Coconut oil is a natural product that is used to care for hair and overly sensitive skin. The tool has moisturizing and nourishing qualities. Proper and systematic use of coconut oil helps to restore the hair structure, returns them softness and natural shine.
Types of Coconut Oil
By its nature, coconut oil is a processed product. By itself, the oil does not grow on the tree, it is extracted from coconut. Consequently, the only natural coconut oil is found inside fresh coconut, just removed from the tree.
Depending on the technical processing means, coconut oil is of different types.
Refined (refined coconut oil). It is produced by pressing the pulp of the nut. Then, using hot pressing, oil is extracted from it. To obtain pure raw materials use special bleaching clay. Sodium hydroxide is added to increase shelf life.
Unrefined (unrefined coconut oil). It is produced by drying fresh coconut pulp and subsequent cold pressing. Then coconut oil is squeezed from the pulp of the nut and boiled with the addition of enzymes. This helps to preserve the beneficial properties of the product without the addition of chemical additives.
Coconut oil-paste (coconut butter). This type is a high-fat coconut pulp. However, it is most often used for the preparation of culinary delights, and not as a cosmetic tool.
As a rule, the processed product can be purchased in specialized stores of organic or home cosmetics, pharmacies, online stores or hypermarkets.
It is more profitable to buy the product in countries where coconuts grow in tropical and subtropical areas. One of the most popular producers of coconut oil are Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Sri Lanka. To buy coconut oil in these countries is much more profitable than in domestic stores.
It is recommended to buy unrefined coconut oil, which is marked "virgin" or "oil of the first extraction." In such cases, you can achieve maximum benefits for the hair.
The average cost of coconut oil in a pharmacy ranges from 200 to 1,500 rubles. Price category depends on the manufacturer, quality and volume. You should not buy cheap goods, as, most likely, it does not include natural oily product from coconut. When choosing a tool, carefully study the label, the country of origin and other important information.
Benefit
Coconut oil is half composed of lauric acid, which is considered a natural antiseptic. Hyaluronic acid, which is part of the chemical composition of the product, gives it moisturizing properties. Also included are vitamins A and E, caprove, palmitic, linolenic, steoric, arachidonic acid. Triglycerides of saturated fatty acids help coconut oil to safely penetrate deep into the scalp and hair structure.
The benefits of coconut oil for hair:
- Effectively nourishes. The tool is considered a natural mask for all types of hair, which eliminates excessive dryness of the curls and restores split ends;
- Moisturizes. Coconut oil helps to cope with various damages, for example, after dyeing, chemical perms, regular use of a hair dryer, curts, etc. It also accelerates hair growth, fights baldness, makes hair smooth and silky;
- Disinfects. Coconut has always been considered a natural antiseptic. It helps to get rid of dandruff, seborrhea and itching;
- Perfectly protects. Ultraviolet sunlight, sudden changes in temperature and other external factors adversely affect the structure and general condition of the hair. Even cosmetologists recommend taking a tin of coconut oil with you on vacation. With it, you will not only save your hair, face and body from burns, but also do not let the skin and hair cover dry out.
Regular use of coconut oil creates a protective layer on the scalp that prevents the fibers from swelling.
Ways to use coconut oil for hair
To achieve the desired result it is very important to know how to apply coconut oil correctly. The tool can be used both in pure form and in combination with other esters or natural ingredients. Coconut oil is applied evenly along the entire length of the hair, retreating from the roots about 3-5 centimeters.
You can distribute the product by hand or with a comb-comb, but with rare teeth. As a rule, a hair mask with coconut oil is held for 30 minutes. However, some girls, for greater absorption of nutrients, leave the oil on the hair all night.
General recommendations for the use of coconut oil:
- Owners of greasy hair should reduce the duration of exposure of the mask - no more than 20 minutes;
- When applying the product, the head should be wrapped with cling film or heated with a hairdryer. This is necessary so that the oil penetrates the hair structure as deeply as possible;
- First, the mask is washed off came down with warm water, only after that the shampoo is used.
The beneficial properties of coconut oil are best manifested in combination with burdock, olive, peach and almond oil.
In pure form
Apply coconut oil in its pure form is easy. The product can be incorporated into the composition of your shampoo or balm. Only refined oil is used to strengthen weakened or damaged hair follicles. Regular use of the product in its pure form will strengthen the hair, make it more elastic.
The method of application of coconut oil for hair in its pure form:
- Heat the product in a water bath to 55-60 degrees (use a microwave is contraindicated);
- Fingertip the product;
- Rub in circular movements in the hair roots for 15-20 minutes;
- Spread coconut oil evenly over hair, not letting dry areas;
- Pay special attention to broken and brittle tips;
- Wrap your head with cling film, and then wrap something warm;
- The first medical procedure can last for 2-3 hours. Each time the duration of the procedure can be reduced;
- Rinse the hair thoroughly with warm water and then wash it in the usual way.
Strands should be unwashed, but not too greasy. It is ideal to apply a similar hair mask for 2-3 days after washing your hair.
In the composition of the masks
Coconut oil interacts beneficially with all components, especially with other natural oils. For the preparation of masks for hair is best unrefined tool. You can enhance the effect of the mask if you add a few drops of coconut essential oil to the mixture.
Basically, the formulation of masks is based on medium-length hair - the number of components varies, not their proportions, depending on the length of the hair. Coconut oil masks for hair are usually made no more than a month with intervals between procedures of 2-3 days. Then within one month the hair should be allowed to rest, after which, if desired, and if necessary, repeat the course.
Mask to accelerate hair growth
The greatest benefit of coconut oil for hair growth is enhanced by the essential oil beat. In combination with coconut oil, both components begin to stimulate the follicles, so that the spit is noticeably lengthened after 2 weeks after application. Each drop of coconut oil will require one drop of ether extract from the bey.
The recipe mask of banana and kefir, you will need:
- one ripe banana;
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil;
- one tablespoon with a hill of fat sour cream.
Heat the oil in a water bath. Grind the banana in a blender, then mix all the ingredients to obtain a homogeneous mass. Spread the mixture evenly over the entire length, slightly rubbing the mask into the skin of the head. Wrap your head with cling film or plastic bag, and then with a towel. After 45-50 minutes, wash off the mask with shampoo. This procedure is required once every five days. With regular use, in one month the hair will grow at least 5 cm.
Mask for oily hair
Curls prone to fat, need special care. To get rid of this disease, you will need to mix coconut oil with sea salt. It is not recommended to use iodized, as it aggressively affects the strands.
Heat the oil in a water bath to 60 degrees. Add the same amount of salt, simultaneously stirring the mixture until completely dissolved. Apply to hair and wrap hair with wrap and towel. An hour later, wash the curls with shampoo. To enhance the effect, after the procedure, the hair can be rinsed with a decoction of herbs.
Mask to restore dry and damaged hair
To return to its strength and silkiness, mix:
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil;
- 2 drops of lavender ether;
- 1 teaspoonful of liquid honey;
- 1 whipped egg yolk.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly, heat the oil. After applying the mask, wrap your head with a towel and hold for half an hour, then rinse with warm water. Duration of treatment is 1 month. The mask is applied 1 time in 5 days.
Mask for sensitive scalp
To prepare the mixture, you will need 30 ml of coconut oil, 1 teaspoon of honey, ether of rose, lavender and rosemary. Heat the coconut oil, add 2 drops of each ester, add liquid honey at the end. Apply to hair and towel over head. After an hour, rinse the mask from the hair and wash it with regular shampoo. The procedure will need to be carried out 2 times in 7 days.
Mask for all hair types
To strengthen and moisturize the curls, it is necessary to mix coconut oil with fatty yogurt, sour cream or cream in the ratio of 1 to 2. The resulting mixture lubricate the curls, massage movements into the epidermis of the head. Wrap your head with cling film, then a warm towel. After 2 hours, rinse hair. If you make a mask for preventive purposes, one mask per week will be enough to make your hair shine and healthy.
Regular use of coconut oil: before and afterMask from broken teeth and dandruff
To get rid of the split ends, apply unrefined coconut oil to the ends of your hair melted in a water bath regularly. Keep the mask for no more than 20 minutes, then wash it with regular shampoo.
Remove dandruff from applying coconut oil to hair in its pure form. Apply the heated product to the hair roots and wrap your head with a wrap and a towel. Hold the mask for an hour. Course duration - 3 weeks.
Contraindications to the use of coconut oil
In order to avoid any adverse effects of the product, you need to purchase coconut oil only from reputable manufacturers. Due to the fact that coconut is a strong allergen, low-quality product can cause an appropriate reaction. Also, buying a product from an unreliable seller, you risk to buy fake coconut oil.
Before use, you must make sure that the product does not expire. In particular, shelf life is important when using unrefined oil. As a rule, the product of industrial production is well preserved, but it is still recommended to store the opened can in the refrigerator.
The only contraindication to the use of coconut oil is individual intolerance. It is wise to use the product to people who are prone to allergies.
Before using coconut oil for hair, it is recommended to put a few drops on the inside of the elbow from the evening. If by the morning no redness, rash and irritation follow, you can safely use the product. However, if you change a customer, you will also need to repeat the test.
When using coconut oil for hair in combination with honey, pepper or garlic, they can cause side effects. It is allowed to make therapeutic masks in combination with other components if there is no individual intolerance to these ingredients. Do not forget that the excessive use of coconut oil will not benefit, but harm - the hair will get fat faster, comb badly and become disobedient.
