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Black hair can be very different from other types of hair. It has unique features that make it look amazing but at the same time can make it susceptible to a lot of hair issues.
The uniqueness of black hair comes not only from its structural distinctions but also from cultural hair styling habits.
Black hair has a high amount of dark pigment known as eumelanin, which gives the hair its solid black shade. Also, the follicles in black hair are asymmetrically arranged with flat hair shafts, which make it very prone to breakage. (1)
Moreover, black hair is known to grow slower than other hair types, and the locks tend to get knotted more easily with increased fragility due to poor water and protein bonding.
While straight hair looks shiny and well hydrated most of the time, black hair is much drier because natural oils do not distribute evenly throughout the strands because of the curls and spirals. (1)(2)
Thus, black hair can benefit from specialized ingredients that can help with commonly faced black hair issues including: (1)
- Dryness
- Knotting and tangling
- Brittleness
- Prone to breakage
- Slow hair growth
One such specialized ingredient is coconut oil, which can be incredibly beneficial for black hair as it tackles all these common black hair issues.
Continue reading to dive a little deeper into how coconut oil works best with black hair.
What Makes Coconut Oil Great for Black Hair?
The many abilities of coconut oil can help resolve most black hair problems.
1. Hydrates dry black hair
Black hair can many a time be on the drier side of the spectrum because it does not have adequate water content and the oil glands do not sufficiently secrete sebum or natural oils.
Plus, even if there is enough sebum secretion, the oils can’t be evenly distributed throughout the hair length, which also results in dry hair. (3)
Since coconut oil is a natural emollient, it can keep the moisture and water trapped inside the hair by forming a coating on the hair shaft. This makes coconut oil great for hydrating your black hair. (4)
2. Decreases knotting and detangles black hair
Black hair is known to be very fragile because it gets tangled easily. The strands of such hair easily get knotted up and are unable to resist tangling. (5) This is mainly because of the hair’s internal structure and spiral link/coiling. (1)
Coconut oil has the ability to lubricate hair strands, which means that it can decrease the friction between the strands, making them easy to comb through and keeping the hair detangled.
Plus, this property of coconut oil keeps the hair smooth and makes the hair look super healthy and beautiful. (4)
3. Manages brittleness
The curly or spiral structure of black hair can often make it very brittle, which is why such hair is easily damaged by physical or chemical forces. (1) This is an important issue that most people with black hair face.
The good news is coconut oil can help with it.
According to a research study, coconut oil is super famous in African cultures because of its ability to treat hair brittleness. It also takes care of scalp infestations, keeping the locks healthy and happy. (6)
4. Prevents breakage
Researchers have discussed how the easy knotting of black hair due to the constant intertwining of the black hair fibers puts it at an increased risk of hair breakage. Moreover, black hair is very susceptible to splitting. (7)
Some scientists attribute this easy hair breakage to the structure of the keratin hair fibers in black hair. (7)
The good news is coconut oil can help strengthen the hair and prevent hair breakage.
This has been proven by a study that showed coconut oil prevented hair damage more effectively than other hair care products such as shampoos or conditioners. (8)
5. Accelerates hair growth
There has been a lot of in-depth study on black hair as a good number of the world’s population have black hair.
These studies have revealed that black hair has a tendency to grow at a very slow rate. In fact, some scientists deem the growth rate of black hair as the slowest out of all hair types. (9)(1)
Thus, one of the main goals of black hair care products is to help with faster hair growth, and this can be easily done by using coconut oil.
Coconut oil has such a rich nutritional profile that it is very good for boosting hair growth. Furthermore, this oil prevents the loss of protein from the hair, thereby strengthening the hair and contributing to healthy hair growth. (4)
6. Decreases frizziness
Many people with black hair complain of frizziness, and they try to fix that with chemical processes such as hair relaxing. However, such treatments just make the hair get more damaged over time. (1)
Experts recommend that those with black hair use coconut oil as a leave-in treatment for controlling frizzy hair. The oil makes the hair appear well managed and not unruly.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Black Hair?
Follow these steps to properly use coconut oil for black hair:
- Buy a good-quality virgin coconut oil. Extra virgin coconut oil also works.
- Make sure your hair is slightly damp and clean.
- Warm your coconut oil and apply it to your scalp.
- Evenly cover the hair with the oil.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes.
- Wash your hair with shampoo and use a conditioner.
Most-Asked Questions
How often should black hair be washed?
You should wash your black hair based on your hair needs, but generally 2-3 times a week is enough.
Why is black hair dull?
Black hair can be dull because of the lack of moisture or uneven sebum distribution.
Does black hair always need relaxing?
No, black hair can be managed in its all-natural beauty if you learn to take care of your curls and coils.
Final Word
Many people want to enjoy beautiful beach waves or strong curls, and those with black hair often naturally have these hair attributes. This is because black hair has a different structure and unique features.
Unfortunately, black hair is also prone to issues such as dryness, brittleness, and breakage. Thankfully, coconut oil can address all these black hair troubles!
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