I love coconut oil! I don’t know about you, but the more I read about it, the more benefits I find. Who doesn’t want to learn natural hair care tips for adding a new level of luster to their hair? Especially if you have long hair, using a natural treatment to make your hair less frizzy and more shinny is my first choice. Now, make sure that you get organic extra virgin coconut oil for the best benefits. I use it as a moisturizer on my skin, as a hair conditioner and of course in making great raw desserts!!! Yummy! Dr. Mercola is also a great proponent of coconut oil. Keep reading to see what he has to say.
According to one study, which compared mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil as possible products for nurturing and conditioning hair, coconut oil was the only oil that reduced protein loss for both damaged and undamaged hair.
These findings were true when used as either a pre-wash or post-wash grooming product, but coconut oil achieved the greatest results when used as a pre-wash treatment.
Part of the reason for this is because coconut oil is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water.
So when applied as a pre-wash conditioner, it inhibits the penetration of water into each strand, which would otherwise cause the cuticle, or surface of the hair shaft, to rise, making it prone to damage and breakage.
Furthermore, when applied as a pre-wash treatment, a small amount of the coconut oil is able to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft during the wash, when the hair fiber swells slightly.
This can also explain why so many rave about the oil’s ability to prevent “the frizzies” in humid weather—this is another feature of its hydrophobic activity.
Coconut Oil as a Skin Moisturizer
One of the core principles to remember when it comes to skin
care is that whatever you slather onto your skin will absorb into your body and enter your bloodstream. This is why it’s so important to avoid personal care products containing questionable chemicals! Your skin is an excellent drug delivery system, so you should be just as careful with what you put on your skin as you are with what you eat, if not more so, as your gut actually helps protect you against some of the toxins you ingest by filtering them out…
I’ve long advocated using plain organic coconut oil for your skin care needs.
It’s been used for decades by professional massage therapists to knead away tight stressed muscles, and coconut oil is well-known for its skin care benefits. It helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals, and can help improve the appearance of skin with its anti-aging benefits.
In fact, physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil an antioxidant, due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formation. Plus, he believes it reduces our need for the antioxidant protection of vitamin E. Like Dr. Peat, many believe coconut oil may help restore more youthful-looking skin. When absorbed into your skin and connective tissues, it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep your connective tissues strong and supple. It also aids in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making your skin smoother.
Another natural hair care tip for adding that new level of luster to your hair is to warm up the coconut oil first. Just put about 2-4 tbsp of oil in a cup (depending on the length and thickness of your hair) and place the cup in some warm water to melt. It will be a lot easier to work with and apply to your hair. Leave it on overnight if you can, then wash and style as usual. You can wear a shower cap and also put an old towel on your pillow to prevent a mess on your sheets.
