A lot of people swear by the wonderful effects of this oil, while others are not as impressed.
Does coconut oil really have a bad side? Read on to find out.
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If your hair has been damaged, we recommend Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector to repair and strengthen your hair.
Looking for an alternative to coconut oil? Try Marula oil or Argan oil for your hair instead!
Coconut oil made my hair fall out!
There are many reasons why it’s falling out, and it’s not only because you used coconut oil.
But yes, this oil’s structure causes it to sit in your hair shaft, especially when there’s damage, causing tangles or breakage over time.
It’s recommended that when you use it, make sure to wash it off well so that there will be no leftover oil in the shaft, roots, or scalp.
Can coconut oil make your hair fall out?
The lauric acid in coconut oil reduces inflammation that causes hair to thin or fall out.
If you use it and your hair starts to fall out, there can be a number of reasons why.
Damage sustained when you comb or brush can cause your scalp to be inflamed and your hair to fall or lose its sheen and strength.
Your lifestyle patterns, including exercise, sleep, and diet, can also contribute to this problem.
CHECK OUT: What Coconut Oil Does To Your Hair
My hair hates coconut oil!
It may not be good for all hair types. And whether it will be effective or not depends on your hair’s porosity. Those with low hair porosity may not benefit from coconut as it can cause hair to dry out.
This type of oil can deeply penetrate the hair shaft, which is perfect for anyone who has fine locks. Because of its lauric acid, you can benefit from its proteins, and it can help you achieve stronger, shinier, and healthier locks.
Coconut Oil Alternatives
If you have low porosity hair, and your hair just hates coconut oil, here are a few alternatives to try.
Make sure to use VIRGIN coconut oil, if you decided to still give it another try.
But if you’re DONE with coconut oil, then use these other essential hair oils instead:
* Prices and Images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on 2024-04-30 at 19:31
Argan oil and Jojoba oil are both great for the hair.
Grapeseed oil is a lesser known oil, but it’s a great alternative to coconut oil for natural hair.
READ: 5+ Essential Oils That Strengthen Hair
Can coconut oil ruin your hair?
If you have colored or treated hair, or if you have weak and brittle strands, it’s important that they receive the amino acids that they need. Coating them with oil can pose a problem in this regard.
When your tresses start to get dry, it’s a sign that they need moisture. When you apply too much coconut oil, it can repel water and deprive them from much-needed nutrients.
This oil is a great quick fix or an effective temporary solution.
But it can cause harm in the long run if you use too much of it or don’t clean your scalp and roots well enough to get rid of the leftover oils.
YouTube vlogger Jordan Anne loves the effects of coconut oil, and you can see the results on her luscious locks. See how she preps, applies, and washes it off on her hair in this helpful video tutorial:
Does coconut oil have bad side effects?
One thing that you should remember is that this oil is not for everyone. It will not work for all kinds of hair.
It can be purchased in virgin or commercial form.
Always buy the virgin coconut oil because it’s the purest kind and does not undergo any processing treatments. Therefore, it offers the highest concentration of benefits and almost no harmful side effects.
It helps maintain the natural proteins, so it is best used by people who are lacking protein in their hair follicles.
If you have thin to medium thick tresses, you will also benefit from this oil because it can add volume and shape.
Those with dry or coarse locks can still use it in small doses, but you need to rinse properly to prevent oil build-up that can cause breakage or damage.
Also, if you have allergies to oils or coconuts, you should steer clear of this product.
How much you use is also a factor. If it’s your first time to use it, apply only a little dose and see what the initial results are.
If there are no harmful side effects, that does not mean that you should start applying a ton of it, either.
Too much does not really mean better results as well.
Apply small amounts to reduce the frizziness or dryness. Make sure that the oil is in warm and liquid form when you work it on your scalp and through your locks.
CHECK OUT: How To Do a Scalp Detox With Coconut Oil
When NOT to use coconut oil
If you’ve got rough, weak, brittle, or dry hair, you can skip using it. But you may be wondering: aren’t you supposed to use oil on dry and rough hair for moisture?
Coconut Oil isn’t for every hair type.
Coconut oil causes protein build-up, blocking off the moisture and making your tresses more breakable, rough, and dry. Massaging it onto your scalp can cause even more dryness or breakage on damaged or over-processed hair.
But don’t be so quick to dismiss the many beneficial properties of coconut oil. If you cannot apply it topically on your scalp or roots, you can consume it. When added to your diet, it’s not only beneficial to your crowning glory but to your whole body as well!
Adding coconut oil to your hair care regimen
- Always buy virgin coconut oil. This unrefined variety is the safest to use, even for people with very sensitive skin or who are allergic to a lot of things.
- Always use it in liquid or melted form. When it’s solidified, microwave it in a small bowl for a few seconds and let it cool before using. If you’re in a hurry, you can simply put a small amount in your palms and rub them together until it melts.
- Always wash it off from your scalp. It may take you two to three shampoo washings to get rid of all of it, but you’re doing your scalp a favor.
- To enhance its benefits, try using it with essential oils that are great for your scalp and roots, as well as other natural ingredients that nourish your locks, like lemon juice, honey, avocado, or yogurt.
YouTube vlogger Milabu shows how she combines castor oil with coconut oil to improve how her hair looks and feels. Watch her tutorial right here:
Check out other coconut oil hair mask recipes here!
So, is coconut oil bad for your hair?
When you know the proper way to use coconut oil, it can be very beneficial.
In fact, it can decrease the amount of damage when washing, drying, brushing, or styling.
Remember that your locks are most fragile when wet, so it’s advisable to apply oil to protect them from damage and to decrease water absorption.
Applying this oil before shampooing or conditioning your locks can make them silkier, softer, and more manageable, effectively reducing the level of friction when you brush or style.
Read: How to use coconut oil for thinning hair
Aside from that, it’s an effective hair loss and dandruff treatment. Studies also show that coconut oil has a sun protection factor of 8, which means that it can reduce damage caused by the sun.
Therefore, it’s safe to use in the right amounts. The only thing that you need to watch out for is the oil buildup that will make your locks dull and dry.
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Such a BS Article. Scientifically coconut oil showed many benefits to all types of hair. This blog is just a negative promotion for their affialte marketing.
I know l that this comment will be removed or blocked.
Did you read the article? If you did, it’s clear that we acknowledge the many benefits of coconut oil. But it’s NOT for everyone.
You need to be careful of oil build-up when using coconut oil, especially if you have FINE hair (although fine hair can benefit from using it).
For those with coarse and dry hair, using coconut oil can potentially make it more dry and brittle.
I second the blog owner here. I have plenty of friends whose hair loves coconut oil. However, mine does not. I do have lower porosity hair and when I use even high quality coconut oil, it makes my hair feel like straw. It’s because I already have plenty of protein. I am desperate for moisture. Gotta have that balance.
You are absolutely correct. It’s a b.s. article. Don’t listen to that. Coconut oil is fantastic on your hair.
Just because it works for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone else.
I personally love VCO. But I won’t push it on everyone because it’s NOT meant to work on ALL HAIR TYPES.
This article did not dismiss the multiple benefits of coconut oil. It simply states that it can have opposite effects for some… which is how I found this article & I’m so glad she wrote it!
I am one of those people who tried pure virgin coconut oil on my hair & it fried it! Total straw. I have never had my hair look that way & was very distraught because it works so good for many. I’m glad to know it’s not just me.
I am still however trying to find a product or method that my hair likes unfortunately. : (
So avoid all oils if I have too much protien? I have loow porosity hair.
I can say from experience: coconut oil is not good for porous dry damaged hair. It made mine dryer and more straw like. I kept using it and my hair got dryer and dryer. My hair was starving for moisture. I finally realized and so looked it up and found this article. It is true. Some hair problems can be made worse with it.
I can attest that my wavy hair has thinned greatly using coconut oil. I began adding it to my hair routine about a year ago to help with dryness. So many raved about its benefits so I decided to try it. I now have areas where my scalp is so visible that there’s no hairstyle to cover. I was concerned and contributed to aging, but now as I think back my hair was not shedding as much before coconut oil. I used it for nearly eight months and stopped to give my hair a change. Never did I think it was the coconut oil before reading this article.
I have fine, straight hair and I was using coconut oil once a week, My hair became more frizzy and dry and there was a lot of it falling out when I’d wash it out too, if I use any coconut oil on my skin, It’ll make me break out and cause redness too. I love to eat it though, no issues with that.