Coconut oil is one of the best natural oils for hair care. It contains medium-chain fatty acids (which allow it penetrate more deeply into the hair shaft than other oils), Vitamin K, Vitamin E and Iron. It is an excellent hair conditioner as it improves the structure of the hair and can repair damaged hair. It also promotes scalp health due its antifungal and antibacterial properties. It aids hair growth and prevents hair from shedding excessively. It is actually the only oil that can prevent protein loss in the hair.

For hair care purposes, it is best to use extra virgin coconut oil. Coconut oil is versatile and can be used for hair care in a variety of ways which are shared below:



As a Scalp Oil: Apply coconut oil to your scalp and it may reduce hair shedding which would in turn promote overall hair growth. Using coconut oil as a scalp oil prevents hair breakage due its nourishing properties. Coconut oil on the scalp can also treat or prevent dandruff. You can apply coconut oil to your scalp once or twice a week or even daily it depends on what actually works for your hair. For more effective results ensure you massage the oil properly into your scalp which will further increase the benefits of the oil and improve scalp circulation thus improving hair growth.

Pre shampoo (Pre poo) Treatment: I have done a post on pre poo treatments here you may want to read it to find out more on pre pooing. Coconut oil can be applied all over the hair and on the scalp and the hair can be covered with a plastic cap for at least 20 to 30 minutes (you can definitely go longer), a few hours or overnight if possible before washing the hair. Coconut oil is an excellent pre poo treatment because it prevents hygral fatigue which occurs when the hair strand swells excessively when the hair is wet e.g. when it is being washed. Coconut oil therefore allows the hair to maintain its structure whilst it is being washed which leads to less damaged hair that is less likely to break.

As a Hot Oil Treatment: Coconut oil is also extremely good as a hot oil treatment because it strengthens the hair due to its protein content, conditions the scalp and effectively adds moisture to the hair as well. To use this oil simply heat it up slightly and apply on the scalp and hair and cover with a plastic cap at least for 20 – 30 minutes or even overnight for maximum benefit. You can read my post on hot oil treatments to find out more.

As a Deep Conditioner: Some people deep condition with only coconut oil. First you wet hair lightly so that it is slightly damp (if you want to do it on dry hair) or else you can start with hair that is already damp after shampooing and then you apply coconut oil all over the hair, massaging it into your scalp. You can then cover your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a dryer for 20- 30 minutes (at the very barest minimum) (or longer if that is your preference) or you might just cover your hair with a plastic cap and allow your body heat work its magic (You can do this overnight for optimum benefits).

As a Deep Conditioner Addition: You can also add about a tablespoon of coconut oil to your deep conditioner to enhance its benefits.

As a Sealant: One of the best uses I have found for coconut oil is that it is an excellent sealant. Out of all the other natural oils I have tried I can honestly say that coconut oil is the very best. This is because it actually protects the structural integrity of the hair and prevents the tips/ends from splitting and breaking off. Due to the fatty acids (including the lauric acid) in Coconut Oil they bind to the hair shaft, protecting it from breakage which leads to good looking ends. We all know that damaged ends eventually result in shorter hair. Coconut oil is also a very beneficial sealant because it penetrates the hair shaft and prevents moisture from escaping. So coconut oil may be used to seal the hair every day after moisturising concentrating your efforts particularly on the ends of the hair. It can also prevent your hair from sun damage.

As a Detangler: Coconut oil may be effective in ensuring that the hair is free from tangles. Simply apply the oil throughout the hair, you may work in sections to make the process easier and then gently detangle. 

Please share if you have used coconut oil and how you use it. Hope you enjoyed this post and if you have post suggestions on topics you would like to see on the blog please drop a comment below or send an email.

TONKABELLE, xoxo



” I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering…. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be.”
In “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat,” his first speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons May 13, 1940, quoted by Jeffrey R. Holland in “However Long and Hard the Road” BYU Devotional 18 Jan 1983 – Winston Churchill