Coconut Oil Moisture Treatment
December 13, 2011 by Lara
Free $10 credit from Vitacost who carries coconut oil!
You know how much we love coconut oil around here (if you don’t, see this post). We found a brilliant new way to use it. The best part, we have also found a coupon to make it dirt cheap {yes that is a $10 off coupon we just found for it. You are welcome 
}. Or you can find it there for a great price.
We are all dying to have beautiful, healthy hair right? Hair can feel brittle with the dry winter air. Plus, looking our best for the holiday parties can do some serious heat damage to our lovely locks!
I have a cure; a secret that I stumbled on this year!
I have been using coconut oil in my personal skin care since I was 16. I use it on my kids as a replacement for lotion! I knew it was good for cooking and skin, but I had no idea how GREAT it was for my hair as well!
Scoop out a handful of organic virgin coconut oil. My hair is very thick and long so my scoop has to be extra big. The oil will begin to melt at the touch of your skin, there is no need to heat the oil before application. It will melt as you massage it into your hair.
Flip your head upside down and slowly spread the oil through your hair. Saturate your hair completely, focusing on areas that are dry.
Once your hair is soaked with oil, twist your hair into a bun or ponytail. You can clip it in place by grabbing some hair from your scalp and part of the bun, or use a hair tie to keep it in place.
Cover your hair with a shower cap. You can choose to apply heat or not. Applying heat will open the cuticle of each strand so the coconut oil can penetrate the core faster. Leave the coconut oil on your hair for at least 30 minutes without heat, or 15 minutes with heat. You can use a hair dryer to apply heat over the shower cap. I like to rig a little system so I can sit on the floor and read or play with my kids! If I am busy and need to do other things I will leave the oil on my hair without heat.
Once your time is up wash and condition your hair as you normally would. You may need to wash your hair twice to rinse away all of the oil. I really focus on my roots and try to shampoo my ends as little as needed. Style your hair and be amazed at your soft, smooth hair!
* I (Missy) have to break in here to tell you I tried this on my daughter’s long, very long hair and even after one treatment I can’t believe how soft it is!!! Thanks Lara for this fabulous tip! Just what I needed, one more reason to love this stuff. 
Oh and do wash twice…when I tried it on my own hair and only washed once (because my kids had just all showered and took all the hot water) it was too greasy. When I washed again later – it was perfect! I also am LOVING coconut oil because it is an awesome carrier oil for these. Don’t forget you can try coconut oil for almost free by ordering through vitacost with your $10 credit. Enjoy!
{We’re linking up to these parties!}
updates and free printables delivered straight to your inbox!
My hair gets really brittle during the winter too. I can’t wait to try this. I love that it is natural and can be done at home. Thanks for sharing.
I had heard of this before, but now I’m excited to actually do it!
i can’t wait to try this!!! i too love coconut oil for a moisturizer. it can’t be beat. it never occurred to me to put it on my hair, but it makes complete sense!! thank you!
Thanks so much for the links and info. My daughter is black and has very fine hair, this will be so helpful for her hair. Have a wonderful Christmas. Hugs, Andi
What a great idea! I am going to try it.
can’t wait to try this and was wondering….what shampoo & conditioner do you use (all of mine had the “bad” stuff in it)
I have always loved biolage shampoo, but it’s so darn expensive! After doing a lot of research I found that the Dove Damage Therapy line is AWESOME! I switched to their shampoo and conditioner and I honestly like it just as much as every expensive brand I’ve ever tried.. and it’s cheap! I really like the Dove Damage Therapy Daily Moisture (the intensive repair is great too) Hope that helps
Oh yay! I’m so excited to try this on my hair!
Question: when you use it as lotion, do you mix it with anything?
nope
just straight oil, a little goes a long way. It’s better to start out with too little than too much. It absorbs fast and smells great. LOVE IT!
So, where can you get coconut oil?
You can get it inexpensively at vitacost.com right now through the link in the post (they are giving $10.00 coupons to new customers) or on amazon. I like the Nutiva brand pictured in the post. I have seen it at WalMart but it usually costs a lot more.
Costco has it too. In ginormous bottles. Trader Joes has smaller jars as well for $5.99. We use the ginormous one. Love to bake with it. And use in peanut butter and jelly AND coconut sandwich. Makes it extremely yummy. Beware.
Great idea, I already have coconut oil in my cupboard so will try soon. I have almost stopped washing my hair at all since my hair is so brittle after going through menopause. Maybe this will help and I will be getting rid of all my shampoo with the nasty stuff in it and going for the other. Thanks again for a great post.
I am so excited to try this! My hair is color treated and has recently become frizzy so I am hoping this will help smooth things out. Thanks!
I love coconut oil too! I’ll have to try this, thanks!
Thanks so much for the coupon. Can’t wait to try coconut oil on everything! Love the smell of coconuts and who doesn’t want soft shiny hair?
Thanks again!!
~Shelly
Just ordered some for my pitiful hair! Thanks for the tip!
This sounds incredible, I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing! I love your site as well!
Wow! Thanks! Just placed my order – using your $10 off coupon! Can’t wait to get my order, and start making my long hair soft, as well as using the castor oil I also ordered for making facial cleanser!
GREAT TIP! I was just thinking today that my hair is already looking dry thanks to the cold. And there’s SO MUCH cold left to go, here!!
I have been using it since I read Missy’s post! Thanks for the tip! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Okay. Just ordered me some!
I too love coconut oil for its many many wonderful uses and have been using it on my bleach blond hair for years. My colorist is always amazed at how healthy my hair despite what I put it through;)
Will refined coconut oil work also?
No, it needs to be extra virgin to penetrate the hair
I bought Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil, will that work?
I stumbled across this miracle treatment also three weeks ago. It works great! I highly recommend just melting a tsp or two in the microwave, then pour a little at a time in the palm of your hand and work through your hair, then you save money because you don’t use very much at all!! With every treatment I see a huge improvement in my hair! I don’t use any heat, just hang out and have coffee and surf the web for an hour or two once a week
Have you noticed growth? My husband is in the Marine Corp and the ball is in just under 2 months. I would like to see longer hair by then!!!
I’ve never had to wash my hair twice. Actually I never use shampoo all the way down to my ends anyway. I have always had thin, fragile hair that is very dry. so even after the coconut oil treatments(melting and evenly distributing through out and sitting for an our or two with hair clipped on top of my head) I just let the warm water run through my hair for a minute or two then shampoo scrubbing the scalp, run the suds thru the ends briefly and gently and rinse. Once you do that, run your hand over your wet hair while still in the shower, if u see the oil residue on ur hand, maybe you might need to run a little more shampoo through, but I have never had to shampoo twice, or scrub through my ends. Maybe it’s because I melt the oil first, which makes it distribute easier, and maybe isn’t as much “bulk” to rinse out. But it does work. And works very well. Until I found this I thought I might have to loose the long hair I spent many years trying to grow. Night and day difference. Honest.
I tried this on my daughters long hair that I have been trying to cut for years now because it is just brittle and doesn’t look nice. I hope this works. Thank you for this post I am now checking all my hair products and will be stocking up on more coconut oil. How do you use it in you personal skin care? On your face it really what I’m asking. My face feels like it could crack off when I get out of the shower!
I use coconut oil all the time, for almost everything. After the shower I use just the smallest amount straight on my skin, maybe more if I’m going to bed and don’t care if it’s greasy and washi in the morning. I like to experiment with sugar scrubs and microdermabrasion, I do t really have a recipie, but mix a little sugar and melted coconut oil together with a little honey make a great scrub for the body, or mix with some baking soda and use it on my face, not more than twice a week though. I wash my face with honey too and it’s never been so clear from acne in my life with these 2 ingredients
good luck 
How long do you leave the honey and coconut oil mixture on or do you wash off right after rubbing in?
Awesome. In the winter months my hair get so dry. This is a great idea to do at home. Thanks
I am so thrilled got my Coconut Oil in the mail today. What a bargain. Thank you for the info. I will let you know how I like.
Laura Love
Amazing! Just one treatment and my hair was frizz-free. Thank you so much. I applied, put on shower cap, cleaned my house, put shampoo in my hair, rinsed and conditioned and truly loved it. My family noticed a difference immediately and it cut down on my dry time, too. Thank you for sharing this GREAT tip!
So I was looking at the store and my store only carries organic refined. Not extra virgin. Would this still be ok to use on my hair? I was just impatient to get started and didn’t want to wait to order it and get it in the mail.
I have been using this treatment weekly on both myself and my girls and it’s awesome! I bought a $1 squeeze bottle (found at the dollar store, was supposed to be for ketchup) and put the oil inside. Then I sit the bottle in a bath of hot water. I just squeeze the bottle of melted oil on our hair and it’s made is super easy. The room temp didn’t work so well but the bottle is awesome. Also found 8 shower caps for $1 at the dollar tree. Score!
Can I keep it overnight?
Absolutely. That’s what I do the majority of the time.. the longer it’s in your hair the better!
I have always a very oily scalp. I could never use conditioner or else I would get horrible dandriff. I have just discovered how great coconut oil is on my equally oily face & was wondering if I can also use it on my hair w/out making my scalp more oily?
I love this Lara. Thank you. My girls and I had fun doing our hair! I even did a post on my blog. I created a Free Printable with instructions on how to do it. It would make a fun Mother’s Day Gift!
Here is the link to the printable!
http://www.plumadorable.com/coconut-oil-hair-moisture-treatment-free-printable-instructions/
Thanks Again~
Jenny
I have been using coconut oil for the last 6 months and I love it. You need yo go thrift shopping and buy yourself a vintage hair dryer. I collect them and love them. I use mine about once a month. Much easier than propping your blow dryer and sitting on the floor.
I’m doing an experiment where I give up beauty products for six months in order to go all natural, and one of the things I gave up was shampoo/conditioner. While I was going for all natural Poo, my hair got super dry, so I tried this moisturizer, but I had a terrible time of it! I’m not sure what I did wrong, or maybe my hair just can’t handle the coconut oil, but I had coconut oil stuck in my hair for a whole weekend!!! Does coco oil work better for certain hair types? Or perhaps I used too much? Here’s what I did – http://mothernaturesmaid.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/moisture-treatments-are-coconuts/
Am I just a coconut oil dummy?
you need to use a soap that lathers to get it out. natural products will not take out a heavy coconut oil treatment. Coconut oil works on all hair types. A double wash with shampoo should take it right out
It IS possible to remove hot oil treatments from hair using all natural products. I have done overnight oil treatments on my hair using even heavier oils- like castor oil- and was able to wash them out easily using an all natural shampoo bar followed by a acv rinse. I tried the baking soda route as well but it left my hair waxy and dull, so now I use GreenKimono shampoo bars from etsy.com or Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner which does not contain SLS, ‘cones, or any other questionable ingredients.
Have you ever tried baking soda and apple cider vinegar as a shampoo substitute. I have a very flaky scalp and hated putting chemicals in my hair. It has cleared up my scalp, just as good as any chemically shampoo. It may help get the oil out… I know it has been a while since you posted but I thought it might help. I take a few tablespoons of baking soda and make a paste with just a little water and rub it on my scalp and hair then I rinse it out with the apple cider vinegar. It foams up and my hair looks better than it has in a while.
I love it! Works so well for my hair
Im always having to wear my hair in a bun usually when its wet and my ends become very dry. What shampoo would u recommend?
I really like the dove damage therapy line. You could also try using a little argan oil in the ends of your hair to keep it from being so dry, it is not greasy at all and absorbs really well into your hair! I love it!
I love Dove, too. What works even better is, Aveeno Nourish and Strengthen. It’s the best IMO.
Guess who is hunting down the coupon as I type this? This guy!
I want so badly to do this to my hair. But I have a question, I just dyed my hair red and it’s already fading super fast.. This coconut oil treatment won’t strip my hair of color or anything will it?
Thanks!
-Kate
If anything it will help you hair hold the color better! it will help repair the cuticle and the color wont wash out as fast!
Do I have to use a shower cap? or can I just leave my hair pinned with no shower cap on?
You only need to use a shower cap if you are using heat with the treatment, the heat will dry out your hair. Otherwise you can just clip it up! sometimes I will just put it on my ends the night before i know i am going to shower and pull it up overnight!
can any type of coconut oil be used
unfortunately no. it needs to be extra virgin coconut oil to penetrate the hair
I really need to do this to my hair.
The photo of you sitting under the sink with the hair dryer propped up on a makeup bag is hilarious (but oh so cute)!
I still have the coconut oil in my hair, but if it makes my hair half as soft as my hands got while applying it to my hair, I’ll be happy! My hands are SO soft.
try washing it once, then rinsing it and washing it again. make sure you get a really good lather and wash it in hot/warm water and it should come right out!
Trader Joe’s has the cheapest, organic coconut oil. It’s like $5-6 where I live. If you have one near you I strongly suggest checking it out.
Hey I recently visited the site and saw the coconut oil segment at which point (thanks to your fabulous coupon) I immediately purchased some. Only when I received it, unlike the picture in the story, mine is liquid. I got extra virgin because in the photo of the canister that is what is said. However the picture shows what looks like crisco and it says virgin! Did I get the wrong kind? Can I use this??
You can totally use the Coconut oil you got. It has a very low melting temperature point. My guess is it just arrived warm? If you are concerned about it, give Vitacost a call. They have great customer service.
if you put it in the fridge or in a cool place it should solidify!
Holy smokes, I tried this last night and I can’t believe how thick and strong my hair feels this morning!
OMGoodness thank you sooooooo much for this. I knew I would have super thin hair and it would be brittle because that is what my mom has. I have tried everything and asked everyone. I get the same advice, brush your hair at least 100 times a day to stimulate it, get it cut every 6 weeks, don’t use products with alcohol, take biotian….check, check and check with all of the above. I take very good care of myself and I HATE my hair. I just ordered my coconut oil and am going to do this weekly. Thanks so much for the tip and the tip on the shampoo and conditioner that you use! You may have just saved my hair : )
This sounds great, I never even heard of coconut oil or that you can use it as a moisturizer, let alone put it in your hair. I can’t wait to try this!! I found a bottle of it at Wal Mart for 6-7 bucks it says its Organic Coconut Oil but its refined and its not the brand that you have shown in the picture. I just want to know if the one I have will work just the same??
I did this as a “spa day” with my SIL and nieces. It definitely took a few washes do to some poor water pressure, but I couldn’t believe how amazing my hair was afterwards. I will definitely be doing this regularly. (Also repinned on Pinterest. Thanks!)
Is your hair supposed to be dry when you do this or should it be slightly damp?
slightly damp.
Hi, does the oil HAVE to be organic virgin? The only kind I can find around me is pure coconut oil. Thanks!
That works great too!
Try the vitacost link in the post to try any of their coconut oils. It will give you a $10 credit to use!
I have done this so many times and its great but I personally get better results using almond oil but coconut oil works good too!
Is the coconut oil you use solid? Everything I have found at the store is liquid.
Coconut oil melts at 70-something degrees. It will solidify at a cooler temperature.
I tried this last night and slept on my hair wet, when I woke up it was EXTREMLY curly! And looked kinda greasy… Is that normal?
I have to try this!!
I honestly LOVE YOU!!!
I had real issues with my hair, i went abroad and because of the
difference in power & electricity, I forgot my iron would heat faster,
by the time i realized this, i had already burnt a part of my hair. I almost cried.
Anyway, i had been trying anything that I read could help, i even got a keratin treatment (waste of money BTW), and i have almost given up and was going to cut it, little by little, and then i saw your post, let me tell you, my hair is slowly healing, but the best part, is: it is healing!!! and i could tell the difference from day one.
thank you VERY MUCH!!
i have unrefined virgin coconut oil…will that work? i saw you mentioned extra virgin on another comment…
How often do you do this treatment?
I’m so glad you posted this. I had never heard about using coconut oil this way. I am an almost 50 y/o woman with super dry, graying hair that I bleach. You can imagine how brittle my hair is! I’m looking forward to trying this. One thing that’s work AMAZINGLY well is the “no poo” method. I use baking soda and organic apple cider vinegar on my hair instead of shampoo and conditioner. I’m amazed at how great my hair feels compared to how it felt using traditional products.
How long has your hair grown since you started this treatment?
i love using this product but i break out like crazy if i use it on my skin. what should i do? I still want to use it b/c it makes my skin feel amazing and i love the smell but i dont like the little devils
I’ve tried this once and would love to do it more often, but I’m worried the coconut oil will clog my drain!! Has anyone had any issues with this?!?!
LMAO!!! You silly…It will go down the drain not lurk around. Drano will help if you feel you have clogged drains before hand. You may have already had hair clogging it up. Try the Drano with the Snake piece it works wonders, had a leak in a bath sink and had a bowl under pipe, after snaking and drano it stopped leaking.
I’m starting this tomorrow when I take my shower! Can’t wait to start doing this!
This did not work AT ALL for me. I washed my hair twice in the shower and the oil wouldn’t come out of the bottom layer of my hair
after all this I even got my mom to wash my hair in the sink to get everywhere. Still no luck. I ended up using a handful of baby powder to soak up the excess.
Maybe this works for other people, but not me.
Terrible mess
I love this, its great! Does this work for thinning hair as well, I have very fine, thinning hair and I’m looking for a safe and healthy alternative. If not, if you know of anything and can point me in the right direction I will super appreciate it! Thanks!
This is great, and I’m so excited to try it! But what I reallylove is her hair color! How did she get it to be that color?
THANK YOU!! I used the coupon too
You stated that you use it instead of lotion. do you use it straight out of the bottle or do you mix it? how much do you use?
Apparently coconut oil as a hair treatment has been used for generations in the East Indian culture. I’ve been doing this for years. I swear by it as well. I usually leave it on overnight (tie my hair in a high bun and use a towel to protect my pillow), the night before my hair is due for a wash.
When I got my coconut oil it was hard. I saw where some people said it was liquid but when I opened my can the oil was more like frozen butter. Should I warm it up??
I looked at the link from my iPhone and it didn’t say anything about a 10 dollar credit
. Did I miss my chance?
I have very frizzy hair, and I usually put a little bit of coconut oil on my hair after showering to control it. I have been doing this for two years and it works very well.
i just started using it after my showers too, i like putting a little in my hair after i get out (and after i put it all over my body instead of lotion). it has taken the place of gel/mousse and really cut down on the frizz! and the best part is i can wear it natural one day and straighten the next because there’s no real “product” that needs to be washed out!
I’ve done this twice now, and it’s amazing! My hair doesn’t resemble straw anymore! I’m so happy I stumbled upon this post in Pinterest. Thank you!
mix a little sugar and melted coconut oil together with a little honey make a great scrub for the body, or mix with some baking soda and use it on my face
So is it sugar, melted coconut oil, honey, AND baking soda for my face? I have acne and would LOVE to try this! Thanks
This is super helpful! I have been trying to grow my hair out after I chopped it off super short. My friend had told me she heard that there was a really bad ingredient in shampoos and conditioners but she couldn’t remember what it was. That plus the awesome advice about the coconut oil will help me out a ton!!! Thank you sooo much!!!
I tried this and it made my hair feel like wax!! It was horrible. Dawn dish soap wouldn’t even get it out of my hair!!! I don’t recommend this to anyone!!!!
after you wash out the coconut oil, & wash your hair with shampoo & conditioner…do you rinse the conditioner out with cool/cold water? rinsing your conditioner out with cool/cold water, closes the hair cuticle, helping to lock it in. Which also helps it grow longer, & stronger. Ive been doing that…plus taking Biotin pills everyday, & already so far my hair has grown an inch within a week! but I hair grows fast anyways, but I did find that shampooing with warm water, & rinsing the conditioner out with cold has made my hair alot softer. But, I def wanna try the Coconut oil treatment now!
How can I get my hair to grow faster?
Love this post by the way!
I could find the coupon on thier site:(
Can you do this with all-natural pure coconut oil?
How did you get it for free!? It’s Sooooo expensive!
Use your vitacost $10 credit in this post (link to vitacost). Search for Coconut oil on their site and you should find some for under $10.
Enjoy!
Love, love, love this! I got my coupon (thanks) and ordered my coconut oil. I have baked with it for years and now it is a permanent beauty routine. I also use it on my feet to soften them…*Note*….my boyfriend had white markings on his toenails and after only one use on his feet….they were gone completely!! He was a hard sale to even try it and he was simply amazed!
I read in most blogs to use EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL…do I have to use that specific kind?? Can I use ALL NATURAL PURE COCONUT OIL (LouAna brand) ?
Laura,
I have had good luck using the LouAna brand from WalMart, it’s cheap & I’ve not had any problems with it not absorbing. I use it on my hair, my daughter’s eczema, my other kids dry skin, my husbands rough elbows & hands. I also put it all over myself in the shower when I do my hair. I have super curly, moisture deprived & VERY frizzy hair. Coconut Oil has been a God send for me, my hair is soft, silky & rarely frizzy anymore, even on super humid days in the Midwest. I can tell I need a treatment when my ends start to get crunchy. I even used it on my daughter’s cradle cap when she was a newborn. Love, Love, LOVE the stuff!!
I used the LouAna brand on my daughters hair and her scalp smelled sour after… has anyone else had that problem? It made her hair soft (her hair is almost to the back of her knees) but I haven’t done it again because of the smell.
Great tips with the oil, BUT:
Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate are both equally bad. Very very bad.
Please trust me on this one,i have a phd in chemistry: sodium laureth sulfate is the “alcohol-version” of lauryl sulfate. So its not only a foaming agent,it will also dry your skin/hair out. They are both potentially harmful and best be avoided.
The coconut oil I purchased is like oil-liquid. On this post you scoop yours out like a solid. Did you do something to yours to make it solid?? I’m not sure why mine is completely liquid.
You must live in a warm place, lucky! It becomes liquid when warm. When it is cold, it is solid.
I’ve done this three times since last Thursday and the results have been amazing! My hair is softer than I can ever remember! I blogged about my experience if anyone is interested (although your post is way more detailed and helpful than mine – mine was basically just me raving about your post lol)
http://mychocolatemoments.com/2012/09/18/coconut-oil-hair-treatment/
Just ordered a bottle with the great coupon I got from the link! Hopefully this works! thanks so much!
I have naturally greasy hair, would it still be good for me to do this or will it just make my hair even more greasy?? I would LOVE to find something that I can do to help keep my hair from getting so greasy so fast….I can wash my hair at night, blow dry, go to bed and wake up and my hair is greasy. It is so annoying! Please help me if you can!!!
hi crystal! you also might want to check out the ‘no poo’ formula. i wash my hair with baking soda and an apple cider vinegar rinse. i’ve been doing it for months and my hair is healthier now (by far) than it ever was with traditional shampoo and conditioner
Thank-you thank-you thank-you!
I’ve been looking for hair treatment because my hair just never that soft and always looks so greasy after few hours even if I just had washed my hair!
Discovered this blog via Pinterest last night and luckily had the same Coconut Oil on hand. HAD washed my hair just 3hrs ago but I tried it anyway and put hair up in bun and went to sleep like that. Took shower first thing in morning and my hair feels so soft!
BEST part is, it been about 8hrs since I washed my hair this morning and my hair STILL looks soft and smells good! This is unusual if I leave my hair down all day with wind blowing it!!
This is only after ONE time try! SO happy, Thank you SO much for sharing this healthy helpful tip!! (:
After washing out twice, do you still use conditioner?
Where can you buy coconut oil? And is it expensive?
what are the must of a basic hair care for black hair or any type of hair.
for example for a facial basic routine:
must:
cleanse first, then tone, then, moisturise, then sun cream. exfoliate twice or once a week. use facial masks once a week.
Steam face once a week etc etc.
i just need to know what i should do for hair on a wash day or regularly.
example does my hair need to be clean before doing an oil treatment?
do i only do an oil treatment when its a wash day. then shampoo it , then deep condition/ condition.
Please help me!
Thank you.
I tried this last night, being so excited from the comments and since I’ve recently become HIGHLY allergic to propylene glycol which is in EVERYTHING so I haven’t been able to use conditioner – can u imagine? I’m ripping out all my hair trying to comb it out when it’s wet and then just put it in a clip and let it dry that way. So, I think I already see a difference but haven’t blown dry my hair yet but I have a question….Are you supposed to still use regular conditioner after you shampoo the oil out? It seems so….and if yes, then back to researching I shall go to try to find a propylene glycol free conditioner. Thanks so much for your post..I think this may be life changing to us women who’s hair is everything!
I think after a few treatments, you may be able to get away with no conditioner..give it a try at least. Also, you can use vinegar to soften your hair after shampooing. It sounds weird but it does work pretty good and no worries, the smell does not last.
i echo the vinegar rinse. also, when i apply the acv rinse, i use a comb to comb out the tangles in the shower then i actually use just regular ole honey as a conditioner.. hope this helps!
Is this okay to do with color treated hair?
Great post. I like to do a coconut oil treatment once a week. But, I like to add egg yolk. Egg yolk is packed with protein and makes hair really shiny and stronger. I have hair just past my shoulders, so I use 1/3 cup oil with one egg yolk. I mix them together, then apply with a tinting brush.
Also, once a week I clean my scalp with witch hazel. I put some in a spray bottle, spray my roots, then use a soft bristle comb to loosen up an products that have coated my scalp.
And, one more, sorry. I do a vinegar rinse after I shampoo in the shower : half water half white distilled vinegar. This will balance out the PH level in your hair making it shine and keeping it healthy.
Your hair is amazing! I have tons of coconut oil… I’m all over it! I’m going to do it this weekend for sure. Yay! So how do you use it on your skin?
I’ve tried coconut in my hair before but I had to wash my hair 3 times before my hair didn’t look to greasy! I have thin blonde hair. Did I use to much? How much should I use?
Mine was a bit greasy the first time also – I had to wash it twice. I used a bit less the next time – just tweak it a bit until you find an amount that works for you – or just wash a couple times if you get too much.
i use coconut oil on my hair all the time except i dont do all those steps. i use way less than the big glob in the picture (like as if im putting in conditioner or something to that exten, enough to make it greasy…except CO has a weird type of grease texture, not like olive oil)…rub it in and go to bed. i dont do the baggie thing or the hair dryer thing either. when i get up and wash my hair the next morning its super silky soft, the softest its ever been. i also use CO as a facial cream….its natures way of reducing wrinkles…..plus if you Google uses for CO, there are literally tons of stuff you can use it for….gods gift to us. i give it to my dogs, it works wonderful as makeup remover, it even took off the hair dye stain around my ears when my hair girl got it on me….its absolutely fab! huge fan of CO.
I have two biracial girls I can’t wait to try this!
Thanks for the tip! As a teen I used mayo (ewww, hate it on sammys and the smell is no better on the head!), oil, but never tried the coconut. Will do so. I save all those disposable hotel shower caps and often leave it on for hours around the house covered with a towel, tysvm. The BEST pic is your innovative use of the cosmetic case to hold the hair dryer! Definitely one to save (and laugh on it when you have kids—they will think it hilarious….) I appreciate the tip and will try it soon.
i have a question, i straighten my hair every day and I cant even make it through a day of school without it getting wavy and frizzy… is there a good solution to this
Thanks for the tips! my hair is also brittle and thin. I can’t wait to try them
(you’ll find out if I did by going to my other blog at http://pintrestchallenge.blogspot.com/ )
Saw this on Pinterest this morning and just ordered mine using the $10 coupon for new customers! I have a small jar of coconut oil in my bathroom. I started using it several years ago after my sister in laws put me on to it. They have kinky hispanic hair like me and they buy it in the “Ethnic Hair” section at Walmart. Lol. But like I said, it’s a really small container.
I can’t wait for my order to get here. I’m excited to try this! Thanks for the post!
Do you know if it weighs down fine hair? I would love to use it on my own hair. I just did it on my daughter’s hair….long thick Guatemalan hair. Can’t wait to see it tomorrow morning!!
Did yours take forever to dry when styling it after?
I tried it last weekend, and what a difference it made. I actually had to wash my hair three times just to get all of the oil out, but it was so worth it.
So glad to this article! Coconut oil have been used since ages in Asian countries especially India to nourish and treat hair. This is also used very regularly to maintain healthy hair and to even sometimes treat headaches. Doesn’t work for everyone. But hair oil has been used commonly for decades to treat all kinds of hair issues, even hair loss. Btw…it’s great for cooking as well. Not a fan of the coconut oil smell, so yes it will take a few washes to get the smell out. Great for winters and summer chlorine days!
I just tried this a few days ago, and my hair felt heavenly. I HIGHLY recommend it. My hands are also incredibly soft. Thank you so much for introducing me to coconut oil!
Would it be the same to use like the coconut oil treatments that are meant for hair made by Organix? I’m not sure if it would do the same thing?? It says it is a split end mender.
It’s not the same but I like to use both, I just leave the oil in for at least an hour then shampoo, condition and use several items from the organix line they work really well together.
I loved this treatment, my hair definitely benefited from it, but beware if you already have oily hair!! I think I might’ve put too much in it, but it DID NOT come out after washing twice. I had to wash it with shampoo six times, conditioner once and dish soap three times before it finally came out. I think the grease-cutting dish soap finally did it, but it was very frustrating that I couldn’t get this goop out of my hair!! I had to go to work with greasy hair
I have a question, I have oily hair but it is very damaged. Do you think this would be something to help repair and grow my hair out? I’m just afraid it will be too oily for my hair, what do you guys think?
I love coconut oil! I used it once and couldn’t believe how soft it made my hair once I washed it out. It really is great.
I love the idea of using coconut oil to hydrate hair! But wont it re-solidify in your showers plumbing? and clog?
It melts at slightly above room temperature.
I just learned about this from my doctor and I have straight up kinky curly afro mama hair and this is faaaaaaaabulous. I use it on my daughter whose hair is very thick and kinky & curly and it is like magic on her hair. Her hair is soft and amazingly manageable. Plus there is no fragrance or scent and she doesn’t complain cause some of the other hair products I’ve used on her have a strong perfumey smell.
I will definitely be trying this in my hair very soon. Thanks for the tip! Just as an FYI, my husband & I discovered coconut oil years ago as a personal lubricant. Works so much better than the commercial brands & doesn’t even stain the sheets! You just have to warm it in your hands for about 1-2 seconds so it will melt completely. Hope someone else can find some fun with coconut oil as we have all these years.
I have heard this too!
Bow-chicka-bow-wow. 
will this still work if i have product in my hair? i use frizz ease every day in the morning after my shower and i was hoping to do this in the evening.
I had read about using this for skin disorders in dogs so I decided to try it on my grandson’s dog who has allergies from flea bites. After only 3 applications her hair is growing back & her skin is moist. An added bonus is it’s great time to bond plus the coconut oil kills fleas. It also moisturizes my hands. A win-win for all of us!
Being from the pacific, we practically use coconut oil for food, skin and yes, hair! I use it every time I wash my hair. After shampoo and conditioner, i apply a small amount to my hair from root to end and wash it out with warm water. Rinse it just enough so that you don’t get the entire oil off nor leave it too oily. My hair is naturally long and dark and very healthy! I love it! Oh and I buy mine from out local grocery store:)
Will this make my hair permanently greasy? I have great hair that doesn’t require a ton of washing and I don’t want to jeopardize that.
Costco has coconut oil at their stores at $16.00 for a 54 ounce jar. It’s more cost effective that the supplier listed here.
I just tried this on my hair last week & I LOVE it!!! I was a platinum blonde for 5 years & my hair always felt like straw! I would buy a ton of expensive treatments from sephora with no help. Just recently went back to my natural brown and my hair is just worn out. I bought organic unrefined coconut oil from Wegmans and it saved my hair!! It has never felt or looked so good!! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to repair damage or relieve dryness! Thanks SO much Laura for sharing
How long would you say the 15 oz bottle lasts you? Im ordering right now I am just deciding on how big of a bottle to get!!
Thanks!!!
It really depends on how much you use coconut oil. I order the biggest bottle and it lasts me about 3 months.
thanks. i’m excited to try it. do you have favorite shampoo and conditioner brands? i switched to more natural brands about a year ago, but haven’t found any that i love.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate your efforts and
I will be waiting for your next post thank you once again.
Read about this treatment on Pinterest 10-30-2012, placed my first order (with the $10 coupon), received my order today 11-2-2012. That was very quick!!!
I’m heading straight home after work to try it, so excited!
I tri
Thanks for the great advice!
Found this link on pinterest, and so glad I did! My hair (and skin) get very dry in the winter, especially with all the blow drying and straightening I do. Cant wqit to try this — ordered it through vitacost via your link and just had to pay for s&h! Thanks a million!
I love this! I have been looking for something for my hair and dry scalp. This is worth a try.
I too love love love coconut oil! It is my little magical miracle!
I use it for dry skin, chapped lips, my hair, and to cook with! A must try. Thanks for the coupon info!
My daughters we diagnosed with something called Mulluscum Contagiosum. It sounds trilby nasty, but its actaully a common and benign skin virus. It causes little pimple like bulbs to occur on the skin all over the body. Treatments include a very expensive prescription cream (only works half the time) or burning/freezing (painful and leaves scars). My doctor recommended just waiting them out, which could be anywhere between 6-18 months.
My youngest child (2 1/2) got a particularly bad case that extended from her armpit to her lower leg.
I started using coconut oil as a lotion and her skin cleared up COMPLETELY in 6 weeks.
Thanks for sharing! I just bought it and used the $10 off coupon! Can’t wait to try this!
My name is Lara, too!! =]
Great post, coconut oil is indeed a miracle for hair! If you want to switch it up a little, I can really recommend Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil. It has all the coconut oil goodness along with some great hair care herbs.
I’m actually using this treatment for the first time. I workout and lately since my workouts been so intense its done horrible to my hair with all the sweating. So now im going to be doing this treatment at least once a week. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for this post! I am new to using coconut oil, and your blog has been very helpful for me! So far I have tried it as a facial moisturizer, body lotion, and hair deep conditioner, and have been loving it… I mentioned you in my blog at http://rachellethefoodiern.blogspot.com/
Thanks again!
<3
Do you still condition or skip that? Thanks!
Great post! I found you through Pinterest. I have found that wrapping a heating blanket around the shower cap works too.
So I’ve tried this like 3 times, each time changing how much coconut oil I put in my hair (thinking the 1st time I put too much in ) and it has been impossible to get put. I tried so many different techniques to wash out, just a mess alltogether. Am I doing it wrong?
i was much worried about my hears you gave a good idea thanks! i will do this for sure
Hi! I can’t wait to try this! One question… I have the Lou Ana (I think that is how you spell it) coconut oil…. do you think that will work just as well? Thank you!
Yes SLS Is bad bad bad… I buy my shampoo form vitacost. I’ve used the Giovanni Hair care line since 2008 and it’s good to know that toxic chemicals aren’t affecting my body to (I am a breast cancer overcomer for 5 years now). I also wanted to mention that I have been using coconut oil on my hair for the last year and it also has really helped my hair grow really fast!
According to long hair communities, washing with conditioner only (CO-washing) removes oils much better than shampooing. I haven’t tried CO-washing yet, but I’m sure they know what they’re talking about!
My hair is tailbone length, but I’ve never really done anything special, however my ends are pretty dry (well, for me!) due to excess bleaching several years ago…so I’ve tried coconut oil several times fairly recently. It is making a difference!
Ahh. I have super super thick hair that I’ve been recently growing out, and its normally really healthy but now that its winter (and I’m in between haircuts) its been breaking something awful and I’ve got terrible split ends. I’m super excited to try this…
Should your hair be dry or wet when you put the coconut oil in?
Do you have to use a shower cap?
I’ve been doing this a lot with my hair. I only use a shower cap when I’m going to do it overnight so the oil doesn’t get all over my sheets. It’s really to keep it from getting on anything besides your hair, so no you don’t have to use a shower cap.
Ii tried this last night and washed my hair 3 times because i was afraid that my hair would be greasy and when I woke up this morning my hair was very greasy in the back! Next time I will only apply the oil to the ends of my hair.
Oh em gee! Thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to try. I have mixed ethnic hair that is super brittle. I hope this works for me. And thanks for the link to the coupon, too!
I’ve been using coconut oil in my daughters, long, fine, curly hair as a moisture treatment and wanted to share something we discovered.
Since starting school we have dealt with a few nit (headlice) infestations. Originally I used an over-the-counter chemical treatment, which I hated, and found didn’t really work and only irritated her scalp more.
Then one night I was doing some more reading and found that there are two types of treatments – one that kills the lice by poisoning, and one by coating or suffocation. I wondered if the coconut oil I had been using as a skin scrub would do the trick and what do you know?! It worked beautifully. I put the oil in her hair before bedtime, wrap her pillow in an old towel (if she’d let me, I’d wrap her head in an old t-shirt) and let her sleep in it. Then in the morning I shampoo it out and ran a lice comb through it. The lice were all dead, easy to remove, her hair is luscious and shiny and not a chemical in sight!
Thanks for sharing! I have a question…does it matter what type of coconut oil you use? I seen coconut oil ‘for hair’ in some stores..was wondering if it made a difference??
Thanks again!!
Wonderful idea and leaves your hair smelling wonderful!!
Hello! I have heard about this a ton but for some reason when I do it my hair seems to fall out a lot when I rinse it out way more then it normally. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks for your help!
Can your hair be greasy when you put the coconut oil on? Or does it need to be recently washed? Thanks!
Barlean’s Organic Oil’s Coconut Oil
http://www.barleans.com/
I’ve been using coconut oil in my hair forever. When I go to wash it out, I usually shampoo my hair first before getting it wet. I do this because oil and water don’t mix, so it’s harder to wash out w/o shampooing first. (Same thing if you use coconut oil on your skin or something. I put soap on first, rub, then rinse.) I rinse that out, then re-shampoo and then condition. My hair is usually still pretty oily, but by my 2nd shower the next day, it’s normal. I also leave in for about an hour.
Should you wash your hair first? Should it be dirty (about to wash it)? Dry? Wet?
Thanks! Looks so wonderful! Can’t wait to try it!!
My daughter has very long hair and it gets frizzy. But she is allergic to coconut, any nut at all. Do you think using Virgin Olive Oil might be a good substitute?
Virgin olive oil never worked for me or my daughter and we both have what I call ‘the frizz.’ Try unrefined organic almond oil, raw shea butter slighlty metled, or certified organic argan oil and do the same process. I have noticed that the almond oil leaves it as nice as the coconut oil does and I use organic argan oil in our hair when dry to give it extra shine. I hope that helps!
I agree Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is horrible stuff but just to be clear it is not a “strong detergent” it is actually a sudsing/thickening agent used in all kinds of products from Shampoo to toothpaste to mascara even. Check all your daily body products and you would be amazed at how many of them it is in. Natural products are by far the way to go!
Can you use this with pure coconut oil? If you could e-mail the answer that would be awesome please
Hello! I have natural curly hair and I do color and highlight it so it does get dry. I am always looking for shampoo and conditioners to help but non really seem to work very well. I would love to try this but I am allergic to coconut. Is there any other option or product you recommend?
I have been using really expensive India Oil on my hair and have been running low—totally going to try this instead! Love it”
Hey I was wondering if you could do this without a cap or heat… Can you?
I love this idea and am going to use it next tomorrow. It would be great if you would list some shampoo and conditioner brands that you use.
I tried this, followed the instructions but I washed it out twice, and it is still super greasy, it did not work for me
I used ur recommendation and also purchased a tube of lemmongrass lotion, it was so smooth and lovely; all from the vitacost website. Thank you for the link to the $10 off, as well as the tutorial. Quite fascinating
Hi I love doing this to me hair. I actually saw this on youtube and tried it. I love it but my only thing is I don’t ever feel the softness afterwards. I think that could be due to the shampoos that I use. I used one that was a moisture-rich shampoo already but after that my hair just looked unbelievably greasy and gross. Then I decided I would use a suave shampoo but that really dries it. so my question is what shampoo and conditioner do you use? and that picture you have after you used this treatment is awesome; your hair looks gorgeous. is your hair naturally straight like that or did you style it? and what styling products do you use if you straighten it. thank you so much if you read this. sorry it’s so long I’m just curious
I have use coconut oil on my face as a moisturizer which works amazingly to leave my face moisturizer, non oily, and helps minimize the appearance of any lines or minor wrinkles. I recently lightened my hair by bleaching and immediately after washing and drying applied coconut oil on my hair and placed a towel cap over my head. I left it on over night. I love how it left my hair! Feeling strong, soft and did I mention that within one week you can see the roots to my natural hair color?! Awesome stuff!!!
I have long well conditioned hair to start off with but I love findin new hair tip to wash my hair with so far I have tried soap powder, vinegar and fairly liquid all good products bar the fairy liquid so I Canit wait to try this out I heard that olive oil on ur scalp works to help your hair grown as well I shal note back once I have tried it x
I use coconut oil along with RegenePure shampoos for my hair. The hairloss shampoos are also known for other forms of hair treatments, combine them with coconut oil, perfect balance!
I must have bought the wrong kind of coconut oil or something… I washed my hair SIX times in two days and my hair was still sticky and oily. I’m going to see if I can find an organic brand or maybe use less. I hope it works out.
Love coconut oil and have used this style of treatment before but not as regularly as you. Seeing the picture of your hair once it’s dried and style makes me want to get into a routine of it! I’m getting married in June and would love to have healthier hair for it. Thanks for the great tutorial
!
I got my oil tonight and immediately started massaging it into my hair, and within an instant my hair feels so much healthier. It gets so dry due to the hard water at my apartments, and I’m trying to grow it out which is hard to do when my hair is splitting. Plus I smell yummy!
Hello! My daughter-in-law turned me onto coconut oil but I had never thought to use it on my hair until she posted your article from pintrist. You mentioned a couple of things to avoid in a shampoo. What do you know about sodium lauroyl sarcosinate? I found it listed on sulfate free shampoo. Thanks!
Your hair is amazing! I’ve always wanted to try this but i cant wait to try it now…Im hoping for the same results(:
There are so many uses for coconut oil. I even use a very small amount on the ends of my hair before I blow dry. I can’t tell you how great this stuff is. Vitacost is THE best place e to get it. 54 ounces for around $20 and you can even get $10 off and free shipping with a $25 order. I cook and bak with it. It goes on my face every night. Sometimes I slather it on my hair and sleep in a shower cap. It helps eczema, acne…oh and ladies, it helps get rid of belly fat. I put a tbsp. in my coffee every morning. I could go on and on about the benefits. Let me just sum it up…it is God’s miracle food. Enjoy!!
I love doing this to my hair!! And coconut oil smells SO good! I was wondering though, which shampoo products would you recommend? Loreal has shampoos that claim to be “sulfate free” and thats what I’ve been using. I went to check the ingredients after I read your article and the 2nd ingredient is sodium lauryl sulfate!!! So now I have no clue what brand of shampoo to use! I’ve been on the hunt for sulfate free shampoos for months with no luck! Help please!
Can I shampoo and condition after rinsing it out?!..
are you suppose to was the coconut oil off your face
do you need to use conditioner too after using the coconut oil? or is just shampooing enough?
oww very nice hair style
For the love of God, don’t do this!! Especially if you have fine hair! I have very long fine hair. My hair did not like this at all. In fact, it made my hair kinda dry – ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE GREASE OUT OF MY HAIR. Washing once did not get it out. Washing twice did not get it out. Hell, washing 10 times didn’t! My hair was a greasy limp mess. I had to cover it in corn starch over night and was finally able to get it out after that and washing with a clarifying shampoo.
What do you wash your hair with?
I actually just tried this today and I LOVE how soft my hair is right now! I came across coconut oil by accident and bought a jar to use as lotion for my super dry winter skin. Then I started reading about all of the amazing uses for it and found your site! Thanks for the explanation of how to use it as a hair conditioning treatment!!! I am totally hooked!
I have coconut oil the expeller pressed… it has no type of coconut smell or taste?!?! I don’t know what types are out there… but are there any that smell like coconut? (its my fav scent esp in the summer)
What are your tips on getting the coconut oil out? Mine is hard and I cannot scoop it out. I can get little shavings and I’ve tried heating up a spoon under hot water it works slightly…….any ideas?
What is a good shampoo and conditioner for dry frizzy hair.
I read this and have coconut oil in my hair as I write this. I was wondering though if you know anything about Not your mothers brand shampoo and conditioner? I have the long and strong stuff and they say it helps your hair grow but i’m not sure if it does or not and am trying it. Not good with that kind of stuff. Thanks for the tips!
Does it have to be virgin or can it be organic coconut oil?
Thanks for the tip about what type of shampoo is safe and which is harmful. I love the Garnier Fructis system and I looked and it has Sodium Laureth sulfate which is the stuff that is okay for your hair (yay!). I’ve also used Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship and Pantene shampoo, both of which just left my hair feeling dry compared to the Garnier stuff and found out that those contain Sodium Lauryl sulfate (the bad stuff). I will definitely be sticking to Garnier Fructis from now on.
Hi Lara!
I found your pin on Pinterest and in perfect timing. I accidentally purchased a new VitaCost Coconut Oil when I already had an extra. NOW I know what to do with it!
My hair is in great shape thanks to good care and great products but it didn’t used to be and I know this process will make it even better!
Thank you!
Kelly
I usually melt mine before I put it in my hair just because I find it easier to apply. I LOVE this stuff
I’m trying to grow my hair out for my wedding. I’m for sure trying this on myself and my daughter. Have you ever tried Affina shampoo and conditioner?
TIP. Don’t use as much cocount oil shown in the picture! I repeat: DO NOT. Use a very small amount or else your hair will become VERY oily. I suggest the size of a nickel. Haha, please trust me. I’ve grown up with coconut oil and know how oily it gets.
How often do you have to buy more coconut oil?
i’ve been using tresemme’s deep cleanse and the detergent is ammonium lauryl sulfate. is that bad, too?
I got my organic cocoanut oil at trader joes for 4.99 & have had it for a couple of months & barely made a dent in it . It’s also GREAT to take of makeup. Just put it on a cotton pad , & makeup wipes right off .
i use coconut oil EVERY time i wash my hair. after towel drying my hair, i apply a small amount of coconut oil in the palm of my hand and work it thru my long, thick and very curly hair. i then twist my hair into a bun and sleep in it. in the morning, i pick my hair out and it is so soft and so much healthier and it helps control the frizz from having naturally curly hair. i LOVE coconut oil!!!
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned adding essential oils to the coconut oil. I just melted the oil first (in a bowl sitting in a larger bowl of hot water) and then added some organic rosemary oil and some cederwood oil. I think a lavender and rosemary combination would also be wonderful. I place it back into another jar and let it solidify.
So excited to try!!!!! Thank you so much! My hair is hey but in the process of growing and this will be perfect!! I heard this is really great for growing out your hair! The reason you warm it up is so that you open up your hair follicles and open te pores to give it time and space to grow and no explanation needed!!!!
I have colored hair and would love to try this but worried it will strip my hair ?!
Can this be used every time you shampoo? Im my hair and scalp is so damaged from store products that I am trying to go all natural to get it back on track. I already have a home made shampoo to use but need a conditioner.
Does this work for all hair types, I have been striving to find out before I suggest it to women of color but no one seems to have any answers. If you have any information I would appreciate it.
Yes it does. Thanks so much.