8 Beauty Benefits Of Coconut Oil: {Hair, Skin & Nails}

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You might just put away all your expensive potions and lotions after trying coconut oil in your daily beauty regimen. It’s loaded with Vitamin E and fatty acids (such as lauric acid, myristic acid, capric acid and more) which are anti-fungal, anti-oxidizing and anti-bacterial, just the sort of stuff that our skin and hair happily respond to!

Coconut Oil Can Be Used Topically As A Beauty & Skin Treatment

It can be used as an all-over skin moisturizer (with excellent results, apply it to your skin right after showering and throughout the day as you like), but here are eight different ways you can take advantage of it’s natural goodness to treat problem areas.

I also added tips at the bottom of the page outlining what to look for when buying it and where you can find it (locally and online).

Dry & Damaged Hair:

If you have dry and damaged hair, coconut oil can help nourish it.

• Simply rub some of the oil into the damaged ends a half hour before showering.

Glossy, Shiny Hair & Frizz Buster:

• After washing, drying and styling your hair, rub a small amount of oil into the palms of your hands then lightly apply to your hair.
• If you have a problem with frizzy hair, the above treatment will also help tame it.

Exfoliating Facial Scrub:

• Mix equal parts baking soda with coconut oil and massage into face. Rinse with warm water to remove baking soda residue.

Dark Elbow Patches:

• Rub into skin each morning and night until desired results are achieved. Find more remedies on this page.

Dry Scalp Treatment:

Each night before going to bed, follow these steps:

• Part hair one section at a time and rub coconut oil into your scalp. A light application is all you need.
• Repeat process for entire head then massage for a few minutes to really work it in. Run a wide tooth comb through your hair to comb out any tangles then put on a shower cap.
• Keep the treatment on overnight, cover your pillow with a towel just in case the cap shifts in the middle of the night.
• Wash your hair as usual in the morning.
• Repeat daily until you are satisfied with the results (may take up to 5 weeks before the dryness is gone).

Treat Rashes, Eczema, Psoriasis or Severe Dry, Cracked Skin:

• Rub a bit into affected area and allow the skin to absorb the nutrients. Treat skin daily for as long as needed.

Acne Treatment:

• Clean face as you normally would, pat dry then apply a light coating on your skin. Leave on overnight (allow skin at least 15 minutes to absorb the oil before going to bed). Repeat each night until desired results are achieved (may take some time depending on how severe the acne is).
• If you have back acne, wash and dry skin before applying the oil. Apply to skin at least 15 minutes before laying down or going to bed.

Note: Some may experience an increase in oily skin and breakouts, this can be the case for several days (even a week or two) until the skin is detoxified.

Athlete’s Foot & Nail Fungus Treatment:

• Apply twice each day to affected area covering it completely (once in the morning when you get up and once before bedtime). See more remedies for nail fungus on this page.

It’s A Food Too!

Yes, the coconut oil you are applying to your trouble spots can be eaten too! Try it as a cooking oil, in baking (replacing lard and fat) and as a spread (like butter).

Is it a super food? Metabolism booster? Diet miracle? I’m not ruling it out but there’s no definitive answer to that just yet (that I know of). Here are two resources you can review to help form your own opinion: Coconut Oil Super Powers, video series by Dr. Oz (two parts, you’ll see a link under the first video to watch the next part). Also check out this article on The Guardian which lists some pros and cons: Coco Loco.

What To Buy & Where To Find It

• Choose a pure virgin or extra-virgin coconut oil (preferably organic) which is unrefined, cold-pressed and non-hydrogenated.
• To use: It will be solid (at room temperature), heat in a hot water bath for a couple minutes (scoop a spoonful into a small glass bowl that’s resting in hot water) or rub a bit between your hands to soften and warm it up a bit before applying.
• How much to use: A little goes a long way! You don’t need to glob it on, apply in light layers so your skin absorbs it readily.
• Where to buy it: Try your local pharmacy, health food store, online at shops like Amazon or pharmacy sites. This stuff is surprisingly inexpensive considering all the benefits it has to offer!
• How to store it: Keep it sealed in its original container in a cool, dark place (unrefrigerated). It has a shelf life of about 2 years.
• Note: If you are allergic to coconut, chances are you’re not going to have a good experience using it topically. Your best bet is to not use it as a beauty treatment to avoid any physical reactions an allergy may trigger.