From cooking meals in the kitchen to moisturizing your skin in the bathroom, coconut oil is everywhere these days, so it should come as no surprise that this “miracle oil” makes a pretty fantastic (and chemical free) hair mask.
With harsh chemicals, extreme weather conditions and daily wear and tear of styling, hair takes quite the beating and can often be left looking dry, frizzy, broken and dull. Not to worry! Incorporating a coconut oil mask in your weekly routine is sure to help calm that frizz and bring out the shine!
So what makes coconut oil so great for moisturizing hair? Lauric acid, a main component in coconut oil, is a fatty acid that binds to hair proteins, helping to protect hair strands and prevent breakage. Coconut oil also has the ability to penetrate each strand and condition it from within, helping to protect hair against environmental toxins and heat.
DIY Coconut Oil Hair Mask
What you need:
- A good amount of unrefined coconut oil (the amount will vary depending on how much hair you have)
- An old towel or t-shirt – if needed
- A hair clip.
- A shower cap (optional)
To begin, your hair can be damp or dry. Using your hands, warm a scoop of coconut oil and begin distributing it throughout your hair – I find that it is easiest to apply if you flip your head upside down. Focus on the areas that are dry first, and then begin to distribute the oil to the rest of your head and hair.
Once your hair is saturated with oil, clip it above your head and cover with a shower cap (if you are using one). Let your hair sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 8+ hours. You can even apply the coconut oil before bed, sleep with it in, and then wash it out in the morning.
To wash the coconut oil out, shampoo and condition as you normally would. You might need to shampoo your hair twice to remove all of the oil.
Then, enjoy your newly moisturized and silky hair!
Some pointers:
- while applying the coconut oil, spend time massaging your scalp to improve blood circulation and stimulate hair follicles.
- once oil is applied, sit in the sun or apply light heat using a hair dryer to enhance the absorption process.
- if you are prone to oily hair but still have brittle ends, focus on keeping the coconut oil towards the ends of your hair.
- this treatment can be done as often or sporadically as you would like.
This article was originally published on www.drfranklipman.com. Read the original here.
*Image of “hair mask“ and ”coconut oil“ via Shutterstock
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