How to Use Coconut Oil as a Deep Conditioning Treatment

For a deep conditioning treatment, massage a couple of tablespoons of the coconut oil into your clean, damp hair and scalp (if your hair is thinner or gets greasy easily, you may choose to skip the scalp as the oil could weigh your hair down). You may need more for long hair. Use more oil where your hair is the driest and most damaged (typically on the ends) and less where your hair is healthiest (mid-shaft and scalp area).

It's best to section your hair off and apply the coconut oil in manageable sections to be sure that every hair is coated properly. If your coconut oil is in a solid state, you will need to warm the oil gently to create a liquid.

Allow the oil to sit on your hair for 20-30 minutes after application. People with very dry or porous hair may choose to leave it on longer and some people like to use it as an overnight treatment.

To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, cover with a shower cap and wrap your hair in a hot towel (fresh from the dryer) or apply heat with a hair dryer for a few minutes. Because the oil is very heavy, you will need to shampoo the oil out of your hair well after the treatment.

Coconut oil can also be a god-send to those with severely damaged, over processed, and heat styled hair. It will be important to experiment with the amount of coconut oil to use, and how long to allow the oil to penetrate your hair in a way that will work for your specific hair type.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Daily Hair Moisturizer/Detangler

You can use a very small amount of coconut oil on the ends of your hair after showering as a detangler and as a daily moisturizer for very dry hair. It works wonders on dry skin issues as well.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Dandruff Treatment

To treat dandruff, massage a small amount of coconut oil into your scalp and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes and up to overnight (you'll want to wear a shower cap to bed or wrap your head/pillow in a towe)