Experts have revealed the main advantages and disadvantages of using coconut oil in care

Coconut oil remains one of the most popular home care products for skin and hair. It is used to moisturize, protect against dryness and care for damaged hair, but experts note that the product is not suitable for everyone. In some cases, it helps maintain hair quality and reduce moisture loss, while in others it can make strands heavier and cause skin problems. On September 2, Natalia Kositskaya, a trichologist and colorist, and Fatima Kubanova, an esthetician, told Izvestia about the properties of coconut oil.

Why coconut oil has become popular in skin and hair care

The popularity of coconut oil is related to its composition and versatility: the product is used to care for hair, face and body skin. According to Kositskaya, the interest in the remedy has scientific grounds due to the high concentration of lauric acid.

According to the trichologist, studies confirm that coconut oil is able to reduce the loss of protein — keratin — when washing and combing hair. This is what makes it an effective preventive tool for maintaining hair quality.

Cosmetologist Kubanova noted that the main advantage of coconut oil in skin care is related to its ability to retain moisture on the surface. According to her, the product creates a protective film that slows down moisture loss and helps soften the skin.

The oil contains fatty acids and vitamin E, which is a natural antioxidant. Due to this, it can soften the skin, reduce the feeling of dryness and help maintain a protective barrier.

How does coconut oil affect hair and who is suitable for

Coconut oil differs from many other vegetable oils in that it is able to partially penetrate into the hair, and not only remain on the surface.

According to Kositskaya, the effect depends on the structure of the hair. In healthy dense hair, the oil penetrates worse and mainly works as a surface conditioner. At the same time, it can be more effective for porous and damaged hair, as it helps to reduce protein loss.

Coconut oil is best suited for thick, hard, dry and highly porous hair, including those damaged after chemical exposure. It can make them softer and more elastic.

However, the product may not be suitable for owners of thin, straight hair and hair with low porosity. In such cases, the oil can make the strands heavier, deprive them of volume, glue the hair and create a feeling of greasiness.

At the same time, coconut oil is not able to restore split ends. According to the expert, the effect in such cases is only cosmetic: the product temporarily smoothes the surface of the hair and gives it shine, but does not restore the damaged structure.

The trichologist recommends applying coconut oil mainly to the length and ends of the hair, avoiding the scalp. After the procedure, it is important to thoroughly wash off the product so that its residues do not make the hair dull and do not attract dirt.

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Can coconut oil harm the skin and how to use it

Despite the popularity of coconut oil, it is not suitable for all skin types. According to Kubanova, the main effect of the remedy is related to occlusion — the creation of a protective film that helps retain moisture.

Coconut oil can be beneficial for the body when the skin is dry, exposed to wind and temperature changes. However, the specialist does not recommend using it instead of full-fledged facial care.

According to Kubanova, the risk for the face is associated, among other things, with the comedogenicity of the oil — the ability to clog pores. Therefore, people with oily and problematic skin should treat such care more carefully.

The expert advises paying special attention to the product selection. Unrefined oil is obtained by cold pressing, so it retains more nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. However, this version has a heavier texture and may leave a greasy film.

Refined oil undergoes additional purification, so it becomes lighter in structure and absorbs faster, but some of the useful components are lost during processing.

How does coconut oil differ from other products?

The main difference between coconut oil and many other vegetable oils is its ability to penetrate into the hair.

According to Kositskaya, argan oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil work more often on the surface of the hair and create a protective barrier. However, they may be better suited for people with thin hair or sensitive scalp.

Jojoba oil is close to sebum in composition, so in some cases it can be used in scalp care. Avocado oil is suitable for thick and porous hair.

Kositskaya notes that coconut oil benefits precisely due to its ability to penetrate the structure of the hair, but it should be used only with the right type of hair.

According to Kubanova, modern products can be more effective for facial care due to their complex formulations.

The specialist recommends paying attention to products with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides that help moisturize the skin and maintain its protective barrier.

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Who should give up coconut oil?

People with scalp and hair problems should use coconut oil with caution or give it up.

According to Kositskaya, the remedy may not be suitable for seborrheic dermatitis, chronic dandruff, oily seborrhea and a tendency of the scalp to inflammation. The oil can create conditions for the activity of the fungus Malassezia, which is associated with the appearance of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

Also, coconut oil should not be used as a remedy for hair loss. It does not directly affect hair growth and does not solve the causes of hair loss.

Kubanova also advises choosing more professional products for facial skin, taking into account the skin type, in order to reduce the risk of clogged pores.