Coconut Oil For Dry Skin and Split Ends

Coconut oil has become increasingly popular as a nutritional supplement and also as a treatment for dry hair and skin to make it smooth and supple.

As a nutritional supplement it is a powerful saturated fat that contains other essential fats to improve your immune system, fight illnesses, aid in digestion and help to stabilise the blood sugar (diabetics should consult their doctor before use).

If your hair has damaged split ends or you're struggling to bring back it's smooth shiny feel then applying coconut oil overnight will give it the boost it needs. Coconut oil will also help to control dandruff as it will condition your scalp at the same type and reduce those flakes of dry skin.

Coconut oil is wonderful for dry skin and using it as a moisturizer can bring life back to your dull skin complexion. Coconut oil will re-hydrate your skin and return it's lost oils to make your skin smooth and supple.

Keep reading to find out how to use coconut oil

Coconut oil contains three important fatty acids that are great for your health: lauric acid, caprilic acid, and capric acid. These three fatty acids help to remove the body of unwanted bacteria, build up your immune system and fight off illness.

Instead of taking coconut oil directly many people will use it to cook with instead and it's really easy to substitute with. If you usually cook with an oil such as vegetable or olive oil you can switch it up with a tablespoon (or desired amount) of coconut oil in the pan instead. You'll get a rich creamy flavor to your food so it may not be suitable for everything.

Suggested Dose

As a nutritional supplement coconut oil should be consumed daily and you should have no more than 3-4 tablespoons. If you want to control blood sugar taking a teaspoon before a meal and as a snack can really help to lower and stabilize your blood sugar. As quick energy source 1 tablespoon before your workout will get right to the blood stream and perk you up.

As I have previously mentioned coconut oil is a great moisturizer that is great for an overnight or after-shaving product. It is also a great product for treating certain skin problems such as eczema, acne, dry skin and psoriasis. The anti-oxidant and Omega fatty acid properties of coconut oil help to repair damaged dry skin.

From previous experience if you have any open wounds or sores from eczema or psoriasis you'll probably want to avoid covering those areas with coconut oil as it may hurt and irritate your skin in that area so stick with your normal treatments when you have broken the skin. Coconut oil is fine to use on areas that are not broken and I have found that it can reduce the length of time the breakout takes to heal up and disappear.

Over Night Moisturizing

To get the most benefit I recommend applying at night time to let the oil really absorb into the skin. The next morning your skin will be very smooth and complexion clear. I would recommend wearing pajama trousers to stop the oil getting on the bed sheets though.

Shaving

Since coconut oil is great at hydrating your skin it is a wonderful product to use having just shaved. For shaving you'll want to use a new blade or electric razor and follow these tips: Getting a Close Shave and How To Avoid Shaving Rash.

Shaving often strips skin of its natural oils that protect it so to prevent having dry skin that is itchy for days afterwards, I find a best practice is to follow the below instructions. You'll then experience smooth beautiful legs without razor bumps or feeling like your skin is on fire:

• Apply either a good quality shaving cream or one tablespoon of coconut oil to each leg prior to shaving
• Use a new or sharp razor
• Rinse both legs and pat dry
• If you did not use the coconut oil during shaving or you have very dry skin the apply another tablespoon of coconut oil to each leg and massage in thoroughly

Natural Face Mask

Using coconut oil as a face mask can be very soothing for aggravated skin, especially for those of us who suffer with acne. For many people with acne or other skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis the skin will often be very dry on the "clear" areas (the skin between patches of acne or psoriasis) and needs some love and attention too. For an all round soothing face mask:

• Make sure your skin is clean to begin with: wash with your usual cleanser or you can wash your face with water and apply a lemon slice over your skin
• Mix together two tablespoons of coconut oil with one tablespoon of honey
• Apply the mask to your face and leave to sit for 15 - 30 minutes
• Rinse the mask off your face with your usual face wash

After a few weeks of doing a coconut face mask one or two times a week you will find that your skin quality has improved and your skin blemishes would have reduced.

Coconut oil works great as a moisturiser for dry split ends as for a general conditioner. For those (like me) who suffer with frizzy hair, especially when it's humid, you'll find that a coconut oil application once every week or fortnight will dramatically reduce the frizz scale that you experience.

Over Night Application

At night put a small amount on the tips of your hair or around split ends and leave to soak in over night. When you wake up in the morning you will notice that your tips and soft, smooth and shiny. By doing this a couple of times a week you'll keep the ends nice and strong and drastically reduce the chance of getting split ends.

You may wish to put your hair up in a bun or lay down a towel or old pillow case when you do this application simply because coconut oil will get everywhere. By popping down a towel or a pillow case you don't really mind getting oily will help speed up your cleaning routine in the morning.

General Conditioner

This is best put in at night as well and left until morning. Cover your hair in coconut oil starting at your roots and work through to your tips then wrap up your hair in a towel or scarf so that you don't get oil all over your pillows. In the morning wash out the coconut oil with your regular shampoo and condition your tips as normal. You will be surprised by how soft and manageable your hair is especially if it is normally frizzy or uncontrollable.

When doing an overnight condition then I highly recommend putting your hair in a bun (if possible) and either wearing a shower cap to bed or using plastic wrap to catch any of the oil as it turns into liquid when it warms up. I would also recommend using a towel or old pillow case again so that you don't have to worry about cleaning the pillows too often.