Lina says: I was very happy to read your post about coconut oil penetrating hair. I have been using it for a while and feel my hair is stronger than it used to be. I`d like to keep using coconut oil and I want to add olive oil to make my hair shiny but I`m worried that mixing the two oils will stop the coconut oil from penetrating. Is it ok to mix two oils on my hair? Thanks for all of your helpful information - you’ve kept me from wasting money on over-hyped products.
The Left Brain provides an oily update:
Thanks for your kind words, Lina. Yes, studies have shown that coconut oil actually penetrates the hair to help make it stronger. And as it turns out, olive oil also has penetrating properties. Scientists at the Textile Research (J. Cosmet.Sci 52, 169-184, 2001) tested Olive oil, Avocado oil, Meadowfoam seed oil, Sunflower oil, and Jojoba oil. Their results showed that straight chain glycerides like olive oil easily penetrate into the hair. Polyunsaturated oils , like Jojoba oil, are more open in their structure so they don’t pass through the layers of cuticles very well.
What does that mean in plain English? Olive and Avocado oils penetrate all the way into the hair shaft. Meadowfoam seed oil partially penetrates, and jojoba and sunflower oils don’t penetrate at all. They’re very superficial and don’t really provide any practical benefit. Kind of like Ryan Seacrest.
And to answer your question: mixing coconut and olive oils shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, it’s possible that the olive/coconut oil combination might even penetrate hair better. I won’t bore you with the details, but it has to do with mixed micelles. I’d start with a 50/50 mixture and see how that works for your hair.
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Sandra Says:
I wouldn’t be bored with the details! Please do tell. =D
Vanessa Says:
I co-sign with Sandra. Pretty please???
Karen Says:
Wait! Did they just slip Ryan Seacrest of American Idol fame into one of their answers?
Is this a peek into the Brainiacs’ TV viewing life?…lol
becka Says:
LOL at the Ryan Seacrest comment…haha…
RainKitty Says:
Could you tell us what other oils, or kinds of oils, are ’straight-chain glycerides’ and which ones are polyunsaturated? (Does this have to do with how jojoba oil is actually technically a wax?) What about safflower oil or canola oil, or shea butter - which categories are they in?
(OK, so that was three questions for the price of one.)
debbie Says:
I’d like to ask Lina what brand of coconut oil have you been using for your hair, or what brands have you other readers been using? There is alot of different types out there and I’d like to try one, but would like some recommendations. Thanks!!!
Sandra Says:
=/ I don’t think any particular brand matters, as long as it’s 100% coconut oil, and not something that says it’s coconut oil, but lists mineral oil in the ingredients list. I personally use Spectrum virgin coconut oil, but I think I’ll be getting refined coconut oil once this jar is used up. I’m getting a little tired of the smell. I also want to try Tahitian Monoi oil (which is fractionated coconut oil that has had Tiare flowers soaked in).
I wonder if fractionated coconut oil works the same as regular coconut oil.
Anyways, I’m guessing it’s the oleic acid in olive and avocado oil that makes it hair-penetrative (since oleic acid is the main fatty acid in those oils), so I figure anything that’s a majority of oleic acid will work for hair (like camellia oil, sweet almond oil).
o.o; Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Karen Says:
For Debbie: Here’s a recommendation for a conditioner with coconut oil that I just found a few days ago at my local grocery store: Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner. (It’s a cream colored bottle with a gold cap.) It lists coconut oil as an ingredient and was also a great deal! The price was $6 for 13 ounces AND hanging on the cap was a rebate coupon from the manufacturer that said, “Try this product for free!” Simply by filling out the coupon and sending in the receipt, the purchase price is refunded!!! It smells wonderful and has a rich creamy feel to it. I love it!
Raven Says:
I was just saying to my husband that I need to get some more oils from the health food store. My list has now grown by 2!
Mel Says:
do we just work the oil throughout the hair and leave it in or rinse it out?
Isabel Almeida Says:
Hey i need help to, my hair is platinum blonde and it was in great condition for a long time, then i went to the salon to do some high lights and the person destroyed my hair, now is braking and really really dry, I tryed all i could kerastase oils, kerastase creams, l’oreal renew c, everything but nothing seams to give me back my hair how it use to be, it gets better for 2 days then it starts to ask for help and i have to wash it again…
Now im starting to get scared i might be mixing to many products, i wanna try the olive oil, or avocado oil, or even some one told me mayonaise but i get scared is that to much?
how shoul i use it? after shampoo?
in dry hair? should i conditioner after?
please help me all do whatever i can i just dont want to cut off my long blonde hair.
Faith Says:
I just read this article and this is great info. The only thing is, where do you find coconut oil. I live in Waco, Texas and would like to know where to find this.
Your help is appreciated. Thanks
Sara Says:
Hello, Faith, many online merchants sell coconut oil, I prefer the unrefined oil that keeps all its goodies intact, you may find it at Fromnaturewithlove.com, gardenofwisdom.com, natureswildchild.com to name a few.
Unrefined coconut oil has improved my hair tremendously, you won’t regret it. Happy oiling!
cata Says:
isabel,
definitely try the coconut oil. It should help limit any further breakage; it’s helped mine a lot.
Also, if you feel your hair needs to be washed everu two days then do it, that’s not excesive IMO. Just use a good gentle shampoo and follow with a very moisturizing conditioner. Some people skip shampoo and just rinse and condition- this is more gentle and won’t strip the hair as much.
And try not to use heat on your hair or comb/brush it too much. Styles like buns or braids are gr8 for giving your hair a rest.
Lotte Says:
But what about castor oil?
In some regions it has been the most widely used oil for hair treatment.
Left Brain Says:
Coconut oil has been proven to be more effective. That doesn’t mean castor oil doesn’t work. It just doesn’t work as well.
Clairebear Says:
I hope this is not too old to ask for more information. I would like to know more about the mixed micelles please. And is there a place I can find out about more straight chain glycerides oils please, I’ve googled but have not results. I’d also like to know about shea butter that people seem to rave about, does that penetrate the hair shaft at all please. I’m full of questions, thank you so much for this website
Thanks
Nikki Says:
Okay, so it won’t hinder cocunut’s beneficial properties to mix it with olive oil because they are similar in the respect you are talking about. But what about mixing cocounut or olive with other stuff. Will the other stuff sort of “get in the way”. That is, if you mix coconut with, say, castor oil or something, will you have made the coconut ineffective?
emma Says:
what about mango and almond oil? those are the ingredients in oils I just bought today for my hair ( they are combined in a Loreal product and they smell awesome. Now I’m thinking I should have just bought coconut oil.
Danny Says:
I’ve been using virgin coconut oil for the past 6 months now. I use it as internal food consumption and for external usage as well. I’ve tried other brands, but recently the one i’m using now is called Bencoolen. Not only do they sell Virgin Coconut Oil, they are selling many personal care products ranging from shampoo, facial skin care to body lotion with Virgin Coconut Oil as their main ingredient. I found that their hair shampoo, conditioner, and the therapy leave-on conditioner are very good. Do give it a try and visit http://www.bencoolen.com.my to see their range of products.
sunny Says:
Is there coconut-oil in coconutmilk? I have very dry hair but when i use a can of coconutmilk as a special treatment (yes, the one you use for cooking) my hair gets soft, smooth and silky.
I just soak my hair with coconutmilk, wrap it in plastic, put a towel around it and leave it in as long as possible (min. 30 minutes)
Afterwards i wash with a mild shampoo and Voila! smooth and silky hair….
Brande Says:
So, I noticed that avocado oil is in one of my favorite deep conditioners(redken) and have had this theory in the back of my mind for a while: couldn’t i just buy some avoado oil and add it to my regular(cheap) conditioner?
This post has given me some hope… i would appreciate some professional feedback on my theory
Dez Says:
I’m trying to use all (or nearly all) natural products on my dry, brittle hair. Can someone tell me if using regular cooking coconut oil is okay? I saw a large can of 100% coconut oil in the baking section of Walmart. The ingredients say: coconut oil. That’s it, nothing else. Pure coconut oil.
I’ve been adding a little of this to my coconut milk moisturizer.