Skip to content

5 ways to use coconut oil for your curls

Leestijd: 4 minuten

Coconut oil is a miracle cure! You can use it in the kitchen as a substitute for butter, on your skin as a body lotion and for your curls as a nourishing product. It is a natural emollient and therefore 100% curlygirl – proof. In this article, we share five ways to use coconut oil for your curls.

Also read: curls and a silk or satin pillowcase

What is coconut oil?

Coconut oil is made from coconuts that grow on the coconut palm. The oil is obtained by removing the white flesh of the coconuts and placing it under a press. The stuff is rich in natural fatty acids and therefore a particularly nourishing and moisturizing substance. Result: smooth and shiny curls. We are a fan!

How do you use coconut for your hair? The basics

As a curly girl you often suffer from dry or fluffy hair. You can buy a special hair oil for this, which promises to make your hair frizz less and shine more. But often these oils contain ingredients that are harmful to your hair and are therefore not approved according to the curly girl method. Alternative: pure oils that are simply for sale in the supermarket or organic shops, such as coconut oil.

In general, what works for one does not have to work for the other. One may find it a miracle cure, but the other will make the hair wispy and stiff. It is therefore wise to first check what your curl and hair type is, and what needs your curls have, such as more shine or less frizz.

It is also good to know that you do not need a lot of coconut oil. In fact, curly hair with coarse hair can suffer from hair loss from excessive use. A tablespoon is really more than enough. By the way, you often find it in congealed form in the store, such as coconut fat. Take a small amount of fat from the pot and warm it between your hands until it turns into oil on its own.

Finally, it is good to steam your hair before applying the oil. You just do this under a warm shower. The hair cuticles open up due to the heat, so that your curls can absorb the oil better. In addition, you prevent build up and flakes on your scalp.

Also read: the main techniques of the curly girl method

1. To get your curls out of the tangle

The fight you as a curly girl fights daily against tangles? You are not alone! Fortunately, coconut oil is the best way to start your day without frustration. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a container, this ensures that the oil will be absorbed extra well by your hair. Put some oil on your fingertips and massage it from the roots to the tips. Then gently untangle your hair with your fingers. You will notice; this helps very well against tangles! You can also do this the night before washing your hair.

2. Coconut oil as a deep conditioner

You can also add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your deep conditioner. This is a conditioner that penetrates deeper into the hair and is extra caring. You can think of it as an extra treatment to restore dry and damaged hair. You always apply a deep conditioner to wet hair after your co-wash. Then use your fingertips to massage the product in circular motions from root to tip. Then pineapple your hair in an old t-shirt and let the product absorb for 15 minutes. Then rinse it well.

Another possibility is to use pure coconut oil as a deep conditioner . Also wash your hair first and apply the oil to clean but wet hair. Then put on a shower cap and leave it on for 30 minutes.

Also read: 5 tips for deep conditioning your hair using the curly girl method

3. Coconut oil against dandruff

Many curly girls suffer from dandruff, and coconut oil also comes in handy here. Since it has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, it could help reduce dandruff. In addition, it is a natural remedy for a dry scalp, because the nutrients help to keep your scalp healthy. Apply 2-3 drops of oil to your scalp, rub it in the areas where you see a lot of dandruff, leave for 10 minutes and rinse. You prefer to do this for your co-wash!

4. Coconut oil against frizzy hair

We can distinguish between two types of oil: oils that can penetrate to the scalp and hair (moisturizing oil) and oils that remain on the hair (sealing oil). Coconut oil actually falls just a bit between these two types of oils: it does have the ability to penetrate the hair, but only in a limited amount. As a result, most coconut oil remains on your hair. That layer not only ensures that hydration stays in your hair, but also that your hair will shine.

Also read: this is how you treat frizzy hair

5. Coconut oil as a leave-in

You can also use coconut oil as a leave-in for long-lasting hydration. Then you can do in different ways:

  • As an overnight pre-poo treatment, the night before you wash your hair. Massage some coconut oil into your hair, wrap your hair in an old t-shirt and finally put the blow dryer on your head. The heat will open your scales and allow the oil to absorb better. Sleep well, and the next day you wash your hair in the normal way. Make sure you rinse the oil well, otherwise you will get build up. If you have thin hair, you better avoid the scalp.
  • As an addition to your styling product! This way your hair is fed all day.

As we said, what works for one doesn’t have to work for the other. If you find that coconut oil is not working for you, you can replace it with another oil, such as avocado oil or sunflower oil. Also read our blog about the different oils for your curls.

What are your experiences with coconut oil? And do you have any questions? Feel free to ask them via Instagram!

Table of Contents