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Summer is in full swing, and with it may come a not-so-subtle shift in your strands. After all, sun exposure and swimming in salt and chlorine-filled water can seriously dehydrate hair. Thankfully, there are many haircare products on the market to reverse the damage. If you don’t want to head to the store, though, you can always open your pantry and grab the coconut oil.
“Coconut oil is one of my favorite natural ingredients because it penetrates the hair, making it stronger from the inside out,” says celebrity hairstylist Ashley Streicher, who is an R+Co Collective Member.
Ready to revive your strands? Keep reading to learn why a coconut oil hair mask belongs in your weekly haircare routine, especially during summer.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Hair
Coconut oil is something of a miracle ingredient in the haircare world. “Coconut oil provides numerous benefits for hair care, deeply moisturizing and nourishing hair with its rich fatty acids to leave it soft and manageable,” says Monpure London's lead trichologist Sophia Baig. “It helps prevent breakage, split ends, and can promote hair growth by improving the health of hair follicles. Coconut oil also adds shine, protects against damage, and controls frizz, while its antimicrobial properties can prevent scalp infections and dandruff.”
Oh, but that’s not all! Curl expert Sophie Rose Gutterman says that coconut oil also provides a protective coating on the hair, shielding it against UV damage, chlorine, and saltwater damage alike. And when coconut oil is massaged into the scalp, it can boost circulation and improve overall hair health, Baig adds.
In other words, if your haircare routine is lacking the strand-perfecting ingredient, there’s no time like the present to add it in.
How to Make a DIY Coconut Hair Mask
Coconut oil is a no-fuss haircare inclusion. While it’s included in many popular shampoos, conditioners, and store-bought hair masks, it can just as easily be applied directly from the jar or bottle to the strands.
“My favorite way to use coconut oil on hair is to use about a tablespoon or two at a time,” says celebrity hairstylist Nikki Providence, noting to detangle your hair ahead of time. “Warm it up in your hands until it’s liquid, and starting at the driest parts of the ends, work it through all of the hair. As you move up the hair towards the scalp, brush it through so it gets through all the hair, then braid your hair to keep it away from your face. Leave it in as long as you can, then shampoo and condition.”
If you’re worried about your hair getting oily from the coconut inclusion, editorial hairstylist Akihisa Yamaguchi says to mix it into your favorite deep conditioner or treatment. “One or two tablespoons is the perfect amount to start with,” she reveals.
Another option? Mix it with other nourishing ingredients! “I discovered a great DIY once after a great massage,” Streicher shares. “I left the massage oil in my dry hair overnight and the next day when I washed it out it was very moisturized and felt great. It’s a combination of carrot seed oil and apricot oil into a base of coconut oil. Putting this combo on your hair as a pre-wash treatment is great.”
Meanwhile, celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend recommends adding almond oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E oil to a coconut base. “For years I made this DIY hair mask for Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen,” he reveals, noting to dilute the mixture with warm water. “These ingredients are extremely concentrated, so I mix it in a spray bottle and spray it onto the hair so as not to overdo it.” For best results, he says to start by spraying your ends and work your way up toward the mids and roots as need be. “Leave in for a few minutes and rinse,” he adds. “I tell clients to put this in their hair before going to the beach or swimming in chlorine pools to protect it.”
When to Apply It
Coconut oil masks are a godsend anytime hair feels unbearably brittle or dry, or whenever it looks particularly dull. “It’s best to use a coconut oil hair mask before shampooing,” says IGK Hair Care co-founder Franck Izquierdo. “Applying it to dry hair allows the oil to penetrate better, providing deep conditioning.” For best results, he says to let it soak in for 20 to 30 minutes before hopping in the shower to rinse it out with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine. That said, if your hair looks particularly dry, Streicher says you can leave it on overnight for a seriously deep conditioning treatment. You’ll still want to shampoo it out in the morning though.
Of course, there are other ways to add the ingredient to your styling routine. “You can use a little bit as a smoothing styling treatment,” Providence says. “Also it can be great to use on dirty hair to slick it back—it’ll do double duty, you’ll be treating your hair all day and buying another day between shampoos.”
How Often to Use It
Like most hair masks, a DIY coconut oil hair mask typically only needs to be used once a week. That said, it depends on your hair type and how damaged and/or dehydrated your strands are. “ If your hair is particularly dry or damaged, you might benefit from using it twice a week,” Izquierdo says.
Consider Your Hair Type
While all hair types can benefit from coconut oil hair masks, some should do so with caution. “If your hair has a hard time absorbing moisture, coconut oil tends to sit on the surface of low-porosity hair, potentially leading to buildup and making it difficult for moisture to penetrate,” says hairstylist Silvia Reis. That doesn’t mean you can’t use it though. “Fine hair and hair with low porosity should heavily dilute coconut oil before applying while high porosity hair needs more of the lauric acid in coconut oil so can lightly dilute it,” Townsend says.
Hair type aside, coconut oil can potentially trigger breakouts.“Coconut oil is comedogenic and can cause some skin to break out, so if that’s you, steer clear of masking your scalp and skin, just keep it to the hair,” Streicher says.