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But what exactly makes coconut oil very good for your hair? The answer lies in its chemical composition. You should know that many hair care products contain either coconut oil or its precursor, coconut milk. Some manufacturers have a twist by using a sort of fancy term, coco cream. We'll get to this a little later. Coconut oil is a saturated fat mainly composed of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), all 64% of it. No other oil or fat has more MCFAs. Most don't even come close. MCFAs are aggressive nutrients against bacteria, fungi and the likes. Their rather small molecular structure enables them to easily enter the hair shaft. This penetration reduces hair protein loss. Did you know that sunflower and mineral oils have no favorable impact on hair protein loss? The fact that these oils are two of the most widely used components in hair care formulations makes me leave my mouth open in confusion. Sebaceous glands connected to the hair follicles produce sebum. Without sebum, your scalp and each individual hair on your head will dry, break, then fall off. And guess what? Sebum contains MCFAs just like your friendly neighborhood coconut oil. Before I forget, beware of hair care products that boast of coconut oil or milk as THE main ingredient. I've tried several shampoo and conditioner brands that highlight coconut milk or oil as their super component. None of them worked for me. I believe it's because although coconut oil is present, harmful chemicals are as well. So what's the use, right? No wonder back then, dandruff lived on mansions and high-rise condominiums on my scalp real estate. To be as effective as possible, just use pure unrefined coconut oil. Simply open the container, put some on your palms (I use half to a full teaspoon), then massage and brush it into your scalp and hair respectively. Remember, "to each his own." A teaspoon of virgin coconut oil after every bath works for me. Try to experiment with how much works for your specific case. Coconut oil hair benefits result to a gorgeous crowning glory. Your hair will become shiny, have full body and color, is easy to comb and most of all, protected by coconut oil's MCFAs. |
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