How to Wash Coconut Oil Out of Hair

Coconut oil is one of mother nature’s best gifts to mankind. It’s so versatile that it can be used for pretty much anything, from medicinal treatments, sumptuous dishes, and even hair and body care. It’s actually used to maintain healthy hair in many parts of the world, especially in Asia.

That’s because it’s an excellent natural remedy for strengthening hair, eliminating dandruff, and giving hair a beautiful shine. It also improves the health of your hair follicles and scalp, since it penetrates deeply to let your hair grow full and thick.

However, like all products, using too much of it can cause more problems as it can solve. For one, your hair will feel heavy and sticky, which means having to spend more time in the shower and using more shampoo to wash off all that grime.

Below is a complete guide on the benefits of coconut oil on hair, why and how you need to wash it off properly, and a few extra tips to set you on your way.

Read also related articles: Coconut oil before coloring hair, how to get silky hair, body wash as shampoo, and ratio of bleach to developer.

At a glance: how to wash coconut oil out of hair

There are many solutions you can try to wash off coconut oil from your hair. These include dry and wet shampoo, warm water, baking soda, alcohol, paper towels, aloe vera, lemons, vinegar, witch hazel oil, egg wash, fuller’s earth, tomatoes, henna powder, black tea, mint and rosemary.

We’ll talk about each of these solutions below, but first, let’s talk about all the wonderful benefits of using coconut oil on your hair.

Benefits of coconut oil on hair

• Hair loss prevention– coconut oil deeply penetrates the scalp in order to strengthen the hair roots, thereby promoting a healthy hair growth
• Hair fall and dandruff solution– coconut oil has multifunctional properties that help prevent excessive hair fall while also naturally removing dandruff from the scalp
• Smoothing and moisturizing– coconut oil is a great source of natural proteins that work in keeping the hair moisturized, clean, and shiny
• Antibacterial properties– coconut oil is packed with antibacterial properties that effectively kill harmful microbes from dirt and pollution that gets trapped in the hair
• Lice treatment– coconut oil, when partnered with vinegar, can effectively kill and immobilize lice so it can be combed out of the hair; after which, any remaining lice and product residue can be washed off and rinsed with shampoo and water
• Cooling and relaxation– coconut oil provides a cooling effect when applied on the head in order to release tension and anxiety, which is beneficial for someone who is dealing with a headache

Why you need to wash off coconut oil from your hair

Having said all that, it’s not a good idea to leave coconut oil on your hair for long periods of time. For one thing, the smell can be nauseating after a while, not only for you but for the people around you as well.

Coconut oil also solidifies and hardens at cool temperatures due to its high saturated fat content, so you need to limit usage during the winter, and wash it off before entering cold indoor and outdoor environments so your hair doesn’t look white and waxy, especially with the fatty acids in the oil forming hair clumps by making your hair stick together.

It also makes hair look oily, especially if you apply too much, making you look unclean and unprofessional. Plus, using coconut oil too long and too often can block your pores, which can lead to itching, follicle breakage, dandruff, hair loss, and in the worst case, baldness.

16 ways to wash coconut oil out of hair

Here are some of the most effective ways you can use to wash coconut oil out of your hair:

Wet shampoo

Shampoos and conditioners will effectively wash off any product and residue on the hair due to their cleansing properties. You just need to make sure that you are using a good quality shampoo that won’t damage your hair and use enough product based on how much coconut oil you applied on your hair.

Dry shampoo

You can also use dry shampoo if you don’t want to hit the shower. Simply pat your hair dry with a towel to get rid of some of the oil, then apply dry shampoo on the hair, making sure to spread it around from roots to tips. Leave the dry shampoo on your hair for a few minutes so it can go deeper and absorb excess oil from your roots and strands.

Warm water

Since water and oil don’t mix, it makes sense what water can help you wash off some of that coconut oil on your hair. However, you must remember to use warm water instead of cold, since cold water will solidify the coconut oil, which will make it more difficult to wash off.

Baking soda

For better results, you can choose to mix baking soda with the water in order to create a paste that you can apply to your hair. Massage this paste around the scalp and strands for about 5 to 10 minutes before washing it off with warm water.

Alcohol

If you have any alcoholic beverage lying around, ideally vodka, you can use it as an instant and effective solution in combating oily hair. Simply mix one part vodka with two parts water, and use it to rinse your hair after shampooing. Then, wash your hair again, this time with plain water, after 10 to 15 minutes.

Paper towels

Say you’re outside and doesn’t have access to anything else on this list, you can use a few paper towels to pat your hair with. In this case, the paper towel acts as an oil blotter and absorbs excess oil on the hair strands.

Aloe vera

Before you hit the shower, you may choose to strengthen your shampoo’s oil stripping properties by mixing it with aloe vera gel, along with a squeeze of lemon juice. Use this shampoo mixture as usual, leave on the hair for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Lemons

Alternatively, you can use honey instead of aloe vera, and mix that with lemon juice. The acidity of the lemon will extract all the coconut oil from your hair, while the honey will dampen the harsh effects of the acid and keep your hair looking healthy and shiny.

Vinegar

Another natural astringent that you can use to effectively remove coconut oil from your hair is vinegar. Mix a few tablespoons of vinegar with one cup of water, then apply this mixture on your hair, leaving it on for a few minutes so it reaches the scalp, before washing it off with warm water.

Witch hazel oil

It may sound weird, since you’re using an oil to get rid of another oil, but witch hazel oil is proven to be effective in cleansing your hair off of coconut oil, while also nourishing your scalp and strands to make them healthy.

Egg wash

Did you know that an egg wash can remove coconut oil from your hair much faster than shampoo? You will need to mix egg and water, then use this mixture to rinse your hair with. Afterwards, let it dry for a while, then apply a teaspoon of castile soap on your hair, massaging it all over your hair for 5 minutes, before rinsing with water.

Fuller’s earth

You can also try using fuller’s earth, which feels a bit like clay, comes with oil-absorbing properties, and is filled with minerals that improve blood circulation in your scalp. To use it, create a thick paste by mixing it with some water, then apply this paste on your hair. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before washing with warm water.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are also acidic, although not as much as lemons. Nonetheless, they can help balance your hair’s pH level while also eliminating odors and oils, including coconut oil. You just need to make a tomato puree mixed with one tablespoon of fuller’s earth, then apply the mixture on your hair, and wash off after 30 minutes using water.

Henna powder

Henna powder mixed with water creates a paste that can remove excess oil on your hair while also leaving it clean, soft, and smooth. This is a natural remedy that has been used throughout several centuries.

Black tea

Since black tea has some astringent properties, you can use it to prevent excess oil buildup in your hair. You don’t have to rub it all over your hair either; just drink a cup of black tea two to three times a day to stimulate your hair’s natural oil expelling process.

Mint and rosemary

Finally, you can also use mint and rosemary as natural rinsing agents for your hair, since they contain essential oils and organic compounds that penetrate the hair follicles to clean them and improve hair growth. To use these, simply mix 2 cups of boiled water, lemon extract, and one tablespoon of mint and rosemary. Let the mixture sit on your hair for 10 minutes, then rinse.

FAQs

What’s the best way to use coconut oil on my hair?

For an average hair length and thickness, two tablespoons of coconut oil should do the trick. You can use less or more depending on your hair and skin type. Spread and massage the oil on your hair, from the roots down to the tips, to get the best results.

How often can I use coconut oil on my hair?

If your hair is generally healthy, limit your use of coconut oil to 2 to 3 times each week. But, if you have particularly dry and damaged hair, you can increase the amount of oil you use, or apply coconut oil more often.

Is coconut oil good for my skin?

Coconut oil is not only beneficial to our hair; it’s also great for other parts of the body, such as the skin, since it contains lots of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Coconut oil can eliminate muscle tension, lower stress levels, and reduce cholesterol, while also elevating energy levels. You can apply coconut oil on your skin, drink it, mix it with food, and so on.

Is applying coconut oil on my face worth it?

You can also apply coconut oil on your face since it has plenty of antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can moisturize the skin as well as reduce wrinkles, not to mention give you a certain glow.

What are other benefits I can get from coconut oil?

Like we said, coconut oil is a versatile product that offers a host of holistic benefits. It’s a healthy oil that can be ingested in order to help cleanse the body from toxins, while also improving digestion. Coconut oil can even prevent heart disease and help in treating cancer and other illnesses.

Is coconut oil harmful?

Coconut oil is generally safe to apply on the hair, face, and body, and as long as you don’t overdo it or leave it on for too long, it shouldn’t cause any problem. That said, coconut oil contains a lot of saturated fatty acids, and drinking lots of coconut oil or using too much of it in your food can increase your body’s cholesterol levels.

A few tips before you go…

• There are different kinds of coconut oil, and the best one that you can use is virgin coconut oil, whether it’s for hair care, skin care, cooking, medicine, etc.
• You can try mixing coconut oil with a bit of your preferred essential oil to enjoy a more pleasant scent with additional restorative benefits.
• When applying coconut oil on your hair, use your fingertips so you’re sure that you’re only using the right amount of oil. This will also help you massage the oil around your hair and scalp better.
• Focus on applying the oil towards the ends of your hair, since it’s usually drier than the scalp, and the scalp already produces a healthy amount of natural oils.
• Coconut oil shouldn’t be the only healthy, natural ingredient in your hair care products. As much as possible, use shampoos and conditioners made with healthy ingredients, or make your own homemade shampoo. This will be gentler and safer on your hair.

Overview

The beauty of coconut oil is that it’s a natural product that offers a wide range of applications, including hair care. However, using too much of it can pose an issue, so it’s important that you know how you can wash coconut oil out of your hair. We hope this guide has helped you find the best solution for that.

Sources: medicalnewstoday.com

harvard.edu