How To Use Coconut Oil For Hair
Updated: 09/07/2026
For nourished, shiny hair
We’re all aiming for beautifully shiny and healthy-looking hair, but over time exposure to the elements and regular styling
What is Coconut Oil?
A seriously hard-working multitasker, coconut oil is derived from the mature fruits of coconut trees. Enriched with Vitamin E and fatty acids, coconut oil has a firm texture at room temperature though it easily melts within the warmth of the palm of your hand, making it super easy to work with.
- Coconut oil moisturises and hydrates dry hair
- Coconut oil promotes a healthy scalp
- Coconut oil adds lustre and shine to the hair
- Coconut oil helps tame frizz
- Coconut oil helps with hair breakage and damage
- Coconut oil has antibacterial properties
How to use coconut oil for your hair
How to use coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner
To use coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner, firstly dampen your hair and towel dry so that it is not soaking wet. Take a pea-size amount of coconut oil and rub it together in the palm of your hands. Rub the coconut oil into the ends of your hair, working your way upwards. Depending on your hair’s needs, you may want to just apply the coconut oil to the ends of your hair. To finish, simply let your hair air dry.
Alternatively, you can apply coconut oil to damp hair liberally and leave it in overnight as a deep conditioner before rinsing in the morning. If you start to use coconut oil regularly, maybe 2-3 times a week you’ll really start to notice a difference in the overall shine and manageability of your hair. And if you swim a lot, using coconut oil before swimming in a pool or at the beach is an environmentally friendly way of protecting your hair from the perils of saltwater and chlorine.
Coconut oil helps to tame frizzy hair
If your hair is prone to frizz, coconut oil can be called upon to help tame frizz and flyaway hairs. Frizzy hair occurs when there is an uneven absorption of water in the hair’s outer layer. Coconut oil combats this by creating a moisture barrier which protects the hair fibres from swelling unevenly. So if you have found frizzy hair to be causing you trouble, give coconut oil a try.
Coconut oil h elps prevent protein loss
The loss of protein in your hair caused by over styling can cause your hair to become damaged and prone to split ends. If you find that your hair is not looking its usual glossy best due to damage, coconut oil can really help to restore the proteins in your hair, helping it to look swish and shiny once again.
Coconut oil helps stimulate hair growth
By using coconut oil regularly, you are encouraging your hair to grow longer, thicker and faster all thanks to those essential vitamins and fatty acids. By nourishing your scalp and removing excess sebum and dirt from the hair follicles, coconut oil creates a beautiful environment for healthy hair growth.
Our favourite coconut oil hair products
Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment is a leave-in spray made for hair that needs a little bit of everything. Infused with coconut oil, the lightweight formula helps condition, detangle, and improve manageability, leaving lengths feeling softer and smoother without a heavy finish. It can be used after washing or before styling, making it a simple step if your hair feels harder to brush through, frizz-prone, or in need of extra nourishment. Suitable for all hair types, it’s a practical swap for anyone who wants the softening benefits of coconut oil in an easy, everyday mist.
Recommended Retail Price: £25.50Current price: £20.40
Is your hair craving a little more softness and shine? Color Wow Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused is a leave-in treatment designed to help dry, dehydrated lengths feel smoother, silkier, and more manageable. Powered by coconut oil and a lightweight complex that activates with heat, the formula helps improve the look and feel of brittle hair without leaving it heavy or coated. Apply after washing before blow-drying to give lengths a more hydrated, glossy finish, with frizz looking softer and hair feeling easier to style.
Recommended Retail Price: £26.50Current price: £19.88
Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Joia Shampoo and Conditioner Duo brings the brand’s glossy, beachy energy into wash day. Infused with coconut-derived cleansing agents and nourishing oils, the pair works together to cleanse, soften, and visibly smooth the hair while helping lengths feel more manageable. The shampoo lifts away build-up without leaving hair feeling stripped, while the conditioner helps detangle and condition for a silkier finish. A lovely option if your hair feels dry, dull, or in need of a shine-focused reset, with the warm Cheirosa 62 scent lingering softly after rinsing.
Recommended Retail Price: £44.00Current price: £33.00
What kind of coconut oil is best to use?
If you’re not using coconut oil-based products then we recommend opting for extra virgin coconut oil or the purest coconut oil you can buy. By doing this you know you’re getting 100% coconut oil that hasn’t been chemically processed.
Coconut oil is a natural miracle ingredient when it comes to your hair. Start with a small amount and practice applying it in different ways to see what your hair and scalp respond best to.
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