Coconut oil is my BFF. It has so many different uses. If you follow Natural Hair Rules, you know I mix coconut & olive oil for my hair and scalp. I also whip up a wonderful Coconut Oil Body Butter. Because I love the stuff so much I wanted to share 5 ways I discovered it helps to prevent damage in natural hair.
Decrease Protein Loss
Protein is an important building block of hair. It keeps the hair strong hold. Protein is the hair’s natural defense against breakage. Coconut oil has been proven to decrease the amount of protein loss naturally during each cowash and shampoo.
Prevent Split Ends
Adding a little coconut oil to your regular deep conditioning treatment can help prevent split ends. It naturally penetrates the hair shaft, leaving it soft and increasing elasticity.
Reduces Effects of Hygral Fatigue
Hygral Fatigue is the stress of the hair swelling and contracting when water leaves and enters the hair shaft. This is a natural occurrence but over time it can lead to breakage. The best way to combat hygral fatigue is by pre-pooing with coconut oil before each wash.
Moisturize Hair
Oil is not a moisturizer. This is very true but oil that naturally penetrate the hair will bind to the hair’s internal proteins. This binding increases the hair’s ability to hold on to water molecules.
Prevents Mechanical Hair Damage
Mechanical Hair Damage is usually self-inflicted by rough housing with your hair. In most cases its from improper detangling, or combing dry hair. Coconut oil gives natural girls what we like to call “slip”. It serves as a lubricate for your fingers or comb helping them to glide through without breaking hair strands. Some also believe it loosens tangles. (I haven’t been able to find any scientific evidence to confirm this, though.)
Other Sources: Effect of Coconut Oil on Prevention of Hair Damage. Part 1
How Do You Use Coconut Oil for Your Hair?
I just trimmed my hair 4 months ago and have only flat ironed it 2 times since. But when I let my hair dry naturally some of the hair in the back and only some of the ends look flat but they don’t break. Could it be just the way my hair dries against my back and shoulders? Or do I need to cut it again?