What Does Coconut Oil Do For Your Hair?

A personal testimony:

I called my hairstylist in a panic—a mere 48 hours after she’d bleached the ever-living daylight out of my hair, I had strands breaking off and falling out. It was a sharp turn of events from two days prior when I left the salon looking fabulous after my stylist had done the impossible—transforming my naturally dark brown color into a shiny platinum blonde.

While it still looked good after a couple days, it suddenly didn’t feel good at all. When I went to tighten my ponytail, I accidentally tugged out an entire tuft of newly brittle, blonde strands and panicked. This was definitely not the chic, edgy look I was expecting.

First, the stylist recommended a pricey conditioner to use in the shower as well as an equally expensive hair mask for overnight. I decided against them because the prices were out of my ballpark, and I wanted something more long-lasting that could naturally repair my hair. I expressed my concerns, and then she paused and said, “You could try coconut oil. I know a lot of women that have tried it on their hair and they say it works wonders.”

I thanked her and quickly hung up the phone, dashing to the nearest grocery store. As soon as I got home I unwrapped the bottle as if I was opening my first Christmas present. I lathered the oil all over my scalp and throughout my hair. After letting it soak for an hour, I rinsed it out with water and then continued this process for an entire week.

Turns out, the coconut oil did not disappoint. It revived all the crispy strands, and after a few months (and one dye job) later, my hair was shiny and healthy again. While many people, like myself, are no strangers to the miracle of coconut oil in the kitchen or even in skincare routines, when it comes to hair care, it’s even more revolutionary.