Since childhood, I have always heard our elders saying to apply coconut oil. Coconut oil was like a miracle oil in our household.
- Got hurt- apply coconut oil
- Winter skin crack and dryness- apply coconut oil
- Dry hair- apply coconut oil.
It’s like our every skin and hair problem solution was coconut oil. Even I didn’t find any other oil in our household apart from coconut oil. And once in a while Almond oil used to show up. So, is coconut oil worthy that it takes all the attention and makes other oil feel inferior?
Let’s understand in detail how to use coconut oil for hair. And what are the benefits of coconut oil for curly hair? Also, is coconut oil good for curly hair?
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Why Does Coconut Oil Work for Curly Hair?
It is true that coconut oil works for curly hair, but what is it that makes coconut oil so special for hair? Well, it is the composition of it. Made with medium-chain fatty acid like lauric acid, coconut oil becomes lighter in weight and that makes it easy for it to get absorbed.
Curls have a coiled structure, which makes the travel of oil difficult. You need oil that gets absorbed in the hair strands and makes them soft and smooth. Coconut oil helps to strengthen the hair, reduce frizz, and take care of hair dryness.
But now the question arises- is coconut oil good for curly hair?
Is Coconut Oil Good for Curly Hair?
Saying Coconut oil is good for curly hair will be a very general statement, following that the effectiveness of oil actually depends on the texture of the hair. Curls are on the drier side, we all know that and this is the reason it require immense hydration and moisturization.
Coconut oil being rich in lauric acid, is a natural moisturizer that helps to hydrate the curls and combat the frizziness. However, the absorption of oil in the hair strands actually depends on the hair porosity. If your curls are of low porosity, that means it is difficult for your curls to absorb the moisture then you may feel that coconut oil is not effective, as it will sit on your hair strand and won’t get absorbed in the hair.
And if your curls have high porosity, then the coconut oil will be easily absorbed in the hair strands making the curls soft and smooth.
So, the answer to- Is coconut oil good for curly hair? Actually depends on the texture of the curls.
What Are the Benefits of Using Coconut Oil for Curly Hair?
Let’s understand some of the benefits of coconut oil, which make the oil so hyped.
1. Deep Hydration-
Coconut oil helps to provide immense hydration to the curls. It penetrates easily in the hair shaft (only if you have high porosity hair) and makes the curls hydrated and moisturized.
2. Strengthens Hair-
Since the oil is deeply penetrated in the hair shaft, it will help to strengthen the curls and keep them moisturized.
3. Helps to Reduce Frizz-
Frizz is caused due to hair dryness, and the best way to combat the dryness of the curls is to keep them moisturized. Coconut oil helps in doing this by sealing the hair cuticles and preventing the curls.
4. Protects the Curls-
Using a little bit of coconut oil on your curls daily helps to protect the curls from environmental damage like high wind, extreme UV rays, and pollution. Oil helps to form an invisible layer on your curls and keep the curls protected.
What Are the Disadvantages of Coconut Oil for Hair?
Every hair product comes with pros and cons or advantages and disadvantages. In the above section, you have seen that coconut oil is all about the goodness it brings to the curls. But even coconut oil has some disadvantages, let’s understand it in more detail.
1. Weighs hair down-
One of the main disadvantages of coconut oil is it is too heavy for some hair types. Fine curls or low porosity hair can find coconut oil heavy for their hair strands, making the hair greasy.
2. Difficult to remove-
You must have seen that during winter, coconut oil solidifies, now if you apply the oil to your curls definitely it will be stuck in your hair strands, and removing it will be one hell of a task.
To remove coconut oil from your hair in such weather, you require strong clarifying shampoo. However, the use of the shampoo can also lead to hair dryness over time.
Best Coconut oil for Curly Hair
You might have noticed that these days there are different types of oil present in your hair. Different types mean oil made with different processes. Now, this again confuses our innocent mind on which oil to use.
Let’s understand the difference briefly-
1. Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil-
As the name suggests this process helps to press the coconut milk at low temperature. It is made without heating which helps to preserve the nutrients of the oil.
What are the benefits of cold-pressed coconut oil?
- Lightweight, and Non-greasy.
- Helps to keep natural nutrients like Vitamin E.
Pro tip- If you have fine or low-porosity hair, then using this oil is good.
2. Refined Coconut Oil-
This is made from dried coconut, also known as Khopra. Oil is refined in processes like bleaching, which helps to remove impurities.
What is the benefit of refined coconut oil?
- Longer shelf oil
- Provides moisture, although not rich in nutrients.
Pro tip- It is best for people having sensitive scalps.
3. Virgin Coconut Oil-
This oil is considered the best type of coconut oil, as it helps to retain nutrients in the oil and provides immense nourishment to hair.
Virgin coconut oil is extracted from fresh coconut milk using the process of fermentation. No bleaching is involved in the process.
What is the benefit of virgin coconut oil?
- It is high in lauric acid which deeply penetrates the hair strands.
- Contains a natural coconut smell.
Pro tip- This oil is best for curls that require immense moisturization.
4. Hot Pressed Coconut Oil-
This process uses heat to extract oil from the dry coconut. It brings more oil but loses some important nutrients due to high temperature.
What is the benefit of hot-pressed coconut oil?
- Affordable
- Provides nutrients but lacks antioxidants.
Pro tip- If you are into budget-friendly options, then this oil is best.
5. Centrifuged Coconut Oil-
In this process, fresh coconut milk is spun at high speed to extract the oil from water, without the use of heat.
What is the benefit of centrifuged coconut oil?
- High-quality coconut oil
- No loss of nutrients
- Lightweight and nourishing.
Pro tip- Those who wish to use only high-quality products.
Some of the best Coconut Oil for Hair are:
a. USDA Certified Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil-
An oil made from cold pressed technique, that helps to preserve the nutrients of the oil and make it healthy for curly hair. Applying this oil, you will feel your curls are healthier, as it helps to minimize the protein loss from hair strands and strengthen them.
Benefits-
- Deeply moisturizes hair strands.
- Helps to reduce frizz and dryness.
- Penetrates easily in the hair shaft.
Pro Tip- Use this oil as a pre-wash treatment.
Buy Now- USDA Certified Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
b. Soapeauty Cold Pressed Coconut Oil-
Though this oil is also made from cold pressed technique, it is labeled as “Extra virgin”, which means it is unrefined and made from copra. It has high nutrient content which makes it beneficial for curly hair.
Benefits-
- Reduces hair breakage and hair damage.
- Promotes scalp health.
- Enhances curl definition.
Pro Tip- Use this oil as a leave-in conditioner.
Buy Now- Soapeauty Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
c. Nutiva Organic Steam-Refined Coconut Oil-
Made with a new method of steam-refine, this coconut oil helps to remove the coconut scent and taste without the help of chemicals. With the help of minimal processing, the oil helps to retain nutrients in it.
Benefits-
- Lightweight formula.
- Helps to add shine.
- Protects hair from environmental damage.
Pro Tip- You can use this oil for any DIY treatment.
Buy Now- Nutiva Organic Steam-Refined Coconut Oil
d. Sky Organics Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil –
This extra virgin cold-pressed oil helps to retain the maximum amount of nutrients with minimal processing. It is free from harmful chemicals and certified organic.
Benefits-
- Acts as a deep condition.
- Helps to seal the moisture.
- Rich in Vitamin E and K.
Buy Now- Sky Organics Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
How to Apply Coconut Oil to Curly Hair
After gaining knowledge about the types of coconut oil and which oil will be best for you, now let’s see how to apply coconut oil to hair-
- Warm the oil- The best way to apply coconut oil on hair strands is to warm it a bit. You can either warm it by rubbing it in your palms or keep it in hot water. Warm coconut oil easily penetrates the hair shaft.
- Use of cotton- After you have warmed the coconut oil, applying the oil with the help of cotton will help it to spread over the scalp and keep the hair strands soft and smooth.
- Apply strategically- If your curls are thick and highly porous, apply the coconut oil from mid-length to end curly hair. But if your curls are fine and of low porosity, then don’t apply the oil on your scalp, it will help prevent buildup.
- Rinse properly- It is very necessary that you rinse your curls properly, the reason being after applying coconut oil it penetrates in the hair strands, but sometimes it also makes the hair greasy. Therefore, it is very necessary to use sulfate-free shampoo to wash the curls.
Best Time to Use Coconut Oil to Curly Hair
You can apply coconut oil three times to curly hair-
- Pre-Shower- If you have fine curls, then applying coconut oil 30-60 minutes before taking a shower is recommended. This way the oil won’t stay in the curls for long and will also help in hair moisturization.
- Overnight Treatment- If you have dry curls that need immense hydration and moisturization, then applying coconut oil for the whole night is preferable. Overnight treatment will help the curls to be more soft and smooth, as coconut oil penetrates easily in the hair strands and moisturizes the curls.
- Leave-in Conditioner- Coconut oil is considered a versatile oil that can be used as a leave-in conditioner too. After you have washed your curls, take a small amount of oil and apply it to the hair cuticles to seal the moisture in it.
What Are the Alternatives or Combinations You Can Try?
As I grew up and started to make my own decisions, I realized that there are other hair oils too apart from coconut oil that help curly hair to be healthy and defined.
So, the following are the oils that can be used as an alternative or in combination with coconut oil-
- Argan oil – One of the best oils that I came across after coconut oil. But I sometimes feel that Argan oil has even surpassed coconut oil in terms of quality. Those who have used Argan oil, know why it is so special for curly hair.
The oil is lightweight and rich in Vitamin E to moisturize the curls. Argan oil can be used daily to keep the curls soft and smooth.
- Jojoba oil- You know the best thing about Jojoba oil, it mimics your scalp’s texture, like if your scalp is oily, Jojoba oil will react accordingly and if your scalp is dry, it will help to produce more oil to moisturize the scalp.
- Almond oil- Another versatile oil that helps to seal the hair cuticles and soften them. After you have shampooed and conditioned your hair, applying this oil will help to moisturize the curls and keep them healthy.
Read more- Best Hair Oil for Curly Hair
FAQs on Is Coconut Oil Good for Curly Hair?
1. Is coconut good for curly hair?
Coconut oil is good for curly hair as it helps moisturize the hair strands and also seals the hair cuticles. But before applying coconut oil, it is necessary to understand the hair texture and hair type. So, that you get the best benefit of the oil.
2. Is coconut oil good for frizzy hair?
Yes, coconut oil is good for frizzy hair. To combat the frizziness, all you need is to provide moisturization and hydration to curls and coconut oil does this a lot better. Coconut oil helps to seal the moisturization in the curls and reduce the hair frizz and hair dryness.
3. Who should avoid coconut oil?
People who have got fine curls, and low-porosity hair should avoid coconut oil as it won’t penetrate easily and will stay on the hair strands only. Applying coconut oil in this hair type will make it greasy and will also be difficult to remove from shampoo.
