Coconut oil will make any conditioner even more conditioning. After saturating your hair with conditioner, add a layer of coconut oil on top. The oil is occlusive, so it will trap the the conditioner's hydrating ingredients within your hair, allowing them to penetrate the shaft longer and more effectively.
Conditioner: Coconut oil may help strengthen the hair shaft and prevent breakage. 2 You can use coconut oil as an alternative to standard conditioners. Or add a few drops of the oil to your usual conditioner to boost its smoothing effect.
The final step in washing out your hair oil is finishing with conditioner. After you used the clarifying shampoo and rinse on your strands, they'll be ready for the added moisture. The best part about the final step is that you can virtually use any conditioner you already have.
For a hair mask, you'll want to apply coconut oil to your hair before washing, being sure to shampoo, condition and thoroughly rinse out all oil after masking. (And yes, it will likely take an extra shampoo to get it all out!)
1. Apply Conditioner the Right Way. Fact: Conditioner is not only OK for oily hair types to use but it's also necessary. It provides a healthy dose of hydration, nourishment, and protection that your locks can't get from shampoo alone.
2 Apply Oil before You Get in the Shower
Aside from the normal conditioner you've picked out, one tip I have is what I like to call “pre-conditioning”. All you have to do is apply about 2-3 tbsp. coconut oil all over your hair before you get in the shower. Rub it on your dry hair really well and all over your scalp.
Conditioners smooth and detangle the hair, which, therefore, helps reduce breakage and split ends — and that's precisely why New York City-based hairstylist Chuck Bass recommends conditioning every time you shampoo in order to add moisture back, as well as to soften and detangle.
If using the coconut oil as a hair mask, you'll need to thoroughly rinse the oil out of your hair after the treatment, which might take a couple of wash-rinse cycles. For best results, you'll need to experiment with the amount of coconut oil you use and how long to allow the oil to penetrate.
To get rid of the excess oil, try dry-hair solutions such as dry shampoo, cornstarch, or baby powder. You can also use leave-in treatments such as an egg wash, lemon juice, or baking soda. When you rinse them out, these solutions should take the coconut oil with them, leaving your hair clean and hydrated.
You can wash your hair after 3-4 hours of application up to 10-12 hours. Do not use any other products just after the application of hair oil. Allow your hair to absorb the oil properly. Do not comb your hair just after application of oil.
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.
“Coconut oil by itself overnight is good for extremely dry damaged hair,” Groover says. For deep conditioning, all that's needed are two tablespoons of coconut oil. After gently heating the coconut oil (if needed), apply it to damp or dry hair as is. Then, wrap the hair in a towel or shower cap and wear it overnight.
How to use coconut oil as a conditioner: For deep hair conditioning, use a teaspoon or two on damp hair and leave it in as long as possible. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature so warm it to liquefy it. Make sure to massage the scalp to allow blood circulation.
Apply conditioner on the ends of your hair. Leave it on for the amount of time specified on the product label, from 10 to 30 minutes. Rinse out the conditioner.
Conditioner is usually the second step to hair washing. While shampoo is formulated specifically to clean off sweat, dead skin cells, and hair products, conditioner makes hair softer and easier to manage. It also protects hair shafts from damage.
If you have dry hair you will need to use a moisturizing conditioner. However, if you have oily hair you should use a basic conditioner on your ends only, to help prevent over conditioning which will leave straight hair limp and reduce its shine.
Even after washing your hair, oil does have the tendency to stick to your hair. Not washing and wiping your locks well can cause your strands to stain your sheets and clothes. Hence it's important to shampoo, condition, air dry and wipe your strands after washing your oil-drenched hair.
Add one tablespoon to a quarter-cup of coconut oil to the bowl (depending on how long your hair is). Heat until melted and warm to the touch. The oil should not be scalding hot, as this could burn your scalp—test a small amount on your wrist first to make sure it's safe. Apply generously to clean, and dry or damp hair.
Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizing product for your hair. It can be used both before and after you wash your hair to help prevent damage and keep your hair looking shiny and healthy.
Or, for an extra-hydrating hair mask, leave your coconut oil hair treatment on overnight. Simply wrap your hair up in a shower cap (we love the KITSCH Luxury Shower Cap) before sleeping to make sure you don't get it all over your pillow. Then, shower and shampoo when you wake up.
For a quick treatment, leave it on for 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual. For extra hydration, leave it on overnight with your hair wrapped in a shower cap or silk scarf. Then, shower and shampoo in the morning.
"When applied on a regular basis (two to three times per week if your hair type is normal to coarse; less often if you have fine hair), coconut oil can enhance hair's lubrication, making it easier to comb and manage, while increasing shine and preventing frizz," explains GH Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann.
"The reason some people experience dryness with coconut oil — especially when using it alone as a treatment — is that it can penetrate the hair cuticle, taking up space within the strands," says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson.