Best Coconut Oil For Hair [Review] in 2022

When it comes to using coconut oil on your hair, whether you are using it within a conditioning treatment or using it when styling thick, coarse curls for detangling and hydrating curl definition, it should be a staple in your hair care routine.

My high porosity curlies out there, and for those looking for a hydration kick, coconut oil should be your go-to. Not only does it deeply moisturize individual hair strands, it also helps restore protein loss and promote collagen, which helps boost hair growth.

There are many juicy benefits of using coconut oil in your hair care routine, whether it is unrefined or refined coconut oil. So let’s jump into all of these benefits as well as the best ways to use coconut oil on your hair and, in particular curly hair.

So what is coconut oil, and what does it do for your hair? Well, coconut oil is predominantly used as cooking oil, but it comes with many health benefits, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which is why it is popularly used on skin and hair.

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, making it 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.

There are some serious benefits of using coconut oil on your hair, especially if you have the high porosity hair type; for low porosity, it might just sit on top of the hair cuticle rather than be absorbed within.

But let’s talk about the benefits of coconut oil on hair in more detail!

There are heaps of benefits of using coconut oil on hair; it is rich with nutrients and essential fatty acids that help strengthen and improve the condition of your hair from the inside out. Coconut oil is also deeply hydrating and will benefit the curly hair type the most.

Here are some of the top benefits of using coconut oil on hair:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Help 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.

There are a few different ways to use coconut oil on your hair; you can either use it as a hair mask, part of your detangling and styling routine or even in replacement of your conditioner (with other ingredients.

Organic Coconut Oil Hair Mask

Coconut oil can help lock in moisture on the hair shaft. If your hair is particularly dry or prone to hair breakage, then you can use coconut oil in a DIY hair mask treatment. I have a full guide of my best DIY Hair Mask recipes here.

If you want to use coconut oil as a hair mask, you can blend coconut oil with other ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, aloe vera, etc., and apply it all over your hair after washing. 

Working your way from the bottom of the hair shaft to the roots and combing through as you go so it evenly covers your hair. You can then leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour and then rinse with cool water. 

Or using coconut oil alone acts as a brilliant hair mask. To create your own DIY coconut oil hair mask, apply a generous amount of coconut oil to the ends of your hair and scalp, tie it in a bun for a few hours and rinse out.

If you have low porosity hair, you can also wrap your hair in a shower cap and use a steamer to help open up the cuticle so the coconut oil can penetrate deeper into the hair shaft.

Coconut Oil Leave-In Conditioner:

Using coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner is seriously beneficial for both your hair and scalp. If you have particularly thick, coarse, dry, damaged hair with split ends, you can apply coconut oil once you’ve washed and conditioned your hair.

Many people with thick, coily, or curly hair know that coconut oil can help nourish their curls and provide a brilliant leave-in treatment. You can either mix it with other ingredients (check out my DIY leave-in conditioner recipes here) or use it alone. 

The benefits of coconut oil are particularly known in the curly girl industry. You can apply a small amount of coconut oil to the ends of your hair after showering, and it will act as a heat protectant along with nourishing the ends of your hair.

This may not work for fine hair as coconut oil is quite heavy and may make your hair appear greasy at the root. 

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)

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!

How do you wash coconut oil out of your hair?

Those with low porosity hair can still enjoy the wonders of coconut oil, but since the cuticle lies flat, not all of the coconut oil will be absorbed, and this will cause it to build up on the hair. This is easy to remove, though, so don’t panic!

For a quick DIY, you can mix two tablespoons of baking soda and water together and massage the paste onto your scalp for 5-10 minutes and wash with warm water. It should also remove with your regular shampoo if you leave it on for a few minutes to remove buildup.

How long should you leave coconut oil in your hair?

This really depends; there is nothing wrong with leaving coconut oil on your hair for long; some people even leave it on their hair overnight as an overnight treatment. But as a general rule of thumb, you should leave coconut oil on your hair for 20-30 minutes.

That is, if you’re using it as a treatment, some curly-haired girls actually use it as a styling oil and use a little bit on the end of their curls to protect their hair from UV rays and heat damage to some extent. It also offers deep hydration and moisture retention.

How does coconut oil help your hair?

The lauric acid in the coconut oil is deeply nourishing and stops water from flooding into the strands. Coconut oil absorbs quickly into the hair and provides moisture to tame frizz and prevent breakage. It provides slip and helps detangle stubborn knots.

For coarse hair, it helps with moisture retention as it acts as a sealant over the curls; this allows curls to take their natural shape and restore essential nutrients that make the hair strong and luscious.

So there you have it, a full list of the best coconut oil for hair, whether you have straight or curly hair, anyone can benefit from coconut oils in their hair routine. It helps with moisture retention and hydration of thirsty hair by acting as a sealant.

Choose any of the coconut oils I have selected for you today and I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. Using coconut oil once every week or two can help with protein loss, strengthen hair from within and retain moisture.

Give these a go today!