Coconut oil is one of those extremely versatile products that can be used for many different treatments and remedies, known for being very good at helping with health and beauty issues. It can be used in many ways, and for many things.
But here is the question, is coconut oil good for your hair?
The answer is yes. As a general rule, coconut oil is considered to be one of the best oils and products that can be used on hair, and it will provide a series of different benefits and treatments.
However, with hair, it is very important to take into account many different factors, as some hair types will not benefit from certain treatments, and coconut oil could end up causing negative consequences.
The main benefit of using coconut oil in hair is that it helps reduce protein loss, which then contributes to helping your hair look healthier. I’ve covered a couple of hair growth tips and this post on using coconut oil has always been a popular one because it works on such a wide variety of hair types.
In the National Library of Medicine, a study can be found that proves the effectiveness of coconut oil in the hair, and how it is indeed the best product for reducing protein loss in hair that is undamaged, bleached, chemically treated, or exposed to UV.
This ability to help protect hair is thanks to the chemical structure found in coconut oil, which is highly efficient.
Another reason why coconut oil is better than other products is that coconut oil is very easily absorbed into the hair, deep into the shaft. This is thanks to the fact that coconut oil is mostly made up of a medium-chain fatty acid, known as lauric acid.
So coconut oil is absorbed by the hair, providing a protective coating that reduces protein loss, and helping hair become healthier and stronger.
And not only that. Coconut oil also helps your hair grow longer, thicker, and faster. All thanks to helping hair retain its proteins. Plus, coconut oil can also help nourish your scalp, by first removing build-up from the hair follicles.
Can I leave coconut oil in my hair overnight?
Coconut oil can be used in many ways, and it can provide several different treatments for your hair, in order to help it become healthier, stronger, and more beautiful in appearance. But how exactly do you use coconut oil? Can you leave it in your hair overnight?
The answer is yes. Coconut oil is perfectly okay to leave in your hair overnight. In fact, most treatments done with coconut oil require you to leave it on overnight, to ensure that the hair properly absorbs the oil to reap all of the benefits.
Here are some of the main treatments in which you leave coconut oil in your hair overnight:
- Coconut oil as a hair mask:
This treatment will allow your hair to absorb the coconut oil, to reap all of the benefits such as strengthening the hair against protein loss. And therefore, your hair will be able to grow faster, stronger, and a lot healthier.
This is done by applying coconut oil throughout your entire hair, and then leaving it for a few hours or overnight, depending on how much time your hair needs to properly absorb it. (So thicker or longer hair will do better with leaving it overnight).
- Coconut oil as a scalp treatment:
Coconut oil can also act as a nourishment treatment for your scalp, unclogging the hair follicles and moisturizing. For this to be effective, you need to tub coconut oil into your scalp, while gently massaging it in. And then, you should leave it overnight so that it can nourish your scalp for long enough, before washing it off with shampoo.
Can coconut oil ruin your hair?
Although coconut oil, as a general rule, is highly beneficial for different hair treatments, it isn’t good for every single hair type. So for some people, using coconut oil isn’t recommended, as it will ruin your hair more than help it grow stronger.
If you use coconut oil on the wrong hair type, or your hair is weak, brittle, or extremely dry, then the coconut oil may cause some harm. Some of the negative consequences that it can cause include:
- Protein build-up in the hair
- Blocking moisture
- Causing dryness
- Causing breakage of the hair
Although, in general, you should be fine to use coconut oil on your hair, and it will prove to be very beneficial, it’s important to reduce the risk of possible damage. So one of the things you can do is make sure that you are using coconut oil in the correct manner.
Here are some tips and tricks when using coconut oil on your hair:
- Virgin coconut oil is the safest type of coconut oil to use. This unrefined variety is the best to reduce any risks, and it is also recommended for those with sensitive skin or possible allergies.
- Use coconut oil in liquid or melted form. This is the best way to use it so that it is actually beneficial to your hair, and gets absorbed properly. If your coconut oil is solid, then place it in a microwave bowl or similar, and heat it until melted. (You could also just rub it in your hands beforehand to warm it up and melt it!)
- Whenever you use coconut oil, you have to remember to wash it out. So even if you’re leaving coconut oil in your hair overnight, you still have to then wash it out of your hair with shampoo in the morning. At the very least, always make sure to wash it off of your scalp, as it could otherwise cause irritation or blockage if left there for a long time.
- Pair the use of coconut oil with the use of essential oils. This will enhance the benefits of coconut oil so that a positive outcome is far more likely.
Do you put coconut oil on wet or dry hair?
Coconut oil can be applied to both wet and dry hair. However, as a general rule, it should mostly be applied only to wet hair, as that is when the hair will be able to properly absorb it, and when the coconut oil will actually prove to be beneficial.
If too much coconut oil is applied to dry hair, instead of being beneficial it might just cause blockage, or buildup, which then leads to negative consequences.
So we recommend sticking to wet hair when you are applying coconut oil hair treatments, and if you are going to use some on dry hair, make sure it is a very small amount and do not apply it too often.
Does coconut oil add protein to hair?
Coconut oil does not contain any proteins, and therefore, it does not actually add any extra protein to your hair.
Instead, coconut oil is mostly made out of lauric acid, and this is what can help restore and strengthen the structure of protein within your hair. So while coconut oil does not add any more protein, it does help reduce any protein loss from your hair, so that you retain more of your natural proteins.
This way, the protein structure in your hair is strengthened so that it is better maintained, allowing your hair to grow stronger, longer, and faster. All while looking and feeling healthier than it was before.
Does coconut oil help repair damaged hair?
Coconut oil is mostly made out of lauric acid, but it also contains capric acid and vitamin E. The molecular structure of coconut oil is perfect for being deeply absorbed by most types of hair, which is why it is such an effective treatment, which can provide many benefits.
Amongst other things, coconut oil can be used to deeply condition dry and damaged hair, so that it is hydrated and restored to health. It will also prevent protein loss within the hair, helping your hair retain its strength so that it can grow faster and healthier, while also looking and feeling better than ever.
So basically…yes. Coconut oil can help repair damaged hair and is great for long-term use through many different types of hair treatments and applications.
However, if your hair is too damaged, coconut oil should be applied with great care, as it might cause a build-up of proteins, especially if your hair is too weak to properly absorb the product!
