The Reason You Shouldn't Use Coconut Oil On Your Hair

Not only does coconut oil taste amazing, working as cooking oil and as a popular ingredient in vegan sweet treats, but it also can be used as a face and body moisturizer and lip balm. Some people even choose to use it in their hair. However, according to many hair experts, it could actually be damaging your locks rather than giving them a moisturizing boost. 

Basically, putting any kind of oil in your hair isn't always a good idea. As Ross Charles, owner of Ross Charles Hairdressing, explained to Glamour UK: "People often use hair oils to moisten their hair, but I often say that when hair needs moisture, it is thirsty and needs a drink." He continued, "In fact, oil and water don't mix. Oil actually repels water and either pushes it out of the hair or stops it from getting into the hair." So, if your hair is dry, using coconut oil may make the problem worse.

Ultimately, hair oils tend to make your hair look great without fixing the actual problem. "Hair oils — and especially coconut oil — tend to seep into every tiny hole in your hair shaft and disguise the real problem to act as a quick-fix; this won't help your hair in the long-run and is one of the main reasons I advise against using oils in your hair," explained Charles.

The reason this is particularly true for coconut oil is that it's not formulated for use on hair at all. "The problem is the molecule is so big that it doesn't get absorbed like products created specifically for hair," Anna Jackson, a celebrity stylist at Boss Hair Group in Chicago, told InStyle. "Instead, it sits on top of the hair shaft and makes it shiny and soft — but just temporarily." If you're looking to repair damaged hair, opt for products designed just for that purpose. You can still use coconut oil to tame flyaways or for a touch of instant shine — but it's not a longterm solution for healthier hair.