Many people have a go-to solution for most of their beauty problems, be it vitamins, a good diet, or a variety of natural oils, one of the most prevalent being coconut oil. For many, it’s simply a good moisturizer, and for others, it can even help to strengthen their hair. However, people should proceed with caution: this natural, catch-all remedy for many parts of one’s beauty routine can have a devastating effect on people with the wrong kind of hair.
Coconut oil has a number of proven health benefits – it can improve cardiovascular health, reduce food cravings, and could even increase your body’s production of good cholesterol. But when it comes to what coconut oil can do for your hair and scalp health, scientists still dispute the extent of this oil’s powers.
To begin, what are the benefits of coconut oil? It makes sense that so many people use this product to enhance their looks, especially for the health of their hair:
- Coconut oil and our bodies’ natural Sebum—the oil your body produces specifically to keep your hair from drying out—are very similar
- Lauric acid, found in coconut oil, binds to the proteins in your hair, strengthening the strands
- Roots covered in oil, whether your own or another natural oil, will keep them healthy
- Coconut oil is better able to seep into the hair, protecting it and providing antioxidants and other nutrients.
- Regardless of whether you’re using coconut oil or another natural oil, a simple scalp massage can increase blood flow to the area, allowing the follicles to better utilize the nutrients in the oil
All of this seems like the perfect recipe for a full, luscious head of hair, but it’s important to remember that this simply helps the hair you already have on your head. In cases of hair loss such as alopecia and male pattern baldness, strengthening your hair itself may not affect how much hair you lose.
One 2003 study found that, compared to mineral and sunflower oil, coconut oil is the best product for maintaining hair protein levels. Hair protein is often lost by over-brushing your hair, styling it with heat, and exposing it to excessive sunlight and wind. Scientists are not entirely sure why coconut oil performed better than the other two oils. But one guess is that coconut oil as a triglyceride of lauric acid allows it to penetrate the shaft of the hair better than the other two.
Some brands and companies promote using coconut oil as a quick way to encourage your hair to grow faster and longer. However, there is little to no real scientific evidence to fortify this claim. Coconut oil may be beneficial for your hair follicles when paired with other healthy hair habits, but researchers have not yet conducted any experiments solely to solidify the claim that coconut oil makes hair grow faster.
There are also many for whom coconut oil is actually the opposite of beneficial. Depending on your hair type, coconut oil can end up clogging your follicles, cutting them off from your natural supply of oil and water that you put on your head. Because your hair needs both of these things, follicles that are so full of coconut oil cannot absorb the moisture they need to stay healthy.
Based on the lack of evidence to support the claims of magazines and influencer Instagram accounts, coconut oil should not be your end-all solution for hair loss. If you notice your hair thinning, you may need to turn to more proven methods. Make a call to your doctor to determine whether your hair loss is normal or if it could be a sign of an underlying condition. If you’re done experimenting with natural remedies that don’t work the way you want, it may be time to consider scalp micropigmentation as a solution to your hair loss appearance.
The Hairline Ink Solution
Taking a chance on coconut oil won’t necessarily make your scalp or hair follicles healthier. But at Hairline Ink, we can offer a permanent option with results you can see. Call Hairline Ink today to speak with a representative about our services, including scar camouflage and scalp micropigmentation. We can’t wait to get you on track to a happier, more confident life. We offer Scalp Micropigmentation in over 50 US cities. Call or text us today at 833-HAIR-INK (833-424-7465) to schedule an appointment, learn about our pricing, or get a free quote!
