Kayla's Guide: Hair & Skin Stuff

Coconut Oil

Since everyone is so obsessed with coconut oil lately, I wanted to make a page about it. My mom and aunt use it for EVERYTHING, so I'm more than a little familiar with coconut oil.

Benefits:

1. Restores pH levels in the skin and improves skin barrier function, which gives you soft skin

2. Able to sink in to the hair shaft because of its natural fatty acid structure, which saves hair strands from being damaged and makes them softer

3. Keeps hair controlled and healthy, because it creates a barrier from dirt, wind, and the sun

4. Contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can prevent toe fungus (ew) and nail infections

5. Coconut oil's natural antimicrobials make it perfect for bumps and cuts on the skin

I can sit here all day and write about the benefits of coconut oil, and it's basically good for anything, even cooking (you can replace your cooking/vegetable oil).

How you can use it:

1. Replace your shaving cream with coconut oil, and shave your legs with it. It prevents and treats razor burns, while hydrating your skin (meaning no after shaving lotion)

2. Use it as a deep-conditioner for your hair. As I said before, the oil goes deep into your hair shaft and protects it, while making your hair softer and shinier

3. Coconut oil is also used as an eye makeup remover. The natural oils melt and break away even waterproof eyeliner/mascara, so its perfect if you're too lazy to use wipes

4. Oil pulling has been used for centuries, and is traced back to India. It is a process in which oil is swished around the mouth for a few minutes, to whiten teeth, treat chapped lips, and restore gums. Coconut oil is perfect for this because it doesn't taste as bad as olive or vegetable oil, which a lot of people still use

5. It can lighten age spots and sun spots if directly applied to that area, and it even is known to minimize the appearance of scars

6. Coconut oil can be used as a natural sunscreen, and protects skin just as well as an SPF 4

7. Blend some into a hot tea, and it'll help you recover quickly from a cold or flu. Mix a tablespoon that's already been melted

8. If you've ever gotten a mosquito bite, you know how much they itch. Rub some coconut oil on the bite and it lessens the itchiness and decreases the red marks

9. If you want to tan at the beach without the weird chemicals soaking into your skin, use coconut oil. Rub it directly on the areas that you want to be tanned

10. Take 2-3 tablespoons a day to speed up weight loss. You can buy coconut oil capsules if you don't want to do this, but they may not work as well