So I've heard a lot about coconut oil and how it was good for hair, good for skin, a healthy cooking oil. After doing a little bit of research, I went out to Trader Joe's and bought some Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. (As you can see I've been using some already!) Why organic virgin? It's all in how it's processed. Virgin coconut oil comes from the meat of the coconut and doesn't use any additional heat or chemicals. Cost? No more than $6 at Trader Joe's.
When you open it up, smell it. It doesn't have the heavy coconut smell. :) Good for those people who may not be fans of the distinct coconut smell. So long as your thermostat is below 76 degrees Fahrenheit, it's going to stay in a solid state. Scoop some onto your finger, and it will quickly turn into a liquid. With all that being said, it's best stored in a relatively cool and dry place, like a cabinet. You could also store it in the refrigerator if you have to. Just know that it might be harder to scoop out and take longer to soften. To soften it up you can:
a) set it in a pan or a bowl filled with warm water
b) scoop some out and let it sit in your hand if you're going to use it on yourself
c) zap it in the microwave for a few seconds... literally 5-7 secs if you store it in a cabinet
d) just let it sit out at room temp---I prefer this method.
Coconut oil has MANY benefits. Here's a list of some:
- Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial-thanks to lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid
- Moisturizes hair and scalp
- Helps lock in proteins
- Strengthens the hair shaft
- Soothes itchy or painful scalp
- Fights and relieves dandruff and other kinds of dermatitis
- Helps ward off lice
- Helps keep your scalp healthy
- Helps get rid of fungi and yeast like athlete's foot or ringworm
- May help heal bruises
- May kill certain viruses and bacteria that's in and on our bodies
- Lowers cholesterol
- Perhaps it can aid you in maintaining or losing weight
- Moisturizes your skin without leaving it super dry an hour later
So how do you use it? Let's talk about applying it to your skin. You don't need a ton! If you're applying it to your legs or arms, all you need is a little bit. When you're putting it on and you think you need more, check your hands to see if they look shiny. If so, then you don't need to add any more to your hand(s). It'll feel oily for a little bit but then your skin will absorb it leaving it soft and dry and with a light fragrance without actually drying out the skin.
How about your hair and scalp? If you plan on shampooing your hair, you can put some on your hair and scalp before starting and then go about shampooing and conditioning it. If you want to use it as a hot oil treatment, you can separate some from the jar and put it in an empty bottle or container to sit in hot water until the oil is hot enough for you to stand. Once it's ready, put it in your hair and scalp. From there you can place a plastic cap on and wrap it in a warm towel for about 15-20 minutes. You can also use it as a a daily moisturizer. I wouldn't suggest putting the coconut oil in by itself because it's thicker than some oils. I've heard stories of people's hair hardening when they went out in the cold or it leaving residue behind. The best way is to add it with another lighter oil such as olive oil. This will make the mixture lighter and easier to rub in and manipulate. You can add essential oils such as tea tree oil or sweet almond oil to the mix as well to give it a different fragrance.
So now it's recipe time. *YAY* :) I was sitting in bed relaxing and reading my Bible when I wondered if I could add brown sugar and coconut oil together to make a scrub. So (later, obviously,) I looked up a couple recipes and made my own modifications. Here it is.
Coconut Oil and Brown Sugar Body Scrub
Need:
>A little more than 1/2 a cup of melted Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
>1 cup of packed Brown sugar (It doesn't matter whether you use dark or light. I used dark because it was there in my kitchen already.)
>A couple drops of Vanilla extract
Tools:
>Glass jar with a lid
>Spoon or knife for scooping and mixing
>A label (optional)
>Mixing bowl (optional)
1. Pour the brown sugar in the jar or in a separate bowl.
2. Add a little more than half a cup of melted or slightly melted coconut oil. Add a couple drops of vanilla extract and mix it all together.
3. Pour it into the jar (if it's not already in there) and
<-- *TA DA* you have a lovely smelling homemade body scrub.
Where you store it is up to you so long as it's a cool and dry place. A safe rule of thumb is, if it's been a while since you used the scrub and it smells funny, don't use it. How long it lasts depends on how much or how little you use.
And that's that! Hope you have a good week and a wonderful weekend!
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