The brilliance that is coconut oil!

Pure unrefined coconut oil

Hello beautiful people! Today my post is about one of the most amazing product for your hair - coconut oil! Now, I'm sure that at least once in our lives, we have all put oil on our hair to moisturize it. And all oils do moisturize, but only coconut oil can moisturize hair the best. There is a scientific explanation for this - the particles in coconut oil is the smallest compared to other types of oil. This enables it to penetrate faster and further into the hair shaft, creating a more substantial impact on your hair compared to other oils. 

It doesn't end there. Coconut oil is one of the oldest forms of oil used on hair, dating back to prehistoric times (this is a fact I got online - it is true for Indians though, that I can testify from my own knowledge). This oil can be even made from raw coconut at home! My grandma used to make it herself when she was younger and use it on her hair and all her daughters. The thing that makes coconut oil so amazing is that it has the ability to penetrate and fill up your hair shaft which makes your hair appear fuller and gives it a shiny and soft body. 

Coconut oil is retained inside your hair shaft even after shampooing it off. This enables it to protect your hair from possible damage and dryness even after washing off. The use of coconut oil as a pre-wash and post-wash treatment can also help prevent protein loss from your hair. It also acts as a sealant and traps the moisture in your hair, preventing flyaways and frizzyness. The antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of coconut oil can also protect your scalp from dryness, dandruff, itching, lice and infection. Coconut oil also makes your hair stronger from your roots down - this prevents breakage and shedding of hair. The vitamins E and K found in coconut oil nourishes your hair and gives it a natural shine. So, as you can see coconut oil is an all-rounder treatment. The only thing it does not do is make your hair grow faster - that is a myth! It has no such properties.

solid form coconut oil

The best way to use coconut oil is on its own! So, you don't have to get a ton of other stuff to use it. I usually get the Franch's Coconut Oil because its readily available in Watsons and the indian Cash & Carry shops. However, about 2 weeks ago my lovely cousins went to India, and I asked them to get me the pure coconut oil from the shops there. They, being wonderful loving cousins, brought back home-made pure unrefined coconut oil!! This was the best thing ever for me! Many of the other blogs I've read asked to use virgin or extra virgin coconut oil. However, although those are easier to find in your local supermarket, most of the properties and raw nourishment you find in the unrefined oil is lost and strained out. So, unrefined oil is best. The organic coconut oil is pretty good. Its usually solid at room temperature in certain countries. In Malaysia, it is liquid because of the horrible heat we have. 

It is very simple to use. Just pour enough coconut oil you feel will supersaturate your hair into a small bowl, heat it up in the microwave for about 30 - 40 seconds (this is to ensure its hot, but not too hot that we cannot put our hands in it to apply on our hair), and apply it on. My advice is to start at the scalp. Part your hair slowly bit  by bit and drip a few drops on your scalp using your fingers and rubbing it in as you go along, until you've done your whole head. Then, massage your head for about 3 -5 minutes. After that, if the oil in the bowl is insufficient or cooled down, heat up more/again. You need the oil hot when you apply it on your hair (once again, hot but not too hot that you burn your fingers). Start at your roots and apply the oil on your hair by rubbing the oil on your hands and combing it through your hair until its fully saturated. I usually divide my hair into 4 parts to make sure it is fully covered and saturated. Then wrap it up with a plastic bag or put on a shower cap to trap the heat.

Commercially produces coconut oil

It is always best to leave it on for at least an hour to give it enough time to penetrate fully and nourish. I usually put it on my hair on a Friday night or weekend morning and go about my day doing what I have to do. As my country is extremely hot (our days can go up to 35 - 38 degree celcius), if I have to go to the mini market or laundrette nearby, I take off the plastic bag and comb my hair with a comb to make it look neat and go about my stuff. I let the heat work its magic on my hair (at least its good for something). Or, if I'm at home I just sit around with my plastic turban until I feel like showering. This usually is for 4 - 6 hours. Coconut oil has almost no smell so I dun mind leaving it on even for the whole day. You can even leave it on overnight and wash the next morning. Its a natural product so it will never damage your hair.

Sometimes, I mix it with a little aloe vera oil or olive oil to add more benefits to the hot oil treatment. You can also add coconut oil to your other hair masks such as the mayonnaise mask, the gelatin mask and even to your daily shampoo and conditioner. If you can't find anything to help dry, frizzy, damaged hair, try this. It will blow your mind, I promise you!