Everything You Need to Know About Using Coconut Oil In Your Hair

Coconut oil is one of those ingredients that can pretty much do it all.

From baking to skincare and haircare, coconut oil is used in all sorts of areas. The calming scent and hydrating properties especially make it a great ingredient to put in hair products. We spoke with Shab Reslan, HairClub's hair health expert, and she told us all about coconut oil and the benefits of using it in your hair. Continue below for our full interview with her.

Sweety High: Tell us about yourself!

Shab Reslan: I am a tricologist and hair health expert based in New York City. With over 16 years of experience behind the chair, I have witnessed the lack of resources and solutions for women and their unique hair struggles. I have dedicated myself to the study of hair loss (trichology) and providing guidance and access to effective solutions for women.

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SH: What is coconut oil?

SR: The oil pressed from coconut meat.

 

SH: What components does coconut oil have that make it great for hair? What benefits does each of those components give to hair?

SR: It contains fatty acids that help repair the structure of the hair by replacing lost protein from chemical and thermal damage.

It contains a UV factor of eight, therefore protecting hair from UV damage that results in color fade and dry hair.

It protects the cuticle by sealing it and preventing hair styling damage.

It contains anti-viral and anti-microbial properties due to high levels of lauric acid so it can help with clearing up a flakey or irritated scalp.

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SH: What makes coconut oil so versatile for different hair types? What hair types is coconut oil best for? Are there any hair types that aren't a match?

SR: Over time, coconut oil can build up on the hair if too much is applied and not washed thoroughly. I recommend it for all hair types when used as a pre-shampoo treatment on your strands and your scalp since it's being immediately washed out and you're avoiding build-up and decreasing the chance of weighing the hair down or clogging the scalp.

 

SH: Is there anything else teen girls should know about coconut oil as a beauty ingredient? 

SR: I personally love coconut oil pulling for clearing out mouth bacteria. A few times a week, I swish around a teaspoon of coconut oil in my mouth for five to 10 minutes and spit it out in the trash before I brush my teeth at night.

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Love coconut? Look HERE for some of our favorite coconut-infused beauty products.