Shampoo Ingredients
101: Is Coconut Oil
Good for Your Hair?
Sweet. Silky. Luscious. When it comes to ingredients we love to harvest for beauty, few can compete with coconut fruit. This nourishing ingredient can be found in everything from toothpastes to face creams to, of course, shampoos and conditioners. But is it really good for your hair, or is it just hype?
Coconut Milk vs. Water vs. Oil
There are three major ingredients we derive from the coconut: water, milk and oil.
Coconut Water occurs naturally within the coconut. It’s the clear liquid inside the coconut, rich in vitamin K and iron.
Coconut Milk comes from heating the coconut meat and then filtering out the good stuff. It looks like cream.
Coconut Oil also comes from the meat of the coconut, but it’s harvested by pressing on the meat to extract the wonderfully hydrating fats.
Coconut Oil Benefits
Coconut Oil is a major hydrator, so this ingredient works great with dry, damaged strands. Rich with fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, it’s thought to protect the strands and scalp from damaging elements. And did you know - only real coconut, certified by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, goes into our Herbal Essences hydrating formulas?
The Drawbacks of Coconut Oil
Because Coconut Oil is such a potent hydrator, it could weigh down fine or thin strands. But don’t worry, there are plenty of natural ingredients that work great with fine hair. Head on over to our ingredients page to learn more.
How to Use
There are a few easy ways to incorporate coconut oil into your routine. You can rub a little between your palms and gently drag through your strands after you condition, or use it in the shower as a deep conditioner on its own. (Just don’t forget to rinse thoroughly!) Or look for formulas with coconut oil included, like our Coconut Oil Paraben-Free Hydrating Shampoo, which delivers deeply nourished and weightlessly soft hair.
At Herbal Essences, our plant obsession drives us to find the best natural ingredients for your hair. Learn more about our bio: renew shampoos and conditioners and the ingredients we use to give you gorgeous locks, here.