The instructions are simple: you simply shampoo your hair twice to ensure that coconut oil is completely removed. First, you just use a small amount of shampoo then gently massage until it lathers. You need to focus on the scalp and leave it for a few minutes to dissolve the oil and product buildup.
Coconut oil is temperature sensitive. All you need to do is to have a hot shower letting the H20 heat up the oil returning it to its liquid state. Rinse well. Then shampoo your hair with a small amount of dish soap as this will remove the melted oil completely from your hair.
Pre-shampoo treatment: If you're using coconut oil as a pre-shampoo treatment to provide deep conditioning, you can leave it in your hair for about 30 minutes to an hour before washing your hair. This allows the oil to penetrate the hair shaft and provide moisturisation.
Hair oiling with coconut oil has many benefits. Coconut oil has anti-fungal properties and is a promising treatment for dandruff. It can also penetrate the hair shaft to deeply moisturize (helpful for high porosity hair), prevent protein loss and reduce hair damage.
But after applying the oil, it can be tough to remove. Usually, you can remove oil from your hair by just shampooing and conditioning your hair as normal, but using a clarifying shampoo can be even more effective.
Always rinse with water that's at least lukewarm (unless using an egg wash). Cold water causes coconut oil to solidify and harden in your hair, making it much more difficult to rinse out. You can also use a clarifying shampoo, which is designed to strip oil from the hair.
If you applied a whole lot of oil to your hair and left it on for hours and hours, your hair might have absorbed too much oil, leaving it glutted. And since the oil has already been absorbed, your hair might not want to let it go, hence why it feels "stuck".
“It often causes fine hair to become brittle and break.” These undesirable results occur when coconut oil is unable to penetrate the hair, whether due to natural texture or too much of a good thing. “Be careful not to use it in excess,” cautions Fitzsimons.
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.
Coconut oil is not good for low-porosity hair because it will prevent water from moving out of the hair, so it doesn't allow water to move in and out of the hair. It will become dull and dry.
While leaving oil on your hair may seem beneficial, prolonged exposure can have adverse effects. If hair growth oil is left on for extended periods, it can attract dirt, clog pores, and lead to dandruff and itching. Over-saturation may also weaken hair strands, making them prone to breakage.
Some claim coconut oil offers benefits like healthier gums, plaque removal, and even whiter teeth. But before you make oil pulling part of your morning routine, it's important to ask, “Does coconut oil really whiten teeth?” It turns out that oil probably won't offer you significant oral benefits.
Pre-wash Treatment
To create a protective barrier and prevent water damage, apply coconut oil to your hair (especially the middle and ends). Leave on for 15 to 30 minutes before washing your hair as usual.
White Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, apply to the stain, and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Vinegar's acidity helps break down coconut oil's fatty molecules. Lemon Juice and Baking Soda Paste: Create a paste with lemon juice and baking soda, then apply to the stain.
Use the right amount
“Applying excess oil can clog hair follicles, leading to hair fall and dandruff. Similarly, applying it to dirty hair can cause scalp infections,” shares Dr Smita Naram, co-founder Ayushakti.
Coconut oil can weigh hair down: It can make fine hair appear limp, flat, and greasy. Overuse can make coarse hair stiff: It's essential to avoid buildup and rotate use with other oils. Clogged pores: Do a skin test before use to see how your skin will react.
Low porosity hair: If you have low porosity hair, meaning your hair cuticles have a hard time absorbing moisture, coconut oil may not be the best choice. Coconut oil tends to sit on the surface of low porosity hair, potentially leading to buildup and making it difficult for moisture to penetrate.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of coconut oil is to use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo comes in handy to absorb excess oils and give your strands a refreshed and balanced feel. Apply the dry shampoo to your hair, making sure to focus on your roots and apply lightly through the rest of your hair.
Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, consultant dermatologist at Spire Healthcare, explains that when you leave unrefined oil on your roots and scalp for too long, it's absorbed into your scalp, which can cause your hair growth to slow down.
Some common DIY ways to get rid of oily hair include baby powder, lemon juice, tea tree oil, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar, but adjusting your hair routine is a much better (and more effective) solution.
If some of the oils are left behind, the pores get blocked leading to scalp irritation and falling of hair. While washing out the oil, use lukewarm water, which will not strip your hair of its natural moisture. Ensure that your hair is rid of all the oil applied.
Excessive washing
Over-washing can make your hair look greasy because it strips the hair of its natural oils. This loss of natural oils causes the body to overcompensate by producing more sebum. Over-conditioning can also lead to greasy hair because it weighs down the hair and this in turn increases oil production.