Coconut oil/butter but not for eating

[English Tracy]

I hope this is the right place to post this, as it's not a recipe!!

I've noticed Raw Priestess and others say that coconut oil can be used on your face or hair.

My first question is, what if your facial skin is oily or combination - would coconut oil make it worse? What benefits have you noticed to your skin after using it? (Sorry that's 2 questions LOL)

My second question is - I dye my hair brown with lighter highlights because my natural colour is mousy with a lot of grey in it (I'm only 43 and it's been like it for years and I caved in due to vanity I'm afraid!). Consequently, my hair, which is also extremely thick, sometimes feels like straw so would coconut oil help that? Shop bought hair conditioners do not help the dryness very much. I need a long term cure for this.

Third and final question - if you put coconut oil in your hair, surely it would be really difficult trying to rinse it out? I keep imagining globs of oil sticking to the hair and going white and solid - not a pretty sight!! How do you rinse it off without it congealing?

By the way, I am white. I only mention that because I noticed one of the people who praised coconut oil for hair use was black and obviously her hair structure wouldn't be the same as mine.

I'd love to hear any tips you all have.

Thank you.

Tracy

[jaurequi]

I think the best and possibly only way to remedy your dry hair would be internally. You should increase your omega 3 fats, especially, making sure to get a good balance of 3's, 6's, and 9's while you're at it. You may require more than others; you may not be converting it well. Also realize it might take a while for you to notice a difference because your healthier-looking hair will need time to come in. Probably a year before you replace your entire head.

Externally, I wouldn't know; I don't put oil on my hair.

If your face is oily then I wouldn't put more oil on it. I would use witch hazel and aloe vera.

Best,

[Dimond]

Oils are really great for both hair & face-regardless of skin type. For hair, use a small amount and it should easily rinse out. Oils will help dry hair. You can leave in over night for a deep treatment, add to conditioner or use a bit as a leave-in. Face-test a small amount to see how your skin reacts. Some see great results in reducing blemishes, among other benefits. Other oils are also really great such as jojoba, olive, etc. There's a large amount of people that use oils for cleansing their face with really wonderful results. More info can be found on hair, skin & makeup sites, if you're interested in reading up more about the methods.

[English Tracy]

Thanks for those responses. My face is not that oily but gets a bit shiny occasionally.

I will look into increasing my omega oil intake as well - it's worth a try.

I realise that dyeing my hair is largely repsonsible for it being dry although because naturally I am so grey underneath it, my hair is generally coarser than it would be without grey. (I have my mother to thank for passing on the grey hair gene :D )

Tracy

[Lady Green Jeans]

Tracy,

I use coconut oil on my face, avoiding the T-zone, which for me does not need added oil. I gently massage in and towel off. Really prefer it over any of the expensive creams I have used. It is also good internally--take about a T a day--the brand Alissa sells.

Will try omega 3 for the hair. Also do weaves for my blonde hair since it has darkened over the years. Have heard all raw diet could change your hair color, but haven't heard too much on this board.

[ljannise]

Ok, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I havent seen anyone post about being raw? Are you 100% raw? I lost all these issues once going raw so I dont see how this is a problem for you. You sound as someone who is still consuming a s.a.d. diet.

Also.. coconut oil-- your skin DRINKS this. I think you ppl are confusing this oil with the greasy dairy infused oil that comes out of pores.

It heals the skin for a reason. No matter what way you use it. Many raw ppl injest it (they see/feel the effects it has on their skin & know what it can do inside the body)

The saying really is true- beauty starts from within. I think you should consider it detox & work on getting things OUT of your body instead of the natural s.a.d. reflex of having a fear of what you're putting ON it. If you are raw, you have no worries.... unless you have some kind of allergy. ( ? )

[Guydiane]

I use coconut oil all over my body you just need to learn how much at first I was using to much and had to dap it off. I put it on my hair for about 30 minutes about onuce aweek then shampoo it helps my hair alot. I have gotton my husband to use it also. Remember you can also eat it we take about 3 tablespoon a day orally.

[lissomllama]

using oils on oily skin does not make your skin more oily, in fact, it will make you produce a little less natural oil because your skin will kind of say "hey, I'm a little too oily, better produce less". Honestly though, nothing is better for your skin and hair than your own natural oils/sebum. And when you're 100% raw, the oil you secrete is clean and pure (after detox, that is). I use olive oil and sometimes coconut oil on my face and ends of my hair and it's great, but there is definite merit in using only water on your skin and hair most of the time. Don't be afraid of oil. It protects and keeps you young and moist!

[juliebove]

Coconut oil is wonderful for hair! In fact I've read that it is the only thing that actually changes the protein structure of your hair. I keep a little container of it by my bathtub. I put it through my hair (mainly the ends) before my bath and let it sink in for a half an hour or so before I wash it out. After doing this for about two weeks, people started complimenting me on my hair.

[luvnraw]

Do you use raw coconut oil on your face, body & hair or refined? I have been meaning to ask the board as I have seen differing views - some say if it can't be eaten they won't put it on their body, others used refined (cooked) oil for moisturizing.....for those in differing views could you explain why you choose which route? I was using raw on my body but its so expensive that I stopped saving it only for eating!! :confused:

[mypinkbow]

I am currently using the organic refine in my hair for conditioner and on my face as a moisturizer in the shower. Once this jar has been used I will switch to the raw. I didn't realize when i bought this that it was not raw and didnt want to waste it so I figured my hair and skin will love it and they do. It is amazing. I can't believe how much money i have spent on moisturizers and hair conditioners in the past that simply do not work.

My husband said my hair felt soft right out the shower vs like straw.....lol

I have naturally curly hair and it is pretty long and gets very dry and this is like a magic cure all remedy..........and my face is as soft as a baby's butt.

I love this stuff.

[faith4u]

I am so glad that you asked this. I was wondering the same thing.

[asil]

Here's something I wrote recently about coconut oil. Hope it's useful to someone!



Baby-Soft Coconut Treatment

Lots of people think they have combination skin -- rough and dry on cheeks, chin or forehead accompanied by an oily nose ( sometimes parts of the forehead or chin are also oily) and enlarged or clogged pores. This type of skin is very often perfectly normal skin that's been irritated by soap and other harsh commercial products. One effective, gentle, and simple treatment, is a coconut oil facial.

It's most effective to do this in conjunction with an epsom salts soak. Fill the tub with hot water and a high proportion of epsom salts, turn off bathroom exhaust fans so that the room will become steamy. Once in the tub, wet your face with a bit of the epsom salt water, then coat it thickly with virgin coconut oil. Stay in the tub as long as is comfy -- I love how relaxing it is and use this time to exfoliate my whole body with a washcloth, read, listen to music, or just daydream. While you soak, drink lots of water to balance the water lost during the bath. Two or three times during the soak, use a clean washcloth to gently massage away the coconut oil on your face. Then re-apply.

After your bath, use your washcloth, dunked in the hot epsom salts water, to gently press around any areas of enlarged or clogged pores. You'll be pushing out stuff that's been accumulating in those pores. You'll be surprised how much gunk can acuumulate in pores and how something so soothing and simple can remove dead skin and calm irritation. Your skin will be pretty, glowing, and pink (that pink will calm down really quickly, unlike the pink one gets from chemical treatments).

Follow up by skipping soap and commerical skin products. If skin feels oily during the day, just wash with plain water and dry with a clean cloth. In a week or so, skin will have normalized to an amazing degree.

You can do this treatement several times a week until skin heals, then go to once a month or less after skin has healed.

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