Soften Your Hair and Dandruff Control Using Coconut Oil
Edited by Ian Gabriel T. Tolledo, Eng, Lynn, Shelley and 9 others
Coconut oil is extremely versatile, with many uses beyond cooking and eating. It's been used for centuries in tropical locations as a hair and skin moisturizer. Because of its rich, emollient texture and antifungal properties, coconut oil makes an excellent deep conditioner and dandruff treatment, especially for those with most sensitive skin. Plus, coconut oil has the added bonus of a fresh, natural tropical scent and no chemicals. Coconut oil is so effective on hair because it contains lauric and caprylic acid, as well as vitamin E, which easily penetrate into the hair shaft to repair it from the inside. With regular treatments, you'll have less dandruff and your hair will be softer, stronger, shinier and more manageable. Coconut oil can even be used to effectively kill lice, as a natural alternative to other harsh chemical treatments.
Deep Conditioning
Hands down, coconut oil is one of the most effective hair treatments for dry, damaged, chemically treated or stressed hair. It also plumps up the hair strands, making fine hair appear thicker and fuller. It's 100 percent natural, and free of any chemicals that can irritate the scalp. Even though it's super moisturizing, it won't leave your hair greasy and weighed down with the right application technique. Try this deep conditioning treatment up to four times a month for the best results.
What You'll Need
- Organic virgin coconut oil
- Shower cap
- Warm towel or hair dryer
- Wide-tooth comb
Procedure
- 1The hair should be slightly damp, but not soaking wet.Start with freshly-washed, towel-dried hair.
- 2If your coconut oil is solid, place the closed container in a sink full of warm water to melt it, or rub it between your hands to soften it and make it easier it to spread throughout the hair. Massage it into your hair from the midshaft to the ends, sectioning the hair as you go to make contact with all of the strands. Comb it through with a wide-tooth comb. If you have a dry scalp, apply some oil there, too. If your scalp tends to be oily, you can avoid it.Take a few tablespoons of coconut oil for shorter hair, and more for long hair.
- 3Then, allow the oil to sit on your hair for at least 20 minutes, or up to an hour. (If you have very thick/porous hair, you may leave it on overnight.)Cover the hair with the shower cap and wrap it with the warm towel or simply use a hair dryer for a couple of minutes.
- 4There's no need to follow up with conditioner, since your hair is already thoroughly hydrated.Rinse your hair with warm water, then wash it well with shampoo to prevent the oil from weighing your hair down.
Treating Dandruff
Dandruff if a common, chronic condition that plagues people of all ages. It appears as white or yellow skin that flakes from the scalp that range in size. Minor dandruff is typically caused by dry skin, and it's easily managed with the right shampoo and treatment. Seborrehic dermatitis is another more common type of dandruff, and it's caused by oily or irritated skin that flakes off. Other causes include malasezzia fungus, eczema, psoriasis and skin that's sensitive to products and infrequent shampooing.[1] Coconut oil can help treat dandruff associated with dry or sensitive skin, along with regular cleansing with gentle shampoo, limiting the use of hair care products and eating a healthy diet that includes sources of healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and fish, and foods that are rich in zinc and vitamin B.
What You'll Need
- Shampoo
- Organic virgin coconut oil
- Soft plastic pillow cover
- Shower cap
Procedure
- 1Make sure you clean the scalp with your fingertips in a circular motion, and rinse well. Use a dandruff shampoo if you have one, since combining it with the coconut oil treatment will be even more effective.Shampoo your hair thoroughly.
- 2Massage a small amount of warmed coconut oil onto your scalp, taking extra care to cover all areas that are affected by dandruff. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water, then shampoo it out. For the best results, leave it on overnight. Use a soft plastic pillow cover to protect your pillow, if desired.Towel dry your hair.
- 3Repeat this treatment as often as needed to soothe the scalp and reduce the occurrence of dandruff.Rinse your hair thoroughly and shampoo it in the morning.
Using Coconut Oil as a Lice Treatment
Head lice can affect anyone, but they most commonly affect school-aged children and girls with long hair. They're small, usually no bigger than a sesame seed, and are white, grey or brown in color. They're typically found at the back of the head or behind the ears, and may cause itching. Contrary to popular belief, getting head lice has almost nothing to do with personal hygiene. Head lice are non-discriminating and spread from head-to-head contact. Sharing combs, brushes, towels, bedding and hats are other common transmission methods, so once the lice are completely eradicated from the carrier, you'll have to wash all linens, clothing and personal care items in hot water. Vacuum all furniture and carpets, then dispose of the contents to prevent a new infestation. If you want to avoid the use of strong pesticide treatments, try the coconut oil method.
What You'll Need
- Nit comb or a very fine-tooth comb
- Organic, virgin coconut oil
- White cloth
- Shampoo
- Towel or soft plastic pillow cover
Procedure
- 1Massage warmed coconut oil from the scalp to the ends of the hair to thoroughly coat it.
Tips, Tricks and Warnings
- If you happen to overdo the application of coconut oil, you can easily shampoo it out.
- Never leave the oil in your hair for more than a day without washing.
- If you are coloring your hair, you can use coconut oil to help protect your hair and reduce the harm caused by chemicals. Add a couple drops to your dye bottle and mix it well before using.
- A small quantity of coconut oil goes a long way. Be cautious not to use too much.
- Coconut oil strengthens the hair to help prevent split ends and breakage, and many people note that it makes the hair appear thicker and fuller.
- Coconut oil can kill the adult lice, but nits MUST be removed with a comb. Otherwise, the eggs will hatch and cause a reinfestation.
- Lice and eggs can only survive off the scalp for up to 48 hours. They can't be spread to or by pets. They only survive on human blood.
- Examine your child's head regularly and provide treatment as soon as possible to prevent the lice from spreading to other people in your household.
Resources
Questions and Answers
How to remove stubborn dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is a fungal skin condition which is characterized by itchy and flaky skin that is commonly coined as "cradle cap" for infants and "dandruff" in adults. The scaly flakes would usually appear in white, brown, or yellow color which can be mostly seen in the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, cheeks, chin, chest, and back; to name some. You can easily remove stubborn dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis with the following treatment methods:
- Tea Tree Oil - You need to test the tea tree oil on your skin for any adverse allergic reaction before you proceed with treatment. This is proven to be an anti-fungal and antiseptic remedy for dandruff. You can use the natural herbs for tea tree oil or the shampoo form. Massage the scalp with the tea tree oil and leave it on for 15 minutes then rinse thoroughly.
- Coconut Oil - Apply this remedy for dandruff which is not triggered by excessive oil production. Massage coconut oil into the scalp, leave it on for a few minutes, and then rinse with water. You can repeat this procedure for at least 2 to 3 times a week.
- Medicated Shampoos - You can use shampoos that contain ingredients like zinc pyrithione (Head and Shoulders), Selenium sulfide (Selsun), and ketoconazole (Nizoral) which effectively reduce or eliminate dandruff.
- Steroid Creams - Corticosteroid creams like Betnovate or Bettamousse are commonly recommended for itching brought about by seborrheic dermatitis in varied areas of the body.
- Vinegar Rinse - You can use either cider or white vinegar for this treatment. Gently massage vinegar (2 tbsp) onto your scalp, shampoo, and then rinse thoroughly.
- Yogurt - It is believed that the live lactobacillus strain in yogurts can relieve seborrheic dermatitis and restore the health of your scalp. Rub yogurt on your scalp. Leave it on for 20 minutes, wash with shampoo, and then rinse.
- Lemon Rinse - The acidic component of lemon can effectively strip off excess oil from your scalp which causes dandruff. Just massage lemon into your scalp, leave it on for 15 minutes, shampoo, and then rinse thoroughly.
Regular application of virgin coconut oil has been known to remove stubborn dandruff and seborrehic dermatitis. All you have to do is apply it on your scalp using a cotton ball, let is stay for about 30 minutes and rinse it off using your favorite shampoo. If you keep on doing this for at least a month, you will see huge improvement in your condition.
How to soften a stubborn virgin hair?
Virgin hair or what is also referred to as "Full Cuticle", "Remy", or just natural hair is untouched by any chemical processing such as perming, bleaching, dyeing, or even blow-drying which can affect hair cuticles. Virgin hair would sometimes tend to be stubborn and coarse. Here are some effective natural products you can try to soften your virgin locks:
- Wide-toothed comb. Use a wide-toothed comb for your hair to avoid breakage and to stimulate oil production in the scalp. This is very basic but is something that most people disregard when taking care of their tresses.
- Aloe vera. Remove skin of Aloe Vera and mash it completely. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix thoroughly until you produce a smooth paste. Massage the mixture into your scalp as well as hair roots up to the tips. Leave it on for about 20 minutes. Wash with shampoo and rinse well. This will give your hair strands a protective coating that will also add luster and vitality to your hair.
- Virgin coconut oil. You can use virgin coconut oil as a hot oil treatment or a deep conditioning treatment. The use of coconut oil yields beneficial effects to both the skin and hair as it is rich in proteins, vitamin E, lauric acid, and saturated fats to keep the hair soft, shiny, and manageable. For regular washing, just massage and later virgin coconut oil into your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse.
During dandruff in the hair can we apply oil to the hair sir?
I have heard that during dandruff applying oil can increase more dandruff, is it true sir?.I have tried: Just coconut oil. I think it was caused by: Due to change of water
Excess oil caused by sebaceous glands is what causes dandruff. Applying coconut oil will not cause dandruff but you can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to clear up the dandruff faster.
Does coconut help with dandruff and scalp issues?
My hair is very dry, I have to wash it every other day or else I have a lot of dandruff and scaly scalp. My scalp gets very scaly and it feels like sores are on it.
Coconut oil will definitely help your scalp issues. You most likely have a fungal infection and to clear the infection up, apply the coconut oil directly to your scalp and leave it in overnight. In the morning after you uses a gentle shampoo, apply the coconut oil again as directed above in this article.
Is garlic can be use as a dandruff treatment?
I'm making a science investigatory project, but I'm little confused if garlic can be use in my project and what it's literature that can cure dandruff. I have tried: Started. I think it was caused by: No idea
Garlic has anti-fungal properties just like coconut oil. The only issue would be that the oils from the garlic could irritate your scalp if left on for long periods of time. Perhaps a mixture of pureed garlic with an oil base as a 30-minute scalp treatment but you should not go further than that.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
