Thread: Coconut Oil for Hair Users... Newbie here

Some of the wording used in this article doesn't make sense to me. For instance, what does "more open in their structure" mean when the author is referring to jojoba? I'm wondering if they meant to simply say "big" but why wouldn't they just say "larger structure?" They're not clear as to what this means at all. I'm also unclear on why they use the word "stronger" in reference to the effects of oil on hair. I want more moisturized and softened hair, not "stronger" hair. I'm not interested in tying my hair to a barbell and increasing the amount of weight I can pull up. It's odd the way this article was worded.

Also, one of the comments at the bottom say the study actually only compared two oils (coconut and mineral), not all the oils listed in the article here. I'm curious to read this study, but I can't find it on google! Did anyone else have more luck finding it?

I think the vast amount of conflicting information we've all found indicates there isn't a whole lot of research out there to confirm any one particular oil is best for hair. But I will be going to my local Whole Foods to get some coconut oil, and I WILL be frying some eggs in it (my god that sounds tasty!), and I may just rub it on my hair, along with the jojoba I bought last night. Heck, I'll try it all! :-)

I am SO incredibly unqualified to give any comment on whatever molecular structure.. but I second your last sentence to the fullest :)

Besides conflicting and downright contradictory research on all types of fats and oils is so prevalent in the nutritional sciences (like the demonification of pork throughout the 90s to recent rediscovery how moderately fat pork carries tremendous health benefits if eaten in moderate amounts; like the dynamic stretching, stretching as a warm-up, warm-up only through aerobic activity then stretching fads etc etc) why should it be different here?

Hey people need to make a living in the scientific community. no wonder once some correlation is discovered they'll exploit it to the fullest, once it is sucked completely dry one needs of course propagate the exact opposite to feed the community for another few years on it.
Sorry heavy science sarcasm here. Desperate PhD student speaking (no, nothng with sports or nutrition.. it s all the same anyway, at least in mode of operation :) )

I don't know much about the molecular and other structures of coconut oil :) but all I know is that I love it!
I use it for:
- cooking
- for skin on face and body. It dissolves quickly and it's not greasy. It also smells like coconut.
- for hair, either on split ends or deep conditioner before I wash it or just a light conditioner after I dry my hair. As stated above, it's not greasy, but make sure you don't put on too much.
- it's also great for make up removal, I dampen a cotton ball, stick it in the coconut oil, (make sure it's just a few drops) and then run it through my eyes. It removes everything, waterproof mascara, stage make up, real kohl, and does not irritate my eyes.

One thing that helps me with storage: I use the big jar in the kitchen. I have a very small jar in the bathroom, that used to have foundation in it (it's glass) and just pour a little in that. That gets used up within a couple of weeks, I clean it and refill it with more oil. The first time I bought the oil I used it in my bathroom. I ended up throwing out half of the bottle because it got contaminated with bacteria, and dust - ew. It started smelling. I know, not very sanitary. But with he new method, it's great.

Marianna.. thanks for sharing.
So - yours is an oil?? Always? Never hardens?
Is there something wrong with mine?
It said it was 100% organic and good quality though!

The text is in German unfortunately..
Essential Foods Online-Shop

When it arrived it really looked like butter. The text accompanying it explained it would only be oil above a certain temperature (23 degrees celsius.. pretty warm room temperature).

Oh and regarding "not too much": I'm totally in danger of applying way too much for whatever product I'm using. Please share the amount you are using so that I do not end up like a bathed rat with greasy hair tomorrow :-D

I'm reading this with interest. Does anyone know if the oils can help color treated hair?

hmmm. I wouldn't see why they shouldn't? after all, chemical moisturizers in hair masks from the drug store are beneficial, no? I can't see why pure oil wouldn't be?

try going to an indian grocer and get amla hair oil or a coconut oil

Put it on the ends while dry, or use it as a hair mask. It is a wonderful sun block as well. Little goes a loong way!

Coconut oil works similar mineral oil other oils don't. If you read you lotion, conditionar and what not most have mineral oil which acts as a absorbent allowing the other ingredeants to be absorbed as well. It is also a patrolium product so those not wishing to use white patrolium on skin/hair coconut oil also does this to a lesser dagree and is a nice alturnitive, other oils just slide across the skin. I like to mix my other stuff with the coconut (unrefined cold pressed) oil ;-)

Dina - coconut oil is usually hard (not too hard, soft, but has the consistency of fat). But in slightly room temp. it melts, so during the summer it's clear oil. When it gets colderit gets thicker. I actuallu like it more when thicker, because you can still use it, even better: just dampen the cotton ball, and wipe off a bit of the oil. What you get is enough. When the oil is melted, like now, I have to be careful not to use too much.

As far as not too much for your hair: trial and error. Always use a little, and then more, until you find out how much you need. But normally, after I wash my hair and it's still wet (damp) I stick all 8 fingers (2 thumbs left out :) ) in the jar and just run that through the ends of my hair. And that is normally enough.
Then when it's dry, I might use some more, only on the ends.

Samira: yes, definitely good for color treated hair, permed, damaged, really anything. I can't see how coconut oil could cause any harm on any hair.

I also use a sugar or salt scrub with the coconut oil: I moisten my face, then add coconut oil as a moisterizer and then scrub with fine sugar or fine salt. (when I have time I crush sea salt). When you're done and wash it off, your face will be soft and smooth :)

hi Marianna.. oh oh. I used way too much. Thanks for the description anyway, I will know better next time!
(I heated three tea spoons and applied it all.. ended up shampooing three times to not look ratty :) )

I like the peeling with salt or sugar idea! Salt should have the effect of curing imperfections. and on the body salt can make the skin firmer by somehow "purging" (if that is the right word). Apply lots of salt to the legs, belly, behind in the shower on wet skin. Cheapest salt you can find will do :) let it "sink" for 15 min. Rinse off and you'll have the firmest skin. For a peeling and external smoothness you can of course rub the salt on the skin.

can help get rid of cellulite or prevent it.

I love coconut oil! I make sugar scrubs with it too. I suggest that you use the extra fine sugar, it really works to exfoliate and moisturize. For an extra tropical treat infuse it with a vanilla bean or add a few drops of vanilla extract. MMMMM.

I have very fine hair and find that the coconut oil is heavy on my hair for daily wear so I use it as a treatment. Put is on, shower cap, warm hair dryer or sit in the sun. I sometimes put it in a spray bottle and mist the ends of my hair.

AND coconut water. You can actually live off of it. I LOVE it. Coconuts are really are amazing things.

I use bergamont and any light oil as a scalp treatment a after washing it out, I follow up with coconut oil. It seems to do pretty good.

that sounds good.. but do you treat your scalp after every shampooing? I heard if there is not a particular issue one should be careful with bringing the scalp out of natural balance..

I love coconuts so much - that's my favorite scent. I use a natural based coconut lotion ALL the time from the local health food store. One big tube lasted me over a year, I just bought my second one.
I also don't use traditional perfume, I buy essential oils and roll those on, or mix them with vodka and spray. My favorite is Black Coconut from the same store, or regular coconut essential oil (sometimes they have it on Ebay).
Second choice for perfume: anything sweet, I have vanilla and chocolate!! I love walking around smelling like chocolate. I am not into eating sweets, but definitely like smelling like them :))

Oh.. I love chocolate. And I would love smelling like it.
How do you get the scent, which oils?

I bought the chocolate oil at one of the local swapmeets - a girl was selling all kinds of oils, they had fruits like mango, peach, etc, and all smelled like the real thing. Originally I think they are for burning, which I tried and my house smelled like chocolate. Then i tested on my skin to see if it would irritate it, and it didn't. So from then on I use it as a perfume, sometimes I mix it with vanilla - yum.
You can try ebay, someone might have it, or google essential oils.

A long time ago I was using cocobutter for moisterizer. The real pure cocoa butter, not the one that is mixed with lotion. That was similar to the coconut oil's consistency, it was even harder, but melted in warmer room temperature. Once I walked into a store, a lady next me said: oh my God, you smell like chocolate! Can I lick your arm? :))

Originally Posted by dinavienna

Ladies - I got myself extra virgin coconut oil by an essential foods organic products online seller.

Now it just arrived - the info coming with it says below 24 degrees (celsius) it has a butter like consistency, and only above that it turns to oil. is yours like this too?
So you heat it before applying it to the hair?

I tried it as a butter substitute on bread and that was GOOD! Will try the eggs tomorrow.

I wonder - how long can one wait for it to cool off a bit until it hardens again? Interesting stuff this coconut oil :)

Usually, the heat from your fingers will melt it almost instantly. You can just rub it in your hands for a second or two, and it will liquify.

I agree with carpe diem, you don't need to heat it. If you cook with it, you will see that it heats so much faster than olive oil, by the way.
Now that it's colder here, my coconut oil hardened in the little jar I have it in the bathroom. It's so much easier to use it like that, I just dip my fingers in there, and what is left on it is just enough for my face. (whereas in the summer if I wasn't careful, it was too much)

Originally Posted by carpediem

Usually, the heat from your fingers will melt it almost instantly. You can just rub it in your hands for a second or two, and it will liquify.

AY, I should have thought of that! thanks :)
quite logical since the human skin has about 35 or 36 degrees (celsius) temperature ..l;,

thanks ladies :)
oh by the way: In case someone ever makes my mistake and takes WAY too much for their hair (I had veery long thick hair 2 weeks ago - and heated 3 tea spoons and used most of that on the length of my hair).

Long story short: I shampooed three times in 2 days. When i went to see my hairdresser my hair was still oily.. he might have cut more than usually because of that, like revenge :)

Well when he used the straightening iron I was clouded in strange smoke. he said it was the coconut oil evaporating. (my hair wasn't burned or anything.. looks very healthy actually)

I used very little on the ends today, just with the fingers.. and even though I rinsed it with water I get the impression my hair is slightly oily at the bottom. My hair might not need the moisturizing? I might do it more rarely.

I just liked the idea of doing it good in a natural way.

I love the cooking with coconut oil though. it does heat so fast!
and an omelette not only takes the fantastic coconut taste - I am a klutz with omelettes. they always burn or crumble. WIth the coconut oil I made a PERFECT omelette :)

Originally Posted by samiramirage

AND coconut water. You can actually live off of it. I LOVE it. Coconuts are really are amazing things.

Me too. I love coconut water, I could drink just that everyday.

By the way Dina, in my house the coconut oil is always liquid except for about 2 days out of the year. But it's always about 80 degrees farenheit in here. I often put some coconut oil in a travel size when I travel and then i'm shocked when it's solid in the hotel. Then I have to heat the bottle up under the hot water in the sink to be able to use it on my hair.

I went to the same swapmeet today, and bought oil that smells like coffe. It was the same vendor that sells the chocolate. I can't wait to try it out. It was only $3.5 for a nice size, although small jar. (it should last me at least 6 months). If i don't like it as perfume, I can always put it on the oil burner, so either way it will work.
But if it works well as perfume, I can mix it with the chocolate. yum :)
when I mixed the black coconut + chocolate, it had a such a rich, delicious scent! Very unique!