Touted as a multi-tasking wonder, coconut oil has been used as beauty staple in the east for over 4000 years. But it’s only in the past decade or so, that we’ve gone wild for it here in the west. Now considered to be the holy grail of natural beauty, coconut oil is used for everything from cleansing to teeth whitening.

The superstar ingredient has become heralded as something of a hair hero, too. Rich in fatty acids and vitamins, coconut oil is said to help moisturise hair cuticles and soothe the scalp. There’s also whisperings that it can help with healthy hair growth.

Popular among the A-listers, celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Miranda Kerr regularly champion coconut oil for hair. And you can now find entire skincare and hair care ranges spotlighting the naturally-occurring fatty oil.

In recent years, it’s become something of a social media darling, appearing in countless beauty videos. One video with over 70,000 likes calls it a “hidden gem.” Another, with over 400,000 likes, claims that leaving it on for 20 minutes can benefit the hair.

But before you reach into your kitchen cabinet and start dousing your tresses in the stuff, it’s worth taking heeding the advice of our experts.

iStock

Is coconut oil good for your hair?

“Coconut oil is one of many oils that can be used on the hair to improve its condition – and it’s actually one of the most studied oils in terms of the hair,” Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley, tells us.

Due to its low molecular weight and structure, it has been shown to have the ability to penetrate the hair shaft, regulate porosity, and reduce protein loss. It’s rich in lauric acid (a fatty acid), which penetrates the hair shaft as well as completely coating each strand – trapping in moisture as well as making it water repellent.

In short, this means that whatever the weather, humidity isn’t going to touch you thanks to the coconut oil force field you’ve created around your hair.

Lauric acid also has antimicrobial properties, which have been reported to benefit the scalp microbiome.

“In terms of the scalp, coconut oil can be useful when it’s formulated into wash-off scalp masks or ointments to address scalp conditions, like psoriasis, as it helps to soften scale and plaques making them easier to remove,” says Anabel. A good example of this is Cocois, which also contains coal tar and salicylic acid.

How much coconut oil should you use?

You can have too much of a good thing so use coconut oil in moderation. If you over apply, it could worsen dandruff as this type of yeast feeds off lauric acid. It also has the potential to clog pores and create a build-up on both the hair and scalp.