My best tips for applying an ultra-moisturizing, DIY coconut oil hair mask to help soothe the scalp, & help combat hair damage, while also adding in shine, & hydration!
A few weeks ago I shared the process of applying a coconut oil hair mask on my dirty hair. You may already be familiar with the process of oil-training your hair, which I am a BIG believer of! I’ve been oil training my hair for almost eight years now! I truly believe it has contributed to tremendous hair growth & really has helped repair many years of damage which came as a result of overusing heat & bleach! Something my fellow blondes can probably relate to! So today I wanted to share this super simple DIY hair mask recipe using just coconut oil, which will really help improve your hair texture, scalp health, overall hydration, & oil control!
Coconut Oil Hair Mask
There are so many benefits coconut oil can have on your hair! Not only is coconut oil super inexpensive, but it’s REALLY hydrating & nourishing when applied to your hair! Coconut oil also has anti-bacterial properties which can be really beneficial for your scalp. Applying an occasional coconut oil hair mask can also help stimulate hair growth, prevent breakage & help your hair retain moisture. While also adding shine & softening your overall hair texture depending on your hair type!
I enjoy an occasional coconut oil hair mask because my hair is definitely on the drier side. I also go about a week in between washes, so I like to give my scalp some extra love & hydration.
How To Apply A Coconut Oil Hair Mask
- Brush or comb through your hair! You’re going to be working the coconut oil through your your hair & you don’t want your hair to be tangled.
- Scoop a tbsp of melted coconut oil out of the jar & warm the oil up in your palm. You want to make sure the oil is runny & soft, not solidified.
- In small sections, begin to work the coconut oil through your hair. You can start at your ends & then work your way up to your roots. Or you can start at your roots/hair shaft & work your way down to your ends.
- Using a comb, comb the oil through your hair, making sure each strand is coated.
- With your fingertips, give yourself a scalp massage to work the coconut oil in even more. If you struggle with a dry scalp like I do, maybe spend a little extra time doing this, plus it feels SO good!
- Next you’ll want to get your hair off of your face/neck, so tie your hair up in a bun, or low pony if you have short hair!
- Leave the coconut oil on your hair for your desired amount of time (up to 24 hours!) & then wash it out!
Coconut Oil Hair Mask Tips
- Apply the coconut oil mask on dirty, dry hair. Not on hair that is already wet!
- If you have thin or greasy hair already, start with a tsp of coconut oil.
- If you have thick hair, damage, or extra dryness, don’t be afraid of adding too much. I have extremely thick & unruly curly hair, so my hair can handle a lot!
- I get my organic unrefined coconut oil from either Trader Joe’s or Whole Food’s. It’s no more than $6-8ish depending on the brand!
- Apply this coconut oil mask anywhere from once a month to once a week for best results!
- If you struggle with dandruff or a dry scalp, you can add a drop of Tea Tree Oil to your coconut oil & work the coconut oil into your hair following the six steps above!
- If you want to apply the coconut oil at night & leave it on overnight, you’ll definitely want a protective layer between your hair & your pillow case. I’d recommend wearing a soft shower cap, a head wrap, or lay a towel over your pillow so the oil won’t ruin your sheets. If you sleep with the coconut oil in your hair, you’ll want to rinse it out in the morning!
- Have scalp buildup? Do an apple cider vinegar wash before or after you apply your coconut oil hair mask!
Coconut Oil Hair Treatment Cons?
There aren’t any negative side effects that will happen when applying coconut oil to your hair. However your hair can become weighed down & even more greasy if you use too much. For example, if you have thin hair, try starting with just a tsp of coconut oil. You can always work your way up from there. The same goes for those with an oily scalp. If you have a naturally oil scalp, I’d suggest focusing the coconut oil solely on your ends, instead of your scalp.
Best Tips for Mask Removal
Especially if you apply a good amount of coconut oil to your hair, you might have trouble getting it all out. I’ve learned that the best tip for getting all of the coconut oil out of your hair is to lather your shampoo onto you hair/scalp BEFORE you wet your hair! Try to work the shampoo into your scalp as much as you possibly can before putting your hair under the shower head. I also would recommend a second shampoo, wash/rinse cycle to ensure you’ve rinsed everything out! Follow with conditioner! I use Beautycounter’s Shampoo & Conditioner.
Recommended Mask Time
You can keep the coconut oil hair treatment on your hair anywhere between 30 minutes, overnight, or all day! I personally like to apply my coconut oil onto my hair & scalp in the morning. That way, I can just throw my hair up in a bun & leave it be for the rest of the day. At the end of the day, I then shower & wash the coconut oil out of my hair.
Coconut Oil & Hair Loss
While coconut oil has some great benefits for hair health, it is not effective for treating or managing hair loss. It can definitely help sooth the scalp & provide moisture to hair follicles, but it can not help regenerate hair growth.
Coconut Oil For Curly Hair
As I mentioned, my hair is naturally very curly. If you too have curly hair, I definitely recommend giving a coconut oil hair mask a try before the next time you wash your hair. Thanks to the fatty acids found within the coconut oil, it offers numerous benefits for those of us with curly hair. Benefits include increased hydration, reduced frizz, healthier hair growth, as well as, increased shine!
If you’ve been looking for DIY coconut oil hair mask recipes, this one is about as simple as it gets! Most hair types LOVE the benefits of coconut oil & it’s a super affordable way to give your scalp some love & hydration!
Have you ever done a coconut oil hair mask? Comment down below!
Wow, great idea! I’ve been looking for a hair mask. Thanks so much for sharing!
Happy to share! It works so well & is a really inexpensive option! 🙂
I have heard of the benefits of this but never really paid too much attention. After reading through your detailed instructions, I am definitely going for it! Thanks, Madi!
Of course, Rosemary! Thanks for reading!
Recently I had been gone through serious hairloss. After birth of my first kid. I will surely try your hair mask.
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Aw yes, it might be a great option for you to help strengthen your hair follicles! Thanks for reading!
Guess what, I use these coconut oil in cooking pasta few years back, oh my! It was yummy, I made the coconut oil myself then, you wouldn’t wanna miss that taste.
Where can you buy the organic coconut oil????
Hi Karolina, thanks for stopping by! You can find organic coconut oil anywhere really – Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, local grocery stores, amazon, etc! I usually get mine from either Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods! Hope that helps! xo