Coconut Oil has been traditionally used in South Asian societies and is often hailed as a wonder product in itself, because of its versatility. Using coconut oil for hair is one of the popular uses of the same. But the question remains, is coconut oil good for your baby’s hair? And the answer to that is in affirmation. Yes, there are several benefits of coconut oil for baby hair and have been well established through popular mid-wife’s tales regarding its miraculous capabilities. The best part is that it is all natural and free from harmful chemicals!
While the popularity of this wonder- product ensues, the reasons for the same are not as known. Listed below are some of the reasons and benefits of coconut oil for hair, and especially for baby hair.
7 Key Benefits Of Using Coconut Oil for Babies
Anti-bacterial and Anti-microbial properties
Coconut Oil is made of several ingredients including medium chain fatty acids, lauric acid and other saturated fats. Researches have suggested that lauric acid derived from coconut oil has anti-bacterial properties. Monolaurin, which is another component of coconut oil, has been popularised for its bug-fighting capabilities. Its ability to fight bacteria and yeast prevents your baby’s vulnerability from being affected by the same.
Treating hair lice
Your baby could get infected with hair lice, especially after an interaction with a sibling suffering from the same. While using over-the-counter remedies to treat hair lice could be used, such materials harbour a certain toxicity which you do not want your child to get affected by. A non-toxic remedy could be using coconut oil, along with the accompaniments of apple cider vinegar and other essential oils. The lauric acid in coconut oil has certain anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, which with other accompaniments can effectively curb the spread of hair lice. One must note that coconut oil is not as strong as an OTC drug, but the regular use of the same could aid in treating hair lice. It is a good alternative to use if you are searching for a non-toxic and a natural method of treating hair lice in your baby’s hair.
Moisturises dry scalp
What Coconut Oil does for your hair is, it acts as an excellent moisturizer, and goes a long way in hydrating your baby’s hair. Rich in lauric acid, it can prevent the loss of proteins from your baby’s hair. Unlike other mineral oils, coconut oil is easily soaked by the hair and helps to retain the moisture in your little one’s sensitive hair. Coconut oil has also been popularised in its ability to reduce dandruff that can arise from dry scalp, which could lead to cradle cap.
Cures cradle cap
Cradle Cap, or as the medical world calls it, seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin disease that develops on your baby’s scalp. Whether it is the environment or just some normal love and affection from family members, cradle cap is most often credited to the interactions your baby is through touch and fungus in the air. While an anti-dandruff shampoo could cure cradle cap, using coconut oil is a better and a more natural alternative to use in its place. The anti-bacterial properties and anti-microbial properties in coconut oil works against the fungal development and softly soothes the scalp, helping it to heal.
Promotes hair growth
The medium chain fatty acids present in coconut oil makes it of great use for hair growth and nourishment. The oil can easily penetrate through hair, and curb the excess sebum build-up at the follicles. It not only acts as a moisturizer but also adds a lovely shine to your baby’s beautiful tresses.
If your baby has dry hair, or dandruff, or is losing too much hair, you need not be worried. Coconut oil not only deeply nourishes the hair, but it also promotes faster and thicker hair growth. You can gently massage a small amount of coconut oil into your baby’s scalp, and leave it for a bit, before rinsing it off with a mild baby shampoo.
Tames thick curly hair
While you appreciate the thick tuft of curly hair on your little one’s head, it could be a difficult task to maintain and detangle your baby’s hair. While gentle combing is not effective to detangle those beautiful curls, you need to find a way to comb your baby’s hair without causing much pain. And coconut oil is a perfect solution for that. Being all natural, it does not leave behind any toxins on your baby’s hair, and could be a great way to tame your baby’s hair! You could gently massage in a small amount to your baby’s hair, before using a small comb to softly brush the hair. Also, you need not have to worry about leaving it in all day- it acts as a natural moisturizer, hydrating your baby’s hair throughout the day.
Read More: 11 Homemade Conditioners for Infant’s Healthy Baby Hair Growth
Protection
Coconut Oil is a natural emollient- it has the capacity to create an enveloping film that can protect the hair from the environment. Coconut oil contains vitamin E and other essential amino acids, and other saturated fats mentioned in previous points. The saturated fats build a protective barrier, while the other ingredients work towards repairing cells and regenerating them to promote growth. It also prevents the occurrence of fungal diseases and other skin problems. You could safely use coconut oil on your baby’s hair to curb the effects of environmental pollutants on your little one’s head.
While some of the many benefits of coconut oil has been already mentioned in this article, using the correct form of coconut oil is of extreme importance to extract the benefits this wonder-product has to offer. While unrefined organic coconut oil is the rawest form that exists, it could be much thicker to apply and could tempt you to use a more refined, non-greasy form of coconut oil available at the drug store. However, it must be realized that unrefined coconut oil is even used as a cooking medium in many culinary cultures and something that you can safely consume cannot be harmful to you or your baby.
Much of this unrefined organic coconut oil exists in a butter form, due to the existence of multiple saturated fats. So how does one use coconut oil? Always take a small scoop, before rubbing it across your palm gently to completely melt it down. Before using it regularly, do make sure to test the oil on a small patch of your baby’s skin to ensure that her skin does not react to it. You could also use coconut oil as a carrier agent and make use of other oils such as castor, jojoba and olive oil to make use of the benefits of the two. After all, a healthy baby looks good with healthy hair, and we are all about parenting them little ones!
Read More: 12 Benefits of using Olive Oil for Baby Hair
