Coconut Oil for Hair Loss: What It Can and Can't Do

Why People Turn to Coconut Oil for Hair Loss

Using coconut oil for hair loss or hair thinning has long been a popular home-remedy. But before you sink your fingers into a luscious jar of coconut oil, it’s best to understand what the evidence says in relation to actual hair growth. Coconut oil as a hair-oil treatment dates back thousands of years spanning many cultures, such as Ayurvedic practices in India, and communal hair care traditions in Africa. In Morocco it’s linked to cultural and religious rituals, particularly with its native-grown argan oil. Hair oiling has been passed down through the generations, with mothers teaching their daughters.

With such a rich history, it’s no wonder coconut oil has amassed a huge fan base for those who prefer a natural hair care routine. Virgin, unrefined coconut oil is 100% natural and nourishing - packed with fatty acids that can penetrate the hair shaft and reduce protein loss. Plus it’s easily available and relatively cheap, by comparison to a professional hair loss programme with a trichologist.  

What Causes Hair Loss? A Quick Overview

There are a variety of reasons, the most common being androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness, occurring around the hairline and crown of the head. It’s a genetic condition that shrinks hair follicles over time until they stop producing hair growth altogether.

Then there’s temporary hair loss - telogen effluvium - caused by illness, stress or major changes in the body. In this instance, much more hair than usual falls from the scalp as hair follicles go into their resting state.

Hair loss or hair thinning can also be caused by issues with scalp health, hormone changes and nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes increased hair breakage, from chemical or heat damage, can be mistaken for true hair loss.

Can Coconut Oil Actually Prevent or Reverse Hair Loss?

The growing interest, and social media obsession, with coconut oil as part of a hair care routine, probably originates from an interesting 2003 study that found it reduced protein loss in both damaged and undamaged hair when used as a pre-shampoo or post-shampoo treatment. This is great news for stronger, fuller-looking hair, however there was no evidence of coconut oil being an effective treatment for medically diagnosed hair loss, such as androgenetic alopecia. In other words, they saw no new hair growth from the follicles.

But let’s not write off coconut oil altogether. As mentioned above, it’s common for increased hair breakage to be mistaken for a hair loss condition. So if you’re seeing more hair gathering in the plughole, and you’ve established it’s not down to a medical condition, what evidence is there that coconut oil could help?

Where Coconut Oil Can Help: Scalp and Strand Benefits

Deliciously-smelling and deeply moisturising, coconut oil is packed with lauric acid, a fatty acid highly compatible with the keratin (aka protein) in your hair. When strands lose their protein, they can become brittle, and easily prone to frizz, breakage and split ends. 

Evidence from that 2003 study stated that coconut oil had a “remarkable” ability to reduce protein loss, unlike sunflower oil or mineral oil, which it was compared to. The lauric acid in coconut oil can easily penetrate your hair shaft and bond with keratin, giving it the potential to strengthen damaged hair, reducing damage and hair loss through breakage.

When it comes to scalp health - the root of luscious-looking locks - coconut oil has an impressive list of abilities. That fabulous fatty acid is known to have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. No wonder it’s got a reputation as a skincare saviour. A study in 2021 showed coconut oil helps maintain the balance of your scalp microbiome - the intricate microorganisms – helping to manage a dry, itchy or flaky scalp.

A Word of Caution: When Not to Use Coconut Oil on Your Scalp

While coconut oil comes with an impressive list of credentials, it doesn’t suit every scalp, and should be avoided if you experience any of the following:

• You have seborrheic dermatitis related dandruff, caused by a yeast called Malassezia. The fatty acids in coconut oil feed this yeast and can increase symptoms like inflammation, itching and flaking. Note, flaking of the scalp can be caused by other factors too, so do get it checked out.
• If you are prone to acne, excess oil can clog pores around the hairline and cause breakouts.
• An already oily or inflamed scalp should avoid more oil as it can block hair follicles leading to folliculitis (inflamed hair roots). 
• If you have a nut or seed allergy it’s best to do a small patch test on your skin first.

How to Use Coconut Oil to Support Healthier Hair

When hair loss or hair thinning is on your mind, it’s only natural that keeping your hair healthy and looking its best is your No.1 priority. Here are three main ways to support your hair health:

Pre-shampoo treatment: this technique helps protect against damaged hair. Warm the coconut oil in your palms before applying to dry hair from mid-length to ends. The amount you apply will depend on the length and thickness of your hair. Leave for 30-60 mins to allow the oil to be absorbed. To cleanse, apply shampoo to your hair before you get it wet to help breakdown the excess oil. Then rinse and shampoo again.  

Scalp massage: maintaining good blood circulation in your scalp ensures hair follicles get the nutrients they need to stay happy and healthy. Give yourself a gentle scalp massage with the pads of your fingertips (never use nails), or better still get someone else to treat you to one!

Hair mask: a hydrating mask could reduce breakage and protein loss. First dampen your hair with a spray bottle, then apply melted coconut oil to the driest parts of your hair (the ends usually), then pop on a shower cap for 1-2 hours. Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft quickly, so no need to leaving it on overnight. To cleanse, follow the technique above. Condition and style as usual.

Choosing the Right Coconut Oil and the Right Products to Pair It With

Virgin, unrefined or sometimes known as ‘raw’ coconut oil, is considered the best quality, with the highest nutritional value. Refined or processed oil, as you would expect, is less packed with all the good stuff. The cream of the coconut crop is the organic virgin coconut oil. Packed with all those valuable fatty acids, and naturally solid, as it only starts to melt at 25°C.  

So, once you’ve bought yourself a quality coconut oil, which hair care products should you use it with? For a start, avoid shampoos with SLS and silicone-heavy serums, as this could undo all your good work. Our Coconut Shampoo and Coconut Conditioner are 99.6% natural origin, and made using organic coconut oil. As with all our hair care products, they contain no silicones, parabens, SLS or SLES and are vegan and cruelty-free. The perfect duo to complement your coconut oil hair care ritual.

When to Seek Professional Advice About Hair Loss

For all its nourishing properties and abundance of moisturising molecules, coconut oil is no miracle for hair growth. So if your hair loss is sudden, patchy, rapidly progressing, or you’re experiencing new scalp issues, it’s best to ask your GP or a trichologist for professional advice.