with curly and straight hair alike swoon over virgin coconut oil!

It has been used for health benefits for nearly 4000 years, with some uses of the fruit as good for the pharmaceutical asset.

But nowadays, it has a permanent place in cooking as well as having an established place in hair and skincare. You can use coconut oil for a wide range of purposes.

It is rich in vitamins, and fatty acids, which help aid hair growth, hydration, moisture retention, and even heal protein loss. It is perfect for high porosity hair as it creates a seal over the cuticle to seal in moisture prevent moisture loss.

High porosity hair is brilliant at absorbing moisture because the cuticle is raised, but since moisture is absorbed so easily, it is also lost just as easily.

So it is very difficult to keep this hair type hydrated. Coconut oil creates a seal over this lifted cuticle to help lock in moisture and ensure moisture stays locked in.

How Often Should You Use Coconut Oil On Your Hair?

This depends on what you are using coconut oil for. If you are using it as a hair mask, then you should aim to use coconut oil once or twice a week.

For finer high porosity hair, you might get away with once every week or two to prevent a greasy residue on the ends of your curls.

Coconut oil is a great detangler, so using it twice a week may be needed to detangle hair before washing. It will also protect curls from the shampooing process and keep curls hydrated.

Coconut oil enhances the hair’s natural publication, which provides enough slip to detangle the roughest of knots. Leaving it on the hair can even help with matting.

You can apply coconut oil to dry or wet hair, but when applied to dry hair for hydration you should always use it alongside a hydrating product, like a leave-in.

Coconut oil is a sealant to retain moisture, it does not moisturize the hair itself, so it is always best to use on the hair while wet, along with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera or shea butter.

Coconut Oil Benefits For Hair:

Since extra virgin coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids and nutrients, there are heaps of benefits of using it on the hair shaft or as a scalp treatment.

Coconut oil can strengthen and improve the condition of the hair from the inside out; it is deeply hydrating and will work to lock in moisture within the hair cuticle.

Coconut oil best benefits high porosity curl types as for some people with low porosity hair, coconut oil may leave the hair greasy as it is very heavy and doesn’t absorb fully into a flat-lying cuticle.

Coconut Oil Seals In Moisture:

Coconut oil works by sealing in water in your hair strand, preventing it from evaporating. This means your hair is more hydrated and the moisture barrier restored. It also helps seal split ends and strengthens hair to prevent breakage.

The high vitamins and essential fatty acids penetrate deep into the hair strands to moisturize the hair. It leaves hair looking shinier and stronger for longer. It is great for high porosity hair as it creates a seal over the ends of your hair.

Coconut oil acts as a sealant to trap moisture into the hair follicles and keep it moist. However, it should be used with a hydrating and moisturizing styling cream or leave-in conditioner so it can work to the best of its ability.

It prevents water loss by sealing in the cuticle. Organic coconut oil for hair can help with moisture retention for both the hair strands and the scalp itself. If you have flaky scalp and problematic dry scalp, then coconut oil can also help restore this.

Coconut Oil Is Full of fatty acids:

The brilliant thing about coconut oil is that it is full of rich fatty acids, which help improve the health of your hair, strengthen hair strands from within as well as restore all the rich nutrients and proteins within the hair strand.

Coconut oil really benefits those suffering from hair loss; despite it not directing hair growth, it helps protect the hair and slow the process of hair loss and strengthen brittle and weak hair, so hair appears thicker.

The lauric acid in coconut oil is deeply nourishing and absorbs quickly in the hair; this helps with moisture retention as well as repairing hair strands from the inside out. It also adds elasticity and restores protein loss to prevent further breakage.

Coconut Oil Is Anti-fungal:

Coconut oil has anti-fungal and antiviral properties, which means it helps to keep away viruses and fungus that may live on your hair. This can be especially beneficial for those with problematic scalps such as dandruff.

It has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, too. Hence, it works against bacteria to keep your scalp clean and clear, which can be key in preventing fungal infections, dry scalp, or dandruff.

Coconut Oil Is Anti-inflammatory:

If you suffer from skin conditions or have sensitive skin, then you’ll love coconut oil. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation. It won’t irritate the scalp, so it is ideal for those with a sensitive scalp in need of a strengthening treatment.

Antioxidants work by stabilizing free radicals in the body and neutralizing the reactive atoms that can contribute to inflammation; coconut is brilliant for those that suffer from eczema and other scalp issues; it can help restore and revive the scalp.

Coconut Oil Helps Your Hair Grow Longer:

While coconut oil isn’t directly linked to hair growth, it can help aid hair growth as it nourishes hair and leaves hair healthy.

The day-to-day wear and tear caused by styling, grooming, the weather, and pollutants put a real toll on your hair. This damage makes hair growth really difficult.

The longer it gets, the more brittle it gets. Your hair becomes very worn and tired if you don’t use coconut oil.

Using coconut oil on your hair can have some serious benefits on hair growth. It protects your hair from protein loss and damage when wet; it moisturizes your scalp to reduce breakage.

It can also protect your hair from environmental damage like wind, sun, and smoke. If you apply coconut oil frequently in your hair care routine, then you can really reap the benefits of it.

Coconut Oil and Low Porosity Hair:

I know I suggested that coconut oil was only suitable for high porosity hair, which is the case for most people, but there are some benefits for low porosity hair.

The only time coconut oil may not benefit low porosity curls is if you have fine low porosity curls; if you have thicker curls, it can be absorbed easier and may not be as noticeable, but for fine hair, it may just sit on top and look like too much coconut oil.

But the wonderous thing about coconut oil is that it contains lauric acid, which is deeply penetrating into the hair shaft and scalp. It can really benefit those with damaged hair looking for a scalp treatment.

You can massage warm coconut oil into your scalp as a DIY hot oil treatment and then cover your hair in a shower cap and gently run the blow dryer over to keep it warm.

Since coconut oil is very anti-inflammatory and hydrating, it can massively help with dry skin conditions like eczema and help to remove dead skin cells.

For fine hair, other oils like argan oil or sunflower oil offer similar benefits, but they have a lower molecular level so they penetrate deeper into the hair shaft rather than sit on top like coconut oil would do.

They can help to hydrate dry hair without leaving a greasy residue.

Coconut Oil Helps With Frizz:

Coconut oil is brilliant for high porosity, coily hair as high porosity hair often absorbs humidity, which events into frizz. Coconut oil prevents this from happening.

Coconut oil stops the hair from absorbing water from the humidity and moisture in the air– this prevents the cuticle from swelling and prevents frizz.

Coconut oil also penetrates the hair shaft and helps to soften and smooth damaged, uneven hair. It works to rehydrate and repair from within, so damage-related frizz does not occur.

Coconut oil also prevents mechanical-based frizz caused by roughing up the cuticle. It lubricates hair strands to make detangling a breeze without snagging or pulling, resulting in frizz.

You will be left with frizz-free hair that is strengthened from within.

How To Use Coconut Oil On Curly Hair:

There are a few different ways that you can use coconut oil on curly hair, whether that is as a deep conditioning treatment, hair detangler, or styling oil.

Now I am going to create a full guide of how to use coconut oil on hair but let’s go through a few uses for coconut oil in more detail:

Coconut Oil Hair Mask:

Coconut oil is brilliant at restoring the hair and replenishing moisture, and working with other ingredients to attain and retain moisture within the hair strand.

Using coconut oil can also help restore protein loss from years of heat styling and exposure to UV rays. It bonds proteins within the hair to strengthen and restore the hair shaft.

Since coconut oil is an emollient, it can be used in combination with a humectant like honey to help attain moisture from the environment, and then the coconut oil can work with the honey to retain this moisture and prevent moisture loss.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the best coconut oil hair mask for curly hair:

• – 3 tbsp of virgin coconut oil
• – 1 1/2 tbsp of honey
• – 2 egg yolks
• – Few drops of essential oil
• – Warm towel and shower cap

Method:

Start by heating the coconut oil over low heat for a few minutes until it is warm but not boiling; coconut oil as a hair mask works best as a hot oil treatment.

Once warmed, whisk the rest of the ingredients in with the coconut oil. This should warm but not scramble the eggs; if the eggs are scrambled, the oil is too hot.

After it is well mixed, apply it to your head. I like to work in sections and smother each strand to ensure my curls are lapping up the goodness of this treatment.

Once the ends are covered, focus on the roots and massage your scalp for 5-10 minutes with the hot oil mixture. Then wrap your hair up in a shower cap.

Pop a warm, damp towel on top so it keeps the treatment warm, and so the goodness of all of the ingredients can really penetrate the hair.

Since the treatment will be warm, it can be used on both low porosity and high porosity hair as the heat should help open the cuticle, so it can be absorbed into the hair follicle.

Coconut Oil Hair Detangler:

Coconut penetrates deep into the hair follicles to soften and strengthen the hair, which is why it is a great DIY detangler; it lubricates strands and provides slip.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• – 1-2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
• – 10-20 drops of your chosen essential oil (peppermint, lavender, tea tree essential oil)

Method:

You can melt coconut oil in the microwave until warm and melted but not hot. Mix in the essential oils and apply them to your hair, focusing on the tangles.

Rub coconut oil between your hairs and start finger combing through the tangled and dry parts. If using before shampooing, then apply all over but if you’re just looking to get tangles out or refresh curls, then focus on the ends only.

Using a wide-toothed comb, work through stubborn tangles down to the tips; when the tangles ease, then style as you usually would.

For matted hair, you can leave the coconut oil on the ends for a little while before detangling; it can work its magic and have time to penetrate the strand to help detangle.

You can even do this as a hot oil treatment and wrap your hair up in a plastic cap with a warm, damp towel so it can improve the condition of the hair and leave it more manageable.

Want to know more ways you can use coconut oil on your hair? Check out my full guide!

Summary:

So there you have it all of the benefits of using coconut oil on curly hair, along with some of the best ways to use it. My curlies can seriously lap up the nourishing goodness of coconut oil on their curls.

Whether you have high porosity or low porosity curls, knowing how to use coconut oil properly allows all of these types to benefit that coconut oil has to offer.

I have very coarse, coily curls, and I found it helped with shrinkage, frizz and made the detangling process a breeze. It is a staple in my hair routine now.

How will you use your coconut oil?