COCONUT OIL AND HAIRCARE

What is coconut oil?

Coconut oil is made by pressing fresh or dried coconut ‘meat’ (the juicy white flesh on the inside of the coconut). Virgin coconut oil uses fresh meat, and refined coconut oil typically uses dried coconut meat, which is also known as ‘copra’.

What are the benefits of using coconut oil on your hair?

If you’re using coconut oil on your hair for the first time, use caution - it’s delicious-smelling and deeply moisturising, but it may not be suitable for thin or fine hair as just a small amount of pure oil can make your hair look greasy.

• Repairs and conditions damaged hair: Coconut oil’s main fat source, lauric acid, adds shine, retains moisture and leaves hair soft and silky
• Deep moisturisation: Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft and provide deep moisturisation. It helps to restore dry and damaged hair, making it soft, manageable and more resilient
• Reduces frizz: Coconut oil’s natural smoothing and soothing properties make it an ideal partner in the fight against frizz
• Prevents protein loss: The fatty acids in coconut oil are compatible with your hair’s natural oils, and can help reduce protein loss. Boosting the protein in your strands helps prevent breakage and split ends

Applying coconut oil to wet or dry hair

How and when you choose to use coconut oil is up to you - most people apply coconut oil to the ends of wet hair after a shower, and then apply a small amount to dry hair as a finishing treatment or as a heat protectant before styling.

Ultimately, the decision rests with you, your hair type, and how much product you think your hair needs. Remember to use coconut oil in moderation, especially if you have thin or fine hair, as using too much oil can weigh down your hair and make it look oily.

Our Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Repairing Tropical Oil is made with argan, coconut and moringa oil, and it’s perfect as a post-wash smoothing serum if you’re a fan of applying products when your hair is damp. Apply evenly through wet hair to visibly repair damage, reduce frizz, and add shine.

Is coconut oil suitable for all hair types?

Coconut oil used on its own tends to work well for people with curly or straight thick, coarse, or very dry hair. If you have medium-thickness or fine hair, using pure coconut oil may be too heavy for your hair.

We’d recommend that you try our hair serums, which are made with coconut oil, moringa oil and argan oil. Our Frizz Ease All-In-1 Lightweight Serum is best for thin, fine hair, and our Frizz Ease All-In-1 Original Serum and Frizz Ease All-In-One Extra Strength Serum are better-suited for people who have thicker, longer hair.

How to use coconut oil on your hair

There are so many ways to use coconut oil on your hair - experiment and pick a method which works for you to get optimum results.

• Pre-shampoo treatment: If you're using coconut oil as a pre-shampoo treatment to provide deep conditioning, you can leave it in your hair for about 30 minutes to an hour before washing your hair. This allows the oil to penetrate the hair shaft and provide moisturisation.
• Shampoo: That’s right - you can use coconut oil as part of your wash routine. Our Moisturising Shampoo Bar is made with coconut oil, and gently cleanses dry, dehydrated hair without stripping away your hair and scalp’s natural oils.
• Hair mask: Applying a small amount of coconut oil to your lengths and then rinsing it out thoroughly can tame frizz and relieve dryness. If you’d like a gentle introduction to coconut oil, Our Miracle Drops Frizz Smoothing Hair Mask is made with coconut oil and transforms frizzy, unruly hair into a smooth, ready-to-style strands.
• Overnight treatment: For a more intensive treatment, you can apply coconut oil to your hair and leave it on overnight. This can be especially beneficial for dry or damaged hair. If you choose to do an overnight treatment, cover your hair with a shower cap or towel to avoid staining your bedding.
• As a leave-in conditioner: If you have thick or coarse hair, you can leave a small amount of coconut oil in your hair after washing as a leave-in conditioner. Use only a tiny amount to avoid greasiness, focus on the ends, and leave in for 1 hour.
• For scalp issues: If you're using coconut oil to address scalp issues like dandruff or itchiness, you can apply it to your scalp and leave it on for 15-30 minutes before shampooing out.

Remember that leaving coconut oil in your hair for a long period of time doesn’t necessarily provide additional benefits, as it penetrates your hair shaft relatively quickly. Leaving it on for several hours or overnight may not lead to better results - so try leaving coconut oil on your hair for short periods at first to see how it responds.

Does coconut oil encourage hair growth?

There’s no scientifically-based research that suggests coconut oil can regrow hair - but its smoothing and hydrating properties moisturise, pamper and seal hair.

If your hair’s well looked-after, you’ll be less likely to suffer from issues which can make your hair look weak and thin - which split ends and breakage often do.