Table of contents:
- How can coconut oil treat dandruff?
- How to use coconut oil for dandruff free hair
- 1. Apply it directly to the scalp
- 2. Make a hair mask
- 3. Mix it with hair care products
- Things to consider when using coconut oil
Coconut oil has been widely used as a natural way to treat various types of health problems. The use of coconut oil for hair is even believed to protect hair from itching on the scalp, hair loss, and even stubborn dandruff.
How can coconut oil treat dandruff?
Dandruff is a flake of skin that comes from the layer of dead skin cells on the head. Dandruff is usually made worse by a fungal infection, eczema, psoriasis, sensitive scalp, or dry scalp conditions. The wrong and careless hair care also aggravates this condition.
So, coconut oil is said to be able to get rid of dandruff because it is able to moisturize the scalp. This antioxidant-rich oil is also believed to protect the scalp from free radicals, accelerate growth and repair of skin tissue, ward off fungal infections, and absorb more easily into the skin layers than other types of oil.
How to use coconut oil for dandruff free hair
There are many ways you can try when relying on coconut oil for dandruff hair. Here are a few suggested tips.
1. Apply it directly to the scalp
First of all, wash your hair as usual. After your hair is dry, apply coconut oil on your scalp, then massage using your fingers for 3-5 minutes. Optimize the benefits of coconut oil for your hair by applying it evenly, especially on the top of your head.
After 5-10 minutes, rinse your hair with warm water, then dry it. Do this routine once every week until your dandruff seems less.
2. Make a hair mask
Prepare 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, olive oil, honey and yogurt each. Combine all the ingredients until the texture forms a paste, apply it on your scalp, then massage for 5-10 minutes. Let the mask work for 45-60 minutes.
After that, wash your hair using shampoo until the entire mask mixture dissolves with the water. Once your hair dries, apply a teaspoon of coconut oil on your scalp and let it absorb. You can use this mask at least once a week until your scalp condition improves.
3. Mix it with hair care products
You can use coconut oil to treat dandruff by mixing it in shampoo, conditioner, or even products that you use to style your hair.
Just add a few drops of coconut oil to these products and mix them well. Apply as usual on your hair, then observe the results after a few weeks of use.
Things to consider when using coconut oil
Although synonymous with dry scalp, some people can also experience dandruff problems due to excessive hair oil production. Your scalp is an ideal growing place for a named fungus Malassezia . This fungus lives by breaking down the oil on the scalp, then producing oleic acid as a byproduct.
Excessive oil production on the scalp will result in uncontrolled fungal growth. The oleic acid produced by this fungus then irritates your scalp and causes it to dry out. The impact, you also experience dandruff problems.
The benefits of coconut oil for hair are indeed promising, especially for overcoming dandruff problems. However, you need to have a deeper understanding of your dandruff problem before using it. Coconut oil should not be used if the dandruff problem is caused by excess hair oil production, or if you have an allergy to this type of oil.