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.
If using the coconut oil as a hair mask, you'll need to thoroughly rinse the oil out of your hair after the treatment, which might take a couple of wash-rinse cycles. For best results, you'll need to experiment with the amount of coconut oil you use and how long to allow the oil to penetrate.
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.
Coconut oil offers intense hair treatment the longer you leave it on your hair, especially if you want to hydrate and moisturize your hair. Of course, you cannot leave coconut oil in your hair for several days, but overnight is acceptable.
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.
For heavier oils like coconut oil, applying it on dry hair is best, as the larger molecules may not penetrate the shaft of wet hair as well it can dry hair.
Leaving your oil on your hair for more than one day is a bad idea. Even one day is not recommended since it can cause the oil to form a layer on your scalp, clogging your pores, accumulating dandruff and attracting dirt. Apart from that, it will make your scalp constantly feel greasy and dirty.
In general, it is not recommended to leave oil on for more than 6-8 hours, as that might make things tricky. The oil can attract a lot of dirt, dust, grime and get them to stick to your hair! So, it will take a lot more effort to wash your hair with all this added stuff to wash off.
Coconut Oil for Hair Growth
In short: Yes, coconut oil can support hair growth. "Coconut oil will definitely help your hair grow healthier, thicker, and longer," Brown confirms. "The vitamins and fatty acids in coconut oil help nourish your scalp and penetrates the cuticle of the hair.
Coconut Oil Can Cause Hair Loss
While many oils coat the surface of hair but have molecules too big and bulky to enter the hair shaft, coconut oil can. In small amounts, this might be good, but in large amounts, it can cause protein loss in the hair as the coconut oil takes over.
“Saturated fats, often found in meat and dairy products as well as coconut oil, can increase LDL levels in your blood,” says Dr. Russell. “This in turn increases your risk of heart disease, peripheral artery disease and stroke.” Eating foods that contain coconut oil can increase your risk for heart problems.
Dry or coarse hair will reject coconut oil, possibly resulting in brittleness and/or breakage. Fine or medium hair will absorb it, increasing growth and density. If you find that the superfood is doing more damage than good, use it for its other benefits like healthy skin, teeth, and diet.
Virgin coconut oil which is cold-pressed gives the best results. As cold-pressed coconut oil was found to have more of the fatty acids which hydrate your skin. When applied overnight, it will trap the moisture into your skin making it soft, supple and hydrated.
Oil your hair no more than 1 to 2 times a week. Leave it on for approximately an hour or two but you don't need to leave it on longer than that. When you leave oil on too long you run the risk of zits because oil will run down onto your skin and you also don't add any real benefit by leaving it on longer.
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.
The moment your hair is left to soak in oil for more than 12 hours, your scalp collects dirt and mixes with your scalp's natural oil. Leaving oil on your hair overnight can make it greasy and sticky, and it will also attract dust from your pillow and bed. As a result, it can lead to hair loss and other hair problems.
Applying a mix of your regular shampoo or lemon water and aloe vera gel also removes coconut oil. You may leave the mixture on for a few minutes before washing it off. The acidity in lemon is said to remove grease and coconut oil from your hair.
After showering, run the coconut oil through the ends of your hair, or take it up slightly higher (to the midsection of your hair) to use as a moisturizing detangler. To avoid excess oil or grease, skip applying it to your roots or scalp area.
Moisturizing dry hair and scalp
Most oils sit on the surface of the hair, but research shows that coconut oil penetrates more deeply into the hair shaft, which may lead the hair to feel softer and smoother. The oil helps fill the hair shaft, making dry and damaged hair look healthier.
It can be used before washing your hair as a pre-conditioner or applied to clean wet hair as a leave-in treatment or when styling. Coconut oil can also be used between washing to tame frizz.
One tablespoon of coconut oil contains about 12 grams of saturated fat, so it could be easy to overdo it on saturated fats if you get more than one serving. Too much saturated fat can lead to high cholesterol, increasing risks of heart disease and stroke.
Myth: Coconut oil is a heart-healthy cooking alternative.
The reality: Coconut oil has been shown to raise cholesterol levels — the good and the bad kinds — more than other plant-based oils like olive or canola. And in truth, medium-chain triglycerides make up only a small amount of the fatty acids in coconut oil.