If you have dry, damaged hair, you know the struggle of trying to style it while efficiently hiding its brittle, straw-like texture.
But rather than resort to messy buns and braids while you pray for your hair to “bounce” back, there’s a way to improve and restore the texture of your hair quickly, naturally, and inexpensively.
Enter coconut oil: Mother Nature’s deep conditioner. At first thought, you may think coconut oil would leave your hair feeling like an oil slick, but it rinses out well and leaves hair feeling soft and silky. Personally, I find my hair much more manageable and easier to style when I do coconut oil hair masks 2-3 times per week.
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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 key for replenishing nutrients back into your scalp, moisturizing, repairing, and eliminating dryness (1).
Hair dryness is caused by protein loss, which can happen from bleaching or overprocessing your hair. When the protein in your hair is damaged, hair strands can become brittle, dry and rough, which is why putting protein back into your hair and preventing protein loss is necessary to restore the texture and shine (2).
One study compared the effects of coconut oil, sunflower oil and mineral oil on human hair, and found that coconut oil was the only oil that was successfully able to reduce protein loss in both damaged and healthy hair (3). These findings suggest coconut oil has a protective effect on chemically treated hair, and may help prevent damage and breakage when applied prior to coloring (4).
As mentioned above, coconut oil contains a fatty acid called lauric acid. Fatty acids are an essential nutrient for hair growth and to keep locks smooth and shiny (5). Some even claim the fatty acids in coconut oil helps hair grow faster, but there’s no solid evidence to prove this.
Needless to say, coconut oil is effective on its own as a 100% natural, 1-ingredient hair mask. However, I like to jazz it up with a few other ingredients that add extra nutrition for healthy hair, such as avocado and apple cider vinegar. Depending on your hair type, try one of these DIY Natural Hair Masks below to “feed” your locks nourishing ingredients.
Note: For longer, fuller hair, you may need to increase the ingredient amounts.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Anti-Breakage
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Anti-Breakage
Brandi BlackTools
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 T organic coconut oil, melted
- 1 T apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Add coconut oil and apple cider vinegar in a bowl. Mix well.
- Coat and apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out.
- Shampoo and condition as normal.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Moisturizing
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Moisturizing
Brandi BlackTools
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 T organic coconut oil, melted
- 1 T avocado oil
Instructions
- Add coconut oil and avocado oil to a bowl. Mix.
- Coat and apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out.
- Shampoo and condition as normal. If you have oily hair, I recommend giving it an extra shampoo just to make sure you get everything out so your hair isn’t left feeling oily or greasy.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Rescue (Overnight)
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Rescue (Overnight)
Brandi BlackIngredients
- 2 T organic coconut oil, melted
Instructions
- Coat and apply coconut oil evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 7-8 hours.
- Shampoo and condition as normal.
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Shine
Coconut Oil Hair Mask | Shine
Brandi BlackTools
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 T organic coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg, whisked
Instructions
- Add coconut oil and egg in a bowl. Mix.
- Coat and apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out.
- Shampoo and condition as normal.
3-in-1 Hair Mask | Moisture, Shine, Anti-Breakage
3-in-1 Hair Mask | Moisture, Shine, Anti-Breakage
Brandi BlackTools
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 T cup organic coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg, whisked (with the yolk)
- ½ ripe avocado
Instructions
- Whisk egg in a bowl.
- Mash avocado in separate bowl.
- Combine ingredients with coconut oil and mix well.
- Coat and apply evenly to damp or dry hair and leave on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out.
- Shampoo and condition as normal
Why Use Coconut Oil Instead of Store-Bought Hair Masks?
Some store-bought hair masks may provide temporary nourishment to your hair (many also use coconut oil as an ingredient), but most contain chemicals that may strip your hair of natural oils and increase dryness in the long run.
Many store-bought hair masks simply “mask” the dryness and damage of 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 Out
One of the best parts of using natural ingredients in your beauty routine is that you can eat them, too! Don’t forget to eat coconut oil, eggs and avocados on the regular to provide your hair with the nourishment it needs from the inside out. Nuts, seeds, fatty fish and grass-fed meat are other sources of protein and essential fatty acids that promote healthier, stronger and shinier hair—all of which are encouraged on the Paleo diet.
Here are a few Paleo recipes that make eating (and drinking) for healthier hair easy and delicious:
- Mexican Mocha with Silky Coconut Oil
- Avocado Garlic Sauce
- Buttery Avocado Lime Cheesecake
- Salmon Eggs Benedict with Sweet Potato “Muffins”
(Read This Next: The Ultimate Guide to Natural Hair Care)
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