Did you know coconut oil for curly hair comes in two varieties? It’s crucial to know the differences so you can reap the benefits of this super oil.
In this blog post I’ll tell you about 3 super easy ways how to use it in you hair care routine to encourage healthy hair growth.
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Coconut oil and curls are the perfect match if you are a curly girl with dry hair. Since this oil is a versatile ingredient, it can be used during every stage of your wash day whether you have tight coils or ringlet curls.
Coconut oil and curls are the perfect match if you are a curly girl with dry hair. Since this oil is a versatile ingredient, it can be used during every stage of your wash day whether you have tight coils or ringlet curls.
As a product for curly hair, coconut oil is great at getting moisture back into your hair from root to tip. If you’re battling frizzy hair, a dry scalp or your hair has been feeling lackluster, introducing coconut oil into your hair care routine is a great idea.
There’s a reason why so many people with natural hair love this oil and who knows, it could become a firm favorite in your collection too. Here are three simple techniques to experience all of the benefits of coconut oil.
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Types of coconut oil to choose from
Coconut oil comes in two varieties: refined and unrefined. It’s crucial to know the distinctions so you can reap the full advantages of coconut oil on your curls.
The main difference between the two is how they are processed and the type of coconut meat that’s used — this results in how nutritionally dense the oil becomes.
Rather than picking the first jar you see, here’s some more information on the various sorts of jars available.
Unrefined coconut oil (cold pressed)
Coconut oil that has not been processed is sometimes known as virgin or extra virgin coconut oil. This variety is made from fresh coconut meat that has been cold-pressed, which means it may have been handled organically to keep its scent or purity.
The oil is made entirely of coconut oil and has no hazardous solvents or compounds. The oil is extracted as the coconut meat is squeezed.
Coconut can be pressed in two different ways:
- dry
- and wet.
The dry process entails heating the fresh coconut before pressing it using a machine to extract the oil.
The wet process, on the other hand, involves pressing fresh coconut through a machine to create coconut milk and oil which then get separated.
Refined coconut oil
When it comes to refined coconut oil this is made with dried coconut meat that’s pressed through a machine to extract the oil. This process uses steam or heat to deodorize the product.
The key difference between the refined and unrefined process is that refined oil is filtered through clays to remove any impurities or bacteria.
Refined coconut tends to have a more neutral scent. So if you don’t like strong smells in your hair this could be a better choice. Also, it has a longer shelf life so you can get more use out of refined coconut oil.
What type of coconut oil is best for your hair?
Overall, any sort of coconut oil is beneficial to curly hair, but unrefined coconut oil is usually preferred — this is due to the fact that unrefined coconut oil is less processed and so contains no additives.
Unrefined coconut oil is also more nutritionally dense and retains natural enzymes usually lost through processing. So in conclusion, your hair will benefit from all of the natural goodness if you use unrefined coconut oil.
In particular, using cold pressed coconut oil (unrefined oil) can give curly hair the best results. For natural hair to thrive it requires a good routine and high-quality products including natural ingredients such as coconut oil.
If you do decide to use the unrefined version on your hair, be mindful that a small amount of coconut oil goes a long way especially due to the consistency.
Pros: is coconut good for curly hair?
Coconut oil has numerous advantages for all types of curly hair. It’s a hero when it comes to repairing damaged hair, which can be caused by:
- hair malnutrition (in particular, a lack of protein, biotin, zinc, and good fats),
- excessive heat exposure,
- vigorous tugging or brushing,
- overuse of hot tools and more.
Here are some of the advantages of coconut oil for hair:
Provides moisture throughout your hair
Thanks to the medium-chain fatty acid known as lauric acid in coconut oil, it’s great at providing moisture across the hair. The oil has a long, straight structure, which is more easily absorbed deep into the hair shaft compared to many other natural ingredients.
Furthermore, the molecular structure of coconut oil makes its molecules the perfect size and weight to slip under hair cuticles so your curls are nourished from the inside out. With deep hydration, coconut oil actually penetrates the hair instead of sitting on the surface.
Prevents protein loss
Because hair is made up of protein, keeping a healthy protein balance is beneficial to all hair types. Coconut oil can help to reduce protein loss, which can result in brittle, damaged hair or even hair loss.
Protein gives hair structure and helps it grow longer and stronger by strengthening and repairing the keratin.
Curly hair is frequently misunderstood as being incapable of growing past a particular length. But the truth is that you may have long, gorgeous curls if you take care of your hair and use the appropriate products.
It has microbial properties that promote a healthy scalp
Coconut oil also possesses antibacterial characteristics that can aid with a variety of scalp-related ailments such as dandruff, as well as reducing bacteria and fungus.
Scalp issues can occur for people with all hair types. However, it can be a more common problem for people with curly hair because the variety of products we use. These products can irritate the scalp, especially if it isn’t thoroughly washed.
Cons: does coconut oil damage curly hair?
Of course, coconut oil does not work for everyone and all hair types. The same properties that make coconut oil so effective as a hair treatment might also make it more harmful to other types of hair.
Here are some of the cons you should be aware of:
The consistency can be too heavy
Depending on the type of coconut oil you use and your hair type, it can be too heavy and weigh your hair down. As good as this oil is at sealing in moisture, it can cause build up. Especially if you have fine hair.
Using a small amount of coconut oil on your hair strands is usually best. Yet, if your hair reacts better to lightweight products this oil might not be the right choice for your needs.
You might want to other natural oils like Sunflower oil or Babbasu oil since they’re lightweight and also penetrate your hair shaft.
Too much can lead to protein overload
If you have low porosity hair then you may be sensitive to protein. Although protein is great for our hair, using too much coconut oil could lead to protein overload for some people.
To avoid this, keep a close eye on how your curls react after using the oil for the first few times including common symptoms such as hair snapping or becoming straw-like in texture.
How to use coconut oil
So how should you use coconut oil? Well, there are many ways of applying the oil depending on your hair’s needs.
It can be used to provide deep hydration to dry curls as well as keep knots at bay. To get the best results from coconut oil it’s not a case of leaving it on overnight.
1. As a pre-poo treatment
When you wash and dry your hair, the hair shaft expands and shrinks, resulting in hygral exhaustion and damage. Pre-poo treatments involve putting oil to the hair before shampooing to protect it from these effects.
Coconut oil is an excellent option. Simply untangle your wet hair and apply coconut oil to the ends and scalp before shampooing. The oil will lift from the surface of your hair as you shampoo.
2. As a deep conditioner
Whether you want to encourage hair growth, lock in moisture or boost shine, a coconut oil deep conditioner can restore your locks.
There are different ways of making a coconut-based hair mask such as applying the oil to your hair and putting a shower cap on top to lock in the heat.
Alternatively, place a bowl in warm water and add one scoop of a pre-made hair mask, a few drops of coconut oil, argan oil or another oil of your choice.
Using pure coconut as part of your deep conditioner treatment regularly can also help with frizz by smoothing your hair and encouraging curl definition.
3. As a natural detangler
Curly hair can get knotted easily which can lead to hair breakage, but using oil can prevent your curls from being ripped and damaged.
Put a small amount of coconut oil in your palms and heat it up between your hands. You can then apply it to the ends of your hair to make detangling easier and keep your curls moisturized at the same time.
You should find that removing knots is a less painful process even with just a little coconut oil.
Have you added coconut oil to your hair routine? There are so many benefits of using natural ingredients in your hair regime for all hair types but especially curls.
If you’ve noticed that your hair is dry or you want to use more natural products, why don’t you give coconut oil a go?
About the author
Angela is a curly girl and has been a beauty blogger since 2012. Because of her passion for beauty and hair, she has been a certified makeup artist since 2016 and has done multiple hair styling trainings. As a cosmetics lover, she writes reviews on cosmetics and provides different solutions that facilitate your daily beauty and curls routine.