Why You Should Apply Coconut Oil Before Coloring Hair

Coconut oil is one of nature’s most amazing gifts to mankind. It just has so many uses! You can cook and drink with it, it has some medicinal uses and health benefits, and there’s a coconut oil product for everything that has to do with your body.

No kidding! Coconut oil can soften and nourish hair, soothe dry skin, grow out brows, whiten teeth, moisturize cracked lips, and so much more. It’s particularly amazing on color treated hair, or one that is about to undergo hair coloring and bleaching.

This is extremely beneficial since a lot of us love coloring to revamp our look and make our hair more stylish. With coconut oil, you’ll have less worry about the harsh side effects and damage that hair color creams and lighteners can do to your hair. This is because coconut oil can keep your hair looking healthy without affecting how the dye works on your hair.

Read also related articles: Best sulfate free shampoo, hair color to cover gray, get rid of yellow hair after bleaching, and ratio of bleach to developer.

Benefits of using coconut oil before coloring hair

Applying coconut oil on your hair comes with a lot of amazing benefits, hair color or not. But, what makes it so great for color treatments is that it prevents the loss of hair proteins, which is important when bleaching and coloring, since these processes strip off your hair’s natural oils, which then leaves your hair strands more vulnerable to damage.

Nourishment and hydration

One of the best benefits of coconut oil is that it hydrates your hair and nourishes your scalp. And unlike other oils such as mineral and sunflower oil, which do make your hair feel soft and smooth, coconut oil is what’s really absorbed by the shaft and therefore can penetrate your strands much deeper.

It’s also why it’s best to apply coconut oil before showering, since wetting your hair with water makes it more vulnerable.

Plus, coconut oil contains antimicrobial properties which can help address dandruff. It’s much better than those clarifying shampoos which can actually harm your hair due to their harsh chemicals that strip off natural oils and create frizziness and dryness.

Frizz elimination

Coconut oil also makes your hair healthier, and it eliminates frizz, which is often caused by exposure to water and harsh chemicals that strip off oils and make the hair vulnerable. This is because of coconut oil’s hydrophobic properties, which are great in preventing frizz and tangles.

Moreover, coconut oil can also work as a leave-in conditioner for dry and damaged hair, as it can make your hair look shiny and smooth. As a matter of fact, it’s better than silicone-based products that are also advertised to give your hair extra shine and bounce.

Chemical damage prevention

What’s really important, especially when bleaching and coloring, is that coconut oil is a great product that penetrates your hair in order to prevent chemical damage. Coconut oil penetrates your hair strands deeply, so harmful chemicals can’t work their way into your hair.

It’s also a great form of protection against UV rays, air pollutants, and chlorine from swimming pools, not to mention heat damage from heated styling tools.

Protein loss prevention

The composition of coconut oil includes a lot of fatty acids that have a high affinity for your hair’s natural proteins. This is very important in chemically or color treated hair, hair that has been exposed to bleach, salon treatments, and even the UV rays of the sun.

This, coupled with the oil’s low molecular weight and the presence of lauric acid, makes it great in penetrating your hair strands and preventing protein loss, unlike sunflower or mineral oil, which can only coat the external part of your hair. Read also: DIY protein hair treatment.

Hair loss prevention

Did you know that coconut oil also prevents hair loss? It’s a great solution if you’re dealing with thinning and balding hair, or excessive hair fall. You just need to massage the oil into your scalp then leave it on overnight, much like a hair mask. For best results, try the OGX Damage Remedy Coconut Miracle Oil Hair Mask.

Alternatively, you can also use it as a pre and post-wash hair care product to really incorporate it into your hair care routine.

Do keep in mind that hair loss can be caused by a lot of things, such as poor diet, hormonal imbalance, certain medications, malnutrition, thyroid diseases, and iron deficiency, to name a few. As such, you need to pair your hair care regimen with an appropriate change in your diet and overall lifestyle.

It also works on color treated hair!

While it’s always best to apply coconut oil before you do any bleaching or color treatments, so as to prevent the problem from arising rather than scrambling to find a cure, the great thing about coconut oil is that it can also help you get back your beautiful hair after being exposed to chemical damage.

Coconut oil can maintain your hair health, keep the hair color look vibrant and make it last longer, make your hair feel softer and easier to comb or brush, eliminate knots and tangles, and give it a nice shine that sparkles under the sun.

Will coconut oil affect the hair dye?

Now for the real question, will coconut oil have any effect on your hair dye?

The answer is no. This is because coconut oil doesn’t have any acidic ingredients or stripping elements. In fact, if anything, it makes the hair color last longer, especially if you apply the oil both before and after coloring.

For the best results, skip shampooing for a few days before you plan on bleaching and coloring in order to let your hair produce natural oils. Then, apply the coconut oil the night before you apply the hair dye so your hair shaft has plenty of time to absorb the oil.

How to use coconut oil on your hair before coloring

Here’s a step by step guide on how to use coconut oil before coloring your hair:

Clean your hair

The first thing you should do is to make sure that your hair is clean and healthy. This will ensure that the hair color is evenly applied and that it lasts longer. Make sure to use a low sulfate shampoo that is effective in removing product buildup without stripping your hair of its natural oils. Otherwise, your hair and scalp might be dry and prone to damage.

You can then skip the conditioner and replace it with coconut oil for moisturization.

Apply coconut oil before bed

The next step is to prep your hair for coloring by applying coconut oil such as the OKAY 100% Pure Coconut Oil For All Hair Textures the night before your bleaching or coloring session.

For the best results, warm the coconut oil so it takes on a more liquid rather than cream consistency. This will make it easier for you to rub it on your hair, plus the warmth helps open up your hair cuticles for even deeper absorption. Simple part your hair into sections and apply the oil evenly, focusing on the driest parts and strands.

Depending on the length of your hair, three to seven spoonfuls of oil should be enough, but if you are suffering from damaged or dry hair, applying more coconut oil will go a long way in hydrating and strengthening your hair and scalp. Afterward, use a shower cap to cover your hair and sleep while the oil works its magic.

Bleach and dye hair as usual

Once it’s time for bleaching or hair coloring, you can just proceed as usual, but without washing off the coconut oil on your hair from the night before. Rest assured, it won’t affect the bleach and dye. If anything, it will make it easier to part your hair into thin sections. It will also give you a sleek and natural look post coloring.

Remember, while bleaching may be necessary before coloring if you have dark hair, it’s also really harmful as it contains plenty of harmful and damaging ingredients such as ammonia and peroxides. Coconut oil will keep the harsh effects of these chemicals at bay.

Wash and condition hair with gentle shampoos

Finally, once you’re done with the process, the next step is to rinse off all those leftover chemicals with water and shampoo. However, you can’t just use any shampoo. Stay away from clarifying shampoos and those with parabens and sulfates.

Instead, go for milder and gentler formulations, such as those made with all-natural ingredients. You can also use shampoos with coconut oil like the Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo, or a specially formulated shampoo for color treated hair.

Make coconut oil a part of your hair care regimen

Don’t forget to keep using coconut oil in order to keep your hair strong and healthy, as well as give it time to heal. Resume applying coconut oil on your hair a week after you colored or bleached it.

You can apply coconut oil before and after washing your hair to reduce hair damage caused by shampooing, combing, and styling. You can also use it as a hair mask to soften your strands while making them stronger. In fact, you can even use it as a conditioner, hair oil, heat protectant, and scalp treatment.

Conclusion

Coconut oil comes with a lot of wonderful benefits for your skin and hair, including keeping your hair sleek, soft, supple, and healthy after dyeing and bleaching your hair, two processes that are harsh on your hair and can leave it brittle, dry, and damaged.

Did you know that coconut oil can even speed up the bleaching process, as well as prevent itching and burning sensations on your scalp? It’s just that helpful!

Source: Healtline.com