Coconut oil is a very versatile beauty and health product.
In a word, coconut oil is a body-friendly foodstuff that is heart-healthy, great for oral health, and other health benefits. Structurally, coconut oil is taken from coconut kernels. It's tasteless and colorless, and is available for consumer usage in refined and unrefined coconut oil.
Nearly all people use it for various purposes – cleaning, cooking, removing makeup and skin moisturizing. It is also an effective product to achieve lush, manageable, shiny and healthy hair.
Approximately 60% of all coconut oils are comprised of the above three fatty acids, while 90% of coconut oil fats is comprised of heart-healthy saturated fats. The latter figure is a high one, and not one that is recommendable to many doctors. For example, 14% of olive oil calories come from saturated fat, and 63% of butter's calories come from saturated fat.
If you take a look on the ingredients of many cosmetic hair products, you often find coconut oil listed. But most hair products contain other harsh ingredients that can be damaging to your scalp and hair. These harsh chemicals in commercial hair products can leave your hair dry, damaged and flat. Adding very small amount of coconut oil isn’t enough to prevent these effects. Therefore, better avoid commercial products and use pure coconut oil to your regimen along with a natural organic hair product. Although some of these natural hair products may cost a bit more, fortunately food-grade coconut oil is affordable, safe and can effectively substitute many hair products in your stash.
Coconut oil is a natural sunscreen, having an SPF of 8. Use it as a leave-in conditioner for all day protection.
The amount of coconut oil you will need depends on the hair type and length. Most people apply just enough to cover the midsection to the ends to prevent hair getting too greasy.
The best way is to start small and gradually increase from there. If you have very fine or short hair, you may need as small as one teaspoon, but for those with thick, long hair, you may need to use more than two tablespoons.
