If you have dry, damaged hair, you know how difficult it is to style it while effectively concealing its brittleness.
But instead of resorting to messy braids and buns while praying for your hair to “bounce”, there is a way to improve and restore your hair texture quickly, naturally, and inexpensively.
Enter coconut oil:
Mother Nature’s deep conditioner. At first glance, you may think that coconut oil would make your hair feel like a layer of oil, but it rinses well and leaves hair soft and silky. Personally, I find my hair much easier to style when I apply coconut oil hair masks to hair masks 2 to 3 times a week.
Coconut oil: it works!
So why coconut oil instead of other natural oils like olive oil?
The beauty of coconut oil is that the fatty acid it contains (called lauric acid) can penetrate the hair shaft, which is essential for replenishing nutrients in the scalp, hydrating, repair and eliminate dryness.
Dry hair is caused by the loss of protein, which can occur as a result of discoloration or over-treatment of the hair. When the protein in your hair is damaged, the strands of hair can become brittle, dry and coarse, which is why it is necessary to reintroduce the protein into your hair and prevent its loss to restore texture and shine.
One study compared the effects of coconut oil, sunflower oil, and mineral oil on hair, and found that coconut oil was the only oil that could successfully reduce the loss of protein in damaged and healthy hair. These results suggest that coconut oil has a protective effect on chemically treated hair and can help prevent damage and breakage when applied before coloring.
As mentioned above, coconut oil contains a fatty acid called lauric acid. Fatty acids are an essential nutrient for hair growth and for keeping strands smooth and shiny. Some even claim that the fatty acids in coconut oil help hair grow faster, but there is no solid evidence to prove it.
It goes without saying that coconut oil is effective as a 100% natural 1 ingredient hair mask. However, I like to mix with a few other ingredients that add additional nutritional value to healthy hair, such as avocado and apple cider vinegar. Depending on your hair type, try one of these homemade natural hair masks below to “nourish” your strands.
Note: for longer, fuller hair, you may need to increase the amount of ingredients.
Coconut oil hair mask | Anti breaks
Coconut and avocado fat form a powerful duo that naturally hydrates dry hair.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of melted organic coconut oil
1 tablespoon avocado oil
Instructions
Add the coconut oil and avocado oil to a bowl and mix well.
Apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. Wash the hair as usual. If you have oily hair, I recommend giving it an extra shampoo to make sure you clean it well so that your hair does not reset oily or greasy.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Rescue (night)
This coconut oil hair mask has only one ingredient: coconut oil. The difference is that you leave this hair mask overnight (let your hair soak in coconut oil for 7 to 8 hours), which will help strengthen the hair, promote healthier hair growth and provide natural hydration. This mask is ideal for dry, damaged and over-treated hair.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of melted organic coconut oil
Instructions
- Coat and apply coconut oil evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 7 to 8 hours.
- Wash the hair as usual.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Radiance
The protein in the egg promotes shine, while the coconut oil moisturizes.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of melted organic coconut oil
- 1 beaten egg
Instructions
- Add the coconut oil and the egg to a bowl and mix well.
- Apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.
- Wash the hair as usual.
3-in-1 hair mask with coconut oil | Hydration, shine and anti-breakage
Get all the benefits of hair care with this all-in-one hair mask made from coconut oil, eggs and avocado.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of melted organic coconut oil
1 beaten egg (with yolk)
½ ripe avocado
Instructions
Whisk the egg in a bowl.
Mash the avocado in a separate bowl
Combine the ingredients with coconut oil and mix well.
Apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.
Wash the hair as usual.
Why use coconut oil instead of store-bought hair masks?
Some store-bought hair masks can temporarily nourish your hair (many also use coconut oil as an ingredient), but most contain chemicals that can remove natural oils from your hair and worsen dryness in the long run .
Many store-bought hair masks simply “mask” dryness and damage to your hair by providing temporary moisture, without replenishing the nutrients needed to repair your hair, such as protein or fatty acids.
Healthy hair from the inside
One of the best things about using natural ingredients in your beauty routine is that you can eat them too! Remember to regularly consume coconut oil, eggs and avocados to nourish your hair from the inside. Nuts, seeds, oily fish and grass meat are other sources of protein and essential fatty acids that promote healthier, stronger and shinier hair, all of which are encouraged in the paleo diet.