Coconut oil is amazing at protecting your hair from several important factors. Hair is an emotional factor in many people’s lives. I don’t know why people are emotionally tied to their hair. Although, I would be one of them.
A majority of people don’t go for a facial every 6 to 8 weeks or even a massage. But they will get their hair cut and styled on a regular basis. We take pride in our hair, which is why it is important to protect what we have.
Protecting the protein
Protecting your hair from protein loss is important as your hair strands are made of protein. How does protein loss happen in your hair? It can happen from the sun, color treatment, styling, heat, dieting and harsh shampoos. Protein loss also happens as you age or even as you are trying to build muscle. Your body will use the protein to build that muscle first. Many people, after the age of 30, have a hard time keeping their muscle. Your body will use what protein it has for the purpose of keeping muscle.
Hair may be high on our mind’s emotional list but it is low on our body’s essential list. So, the fight is on. Us protecting our hair for our vanity and society norms even against our genetic makeup. You may have been born with a lush, thick hair. It may always be in great condition and look wonderful. If so, I am happy for you. However, that isn’t the reality of life. We all go through things and our bodies will respond accordingly. When you with gorgeous locks need it, Coconut is here for you too.
The strengthening of the core of the hair
One of the ways that Coconut oil protects the protein is by strengthening the core of the hair.
“Coconut oil was found to significantly increase the tensile strength of twisted fibers owing to its penetration inside hair core.” according to a study in 2021 called, Single hair fiber assessment techniques to discriminate between mineral oil and coconut oil effect on hair physical properties. Coconut oil is extremely important in strengthening and moisturizing your hair because it gets to the hair core. This is not the only study on coconut oil and it’s effects on hair. Coconut oil has come out on top time after time for its ability to penetrate deeper.
Most other oils can coat the outside of the hair. Those oils add moisture. However, they have little effect on structural changes. It is like in skin care, you need to get most of it to the deeper layers. Getting it to the deeper layers then it is more effective.
A lot of oils moisturizing the top layers. You need this as well in hair to moisturization and barrier protection. Coconut oil does both – moisturize outer layer and into the hair core.
How to use Coconut oil for the best benefit
Before washing your hair
Using coconut oil as a pre-wash or as a mask before washing your hair is a preferred method. This is because dry hair will drink up the oil into the damaged hair. Water essentially weakens hair. Hair is less likely to feel the effects of water if it is healthy and strong. Coconut oil on the hair give the hair strength before washing your hair.
Protecting your Hair
Wet hair protectant
Wet hair is still at its most fragile state so treat your hair with love and care. Be gentle with it and don’t go to sleep with wet hair. It would say 80% dry or what people damp. Not towel dry.
You can give that wet, vulnerable hair a bit of a boost. Use a well formulated hair oil containing coconut oil. This is true whether you have been swimming, water fun or washed your hair.
Wind can take a toll on damaged hair. This will protect your hair from effects of wind. Wind can cause damage just like anything else to your hair.
Heat protection
Coconut oil is a great heat protectant for the same reason as the others. It penetrates deeper to protect more of the hair from everything it is exposed to, including heat. Help coconut do the job but turning down the heat on your hair tools. Always use some form of heat protectant on your hair whether or not it contains Coconut oil. I have better heat protection for my hair when the heat protection contains coconut oil. And I have tried hundreds of different hair heat protectant(s).
Sun Protectant
Of course, sun protectant shouldn’t be left out. You can spray your heat protectant with coconut oil on your hair before you spend time out in the sun. This will give your hair some protections from the sun. You may even consider a scalp protectant sunscreen.
Scalp Protection
While coconut is not listed as an irritant to most people. It can cause build up on the scalp if not used in moderation.. A drier scalp needs water loss protection and coconut oil is great for that purposes. Skin on your scalp is so thin it doesn’t take a lot to provide that protection. This is why people report scalp issues with the use of coconut oil or should I say the overuse.
Coconut oil is an example of why they say too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
Cons of using Coconut oil
A higher percentage of Coconut oil in a protect is not helpful. It shouldn’t be number 1 on the list of ingredients. It is hard to tell on ingredient lists the percentages. I get that and I don’t like that we can’t get that information. There is also no regulations on the use of it that I am aware of.
Remember when I stated, it is hard to get out of your hair. It is. That is going to be exactly not what your hair needs. Remember water damages hair. You don’t want to be washing and re-washing to get your hair to look healthy not greasy. Less is more.
If you have course hair, your hair may be able to a higher percentage. A still wouldn’t think that straight coconut oil is a good idea. Not having that type of hair it would be hard to say. There are other products, however.
Other products
That doesn’t mean that most products have too much coconut oil in them. It depends on the formulation of course. Masks tend to have less risks for people with thin to average, straight hair. A coconut oil treatment would have more dense oil. Therefore, people with curly or thick hair may prefer those treatments instead.
Conditioner
It has been widely recommend to use coconut oil as a conditioner. Again, coconut is an oil. It doesn’t rinse out fully. Oil tends to collect things. As in dust, dirt or other particles in the air. It doesn’t necessarily attract it but it holds on to it.
There are some great coconut oil conditioning products on the market. These products are made to rinse away what your hair doesn’t absorb.
DIY recipes for coconut oil
DIY recipes are great for a once in a while, as a mask product. I still don’t like them as a conditioner for the reasons above. But for a treatment mask for your hair once in a while are great. I have a friend who will mix coconut oil and honey for her hair. You would think that would be one sticky mess but she swears it is not. The oil must dilute some of the honey’s sticky nature. She states that her hair holds it moisture must longer after she had use one of her masks. My hair is probably too straight and thin for this method. I may play with the ratios and see if it works out well.
Coconut oil for a hair enhancer
Are you excited to try out this amazing protectant for your hair? Next time, you have spent too much time in the sun and your hair needs a bit of love. Try a coconut mask or coconut oil.
I have a few suggestions on budget friendly products below. Of course, you can look at the labels of products. Now that you are more aware of the amazing benefits of coconut oil for your hair.
Suggestions:
OGX Extra Strength Damage Remedy Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo
Treatments:
Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask
The OGX brand has a lot of products with Coconut oil. This brand is also fairly budget friendly. I linked products that are all under $20.00. The links from Amazon are affiliate links. You don’t have to use them. I would appreciate if you did as it supported the growing costs of having a website.
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