Coconut oil disaster.

[milky way]

I'm not sure this I'm in the right forum right now, but... Anyway, here's what happened: I put coconut oil in my hair. Waited a couple of hours, then put conditioner in as well, and maybe an hour later I jumped in the shower.

My hair feels just awful. I don't know what I did, but it's dry and all tangled up and feels like it's gonna break any second.

I do realise that some methods don't work for some hair types etc, but honestly, how did coconut oil make my hair this dry?

Ugh. Help, anyone? I don't know what to do with this.

[stinkyfeet]

When I do a heavy oiling, I usually shampoo it out (vs use conditioner). Maybe your conditioner has too much protein? I read that coconut oil helps prevent protein loss, so if your conditioner has a lot of protein, your hair is possibly brittle as a result of too much protein build-up? If this is the case, your can clarify your hair with diluted ACV rinse to help.

[jacqueline101]

I agree shampoo your hair maybe even clarify it.

[milky way]

I think you might be right, I don't think my conditioner and the coconut oil liked each other at all... I took your advice and did an ACV rinse, I hope it helps!

[Kaelee]

Sounds like you somehow got a crazy amount of build up. I would clarify. :agree:

[milky way]

Sounds like you somehow got a crazy amount of build up. I would clarify. :agree:

Hahaha, yeah I think that must be it! Gosh... Thank you lovely people for clearing that out for me... Would never have figured it out by myself!

Now, would an ACV rinse be enough, or do I need to use something "stronger"?

[spidermom]

I use a clarifying shampoo when I need to remove buildup.

[milky way]

I use a clarifying shampoo when I need to remove buildup.

Ain't got any of that... I guess I'll figure something else. :P

Oh and also: how do I use the coconut oil?????? Bahh, everything just got so complicated. :P

[Squiggy]

I use (and I have read that many others do as well) coconut oil as a pre-wash treatment. I slather it on my hair until my hair looks totally gross, then braid my hair and sleep with it that way overnight. Next morning I wash it out. Now, I have to use actual shampoo to get it out of my hair. Not a clarifying shampoo, but an everyday type that does contain SLS. I have heard that some people can get the oil out just by CO washing or using SLS free shampoo, but this has not been the case for me! Maybe I use more oil than them, I don't know.

Anyway, I'd just try whatever shampoo you have lying around first. It might suffice to get out the oil and conditioner. And if it doesn't, well, then go all out for the clarifying shampoo.

[Leeloo]

Usually to use coconut oil just oil your hair (not scalp) the night before wash day.

ACV rinse is not clarifying. Try 3 tbsp of baking soda to 3 tbsp of shampoo to clarify. Here is a link to the thread that explains the difference between AVC rinses and clarifying: http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/archive/index.php/t-26643.html

[Seeshami]

Ain't got any of that... I guess I'll figure something else. :P

Oh and also: how do I use the coconut oil?????? Bahh, everything just got so complicated. :P

I use a few teaspoons of baking soda in about 2-3 gallons of water to get icky feeling out of my hair.

Regular shampoo could be enough

My hair personally hates coconut oil and it doesn't matter how I rinse or do anything after it feels like straw. I use Argan or Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It's all experimentation, every one is different.

[ratgirldjh]

My hair hates coconut oil too. it always feels weird when i use it.

It does sound like build up to me as well. I would clarify and the do a CO wash to remove the rest of the oil.

[spirals]

Coconut oil works for me, but I do have to do a clarifying wash since I don't use detergent shampoo. I use my castile soap as usual, but add a bit of baking soda to it. Either that or I "shampoo" twice. It's probably the high amount of saturated fat in it that makes it harder to get out. I don't really know.

[Panth]

Hahaha, yeah I think that must be it! Gosh... Thank you lovely people for clearing that out for me... Would never have figured it out by myself!

Now, would an ACV rinse be enough, or do I need to use something "stronger"?

ACV rinses do not clarify (i.e. remove product build-up). They do chelate slightly (i.e. remove mineral build-up) but that effect won't help you here.

You could use baking soda, as others have suggested. Personally, I just use a shampoo that is advertised as clarifying (they are typically strong sulphate shampoos that are clear and have minimal added extras (i.e. no 'cones)). IMO, specialist clarifying shampoos are no more damaging/harsh than baking soda and in some cases are less damaging. Depending on your routine, just a regular suphate-containing shampoo might do the trick.


Ain't got any of that... I guess I'll figure something else. :P

Oh and also: how do I use the coconut oil?????? Bahh, everything just got so complicated. :P

There are various ways to use coconut oil. Some people find their hair just likes the oil via any method. Others only find coconut oil works via a particular method. There is also a fair-sized group of people whose hair absolutely hates coconut oil by any application method.

Anyway, here are the two main ways to use it:
1) Light oiling on wet, damp or dry hair. Melt a TINY bit of coconut oil and spread it over the palms of your hands (it should only just be enough to make a slight sheen on your hands). Run your hands down the length of your freshly detangled hair. You may need to section the hair if it is thick, to ensure there is an even, very thin coating of oil. Do not over do it! This can be done up to a few times a week, depending on the hair and the wash routine.
2) Heavy oiling as a pre-wash or leave-in (when you don't need to be presentable). Use the same method to cover the hair with coconut oil (often enough that the hair will look a bit greasy or wet). Leave for several hours before a wash, or even a day or two as a long treatment.

In either case, most people find that coconut oil is best kept to the length, away from the scalp. Quite a few people have reported hair fall after applying it to the scalp.

[milky way]

Okay, thank you all so much for your help. <3 I tried baking soda first but my hair still felt weird, so I washed a couple of times with a regular shampoo, then finished with a looot of conditioner, since I figured my hair would need it... It does feel a great deal better now! It's not what it was before all of this, but I guess I'll give it some time.

[Firefox7275]

The published research uses coconut oil as a prewash overnight to twenty four hours on dry hair. It's useful for reducing porosity and increasing elasticity, likely not of much use if you have low porosity hair. The only time I have had a bad experience with coconut oil was when my hair was over proteined, I wash it out with a really basic conditioner (Inecto).

[spirals]

^ Works really well for me that way. l don't know how porous my hair is, though. But the longer I leave the c.o. on, the better. I will sometimes use at least a tablespoon or even two and leave it on overnight and for most of the day, washing that night.`

[fairview]

Hindsight is 20/20. Basic principle. Using something in excessive amounts that gives great results when used in moderation generally results in disaster. The corollary to that principle is,' Less is usually more'. Use new products sparingly and then add increasing amounts gradually over time. When mixing 2 products, even seemingly innocuous ones, perform a compatibility test. 1 part water + one part product 'A' + one part product 'B'. Cap tightly and shake vigorously and observe results. If it ends up being cloudy, clumpy or otherwise nasty looking that is exactly what is going to happen when it is applied to your hair.

There are many types of coconut oil. That which is recommended here on the forum is cold pressed unprocessed and becomes a white solid and low room temps.

Bite the bullet, purchase the smallest bottle of clarifying shampoo you can find, use it once and put it up until you need it again.

[Firefox7275]

There are many types of coconut oil. That which is recommended here on the forum is cold pressed unprocessed and becomes a white solid and low room temps.

Bite the bullet, purchase the smallest bottle of clarifying shampoo you can find, use it once and put it up until you need it again.

There is no logic to this for dead hair IMO, the published research showing coconut oil penetrates and preserves structural proteins used a refined coconut oil. Both are equally rich in the 'active' lauric acid but refined is often much cheaper - important to many of us in this financial climate.

[spirals]

I use the refined stuff. I just did a pre-wash oiling today and my hair is so shiny.