Originally published on May 27, 2022 | Last updated on July 25, 2025
Coconut oil can work wonders for curly, natural hair. It can add moisture, increase shine, reduce frizz, improve manageability and so much more. If you’re looking for a natural way to maintain your hair, then you should definitely give coconut oil a try. Many curlies and naturals swear by it! Keep reading to find out how to use coconut oil for curly, natural hair and its amazing benefits.
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is a natural oil derived from coconuts. It’s made up of about 90% saturated fats and 9% unsaturated fats. Coconut oil has been used for beauty purposes for centuries to nourish hair, skin, face, and body. Due to its fatty acid content, it works amazingly well for curly and natural hair.
The Benefits of Coconut Oil
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is coconut oil good for curly, natural hair?” – the answer is yes! Here are 5 of the benefits of this multipurpose oil:
– Moisturises Hair – Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has moisturising properties and helps the coconut oil to penetrate deep into the hair shaft. Not only will this boost your hair’s moisture levels, but it will help keep your hair soft, frizz-free and manageable.
– Seals in Moisture – You may be wondering how coconut oil can be a moisturising oil but also have the ability to seal in moisture. Coconut oil is one of the few oils that acts as both a penetrating oil and a sealant. Sealing ensures that the moisture you put into your hair is locked in. (Tip – this only works with raw, cold-pressed coconut oil.)
– Strengthens & Protects – The lauric acid in coconut oil helps restore the protein structure of the hair shaft. This strengthens your hair and prevents your curls from becoming weak and brittle. What’s more, coconut oil can protect your hair from the sun as it helps to block UV rays.
– Tames Frizz – Coconut oil can be used to fight frizz. Applying it to your strands will smooth the cuticle of your hair and improve the appearance of your curls. Coconut oil creates a humidity and moisture barrier, which protects the hair from swelling.
– Encourages Hair Growth – Seeing as coconut oil strengthens, protects and moisturises the hair, this helps promote hair growth. In addition, using the oil on your scalp can help keep it healthy, which is vital for hair growth.
Like anything, it may not work for everyone and other natural oils may suit your hair better. But if your hair does respond well to coconut oil, it could become a game-changer in your haircare routine!
How to Use Coconut Oil for Curly, Natural Hair
Here are 5 easy ways to incorporate coconut oil into your hair routine:
1. Overnight Pre-Poo Treatment – Shampoos can be drying and strip your hair of its natural oils. To protect your hair, coconut oil can be used as an overnight pre-poo treatment. The night before wash day, massage some coconut oil into your hair and then wrap your hair in an old t-shirt before you go to bed. For better results, you can apply heat with a warm towel or a blow dryer. Make sure to wash your hair out thoroughly the next day to avoid buildup.
2. Deep Conditioner – To make your own coconut oil deep conditioner, simply add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your favourite deep conditioner. Then, massage the conditioner into damp hair in a circular motion. Leave it in for around 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
3. Detangler – As I’m sure you know, curly and natural hair can easily become tangled. Thankfully, coconut oil provides excellent slip for all textures and helps you easily detangle your curls and remove knots. On damp hair, apply a few drops of coconut oil and then use a wide-toothed comb to start the detangling process.
4. Scalp Treatment – Do you suffer from dandruff or a dry, itchy scalp? Coconut oil may be just what you need. Coconut Oil is antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal, so can help relieve an itchy scalp. Massage a small amount of coconut oil onto your scalp with your fingertips. Wash it out after 10 minutes with warm water.
5. Serum – To reduce frizz and add shine, use coconut oil as a serum once you have finished styling your hair. If unravelling a twist-out or braid-out, apply a small amount to your fingertips to avoid frizz and keep your curls looking their best.
The Best Coconut Oil to Use
When purchasing coconut oil, It’s important to choose a virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil. This type is completely natural and won’t have any added ingredients. I really like KIKI Health’s Organic Raw Coconut Oil and would recommend it due to its high quality.
Are there any beauty dilemmas coconut oil can’t fix?! Let me know whether it works for your hair.
Love, Telina
Enjoyed reading this blog post? Pin it!
Great post! Coconut oil was the only product I felt comfortable using for my curly haired babies. Plus, the smell is intoxicating. Never thought of using it as a deep conditioner!
Crystal | http://www.amazingbaby.app
Coconut oil does smell amazing! Yep — it works great mixed in with a deep conditioner.
Thank you for reading 🙂
This was a really informative post! I have quite curly hair and I think using coconut oil will really benefit me. I love the idea of using it as a detangler, as my hair always seems to be so knotty, as well as a deep conditioner and scalp treatment too. Thank you so much for sharing x
No problem 🙂 Coconut oil really does work amazingly well as a detangler, so I would definitely recommend giving it a try.
Thanks for reading!
Great post! Coconut oil is great, and we definitely recommend it to our curly-haired friends. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for reading 🙂