It sounds so simple. Rub some coconut oil in your hair each evening and watch as it grows luscious and long. But, is this easy hair care routine too good to be true?
Like many natural remedies, it’s hard to say. While there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence, researchers have struggled to prove the same benefits in a clinical setting. Still, it’s not the worst hair loss remedy we’ve heard in our time.
When you have big questions, we seek out science-backed answers. So, put down the comb, step away from the mirror, and let’s get to the bottom of using coconut oil in your hair care routine.
Here is a definitive answer to the million-dollar question: does coconut oil help hair growth? And if not, what other benefits does it have for your overall hair health?
What is hair oiling?
Hair oiling is the practice of gently combing oils through your hair at least once per week before washing it clean.
The main reasons for hair oiling are adding shine and volume to your hair, but some regular hair oilers also say it helps prevent hair loss in the long term [1].
It’s been a popular practice for thousands of years in traditional Eastern medicine and more recently, has earned attention on social media such as TikTok [2][7].
Both male and female influencers are repping the trend and there are plenty of essential oils that can be used. Coconut oil is popular in India, Australia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South America [1].
Does coconut oil help with hair loss?
We would love to tell you that coconut oil is the secret ingredient to turning around a receding hairline. But, we deal in facts — not fiction.
In some cases, coconut oil might be helpful for improving your hair health. But in many cases, it’s not going to move the needle. Here’s what you need to know.
When applying coconut oil works
People who experience hair growth from hair oiling are most likely dealing with dry or damaged hair, as opposed to medical hair loss.
The oils help to improve the health of your hair and scalp, which in turn can lead to improved hair growth [7].
To give you a more scientific answer — many natural oils, including coconut oil, are known to have antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. They work as a type of scalp treatment to restore the delicate microbiome of your skin, which creates a healthy foundation for thick hair to grow.
When applying coconut oil doesn’t work
In the case of medical hair loss, coconut oil is not likely to fix the root cause. Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, is the most common type of hair loss which affects up to 80% of men by the age of 70 [2].
It’s a genetic condition caused by a sensitivity to testosterone — specifically, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This sensitivity leads to very fine hair which falls out over time [6].
The treatments that are most effective at slowing this kind of hair loss work directly on blocking DHT. Unfortunately, coconut oil is not one of those treatments.
But, that doesn’t mean hair oiling has zero purpose. Taking good care of thin and fragile hair can be helpful to stop it from falling out. Some tips for good haircare include [5]:
- Use gentle shampoos and moisturising treatments, like coconut oil
- Avoid excessive heat styling from hair dryers or flat irons
- If you have long hair, avoid pulling it back into tight hairstyles
So, while coconut oil can't slow down or prevent genetic hair loss, it can still be used alongside other treatments to improve your hair and scalp health.
Benefits of coconut oil for hair health
Okay, so coconut oil may not be the secret to healthy hair growth — but it still has some benefits.
As a rich source of essential fatty acids and antioxidants, it’s no wonder people who regularly use coconut oil on their hair are pleased with the results [1].
Deep conditioning
Ever wondered why hair care requires both shampoo and conditioner? The answer is nice and simple — while shampoo is designed to clean your scalp, conditioner is designed to treat your hair.
Coconut oil is a great deep conditioner that can help reduce damage and restore moisture to your hair. You can find it as an ingredient in lots of commercial hair care products, or you can use a small scoop of virgin coconut oil [3].
Extra virgin coconut oil makes for a cost-effective and easy hair mask. Simply apply a small amount to your hair and leave it to absorb for at least 10 minutes. When the time is up, wash your hair as normal.
Protect hair from damage
From UV damage to dryness, excessive brushing, heat styling, swimming pool water, and rubbing with a towel — your hair goes through a lot.
While the best tip is to treat your hair gently, applying coconut oil to damaged hair can also help.
Coconut oil is a natural lubricant, helping to detangle and smooth your hair without breakage. It’s also known to protect against protein loss in your hair — which in turn, means healthier hair [1].
Research found that coconut oil is highly effective at reducing protein loss when used either as a pre-wash mask or a post-wash conditioning agent.
The study compared 3 types of oil: coconut oil, mineral oil, and sunflower oil. Of the 3, coconut oil came out on top — stopping protein loss in both undamaged and damaged hair [9].
This is due to a naturally occurring ingredient called lauric acid. Lauric acid has a similar structure as hair proteins which allows it to penetrate deep into the hair shaft and support your hair health from the inside out [3].
How to apply coconut oil on your hair and scalp
Let us save you the social media deep dive by sharing 2 simple methods for hair oiling with coconut oil. The best method for your hair depends mostly on your hair type, but you can always experiment with both options.
As coconut oil is a natural solution, it's not likely to cause any allergic reactions such as a dry scalp, sensitive skin or itchy scalp. If you do experience side effects at any time, stop using coconut oil and consult with your doctor.
The first method is a pre-wash treatment which you can use on wet hair around once per week [7]:
- Apply a few drops of coconut oil to your hair
- Or if using solid coconut oil, a blob around the size of a small coin should do it — let it melt by gently warming it between your hands
- Treat yourself to a scalp massage and comb through the ends
- Cover and leave for at least 1 hour (for long hair, you can place it in a loose braid)
- For a more intensive treatment, you can leave coconut oil in for a few hours or even overnight
- Once the time is up, wash your hair as normal
The second option is using coconut oil as a post-wash grooming product which is ideal for dry hair [8].
In this case, it basically works as a leave-in conditioner. Simply take a small blob of coconut oil and apply it to damp hair after a wash.
As for how much product is best, you can experiment with different amounts depending on your hair type. Too much coconut oil on naturally fine hair can appear greasy, so small amounts are best. But for very dry or thick hair, you can likely get away with using more coconut oil.
If you often use hot styling tools like a hair dryer or flat irons, coconut oil also works as a heat protectant [8].
Do any other oils help with hair loss?
As we said earlier, hair oiling is an ancient practice dating back thousands of years — and coconut oil is far from the only oil you can use.
Many of the other oils work similarly to coconut oil — they help with strong hair and a healthy scalp, which in turn may lead to improved hair growth.
Research has even found some oils can help with male pattern baldness, such as pumpkin oil, rosemary oil, castor oil, and fenugreek oil [1][2].
To help you choose the best one for your hair, here are 9 plant-based oils and their key benefits:
- Almond oil: popular in the Middle East and South America, this oil is great for moisturising dry hair and offers sun protection.
- Amla oil: native to India, this oil is super high in vitamin C which may help to reduce grey hair.
- Argan oil: found in the desert regions of Morocco, this highly moisturising oil is known to stop hair breakage and split ends by increasing hair elasticity.
- Castor oil: a favourite in tropical countries, this oil is known for its moisturising and nourishing effects. Early evidence suggests it may also help with male pattern baldness by inhibiting prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGD2).
- Fenugreek oil: early evidence suggests that fenugreek oil can inhibit DHT which is a key treatment for male pattern baldness. It is also good for strengthening and moisturising hair.
- Mustard oil: similar to coconut oil, mustard oil has antimicrobial properties that promote scalp health. It is also effective at protecting against sun damage.
- Olive oil: this common oil has many benefits — from protecting against sun damage to treating psoriasis and trapping moisture inside the hair shaft.
- Sesame oil: found in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, sesame oil’s moisturising and anti-inflammatory effects may help with hair growth by increasing circulation of the scalp.
- Tea tree oil: this oil has been proven to improve scalp condition, which may help support hair growth when used alongside other treatments.
Beyond oils, there is a range of other ingredients that have been proven to help prevent hair loss.
For example, saw palmetto, garlic gel, caffeine, and curcumin have all shown promising effects on hair growth when used alongside other treatments [4].
So, whether you’re just starting to experience hair thinning or in full swing with a treatment plan, hair care can be a great way to improve the texture and health of your hair. Hopefully, this also has positive effects on your hair growth.
We highly recommend Pilot’s Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner for clinically-backed hair care with active ingredients that target thinning hair and minimise breakage, while also strengthening hair and controlling dandruff. This helps give your hair follicles the best chance to thrive.
What to do when home remedies don't work
Even though it’s normal to feel distressed about losing your hair, we want you to know there are lots of treatment options available. If you’ve been loyally using home remedies without success, it’s probably time for a chat with your doctor.
They can help you understand the reasons for your hair loss and choose appropriate treatment pathways. Male pattern baldness is considered a chronic condition, which means treatment options are for life.
So, it’s important that you have a good discussion with your doctor about which options are most convenient, cost-effective, and safe for you [2].
To give you a preview of what you might discuss, here are 5 proven ways to handle male pattern baldness.
Consider a hairstyle change
Though not technically a treatment, many men do find that changing up their hairstyle makes them feel more confident about their hair loss. From the undercut to the ‘faux-hawk’, there are lots of hairstyles to disguise a receding hairline.
If you’re ready to take the plunge with a fully shaved look, we also have a guide on how to shave your own head.
Medical treatments
Rocking the bald look is not for every man, so it’s completely understandable if you want options to slow down hair loss. Medical hair loss treatments are not only common, but they are highly effective [2].
The first line of therapy is usually a topical treatment which is best for people with mild to moderate hair loss. These are applied directly to your hair.
Pilot’s hair loss treatment is personalised to your unique type of hair loss, helping to ensure the treatment is effective with minimal side effects.
The program also includes unlimited follow-up consultations with Aussie practitioners, which means you can easily chat about any concerns or make changes to your plan.
Microneedling
Derma rolling or microneedling is a fairly new treatment option that is showing great results [2]. It might sound strange to roll needles over your head, but it really does work.
By gently damaging your skin, you kickstart your body’s wound regeneration process. This process increases collagen production and releases growth factors, which both help to stimulate hair growth.
Microneedling is commonly used alongside another treatment method.
Light therapies
Light therapy is another new treatment option that uses either low-level lasers or LED devices. These can be used on their own or with other treatments [2].
Often, light therapy is performed at a registered clinic but there are also a few at-home devices available.
Make sure to chat with your doctor about any new treatment options before you begin, especially if you’ll be performing it yourself.
Hair transplant
There are lots of different hair transplant options out there, such as hair plugs. While these are effective treatments, they are usually a last resort [2].
Hair transplants are expensive and invasive, so they are typically preferred when all other treatment options have failed.
It’s important to speak with a qualified health professional about this option as they can advise you of all the risks and explain realistic outcomes.
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