Coconut Oil
Learn what coconut oil can actually do for hair and scalp, from reducing protein loss and grooming damage to its traditional role in Indian hair care.
Origin
Central Malesia to the southwestern Pacific
Traditional wisdom
Hair oiling, scalp massage, skin care and household wellness practices
Why Soumm chose it
Hair-fibre lubrication and reduction of protein loss during grooming
Quick facts
- Botanical name
- Cocos nucifera L.
- Common names
- Coconut oil; Nariyal oil; Nariyal taila
- Source type
- Tropical palm / fruit-derived vegetable oil
- Part used
- Mature coconut kernel (fruit flesh)
- Natural constituents
- Lauric acid, myristic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, palmitic acid; virgin oil may also contain tocopherols and phenolic compounds.
- Scalp relevance
- Emollient and moisturising support for dry-feeling skin
- Evidence status
- Good evidence for certain hair-fibre protective effects; limited evidence for scalp/skin benefits; insufficient evidence for direct hair-growth treatment.