Using Coconut oil for hair growth is becoming popular ― and for a good reason:
After spending over 15 hours evaluating the relevant academic research, I reveal that coconut oil is an effective treatment to stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss!
Now you can discover the secret to luscious locks that thousands swear by Coconut oil!
There’s more ― keep reading to Learn about the specific type of coconut oil that can take your hair to the next level and give you that enviable shine you’ve always wanted…
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Coconut oil can be used for various beauty treatments, from teeth whitening to eczema.
- Coconut oil effectively reduces hair damage and protein loss, resulting in healthier-looking hair.
- Limited research suggests that coconut oil may help prevent or ease hair loss caused by pollution and improve hair quality for women experiencing dandruff and hair fall.
Just keep reading to learn more.
The Wonder Oil For Beauty Treatments (5 AMAZING Benefits)!
Are you looking to ENHANCE your beauty routine with natural ingredients?
Look no further than versatile coconut oil. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it popular for various beauty treatments.
Not only is this miracle oil effective as a teeth-whitening alternative to chemical whitening strips, but coconut oil can also be used to reduce the appearance of scars, as a makeup remover, eczema treatment, and even a brush cleaner!
Before I delve into the hairy part of it, here is a list of Outstanding benefits of this fantastic oil:
#1 Brighten Your Smile
Say goodbye to harsh chemical teeth whitening strips and try coconut oil instead.
Lauric acid in coconut oil can help break down plaque and fight harmful bacteria in your mouth, leading to a brighter smile.
#2 Reduce Scarring
Coconut oil has been shown to promote wound healing and reduce the appearance of scars.
Its vitamin E content helps nourish and hydrate the skin, while its fatty acids can help prevent infection.
#3 Remove Makeup
Coconut oil is a gentle and effective makeup remover that won’t irritate your skin. Apply a small amount to a cotton pad and gently wipe away your makeup.
#4 Treat Eczema
The fatty acids that are in coconut oil can help reduce inflammation and soothe irritated skin, making it an ideal treatment for eczema patients.
#5 Stimulate Hair Growth
Coconut oil can penetrate hair shafts and provide essential nutrients, making it an effective hair treatment. Its lauric acid content can also help strengthen hair and prevent breakage.
Coconut oil is a versatile and affordable natural ingredient that can be incorporated into any beauty routine.
Its many benefits make it a must-have for any natural beauty enthusiast. Give it a try and see the difference it can make in your beauty regimen…
While coconut oil has its own impressive benefits for hair growth, you might also want to consider exploring the wonders of argan oil.
Known for its rich nutrients and hydrating properties, argan oil can offer an array of benefits for your hair, which you can learn more about in our article “Argan Oil Benefits for Hair“.
I also stumbled on this excellent Vegamour review. It is a great plant-based product for hair growth. Check it out.
Research Reveals The Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Hair Health
Before we discuss the (limited) research into the impact of this oil on hair growth, let’s examine the well-established link between coconut oil and a reduction in hair damage (1):
This Miracle Oil Reduces Cuticle Damage & Improves The Appearance Of Your Hair
Results from Rele and Mohile (1999) show that coconut oil is an effective protective pre-wash conditioner. In this study, coconut oil reduced cuticle damage when combing hair (2).
Further, the authors suggest this is likely due to the hydrophobicity of coconut oil.
It acts as a lubricant and helps reduce the cuticle swelling that can damage the scale structure of the hair, especially when combing while wet.
Similarly, judges in this study rated undamaged and bleached hair treated with coconut oil as more cosmetically attractive on most attributes than hair treated without coconut oil.
I’m not done with you yet ― not until I introduce you to this GLAMOROUS video on the benefits of coconut oil:
Coconut Oil Is More Effective Than Mineral Or Sunflower Oil At Reducing Protein Loss
Rele and Mohile (2003) compared the impact of using mineral, sunflower, and coconut oil on the protein levels in hair (3).
Their research revealed that coconut oil (as a conditioning product) was the only oil to decrease protein loss levels in undamaged and damaged hair when applied before or after washing the hair (3):
“Among three oils, coconut oil was the only oil found to reduce the protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product.“
Protein and moisture loss are common among those who use heavily chemical-based hair products, and using coconut oil can help mitigate this damage, resulting in healthier-looking hair.
Can Coconut Oil Prevent Or Ease Hair Loss?
It’s no secret that coconut oil for hair growth is common.
Most of the (limited) research into the impact of coconut oil on hair loss (and hair growth) is recent.
Thus far, studies have been restricted to India, and many more additional trials are necessary across the globe to improve our understanding of the impact of this oil on hair growth.
Coconut Oil For Hair Loss Caused By Pollution
Coconut oil may help reduce hair loss caused by pollution.
Rajput (2015) investigated the impact of coconut oil (among other treatments) on hair quality and hair loss in areas impacted by pollution in India (4).
This study recommended a treatment that includes a combination of mild shampoos and EDTA shampoos, antioxidants, and coconut oil or hair serum on the hair over 2 – 4 months.
All participants reported improved hair or scalp quality and/or reduced hair loss after 4 – 8 weeks.
This improvement continued every two months afterward as the treatment progressed further.
However, this study isn’t rigorous enough, and further research is necessary with proper controls to find out how effective coconut oil is (on its own) at preventing hair loss caused by pollution.
Coconut Oil For Women Experiencing Hair Loss & Dandruff
Kura et al. (2007) conducted a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the effectiveness of Vatika-enriched coconut oil (VCO) as a treatment for hair loss in women with androgenetic alopecia (5).
Vatika enriched coconut oil (VCO) is a hair treatment that uses coconut oil as a base ingredient and combines several herbs.
The hospital’s dermatology department conducted this 8-week study in Mumbai with 44 women (aged 18 – 35) recruited as the participants.
Half of the women used the Vatika-enriched coconut oil, while the other half used regular coconut oil on their hair.
The use of regular coconut oil helped improve the condition of the hair, but the Vatika-enriched version proved better on several different measures.
The VCO was clinically more effective than coconut oil at reducing dandruff and hair fall. Vatika-enriched coconut oil was also better at improving the strength and shininess of the hair.
The impact of the coconut oil treatments on hair growth was evaluated using the Trichoscan technique.
This technique involves taking close-up images of the scalp and analyzing the number and thickness of hair follicles before and after treatment with Vatika-enriched coconut oil.
We need further research to verify its efficacy.
But since the study was not designed to measure hair growth precisely, the results suggest that Vatika-enriched coconut oil may be a promising natural treatment option for individuals with hair loss.
Is your hair giving off an unpleasant odor? Check out our articles on how to get mildew smell out of hair, how to get rid of scalp odor, and “why does my hair smell like wet dog after I wash it“. Say goodbye to stinky locks and hello to fresh, clean hair!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I use coconut oil on my hair?
3. Can I use coconut oil on all hair types?
4. Can coconut oil help with hair growth?
5. How long does it take for coconut oil to work on hair growth?
Conclusion
Coconut oil for hair growth is an excellent choice, a versatile ingredient in beauty products, and has numerous benefits for hair health.
Many people use it to nourish and strengthen their hair, thanks to its ability to penetrate hair shafts and provide essential nutrients that help prevent breakage.
It’s also effective at reducing cuticle damage and improving the appearance of hair by reducing the swelling that damages the hair structure.
Not only does coconut oil work wonders on hair, but it’s also an effective treatment for other beauty concerns.
Coconut oil’s lauric acid has been shown to break down plaque and bacteria in the mouth, leading to a brighter smile.
It can also reduce scarring by promoting wound healing and nourishing the skin.
In addition, coconut oil is an effective makeup remover and eczema treatment that reduces inflammation and soothes irritated skin.
Resources
1. Slator W. Coconut Oil for Hair Growth: Benefits, Side Effects and Uses [Internet]. Hairguard. 2018 [cited 2023 Mar 11]. Available from: https://www.hairguard.com/using-coconut-oil-for-hair-loss/
2. The Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Skin and Hair | Kiehl’s [Internet]. Kiehl’s – Naturally Inspired Skin Care, Body and Haircare. [cited 2023 Mar 11]. Available from: https://www.kiehls.com/ingredients/coconut-oil-and-your-skincare-routine.html
3. Rele AS, Mohile RB. Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage. Journal of Cosmetic Science [Internet]. 2003;54:175–92. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12715094
4. Rajput R. Understanding Hair Loss due to Air Pollution and the Approach to Management. Hair : Therapy & Transplantation. 2015;05.
5. Limaye M. Gale – Product Login [Internet]. galeapps.gale.com. 1998. Available from: https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=googlescholar&id=GALE
