Coconut Oil for Curly Hair: Is It Your Best Bet?

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Folks with naturally curly hair know the struggle. How do you keep your locks smooth, not frizzy? More importantly, how can you keep up with soaring prices at the shops?

You can try some DIY home recipes to reduce costs without sacrificing effectiveness. Which ingredients should you choose? Is coconut oil for curly hair your best bet?

3 Benefits of Coconut Oil for Curly Hair

Coconut oil does have multiple benefits. Let’s explore three of the best for curly hair.

1. Intense Moisturization

Coconut oil moisturizes your tresses so well because it contains nearly identical proteins to those already found in the shaft. Everyday exposure to chemicals and environmental toxins can destroy these proteins over time, leading to dry, brittle locks prone to easy breakage. Coconut oil helps replace some of what you’re missing to bring back your innate springiness.

2. Healthy Fats

Coconut oil consists of 90% saturated fat and 9% unsaturated fats. However, the saturated fats found in this tropical fruit differ from those found in animal products. Over half are medium-length chain fatty acids like lauric acid, which helps preserve your hair’s roots, preventing shedding.

3. Right Out of the Jar Convenience

Coconut oil is solid at room temperature. It scoops out of the jar with your fingers like a deep, intensive moisturizing treatment. While you can use it as a carrier base for other oils like rosemary that fight hair fall, you can also use it plain, perhaps adding a drop or two of lavender or lemon for fragrance.

8 Other Oils to Consider for Curly Hair

While coconut oil is a natural boon for curly hair, it isn’t your only choice. Depending on your unique profile, you might do better with one of the following. Here are eight alternatives to try and their benefits.

1. Argan Oil

Argan oil might be your best bet for healthier hair if you have thinner locks. It’s not as heavy, although you might want to apply it only to your ends if your scalp tends to get oily.

Argan oil comes from the kernels of the argan tree. It contains tons of vitamin E to protect your hair follicles from damage while improving elasticity and preventing breakage. It’s smart to use before heat-styling devices like flat irons to add shine and smoothness.

2. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil nourishes you inside and out. It’s a rich source of vitamins A and E, two antioxidants vital for protecting your hair from styling damage and environmental pollutants.

Consider mixing avocado and argan oils before styling your hair. One 2015 study found that the minerals in avocado oil seal your hair’s cuticle, preventing split ends and breakage.

3. Olive Oil

The ancient Greeks and Romans didn’t only worship the goddess of beauty. They paid homage to their hair by anointing it with olive oil for sleek, silky softness.

Olive oil contains moisturizing ingredients like squalane and oleic acid. The latter element contributes to the heart-healthy benefits of this oil, keeping both blood vessels and your strands soft and pliable.

4. Castor Oil

You might know of castor oil as that icky medicine your mom made you take when you swallowed something you shouldn’t. This stuff is a potent emetic when used internally — it makes you vomit.

However, it works wonders on your hair, thanks to its high antioxidant content. Look for varieties made with Jamaican black castor oil. Manufacturers still use traditional preparation methods, ensuring purity.

5. Almond Oil

Almond oil is another great choice for breakage-prone locks. The high vitamin E content fills in microscopic cracks in the shaft at the cellular level, resulting in less frizzy, shiny hair.

You can also use this stuff as a mask for dry skin. After a day of fun and sun, unwind by mixing eggs, coconut oil, a few drops of almond oil and a few drops of honey. Apply this mask to your face and hair to revitalize it from all that salt water or chlorine.

6. Jojoba Oil

This oil is a boon for dry hair and skin. Its mineral composition closely resembles sebum, the natural stuff your body produces to keep your complexion and locks glowing.

Quality jojoba oil ranges from yellow to gold, so examine the color. Going organic is always best when possible — it helps protect soils from chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

7. Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil can protect your hair against environmental damage. It forms a coating around your shafts, causing pollutants and free radicals to bounce off before causing damage.

Sunflower oil is a rich source of iron. This mineral boosts circulation to your hair’s shafts, promoting growth.

8. Marula Oil

Here’s another oil to reach for if you have thinner locks. Marula oil won’t weigh down your tresses, stealing their body. It will protect against pollutants with ample amounts of vitamins C and E.

This stuff will clog pores. Therefore, use caution around your hairline if you have acne-prone skin.