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

I read on a previous post that Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is really good for hair as a conditioner, and after doing some research, I decided to buy some. I have asian straight black hair that ends at hip level. My hair is really healthy (I don't blow dry or style it more than twice a month) but the last 4 inches are pretty rough... very dry with split ends galore.

Here's my game plan. I'm gonna get 2 inches trimmed off in the near future, and then I'm going to go back every 2 months for another 1/2 inch trim until all the dry, brittle ends are gone.

I'd like to use the VCO mainly for the ends to mid back, not too much higher since my hair is pretty healthy already.

Please share with me your methods for using VCO. Do you use it in addition to conditioner, or as a replacement? How often do you use it, and when (in the shower, at night, etc...)? Any and all info is helpful!

TIA!

I use coconut oil for hair, body, bath, to cook with, and as a supplement. It's so great.

I have naturally kinky hair.
For my hair I add it after I do a Co-wash. I don't put it on my scalp but on my actual hair. You can also use it as a hot oil treatment.

I do have one question? Why not just cut off the full 4 inches first? I've found that removing damaged hair helps the hair to grow and makes it much healthier.

Because hubby would be really, really sad to see all that length go at one time. The split ends are at about the last 2 inches, so that's why I want to take off only 2 inches for now, and maintain it every 2 months to prevent more splits. I'm hoping the coconut oil will help with that, and perhaps the upper 2 inches will 'heal' with it's help, too.

I've read a few accounts where VCO has helped dry, brittle hair become healthier. I'm hoping that'll be the case for me, too!

Okay that makes more sense. Good luck.

I have heard this is good. I condition my ends with a heavier conditioner in the shower. I would like to hear more about it too. I also have a spray gloss I use on the ends during the day.

I have mid-back, naturally curly, naturally dry hair.
I use both jojoba oil and coconut oil as leave-in conditioners. Just a little bit of both on my hair (not the scalp) leaves my hair nice and moisturized.

Originally Posted by mrsdolphina

I have mid-back, naturally curly, naturally dry hair.
I use both jojoba oil and coconut oil as leave-in conditioners. Just a little bit of both on my hair (not the scalp) leaves my hair nice and moisturized.

thanks! do you use it every day, every other day.... ? i don't know how often i need to use it.

I've never used VCO as a conditioner, only to cook with. After the initial cut, maybe soak the ends in the oil and hold a hot towel on that part. Like a hot oil treatment

Originally Posted by xodinahox

thanks! do you use it every day, every other day.... ? i don't know how often i need to use it.

I use it every time I wash my hair, which usually ends up being every few days. It will probably take a bit of experiementation to find just the right amount for your hair.

i love vco. use it in my hair all the time, skin & nails too. the amount depends on the porosity of your hair. since yours is straight, you will need less than a curly girl since your hair cuticle lies flat, keeping in your natural moisture. use a tiny bit, you can always add more. the amount depends on the weather, if you shampoo or co-wash, etc.

I also use it in my hair. Like some have mentioned it is a bit of trial and error. I put about a quarter size amount in my palm and rub it around and apply it tot he ends of my wet hair after the shower. I avoid my scalp since its naturally oily. Just be careful about using too much for it IS oil!
I have long, fine, curly hair and a lot of it. Even though I take great care of my hair and it is healthy (I hardly ever apply heat or harsh products to my hair and use GOOD salon conditioners & products) I get split ends as well. Some types of hair are just prone to it more no matter how well its taken care of. Regular trims helps a lot! I would also recommend a reconstructive conditioner to use about once a week in addition to the coconut oil. I really like K-Pak by Joico.
Good luck!
xoxo,
-NJ

Hi ladies,

where do you get your virgin oils?
At an online source?
I checked with local organic product stores, and was unable to find "pure" oils.. Would love to start using them especially coconut and jojoba.. thanks!

I just go to the health food store

Originally Posted by rakgirl

I just go to the health food store

me too. just look up some brands on line and contact them about local distributors in your area.

I bought mine to cook with (eggs fried in coconut oil are AMAZING), but I also made an exfoliating body scrub by mixing it with sugar. Rub it all over (in the shower), focusing on knees, elbows, heels & other thick-skinned areas, then rinse in warm water. The sugar melts away, but the oil stays on & moisturizes. Good for the lips too.

This is the oil I use:
Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Originally Posted by dinavienna

Hi ladies,

where do you get your virgin oils?
At an online source?
I checked with local organic product stores, and was unable to find "pure" oils.. Would love to start using them especially coconut and jojoba.. thanks!

i got mine at a 'reformhaus' here in germany... in the organic foods section.

so i used it for the first time yesterday right after the shower.... and again when my hair was dry. i only used just a bit at the ends and worked up another 6 inches or so. after 2 applications, i figured i was good to go. boy, was i wrong! my hair just soaked it all up, so i decided to do a third application in the evening about 2 hours before going to bed. this time, my hair was a little heavy and lank let it gets when it's too oily, so i figured i over-did it. nope! by the time i went to bed, my hair had absorbed all of the excess oil again. geez, does that mean that my hair is waaaaaay dry and dying of thirst????? .w.:

Ya :)
I'd say so. At least coiffeurs always explain it that way - that the excess will not be absorbed, only what is "needed".

So good that you're using it!
I went to a "reformhaus" too, but it's a tiny one. I'll have to check out the huge ones somewhat off the city centre :)

Thanks for the suggestion! And that link looks really good, maybe I can order from there!

amazon, vitacost.com, vitaglo.com

all carry it
I love both coconut and jojoba oils
but beware of using coconut in winter if you are not going to wash it out
it freezes in your hair! lol
but its great for all the other seasons!

GOSH!
Thanks for warning :)

Amazon is a great hint. I'd checked ebay only. Thanks!!

I use coconut oil on my ends every day, and I oil my hair heavily and leave it on overnight before I wash it with shampoo (about once a week, other days I do CO wash)

you should check out The Long Hair Community forums :)

Hm what about the other way around? wash it in the evening let it in overnight and wash again in the morning? I used to do that in summers with high quality olive oil some years ago.
Don't know why I stopped - probably because I hate sleeping with a towel.. and it would not stay on properly. But it made the hair very well cared for.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

Hm what about the other way around? wash it in the evening let it in overnight and wash again in the morning? I used to do that in summers with high quality olive oil some years ago.
Don't know why I stopped - probably because I hate sleeping with a towel.. and it would not stay on properly. But it made the hair very well cared for.

My hairdresser told me the olive oil molecule was too big to be absorbed by your hair. The jojoba molecule is smaller and is more readily absorbed. I use a salon hair oil (though I'm going to start using either coconut or jojoba oil once the salon oil is gone), and I put it on from the ends to halfway up my hair at night, wrap it in a bun on the very top of my head, sleep on an old pillow, and wash it out in the morning. No need for a towel.

Originally Posted by xodinahox

Because hubby would be really, really sad to see all that length go at one time. The split ends are at about the last 2 inches, so that's why I want to take off only 2 inches for now, and maintain it every 2 months to prevent more splits. I'm hoping the coconut oil will help with that, and perhaps the upper 2 inches will 'heal' with it's help, too.

I've read a few accounts where VCO has helped dry, brittle hair become healthier. I'm hoping that'll be the case for me, too!

I know for myself that if I ever cut off four inches of my hair at one time, I would go into shock.

This is really interesting. I love cocoanut oil for my body; I never thought of using it for my hair.

Originally Posted by SummerSahar

My hairdresser told me the olive oil molecule was too big to be absorbed by your hair. The jojoba molecule is smaller and is more readily absorbed. I use a salon hair oil (though I'm going to start using either coconut or jojoba oil once the salon oil is gone), and I put it on from the ends to halfway up my hair at night, wrap it in a bun on the very top of my head, sleep on an old pillow, and wash it out in the morning. No need for a towel.

oh really? Wow!
That's weird because I read so many times the beauty secret of Sicilian women is they rub olive oil into their hair! It might be doing good without being compatible molecule-wise?! I know for sure it made the hair much better - healthier looking, shinier (and that was not from the oil - it is of course washed out ..l;,)

Originally Posted by dinavienna

oh really? Wow!
That's weird because I read so many times the beauty secret of Sicilian women is they rub olive oil into their hair! It might be doing good without being compatible molecule-wise?! I know for sure it made the hair much better - healthier looking, shinier (and that was not from the oil - it is of course washed out ..l;,)

I think some of the olive oil can be absorbed, but jojoba, I believe, is more efficient. It has a similar structure to sebum, the hair's natural moisturizer. Plus, a few articles I've seen say that olive oil can darken hair over time, which is an issue for blondies like me:
Essential Natural Dry Hair Oil | Olive, Almond Oil for hair | Hair Care Tips and Skin Care Tips Blog

Thanks for that link! very interesting!
But I think the darkening referred to rosemary oil?

I could not tell whether olive oil darkened my hair because it's black anyway, and a tick darker in summer, and that is when I always used it after bathing/sunbathing to help the hair regain moisture..

I ordered virgin coconut oil from an online source can't wait :)

Rosemary (and olive?) oil according to that article is said to fight the first grey hairs with its darkening effect! Now is that fantastic!
So once I get my first greys (hopefully long way to go :) ) I will not panic, try chemicals or whatever.. but go for olive and rosemary oil :-D

Originally Posted by SummerSahar

I think some of the olive oil can be absorbed, but jojoba, I believe, is more efficient. It has a similar structure to sebum, the hair's natural moisturizer. Plus, a few articles I've seen say that olive oil can darken hair over time, which is an issue for blondies like me:
Essential Natural Dry Hair Oil | Olive, Almond Oil for hair | Hair Care Tips and Skin Care Tips Blog

Also the hairdresser might have been told that by an industry that wants to sell expenisve products instead of having us mix our own in the kitchen.

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 :)

Here is an article about treating hair with oils that surprised me:O

Two Natural Oils That Make Your Hair Shiny and Strong | The Beauty Brains

(I like jojoba oil for the skin)

that is an interesting article indeed!