Coconut Oil for Hair: Good or Bad?

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Coconut oil for hair
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Coconut Oil for Hair: Good or Bad?

I’ve been a fan of coconut oil for a really long time. It is a highly nourishing oil with hundreds of uses, and lately I’ve run across many sources touting the benefits of coconut oil for hair. It can certainly be beneficial for certain hair types when used correctly, but many sources recommend using it in ways that may do more harm than good.

Before you go pour coconut oil all over your head, make sure to know how to use it correctly to get the benefits without harming your hair!

Why Use Coconut Oil for Hair?

The idea of putting oil directly in the hair can seem counterintuitive, especially to anyone with naturally oily hair. Yet nourishing hair oil treatments have been used for thousands of years.

By using a certain ratio of beneficial oils, hair oil can add life and moisture into hair. It is also not meant to be an everyday product.

But why coconut oil?

Coconut oil is the richest natural source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), special types of fatty acid with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that are very nourishing to the body. It is especially high in the C12 chain of MCFAs known as lauric acid.

Coconut oil’s properties allow it to penetrate hair in ways that other oils are not able to, which is why some people notice amazing results relatively quickly when using coconut oil for hair.

This is because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain structure, which reduces the protein loss for both undamaged and damaged hair.

For best results, studies suggest coconut oil is best used before or after shampooing.

Could Coconut Oil Harm Hair?

There is no doubt that certain oils can be beneficial to hair. Yet many of us strip out beneficial oils from over-shampooing, leading the body to increase natural oil production to compensate. This is one reason for the rise of so-called no-poo methods.

Due to over-shampooing and poor diet, many of us are also missing vital nutrients we need to build healthy hair in the first place, but is adding oil to the hair the solution?

Not necessarily!

Certain oils do seem to be pretty much universally beneficial for hair, but coconut oil isn’t always one of them. For instance, castor oil is an age-old beauty secret for increasing hair growth. I use it on my hair and eyelashes and have seen amazing results, and hundreds of commenters have had a similar experience.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, gets mixed results. Some people report immediately healthier and smoother hair, while others claim that their hair fell out by the handful after using it.

So so how can a person know if putting coconut oil on their hair is going to be beneficial or cause problems?

Coconut Oil Isn’t for Every Hair Type

Not surprisingly, different types of hair respond to oils differently. Coconut oil won’t work for every hair type.

Because it helps the hair retain its natural protein, it can be helpful for those who lack enough natural protein in hair follicles.

Typically, those with fine to medium shiny hair will see good results from coconut oil and notice stronger, shinier hair with more volume.

Those with coarse or dry hair may not struggle with low protein at all and coconut oil may lead to more brittle hair and hair loss.

These people may benefit more from other types of oil like marula oil or argan oil.

It should go without saying, but anyone with an allergy or reaction to coconuts or coconut oil should not use these products in hair either, no matter what hair type.

How to Safely Use Coconut Oil for Hair

Those who think that coconut oil may be beneficial for their hair types can benefit from using it, but there are some best practices when using coconut oil for hair:

  • Avoid the scalp: Though coconut oil seems to be beneficial for those who struggle with dandruff that has a fungal component, others may see negative effects from using coconut oil directly on the scalp. Coconut oil may clog pores and cause irritation for some scalp types (just as it does on certain skin types), and is best used directly on the hair and not the scalp (of those with the right type of hair).
  • Start with small amounts: You’ve probably heard the saying “too much of a good thing,” and this absolutely applies when it comes to using coconut oil in hair. Start with a small amount and see how your hair responds. For best results, try just rubbing a small amount of coconut oil between your hands to warm it up and work through hair gently. This should help tame frizz and make hair shiny without the negative effects.
  • Add other ingredients: Adding other oils can change how coconut oil affects hair. For instance, coconut oil doesn’t seem to make hair dry or brittle when combined with the monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil or when mixed with argan or marula oil (both great for hair). The simple sugars in honey can nourish hair and make it naturally smooth and frizz-free. As a deep treatment, blending coconut oil with honey and yogurt may offer more benefits than coconut oil alone.
  • Combine with the right hair products: Many homemade hair products do not contain the chemical detergents and surfactants that many commercial shampoos and products do, making it difficult for them to remove excess oils from the hair, especially in large amounts. I recommend a store-bought clarifying shampoo for this purpose, like my Wellnesse Shampoo for All Hair Types or this organic clarifying shampoo.

Best Hair Care Tip: Eat Coconut Oil Instead!

Hair doesn’t have the ability to digest or metabolize coconut oil like the digestive system does. For this reason, try eating coconut oil instead of putting it on your hair for the most benefit. Coconut oil’s natural health benefits can help improve the rate of hair growth from the inside out.

Finally, just like the skin, hair is a reflection of internal health. Hormones can affect it (one of the reasons women lose hair after pregnancy). Focus on balancing hormones and nourishing the body to improve hair. Address factors like diet, supplements, and sleep and you may find your body thanks you with healthier, stronger, shinier hair!

This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board-certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Do you use coconut oil on your hair? What results have you experienced? Share below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

204 responses to “Coconut Oil for Hair: Good or Bad?”

  1. Ben Avatar

    I’ve posted this before in a different thread but seeing as this is the coconut oil thread, I’ll post it again…
    I cured a nasty staph infection by eating and topically applying coconut oil. Twenty something open oozing sores all over the body. Tried various natural remedies. Nothing worked. Finally, after about three days of eating and applying CO, I went through a sleepless night of fevers and chills after which I could feel the body recovering and a few days later, the staph was gone. I had tried golden seal, oregano oil, various things but coconut oil was the ONLY thing that worked. I was also eating lots of avocados and avoiding sugars and grains. Just thought I’d share that useful tidbit.

  2. Fee Avatar

    Hi Katie,
    According to the Blood Type diet- Blood Type ” A” should avoid coconut oil .I am a Type A & I love coconut oil! What are your thoughts on that?? Thx

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      I’ve never seen any evidence that the blood type diet is actually a legitimate thing, or that certain foods always effect people with a certain blood type the same way. I’ll be writing about it in the future once I’ve had time to do more research on it, but for now, I see no harm in consuming coconut oil as long as it’s not bothering you in any way.

      1. fee Avatar

        Thx for that. Look forward to the research. I add coconut oil , turmeric powder & a pinch of sea salt when I cook Basmati rice & it’s delicious & healthy.

  3. susan sobon Avatar
    susan sobon

    i am one of those that cant use coconut oil on my hair (or body). it made my hair very dry and even courser feeling. same with my body. it made my hair on my legs grow faster and coarser!!! gah! no one wants that! i use almond oil now for my hair/body

    1. HeatherJoy Avatar
      HeatherJoy

      Hey Susan, that’s a really interesting observation. I’m wondering if CO could be used to decrease dark, course body hair. And if used on fine body hair, will it become thicker?
      Mmmm…would be worth investigating!

  4. Samantha Adams Avatar
    Samantha Adams

    Another thing to avoid is “natural flavorings”…

    In many cases, natural flavors are just as bad as artificial flavorings.

    And yes – the rumor is true… one form of natural flavoring comes from beaver anus discharge… I am not kidding.

  5. Hayley Avatar

    Thanks for this article. I, too, am one of those who don’t respond well to topical applications of coconut oil. I’ve always found it to be very drying to both skin and hair (I have dry, curly hair). Now I know why!

  6. Nikita Castillo Avatar
    Nikita Castillo

    My husband is Guatemalan and I am African American. We have two beautiful daughters with different types of textured hair. My 10 year old have the “basic” biracial hair where its a curly-coarse texture, while my 6 year old have a curly-“Spanish” texture. I use coconut oil ONLY to get rid of the frizz for my 6 year old’s hair. But my other daughter, I use it for her scalp and hair.

    For facial moisture, my older daughter breaks out but my little one is fine… It’s weird but I get it LOL. I use it sparingly for my family. I hope this helped.

  7. John Avatar

    I disagree with some points you wrote based on my personal experience.

    My hair is curly long, and I had dry hair and serious dandruff. Tried all sorts of treatments and they were all useless and damaged my hair and scalp due to the chemicals used.
    After using coconut oil ON THE SCALP and hair overnight, my dandruff disappeared almost at the first time I used, and my hair got A LOT better. I did not notice any hair loss, on the contrary, I actually noticed slight improvement, not much though.

    The oil can also be used as a leave-in, just put a small amount after you towel dry your hair (if you put too much it will look like you used gel)

    I’ve only felt some irritation on scalp if I leave the oil for 3 days in a row without washing. But a quick shower (just water, no need for shampoo to removed it) solves it quickly.

    Just make sure the oil is UNREFINED and ORGANIC.

  8. Missy Avatar

    Wow! This was eye-opening and sohelpful! I have dry, brittle hair that is coming out from from formaldehyde from my Keratin treatment that I last did. I think in hindsight I’ve been experiencing problems and hair loss from the Keratin for years but just didn’t realize it. Anyway, I have been slathering on coconut oil on the scalp and hair and I do think my hair has gotten dryer. I actually switched to some different natural products that have mostly Shea butter on them a couple weeks ago, and my hair has become improved in condition. This is really enlightening. Thank you.

  9. tru leigh Avatar
    tru leigh

    I’m dubious that coconut oil will clog pores I’ve been making skin lotion using CO for a couple of years now, with nary a zit in sight. There is a sect in India where the women don’t cut their hair until they are about 18 years old. They don’t use shampoo so much there, so these woman use only CO oil on their hair. Their hair is such good condition, they sell it to the companies that make hair extensions.

    1. Susan Avatar

      I too have good results with Coconut oil on my face. I am 50 years old now , but for most of my life suffered from Rosacea, some milder acne, and stupidly sensitive skin. I went from Acne to pre-wrinkles with no break in between. I didnt dare use anything with oil in it on my face. Then i moved to the mountains and had to put on something… enter Coconut OIL. I slather it on at night and in the AM. Sometimes on top of my makeup if my skin is thirsty. I am so thrilled with on breakouts at this ripe old age. I use it on my hands too, and on my hair after highlights from ill trained hairdressers who have fried it to bits. I have eaten coconut oil too, dont like the taste but I know its good for my insides. I put it in my dogs spoon once in a blue moon and he also licks it off.

  10. George Avatar

    I use coconut oil on my skin when going out for sun and for oil-pulling plus eat some everyday in my morning smoothies. I mix a small amount with shea and mango butter along with argon oil and some other I forgot (the quart amount has lasted over 6 months!) for my hair. I am 61 years old, a male, and have mid back length hair and this stuff tames it quite well. Being a hippy and being no-poo for a little over 3 years this mixture is superb. Research commercial “sunscreens” and you’ll see why I use coconut oil for the sun.

  11. Megan Avatar

    I switched to a dry shampoo-bar method to avoid all the chemicals and alcohol in commercial shampoo and my hair seemed to do okay except that I get a LOT of build up/residue. I have untreated (no color, no perm) straight hair that’s fine to medium in terms of each strand, and thick (I have a lot, I’ve been told). One of the main ingredients in my shampoo bars is coconut oil, so I’m wondering if that has to do with it. I do a vinegar rinse once a week but tat hasn’t really cut the residue issue.

  12. Gina Avatar

    I want to try using castor oil. Is there a difference in quality of the castor oil I see in drug stores/supermarkets and perhaps ordering online? Do you have a source you recommend? Happy Easter, by the way!

      1. Rohit Avatar

        In India and specially in south India where coconut is abundand, most men and women uses coconut oil
        for hair. There hair are black and beautiful and many of them maintain such black, silky, shiny hair
        all the way to their senior age ( 60 + without a tint of grey hair or even heavy loss of hair )
        Coconut oil must me softly message in the hair root / scalp to allow their fine molecules to get absorbed.
        For best result, always use non-refined, non filtered, organic oil.

  13. Lisa Avatar

    I make my own shampoo using coconut liquid. I boil raw coconut, let it cool and use the liquid, including the fat from it, as my liquid base in my shampoo. I add other oils, and mix with castile soap. Sometimes I add a bit of baking soda. My hair is far from perfect, but after using this for some time my hair has gone from limp and lifeless to more body and my curls are returning. Not sure if it is my homemade stuff, or just the fact that I no longer use commercial shampoos.

  14. jessa s Avatar

    Yuck yuck yuck. I love coconut oil, I really do. But when I put it on my hair, what a freaking gross disaster. I have coarse, thick, curly, dry hair. turned it into a nasty, oily, stinky mess. will not use again. my hair is very picky about what products or allows to work on it, lol

  15. Brooke Avatar

    I’ve been using coconut oil on my baby instead of soap. His hair is falling out at 3 months. Could it be the coconut oil? I know hair loss is normal in babies.

  16. Bridgette Carpenter Avatar
    Bridgette Carpenter

    I am one of those people that coconut oil does not work well for. I have thick, naturally curly hair, which tends to be dry and frizzy. For years I used V05 hairdressing. I would apply it to damp hair then mousse it up, when I used the hair dryer the oil would moisturize and shine my hair up beautifully, but I wanted to find something more natural, and tried coconut oil. It certainly does work better than nothing (no moisturizer), but if I use it multiple days in a row it is very drying to my hair. I have tried a lot of different moisturizer / oils Argan, almond, canola, castor, I have even tried vegetable and safflower oil after kicking them out of the pantry, olive oil, and all sorts of blends of oils and other naturals. But I have found Avocado oil to be Amazing! Its not too thick or oily it doesn’t dry my hair, its shiny and I can actually run my fingers through my hair. I also wash my face with it, and once or twice a week I will follow up with a baking soda scrub. Leaves my face baby soft, never clogs my pores. Love, love, love the avocado oil.

  17. Amanda Avatar

    I love coconut oil so much! A few years back I decided to buy a gallon tub of it from Azure Standard, and went through it in a month. Then I bought a 5 gallon tub from tropical traditions and since I haven’t used it as much it has lasted me years. But I want to get back into the habit of lots of coconut oil use. When I had my hair permed, I used it as my curl defining cream (just a dab and finger-combed it through). I like it as a skin cream, just not on my face. I prefer raw honey for that. I use it for my son’s diaper cream, make bulletproof coffee, in oatmeal, and smoothies. I’ve also been making your coconut flour biscuits with them!

  18. Barb Avatar

    I use coconut or sesame oil on my thick dry curly hair before blowdrying. And I use a straight iron. The shampoo I use is Aubrey green tea shampoo; mandarin splash scent. Label says it deep cleans and detoxifies. Good system for me, I recommend trying it.

  19. gowri Avatar

    I have tried jaggery (raw unrefined cane sugar) with lemon. Heat jaggery and add half a lemon juice. That is it. Great for waxing at home.

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