Washing it off can take a long time. Coconut oil, when used as pre- and post-hair treatments, penetrates the hair shaft to reduce protein loss (1). This adds to the volume and health of your hair. But, too much of it can cause stickiness, and washing your hair multiple times can damage your hair. This article tells you ways to get coconut oil out of your hair easily. Read on!
Not everyone finds the smell of coconut oil appealing, especially those with a sensitive nose. Too much coconut oil on your hair may make it greasy and attract dust particles. Leaving coconut oil on the hair and scalp may cause sebum buildup and choke the hair follicles, causing hair fall.
If you leave coconut oil on your hair for too long, it may do more harm than good.
What Happens When Coconut Oil Is Left On Your Hair For A Long Time
Coconut oil offers numerous benefits for your hair and skin (2). However, leaving it on your hair for too long may:
Cause oil buildup Make the hair greasy (especially fine hair) Clog the pores Attract dirt and dust
All these factors can choke the hair follicles and increase hair fall. To prevent this, you need to remove coconut oil from your hair after a few hours. Here is how to do it the right way.
How To Remove Coconut Oil From Your Hair
Use A Clarifying Shampoo: A clarifying shampoo contains a high amount of SLS (surfactant) that thoroughly cleanses the hair in just one wash. However, always follow up with a good quality conditioner as clarifying shampoos may strip the natural oils from the hair and scalp.
Use A Dry Shampoo: If your hair feels greasy even after shampooing, using dry shampoo can remove coconut oil traces. You can spray some dry shampoo on your hair for a matte look. You may use baby powder or corn starch instead of dry shampoo. Rub it gently on the scalp and leave it on to absorb excess oil. However, avoid using dry shampoo regularly.
Here are some more DIY remedies for removing coconut oil from your hair without using a shampoo.
DIY Remedies For Removing Coconut Oil From Your Hair
Paper Towels
If you do not want to use shampoos and conditioners, use paper towels to remove coconut oil from your hair. Press a paper towel on the scalp to absorb the excess oil.
Mint, Rosemary, And Lemon Water
Lemon is said to have strong cleansing properties, and this concoction is popularly used for removing excess hair oil. Squeeze half a lemon in two cups of water and add a tablespoon each of mint and rosemary. Boil this mixture for 5-10 minutes and let it cool down for a while. Wash your scalp and hair with the lukewarm concoction. Adjust the quantity of water and lemon juice as per your hair length.
Fuller’s Earth
Clay has excellent grease-absorbing properties. Mix three tablespoons of Fuller’s earth and water to make a paste. Apply it to the scalp and hair and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing off with warm water.
Tomatoes
You may mix tomato puree and Fuller’s earth to remove coconut oil from your hair. Leave the mixture on your hair and scalp for 30 minutes and then wash it off with shampoo. This popular home remedy helps absorb excess oil, making it easy to clean your hair.
Alcohol
This is yet another popular home remedy to remove coconut oil from your hair. You may mix a cup of vodka with two cups of water and use it as a post-shampoo rinse. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then wash your hair with water.
Henna
This is a traditional home remedy for keeping the hair healthy and removing excess grease. Apply a paste of henna powder and water to your hair and wash it off once it dries.
Witch Hazel Oil
This simple remedy is said to remove excess grease and coconut oil from the hair. Soak a cotton ball with witch hazel oil and apply it to your scalp and hair. Wash it off after 30 minutes.
Egg Wash
Egg wash is extremely effective for washing out coconut oil from the hair. Apply half a cup of egg white to your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then shampoo your hair.
Baking Soda
This is the most popular home remedy for removing excess grease from the hair. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda and water and massage the paste for 5 to 10 minutes onto your scalp and hair. Wash it off with warm water.
Aloe Vera
Applying a mix of your regular shampoo or lemon water and aloe vera gel also removes coconut oil. You may leave the mixture on for a few minutes before washing it off.
Lemon Juice
The acidity in lemon is said to remove grease and coconut oil from your hair. You may mix the juice of half a lemon and a cup of water and use it as a post-shampoo rinse. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and wash the hair with lukewarm water.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Dilute ACV and water in the ratio of 1:5 and use it as a post-wash rinse. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and wash again with cold water. ACV is said to soak excess oil and balance the scalp pH. While coconut oil is good for your hair, its benefits mainly depend on how long you leave it on. Washing it off too early and leaving it for too long may be counterproductive.
How Long Should I Leave Coconut Oil In My Hair?
You can leave coconut oil on your hair for a minimum of 30 minutes. For maximum benefits, you may leave it overnight. Washing it off too early may not let the hair and scalp soak its benefits, and keeping it on for days may attract dirt and cause buildup and hair fall. Here are a few ways you may apply coconut oil to your hair.
How To Apply Coconut Oil To Your Hair
1. Coconut Oil As A Hair Mask
To use coconut oil as a hair mask:
Warm up the oil. Part your hair with a comb and apply it to the scalp and hair. Focus on the hair ends as they do not receive the natural scalp oils. Massage the scalp and cover your head with a shower cap and leave it on overnight. Shampoo the next day. Apply coconut oil at night to dry hair for best results.
2. Coconut Oil As A Hair Oil
To use coconut oil as a hair oil:
Heat the coconut oil and rub it between your palms. Apply the oil from the mid-length to the hair ends. Comb your hair. You may leave it on for a day or wash it off after 30 minutes. You can indulge in a head massage once a week with lukewarm coconut oil. Stress on different pressure points on the head and drag the fingers from the front of the scalp to behind the ears and to the nape of neck to drain the stagnant lymphatic fluid and toxins away from the scalp. Remember to wash the oil from your scalp after an hour as keeping it on for more than that can give rise to scalp infection, flaking, itching, etc.
Conclusion
Coconut oil is excellent for maintaining hair health. However, using too much of it or leaving it for too long may cause issues like grease, product buildup on your scalp, and hair fall. The tips mentioned in the article will help you remove the excess oil from your hair and keep it healthy. Check out the infographic below to learn the easiest ways to remove coconut oil from your hair if you do not have enough time at hand. Can you wash out coconut oil with a conditioner? No. You must shampoo your hair to remove coconut oil. Then, follow it up with a conditioner. Why does my hair fall out when I use coconut oil? If you apply too much coconut oil, it may mix with buildup and dirt and clog the follicles, leading to hair fall. How do you wash coconut oil out of curly hair? Wash your hair with warm water and a clarifying shampoo to remove coconut oil from curly hair.
