Ahead, we rounded up the best coconut oil hair masks for a smattering of hair concerns. Grab your coconut oil (unrefined and organic, always), and cue the softest strands, ever. Simply rake some melted coconut oil through your hair, leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. You’ll really want to thoroughly shampoo, here, so as to prevent buildup (coconut oil is an occlusive, and a heavy one at that). Either repeat the treatment once a week or once every other week if your scalp is oily. “Melt a few tablespoons of coconut oil over low heat, and transfer to a bowl,” hairstylist Miko Branch, co-founder of natural hair care brand Miss Jessie’s, once told us. “Apply warm coconut oil to hair—section by section—massaging into the roots and saturating hair throughout the tips. Then run a wide-toothed comb throughout your entire hair to gently detangle.” After covering your hair with a shower cap, you can either relax for half an hour or sleep on those coated tresses overnight for some deep conditioning. Again, make sure to completely rinse out the coconut oil in the a.m. Coconut oil also has a low molecular weight4, so it’s more able to easily penetrate and absorb into the hair shaft—aka, more moisture to parched strands. As we mentioned, the thick, rich oil is super hydrating—perfect for withered strands but not so great for hair prone to buildup. And in a twisted turn of events, overdoing the coconut oil can cause more brittleness for some people. To learn more about the benefits of coconut oil for hair type (and who should probably steer clear), take a look here.
