Coconut oil should also be approached with caution by those suffering from damaged hair too. Hair is made up of keratin, a protein that contains bundles of amino acids and serve as building blocks for strong, hydrated and healthy hair. If your hair has broken keratin bonds, from heat damage or colouring, coconut oil could potentially make it worse.
“People often use hair oils to moisten their hair, but in fact, oil and water don’t mix,” says Ross Charles, Owner of Ross Charles Hairdressing. “Oil actually stops treatments from penetrating the hair shaft. Coconut oil especially tends to seep into every tiny hole in your hair shaft and disguise the real problem by acting as a quick-fix – this won’t help your hair in the long-run and is one of the main reasons I advise against using oils in your hair.”
Are there any hair types coconut oil is good for?
Coconut oil is super moisturising which is why those with curly, dry or Afro hair tend to see the most benefits as these hair types are notoriously drier. “There are a lot of Afro products that are coconut oil based because it deeply moisturises the hair and penetrates the hair shaft,” explains Luke Benson, celebrity session stylist and owner of Luke Benson Hair.
What type of coconut oil should I use in my hair?
If you do decide to use coconut oil, for things like it’s humidity-resistant benefits, it’s important to use extra virgin coconut oil, which means it doesn’t contain bleach or other chemicals that some other formulas contain and that could irritate the scalp.
Do you put coconut oil on dry or wet hair?
“It can go onto dry or wet hair and you can use it as a pre shampoo treatment by applying it to dry hair before you wash it,” continues Luke. Because it can be used as a detangler, finisher, mask – the benefits you want to get will dictate which is best for you and your hair.
How long do you leave coconut oil on hair for?
If you’re using coconut oil as a hair mask you can leave it on your hair overnight or you can wash it off after 20-30 minutes. If your hair is finer, avoid your scalp and only apply it to the ends of your hair where it’s especially dry and rinse off sooner.
Can I use coconut oil for hair growth?
In short, no. Coconut oil is a great quick fix for providing instant smoothness and shine and it does have the potential to strengthen hair but it’s not the correct ingredient to choose for long-term hair health or growth. “Growth is mainly affected by what you feed it at the roots which means the nutrients in your diet,” continues Luke.