With the chilly winds blowing your hair about and sucking the moisture from your tangly tresses, it’s likely that you’re experiencing the dull, lifelessness that comes with winter-damaged hair. Instead of packing on the heavy hair masks laden with harmful silicones and overly fragranced fillers, try opting for a more natural option: coconut oil.
You can find coconut oil at your local health food store in the same aisle as Olive oil and other various cooking oils. Coconut oil is stored as a solid sold in a jar, but when heated up, the product melts down to an oil and can then be applied to the hair as a treatment. Coconut oil is an effective hair treatment because it intensely hydrates hair, boosts shine and overall radiance, strengthens even the most damaged and broken hair, and also helps to nourish the scalp and stimulate hair that will grow faster, stronger, and healthier.
To use coconut oil as a hair treatment, first measure 3 to 4 tablespoons of the solid oil into a microwave safe bowl or cup (for thicker hair, use 1 or 2 more tablespoons, and for thinner hair, use 1 less). Microwave the oil for 1 minute, or until the oil melts down completely to a liquid. On dry, untangled hair, apply the oil starting at the ends and working your way to your scalp. Don’t worry about the oil making your scalp greasy, because the beneficial properties of the oil make it safe for even the most sensitive of scalps! Once you have evenly coated your hair in oil, wrap it in either a shower cap or an old t-shirt to secure the hair in place and allow the oil to penetrate the hair cuticle. Leave the hair wrapped for 4 hours or more (use it as an overnight treatment, if you wish!), then rinse it out with warm water, following with your choice of shampoo and conditioner. Once your hair is dry, you should notice the boost in shine and texture. Using this treatment once a week, or every other week, will improve the strength, shine, and growth of your hair, and your hair will no longer be suffering from the drab, winter blues!
– by Amanda Curran
Photo courtesy of Chiot’s Run
