The benefits of coconut oil have been known for ages. It’s been tagged as a health food with medicinal properties and also a skin-friendly, perfect ingredient for skin and hair care.
Be it the Extra Virgin Coconut oil, or the refined coconut oil that we usually use for hair care–both of these make for the perfect beauty ingredients without any harmful side-effects.
For me, personally, coconut oil has been my go-to for skincare and haircare. During the harsh winters, it helps fight dryness. It also works best for the bi-weekly head massage that benefits my hair and my sleep.
Over the years I have realized that a chemical-based moisturizer can never bring me relief from dry skin as much as the tried and tested coconut oil.
It may not sound glamorous, but it helps soften my skin and nourish my hair. And, the faint aroma of coconut on my skin makes me feel very warm within!
So, today, I am sharing with you all, these skin and hair care secrets I swear by.
BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL:
COCONUT OIL FOR SOFT AND HEALTHY HAIR:
MIRACLE OIL:
Using Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for a weekly hair massage changes the way your hair feels and looks!
My SIL shared with me a secret recipe for hair oil and after using it for the past two years, I can vouch for its effectiveness in improving the hair quality.
Of course, one needs to be regular in using it!
INGREDIENTS:
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil – 1 bowl
Curry Leaves – 10 to 15
Fenugreek (Methi) seeds – 1 teaspoon
METHOD:
Heat the oil in a tempering pan.
Once it’s hot, add the fenugreek seeds.
Allow them to sputter and change color.
Then, add the washed and dried curry leaves.
Allow them to turn crispy.
Switch off the burner.
Allow the oil to cool before storing it in a glass jar.
USE:
1 I use the miracle oil to massage my hair twice a week.
Applying it after coloring my hair softens the hair and reduces hair fall.
It makes my hair silky and soft.
And, I just love the aroma of fenugreek and curry leaves mingled with that of the coconuts!
2 After a hair wash, I towel-dry my hair and apply 3 to 4 drops of refined coconut oil before de-tangling and combing my hair.
This conditions the hair and keeps it moisturized and well-nourished.
And, yes, it doesn’t appear sticky when I leave my hair loose!
COCONUT OIL TO TREAT DRY SKIN:
Extra Virgin Coconut oil or even the refined coconut oil makes for the best moisturizers.
My skin has begun to dry with age, and during winters it can get really bad.
The itching can get pretty annoying and no amount of moisturizers help.
No, not even those that claim soft skin in one application!
So, since some time now, I have been using coconut oil during winters.
Gently massaging the face and the body with the oil half an hour before bathing ensures softer skin and no dryness.
Applying some coconut oil after the shower keeps my skin soft and moisturized, too.
COCONUT OIL FOR GROOMING:
Surprisingly, coconut oil makes for a better ‘shaving gel’, than a shaving gel.
Shaving, too, used to dry my skin. My legs would often itch after a day of shaving and no moisturizer helped bring me relief.
So, I began using coconut oil instead of shaving gel or soap and the results stunned me!
SKINCARE BEFORE AND AFTER SHAVING:
Use cold water to wash the skin before and after shaving. Hot water dries the skin.
Scrub the skin with a home-made body scrub.
You could use a simple scrub made of gram flour (besan), curd and powdered fenugreek seeds.
Wash and dry.
Apply refined coconut oil to the part you wish to shave.
Now, use the razor.
Do not shave a spot multiple times, just a couple of quick, gentle strokes are enough to get rid of the hair.
Wash well once done.
Now, use the body scrub once again and clean well.
Give a final wash with an antiseptic liquid, like Dettol.
Pat dry the skin.
Apply refined coconut oil when the skin is moist so the oil spreads fast.
The skin will absorb the oil quickly so you need not worry about a sticky, oily skin all day.
Applying coconut oil daily after a bath, instead of a body lotion, will ensure no irritation, dryness or itching on the shaved area.
That’s all from me this week for skin and hair care.
Do share with me your own beauty secrets, or beauty ingredients that you discovered in your kitchen cabinets and how they helped you.
I would love to know.
Love,
SHILPA…
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i use it for the first one only and some time second one during winter.
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😊 Good to know.
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I use coconut oil the same way you mentioned, Shilpa. Coconut oil with curry leaves and fenugreek is said to be really good for hair and scalp. I have to make a new batch. I use coconut oil as a goth medicine for minor rashes. I have noticed that applying coconut oil or ghee helps my skin a lot. My skin looks not so tired and it glows. Of course, you have to be a regular user to enjoy the full benefits. 😀
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Coconut oil or ghee are better for our skin than most skin care products we find in the market. It’s all a matter of making changes. 🙂
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I haven’t tried it on my hair, but I do love it as a moisturizer.
I wonder, though, if it isn’t likely to clog the drains and pipes in the house, and perhaps even the municipal sewer lines? That could be costly. I try to use it judiciously, after a shower only. I’ve also used it as a lubricant for dry eyes.
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It does clog the drains and sewer lines, Holly, and that’s the reason I don’t use it for oil pulling. And, if one needs to dispose it of after using for oil pulling, one needs to dispose it in the trash can. That’s what I think. 🙂
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Seems like a good idea. I dispose of coming oil in a big coffee can that goes into the trash after a few uses. Why would rinsing it from hair or body not be just as bad, then?
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Hmmm…..:P
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Cooking oil. 🤔
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Oh this is really nice to know Shilpa! That oil recipe is similar to what I use too for my hair. You are lucky to be able to put a few drops in your hair after a wash; with my hair texture, it will look as if I havent shampooed after a champi!!
Love it for use as a moisturiser – been looking at options for myself and will try this out. Can you recommend any brand for it please? It gets very confusing in the shopping aisles with the number of choices and terms on every bottle!!
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Shalz, I don’t buy any particular brand of the Virgin coconut oil. I use whatever I find and that’s precisely the reason you stated–the number of brands available can leave you totally confused!
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I love using coconut oil a lot especially since my mil supplies me with virgin coconut oil made with coconuts from her trees. The smell is so pleasant in this oil. I use it to oil my hair, for my skin as a moisturiser especially in winter, and use it when grooming my hair. I haven’t used it for shaving though. Must try that.
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Wow! Home made coconut oil! That must be awesome, Rachna!
Do try it for shaving, too. I find it so helpful. 🙂
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Although I use coconut oil on my hair and skin, I hadn’t thought of adding it to the shaving regimen. Makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing, Shilpa.
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I wasn’t aware of it until I read it somewhere and decided to try it out, Corinne. 🙂 It worked wonders!
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I have been thinking about getting extra virgin coconut oil for massaging D’s hands and legs. His skin gets terribly dry while I have it easy having oily skin. I will also prepare the oil with fenugreek and curry leaves and see if it can make any difference with my hair fall. The steps involved in shaving makes me vary of it. I might just keep to staying fully covered 😀
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Your oily skin is a blessing, Anu. You won’t suffer from a wrinkly skin like others!
I know, shaving can be quite tedious, at times, but I like to stay well groomed. Of course, I too have my moods and there are days when other things take precedence over grooming. Blogging, for example! 😛
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Love this post, Shilpa. I am a great fan of coconut oil too. I drink 1-2 tsp of vco, it has helped me control my eczema. I use it for oil pulling. And also as a post bath moisturizer.
For hair, I use black sesame seed oil and heat it with curry leaves, fenugreek and kalonji.
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It is our kind of post, hai na, Anshu? 🙂
I am glad the eczema has come under control for you, dear.
I used to do oil pulling for quite a long time, but then stopped it. Now, I only use coconut oil for hair and skin.
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Basically eczema is drying of skin and coconut oil keeps the skin moisturized. And yes I absolutely love such posts, Shilpa and you know that. ❤️❤️
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Yes! 🙂 ❤
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Growing up in the North we weren’t familiar with Coconut oil at all. We were used to mustard oil. I will certainly try the hair treatment, specially for my daughter who has suddenly decided to grow her hair.
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I can imagine, Tulika. That’s how it was with me, too…one day I wanted long hair, the next day I wanted it cut short! 😛
Yes, do try it out for your little one. Hope it helps.
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I can’t remember the last time I put oil on my hair! But I do remember enjoying it occasionally when younger. I do occasionally use it on my skin
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Hahaha! Happens with a lot of them, Sanch. Applying oil, for me, has been a habit right since childhood, when my mum held the controls to my grooming ritual. And,so, to this day, the habit continues. 🙂
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Interesting Shilpa, coconut oil used to have a drying effect on my skin – the after effect was that my skin would keep asking for a lot of moisture to hydrate itself, I’ve now switched over to body shop which seems to be working for some time 😊
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That is quite surprising, Vinay! But, then everybody has a different skin type, so it’s best to use what suits you.
Thanks for visiting! 🙂
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I oil my hair annually 🙃 but reading your post and the comments I think I should do it more regularly. No wonder my hair is so dry. My mother uses mustard oil for massaging her hands and feet daily, she has amazing skin. I use Extra virgin coconut oil for cooking my vegetables. Will try oiling my hair and see the results. Will share my feedback. Thanks for this informative post.
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Do try it out, Sulu. I am sure your hair will benefit from the oil massage. 🙂
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When my Mom was with us, she made a special oil with several ingredients that we used for body and hair. Now I just use coconut oil, alternating with another mix I make for myself. I love the smell and taste of methi too! 🙂 Methi seeds soaked overnight, ground into a paste + coconut oil + lemon juice = apply on hair, leave it on for 30 min and wash off. Enjoy the difference ❤
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Oh wow! This does sound doable, Vidya! Thanks ..will try it someday. 🙂
❤
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This is so helpful! Great post
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Thank you! 🙂
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I so love any and everything that has coconut oil in it. I does wonders for my skin. Keep up the good work. I love your blog
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Oh yes, me too! Coconut oil, with its fragrance and its magic on the skin and hair is something I will never replace with anything!!
Thank you for visiting! 😊
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