Coconut oil as a Leave-in Hair Conditioner: For Frizzy and Damaged hair
No matter how well you treat your hair, years of exposure to the elements – the sun, air, water – plus everyday washing, combing, and styling can cause damage to your hair.
For soft, healthy, and beautiful hair, it’s important that you keep your hair well conditioned and moisturised. A leave-in conditioner is a worthy addition to your hair care regime. It performs by locking moisture in your hair strands, as a result, your hair becomes strong and flexible. A good leave-in conditioner also helps you manage your hair, detangle them smoothly, tame flyaways, and protect it from the elements.
You don’t need any fancy brand and spend a lot of money. Packed with nature’s goodness, coconut oil makes an excellent leave-in conditioner. It will protect your hair from root to tip, on daily basis. Here’s how:
Coconut oil restores natural oil balance
As the hair grows long, it gets farther from the scalp’s natural moisturising oils, and the sebum may not reach the hair fibers. This makes the hair dry and prone to damage. When applied to your hair, coconut oil moisturises and restores the natural oil balance of the hair fiber.
Coconut oil keeps frizz away
Coconut oil works great to pacify the frizzy hair. Frizzy hair is the result of uneven absorption of water in the hair’s outer layer. Coconut oil creates humidity and moisture barrier and protects the hair fibers from uneven swelling. This helps to keep the frizz away and leaves your hair feeling smooth and manageable.
Coconut oil moisturises and adds shine
Coconut oil is an excellent moisturiser for weak and damaged hair. Due to its small molecular size, coconut oil can penetrate into the hair fiber, brings out deep conditioning of hair from inside out. When applied after shampooing, it enhances shine and increases the hair fiber’s pliability. Also, there will be less friction between the hair fibers when combing and styling.
Coconut oil prevents protein loss
After a while, the loss of protein during washing and combing causes your hair to become weak, damaged and prone to split ends. Coconut oil has an ability to bind the hair protein complex together, preventing protein loss from the hair.
Coconut oil protects hair from pollutants
Heaps of antioxidants and fatty acids present in the coconut oil seal the hair fibers, and protects the hair from pollutants and environmental damage.
How to use coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner
1. You can use coconut oil straight after shampoo – when the hair is still damp (but not dripping wet). It can also be used on dry hair or after styling if the hair feels rough. Though, moisturisation is best achieved when the hair is still damp.
2. Take a small amount of coconut oil in the palm of your hand and rub together. Start with little, about a pea size as excess oil can make your hair look greasy. You can always add more to adjust the needs of your hair.
3. With the coconut oil in your hands rub it onto the ends of your hair and work your way up. Concentrate on applying at the ends, using less in the middle and very little or nothing at the roots. You might want to experiment a bit until you find the right proportion for your hair type. (You don’t need to apply it to your scalp unless you have dandruff or an itchy scalp).
4. Finally, let your hair air dry.
5. Men can use this as a natural styling gel.
Enjoy your super-smooth and shiny hair!
Have you tried using coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner?
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Why coconut oil may not work for every hair type
Great to know about coconut oil…I had some in the hall closet that I forgot about!!!!!
Coconut oil is one of the best oil for hair. It nourishes hair, reduces hair loss and dandruff and makes our hair look moist and soft. All the above benefits are most helpful for our hair and thanks for mentioning them.
I love coconut oil but use it with honey it really works good gives my hair shine
I have thick, wavy hair that frizzes on the ends. It’s been coloured, so there’s definitely some damage. I apply a generous amount of coconut oil in my ends and my hair is defined and the frizz is much more contained. Argan oil is another favourite for daily use, but I also love castor oil as a deep conditioner for hair growth. 🙂
That great to know! Thanks for sharing!
I had never considered using coconut oil as a gel. Does it work as well as gel? I might give it a go. I’ll certainly smell nice!
I used as a leave in conditioner for 4 days, but found it might be causing my allergies to flare up. I stopped using the oil but I still have allergy symptoms even a few days after stopping and can still smell it in my hair after showering. How long does coconut oil typically stay in hair for? I shower everyday and use natural shampoo & conditioner. I also have very thick, long hair. I used a little more than the suggested amount of coconut oil everyday. I’m wondering if it just takes a while to get completely out of hair?
I did this I left the co coconut oil in for 2 days and today was amazing I love the results, I just got my hair permed look really bad now amazing
That’s fantastic, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the great information. I have to silky and long hair so please suggest me that which is the best hair oil for long hair because coconut oil has not suit in my hair……
See Ultimate hair mask at the end of the post. It will make your hair soft and shiny.
Other oils you can try are: almond, avocado and olive oil.
Coconut oil is also awesome for hair growth and as conditioning treatment on DRY hair, because damaged hair soaks up water when it’s wet, it’s better applied dry as it penetrates hair shaft better and for hair growth warm to scalp and with scalp massages, it can also be added to normal conditioner for dry to damaged or to conditioner for coloured hair as it makes the colour more vibrant,
Minaz, the few times I’ve tried using coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner, it creates frizz. It makes my Nordic hair very frizzy. I’m thinking of trying almond oil instead.
Hi Livnam, yes almond oil will be better for your hair.
Also give this or this hair mask a try.
Tried and tested.
Can You Still Do This Even if you washed your hair the day before
Kay, I would suggest that you spray some moisturising ingredient like aloe vera, rose water, or any floral water, then apply coconut oil. Otherwise it could be drying.
Here is another DIY leave-in conditioner.
I found that coconut oil left my long, thick, but flyaway, hair limp and greasy, no matter how little I used – and I was so disappointed.
But I figured there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
So deciding that I wasn’t going to be defeated, I cracked open a can of organic coconut milk (no additives), stuck my fingers into the more watery part of it, and nipped some of that through the ends of my hair right after shampooing, while it was still wet (as a leave-in), and a teensy bit massaged into my scalp.
No greasies. Feels fantastic. Absolutely love it.
I used the solid, fatty parts from the can to moisturize my skin from face to feet – sooo nice! (again, not greasy once massaged in, but so soft and supple) – and nothing gets wasted!
I freeze what’s left because I don’t trust that it will last in the fridge longer than 2 or 3 days.
Jacinta, thanks for sharing. I too love coconut milk, and I use it as a pre-wash treatment. It adds volume to my fine hair and makes it bouncy and shiny.
Hi Minaz, I tried it…andit worked… 🙂
Superb!! Thanks for sharing Ritu 🙂
Hi Minaz,
I have a very thin,limp oily texture hair. how can i make it thick or look bouncy after shampoo?
also do I need to put this leave in conditioner?
Ritu.
Hi Ritu, If you want to make your hair look thick and bouncy always oil your hair before washing it. Read more on why https://www.hairbuddha.net/?p=49
And to tackle oily and limp hair rinse your hair with lemon juice https://www.hairbuddha.net/?p=16
Lemon also adds shine and body to your hair.
All the best, Minaz
I have tried it as a leave in conditioner but applied most of it on my scalp. I will change the technique and post you the results. Have a great day Minaz.
Will love to hear how it worked for you,
thanks, Minaz