Coconut Oil and Shea Butter

Coconut oil
Photo: Robert Przybysz/Shutterstock
Q: I'm a black woman with relaxed hair. I've read that coconut oil and Shea butter are good for the hair. I have just bought these 2, both are unrefined. The big question is: How do I use the 2? I normally use Hair Mayonnaise once a week. Do I use these 2 after my deep treatment? Please help.
 
A: Actually, the use of Shea Butter and Coconut oil would supplant the use of your Hair Mayonnaise.
 
And as for the use of the two items, I highly recommend that you start out with one at a time and treat them as deep conditioning treatments in the way you used your hair mayonnaise, and alternate between the shea butter and coconut oil each week.
 
If your hair is particularly in poor condition, you can use the shea butter as your weekly deep treatment and use the coconut oil as a daily (or every two-to-three day) conditioning treatment according to the needs of your hair.
 
If you don't cleanse your hair daily, then use the treatments as follows: Coconut Oil every other shampoo (or every third shampoo) and the Shea Butter deep treatment every 5 shampoos.
 
Apply either the coconut oil (or the Shea butter) and use a wide tooth comb to distribute it evenly through the hair. Allow the substance to remain on the hair for 10-20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
 
You can shampoo using a very gentle shampoo if desired, afterward, but otherwise style the hair as you normally would. Sit under a hooded dryer or wrap your head in a warm towel with the oil/butter on to provide deeper penetration.
 
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See also:
 
Hawaiian beauty secrets
 
What does coconut oil do for your hair? Will it stimulate hair growth?
 
What is Jojoba Oil and what does it do to hair?
 
Beauty tips from around the world
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