Is it bad to leave coconut oil in your hair overnight? No, putting coconut oil in your hair is not bad. Coconut oil stays in your hair and penetrates into the scalp and the shafts, making it stronger and luscious. Hence, it is always good to leave it overnight and then wash it off the next day.
Although coconut oil can also be bad for hair when you leave unrefined oil on the roots and scalp for too long – if it's absorbed into the scalp, hair growth can slow down, and your hair will be getting greasy much faster.
Avoid leaving oil in overnight
The longer, the better — that may be true for some hair treatments but not for hair oiling as the oil can block your hair follicles. Unless an ayurvedic doctor or expert has asked you to leave a medicated oil overnight, wash out the oil within 3-4 hours.
You can leave coconut oil on your hair for a minimum of 30 minutes. For maximum benefits, you may leave it overnight. Washing it off too early may not let the hair and scalp soak its benefits, and keeping it on for days may attract dirt and cause buildup and hair fall.
"The best time to use coconut oil is at night, and it works best on dry hair," Saviano says. "I recommend warming the coconut oil so it becomes liquified and rubbing it in your hands to lather on the ends of your hair.
Smooth coconut oil onto hair and comb it through dry hair. Leave it on for at 15 to 30 minutes to let it absorb. Thoroughly wash hair with a great shampoo (you may need to shampoo twice to remove all of the oil) and conditioning as usual.
Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, explains that, when you leave unrefined oil on the roots and scalp for too long and it's absorbed into the scalp, it can cause hair growth to slow down. In addition, coconut oil can make your hair greasy and dull if it builds up on your scalp.
There are different ways to apply coconut oil - you can use it on wet or dry hair, using a small amount to tame your style or a large amount as a treatment. It can also be used on either washed or unwashed hair. Coconut oil is a good option when used pre-wash.
Deep condition hair overnight as a daily moisturizer
This is one of our easiest tips on how to moisturize dry hair – apply a leave-in conditioner or hydrating hair oil, wrap hair in a silk scarf or shower cap, and get your beauty sleep. In the morning you'll wake up with hydrated, healthy-looking locks.
At bedtime, divide your hair into sections. Apply oil as much as needed on your scalp and massage using your fingertips. Use a wide-toothed comb or brush to distribute the oil through your hair. Cover your hair with a silk bonnet, scarf.
Don't oil overnight
We are often encouraged to oil hair overnight. However, that might do more harm than good to our hair. Overnight hair oiling can clog our pores and might even attract dirt, etc. Ideally, you should apply oil to your roots 3-4 hours before washing your hair.
Coconut Oil Can Cause Hair Breakage
The more you use it, the drier and brittle your hair becomes, leading to more breakage. Coconut oil should never be used on dry, coarse, or brittle hair because these hair types are particularly vulnerable to breakage from coconut oil use.
Applying the oil while the hair is wet will nourish and protect it from frizz and pollution as it dries into a subtly shiny version of its natural texture. Once the hair is dry, you may pump a touch more oil into your palm, rub it between your hands and smooth it over your lengths and ends.
Preventing frizz
Coconut oil stops the hair from absorbing water, especially in humid climates, which can help prevent frizz. Damaged hair tends to look frizzy, even in dry weather. As coconut oil can penetrate the hair shaft, it can also help smoothen damaged, uneven hair.
Leaving oil on your hair everyday for too long can cause product build-up on your scalp. It may also clog your pores, attract dirt and accumulate dandruff. Oiling your hair everyday also means that you have to wash it with shampoo everyday. This is not ideal to achieve healthy, lustrous and soft hair.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of coconut oil is to use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo comes in handy to absorb excess oils and give your strands a refreshed and balanced feel. Apply the dry shampoo to your hair, making sure to focus on your roots and apply lightly through the rest of your hair.
To get rid of the excess oil, try dry-hair solutions such as dry shampoo, cornstarch, or baby powder. You can also use leave-in treatments such as an egg wash, lemon juice, or baking soda. When you rinse them out, these solutions should take the coconut oil with them, leaving your hair clean and hydrated.
At this point, it should be aware that those with “dry, brittle, or damaged hair should avoid coconut oil.” There are other hair-related issues coconut oil can aggravate. “If you suffer from scalp conditions, such as seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff, coconut oil can worsen the condition,” Courtney says.
Not everyone should oil their hair though. “Those with dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis should stay away from oiling as it may increase flaking, causing dandruff to stick to the scalp. In other cases, it can also lead to red patches, itching, inflammation and more," she says.
Oils like castor, peppermint, onion, coconut, jojoba, argan, amla, olive, grapeseed, rosemary, and tea tree are often recommended for hair growth. They help boost blood circulation and strengthen hair. Remember that essential oils must be mixed in with carrier oils before application.
It increases the blood flow to your scalp and helps invigorate growth. But in our endeavor to moisturize our hair with warm oil, we sometimes heat the oil a little too much and end up putting in hot oil. This can cause inflammation of your hair follicles and makes up to be one of the top hairfall reasons.