Verdict: Coconut Oil is a WINNER!

Image found at: http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a08/1t/am/instructions-afro-puffs-800x800.jpg

I decided to use coconut oil to prepoo my daughter’s hair and followed a natural hair regimen I found online (see: http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/06/natural-hair-regimen-and-pre-poo.html). I also made sure to have her sit under the dryer for about 15 minutes (didn’t have a plastic shower cap so I had to use plastic wrap…just call me MacGyver). It turned out GREAT!!! Seriously, I think coconut oil is going to become a regular part of our hair care regimen. My daughter’s hair soaked up the coconut oil and it was much easier to detangle her hair. I’ll have to monitor her hair to ensure that the oil doesn’t attract too much dirt, lint, etc.

After I washed my daughter’s hair, I applied both Kinky Curly’s Knot Today and Gel. I then double-strand twisted her hair. This morning, I untwisted her hair and I put her hair into an afro puff. I also applied a small amount of coconut oil to each untwisted section. Beautiful! J

If you’re interested, here’s a quick how-to to style afro-puffs: http://www.ehow.com/how_8451414_instructions-afro-puffs.html. I usually twist my daughter’s hair rather than braid it but braids work nicely as well.

Verdict: Coconut Oil is a WINNER!

Image found at: http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a08/1t/am/instructions-afro-puffs-800x800.jpg

I decided to use coconut oil to prepoo my daughter’s hair and followed a natural hair regimen I found online (see: http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/06/natural-hair-regimen-and-pre-poo.html). I also made sure to have her sit under the dryer for about 15 minutes (didn’t have a plastic shower cap so I had to use plastic wrap…just call me MacGyver). It turned out GREAT!!! Seriously, I think coconut oil is going to become a regular part of our hair care regimen. My daughter’s hair soaked up the coconut oil and it was much easier to detangle her hair. I’ll have to monitor her hair to ensure that the oil doesn’t attract too much dirt, lint, etc.

After I washed my daughter’s hair, I applied both Kinky Curly’s Knot Today and Gel. I then double-strand twisted her hair. This morning, I untwisted her hair and I put her hair into an afro puff. I also applied a small amount of coconut oil to each untwisted section. Beautiful! J

If you’re interested, here’s a quick how-to to style afro-puffs: http://www.ehow.com/how_8451414_instructions-afro-puffs.html. I usually twist my daughter’s hair rather than braid it but braids work nicely as well.

The Wonders of Coconut Oil for Hair

Image found at: http://www.afrobella.com/wp-content/afrobella%20images/coconut_oil.jpg

I am so excited! I just got some coconut oil and I can’t wait to prepoo my daughter’s hair and my hair (see yesterday’s blog for information on prepooing: http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/06/natural-hair-regimen-and-pre-poo.html). I’ve heard that coconut oil is great for hair. An article in the Journal of Cosmetic Science* underscores this point:

This study has firmly established the superiority of the protective effect of coconut oil on hair damage in grooming processes when it is used as a pre-wash conditioner as compared to mineral oil and other vegetable oils such as sunflower oil. It not only has a protective effect on undamaged hair but also on chemically treated hair, UV-treated hair, and hair treated with boiling water (i.e., hair in water at 100øC for 2 hr). The ability of coconut oil to penetrate into hair cuticle and cortex seems to be responsible for this effect. Coated on the fiber surface, it can prevent or reduce the amount of water penetrating into the fiber and reduce the swelling. This, in turn, reduces the lifting of the surface cuticle and prevents it from being chipped away during wet combing. A reduction in the WRI is additional evidence of its efficacy in decreasing water absorption. The data presented in this work clearly show the superiority of coconut oil as a hair damage protectant, in the grooming of untreated or damaged hair.

Here is another resource that talks about coconut oil and hair: http://beautyinreason.blogspot.com/2010/08/amazing-results-with-prepooing-with.html. Have you ever used coconut oil as part of your natural hair regimen? What kind of oil do you use? What kind of results have you gotten? Please share!

*The journal article citation is: Rele, A.S. & Mohile, R.B. (2003). Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 54, 175-192.

The Wonders of Coconut Oil for Hair

Image found at: http://www.afrobella.com/wp-content/afrobella%20images/coconut_oil.jpg

I am so excited! I just got some coconut oil and I can’t wait to prepoo my daughter’s hair and my hair (see yesterday’s blog for information on prepooing: http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/06/natural-hair-regimen-and-pre-poo.html). I’ve heard that coconut oil is great for hair. An article in the Journal of Cosmetic Science* underscores this point:

This study has firmly established the superiority of the protective effect of coconut oil on hair damage in grooming processes when it is used as a pre-wash conditioner as compared to mineral oil and other vegetable oils such as sunflower oil. It not only has a protective effect on undamaged hair but also on chemically treated hair, UV-treated hair, and hair treated with boiling water (i.e., hair in water at 100øC for 2 hr). The ability of coconut oil to penetrate into hair cuticle and cortex seems to be responsible for this effect. Coated on the fiber surface, it can prevent or reduce the amount of water penetrating into the fiber and reduce the swelling. This, in turn, reduces the lifting of the surface cuticle and prevents it from being chipped away during wet combing. A reduction in the WRI is additional evidence of its efficacy in decreasing water absorption. The data presented in this work clearly show the superiority of coconut oil as a hair damage protectant, in the grooming of untreated or damaged hair.

Here is another resource that talks about coconut oil and hair: http://beautyinreason.blogspot.com/2010/08/amazing-results-with-prepooing-with.html. Have you ever used coconut oil as part of your natural hair regimen? What kind of oil do you use? What kind of results have you gotten? Please share!

*The journal article citation is: Rele, A.S. & Mohile, R.B. (2003). Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 54, 175-192.

Natural Hair Regimen and Pre Poo

Image found at: http://www.kisforkinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/20100418_142452_Naturally-Curly.jpg

I came across an excellent video that shows a quick natural hair regimen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOEk5BUq-HA (called "My Natural Hair Regimen"). I think I’ll be trying this on my daughter’s hair the next time we wash. I am ecstatic to learn more and more about natural hair.

I also found some interesting information on pre-pooing. Pre-poo is simply a pre-shampoo treatment; AfroBella covered this a few years ago: http://www.afrobella.com/2008/03/28/do-you-pre-poo/ and here’s a few other sites that talk about prepooing: http://www.darkerthanbrown.com/2011/04/how-to-pre-poo-natural-hair.html (has a prepoo video), http://www.themanesource.com/2011/05/27/the-power-of-pre-poo/, http://www.kisforkinky.com/2010/07/what-is-a-good-pre-poo-to-really-soften-natural-hair/ (prepoo recipe…I haven’t tried it so let me know how it works for you). Thanks! Tina

Natural Hair Regimen and Pre Poo

Image found at: http://www.kisforkinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/20100418_142452_Naturally-Curly.jpg

I came across an excellent video that shows a quick natural hair regimen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOEk5BUq-HA (called "My Natural Hair Regimen"). I think I’ll be trying this on my daughter’s hair the next time we wash. I am ecstatic to learn more and more about natural hair.

I also found some interesting information on pre-pooing. Pre-poo is simply a pre-shampoo treatment; AfroBella covered this a few years ago: http://www.afrobella.com/2008/03/28/do-you-pre-poo/ and here’s a few other sites that talk about prepooing: http://www.darkerthanbrown.com/2011/04/how-to-pre-poo-natural-hair.html (has a prepoo video), http://www.themanesource.com/2011/05/27/the-power-of-pre-poo/, http://www.kisforkinky.com/2010/07/what-is-a-good-pre-poo-to-really-soften-natural-hair/ (prepoo recipe…I haven’t tried it so let me know how it works for you). Thanks! Tina