19, May 2023

Why We Love Coconut Oil

Ah, coconut oil. Miraculous, multi-tasking coconut oil. The oil of this exotic drupe (that’s a fruit with a single nut inside) is loved the world over, for cooking, cosmetics – even cleaning. Here’s why people can’t get enough of coconut oil.

Before we begin, it’s important to remember to do a patch test before applying any oil to your skin.

Coconut Oil for Hair

Coconut oil is famously something of a haircare superhero. The main reason for this is probably its high concentration of lauric acid, which is easily absorbed by the hair and nourishes it on a deep level. Many rate the oil as a rescuer of dry, damaged locks, preventer of breakage and mender of split ends.

As well as being a key ingredient in moisturising hair masks and treatments, coconut oil is loved as a frizz-fixer. It is believed to seal tresses, locking in moisture, protecting them from humidity and keeping frizz in check.

On top of its hair heroics, coconut oil is often used to soothe dry, itchy scalps – and is said by some to help relieve dandruff. This is because of those mega-moisturising abilities, but also because the oil is known to possess an impressive list of benefits to skin, which leads us nicely on to the next bit…

Coconut Oil For Skin

Yep, all the things that are believed to make coconut oil a hair elixir also apply to skin. It’s an effective emollient that melts smoothly from its solid state into a swiftly-absorbed liquid when it comes into contact with skin. This is why it is often used as a carrier oil in massage.

Coconut oil’s softening and smoothing qualities make it a favourite for the face. Whether it’s being used as an under-eye cream, a lip balm or even a homemade make-up remover, there are countless ways that it acts as a skin saviour. Many even claim coconut oil helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

And there’s more: coconut oil is believed to have antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. All those ‘antis’ are why it is some swear by coconut oil to soothe parched and irritated skin, including scalps.

What else is coconut oil good for?

Is there anything coconut oil can’t do? Seriously, people use it for all kinds of tasks. Whether it’s cleaning teeth or shining sinks, a jar of this oil is apparently filled with endless possibilities.

In the kitchen, coconut oil can be used in a whole host of recipes including curries, stir-fries, cakes, smoothies and more. But it isn’t just useful as a cooking ingredient; many use it to pep up wooden chopping boards and utensils, to polish metal appliances – even to remove sticky labels from jars.

Beyond the kitchen, it seems that coconut oil is handy to have around the house. It’s used to shush squeaking hinges, shine shoes – we even found a tip suggesting you buff houseplant leaves with it. And we love houseplants.

Maybe we’re biased, but ultimately, the bathroom is where coconut oil comes into its own. Whether or not you’re a fan of oil-pulling (an Ayurvedic method some use for cleaning their teeth), there’s no denying that this oil is a great ingredient for skin and hair. Plus, the natural aroma has the power to transport you to a tropical beach.