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Coconut Oil Ruined My Hair! [Here’s Why…]

Coconut oil ruined my hair!

Since many women have claimed “coconut oil ruined my hair!”, we’re going to talk about if it’s actually true or if they’re blaming poor coconut oil for no good reason.

So….Is coconut oil bad for your hair? 

The answer is that it positively can be bad for your hair if used incorrectly.

Coconut oil is often promoted as a critical ingredient, a necessary carrier oil that helps to dilute more potent essential oils designed to improve the overall quality of your hair.

Meanwhile, many users of this oil have come to find that while this oil may initially offer exceptional outcomes, they are experiencing some long-term effects that are not so positive, even negatively affecting hair growth efforts.

Yes, coconut oil is attractive to many natural hair honeys because of its ability to penetrate the hair shaft. The problem with this unique gift is that many users have ended up crying that “coconut oil ruined my hair” in recent years.

If you have been using coconut oil for any time, you may have experienced some of the common side effects but inadvertently blamed it on something else. However, some of these bad hair episodes were likely the result of coconut oil.

Let’s take a closer look at why coconut oil (which some see as a hair growth oil) can be bad for hair to the point of ruining the mane of some.

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“Coconut Oil Ruined My Hair!” Says Famous Hair Youtuber

Coconut ruined my hair. Is coconut oil bad for hair?Coconut oil ruined my hair?

Coconut oil users are reporting extreme results with the use of coconut oil on their tresses and are screaming "coconut oil ruined my hair!".

For example, in 2016, YouTube Vlogger Natural85 suggested that coconut oil was so potent to the quality of her natural hair journey that it was impacting her hair porosity to the point that it was falling out.

The hair became dry and brittle, leading to massive hair fall, and her scalp was red and inflamed to the point that she felt like she had tiny cuts on it. She was basically telling the world “coconut oil ruined my hair AND scalp”.

Naptural85 eventually discontinued her use of the coconut oil which led to a reversal of the bad side effects she was experiencing.

She noted that she might have had a coconut oil allergy or sensitivity to the product and warned others that they might also be experiencing a similar condition.

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Reasons Why Coconut Oil Can Be Bad for Your Hair Health & Growth

coconut oil ruined my hair

Many users of coconut oil suggest that not only is coconut oil risky and ruining hair for those who may have a natural allergy to the substance, but it repels water, preventing the reception of moisture.

Then again, there are women leaving coconut oil in their hair for 2 days without problem.

Our hair health and growth demands a healthy level of hydration, as moisture is essential for hair elasticity.

Hair elasticity is vital to the prevention of needless hair loss.

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Coconut Oil Ruins Low Porosity Hair More Easily

The thing to keep in mind is that coconut oil blocks moisture. For someone with high porosity hair, this side effect may potentially be a blessing in disguise.

Ideally, you want to prevent high porosity hair from becoming oversaturated.

For people with low porosity hair, coconut oil can be a nightmare, leaving hair that is already prone to dryness looking and feeling like a crunchy mess.

It’s no coincidence that many who feel that coconut oil ruined their hair are low porosity girls. Coconut oil has a tendency to sit on top of low porosity hair, leading to a gnarly, unwanted buildup.

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Processed Coconut Oil Is Bad For Hair

Take a deep breath and exhale. First, you may not have any need to toss out your coconut oil just yet.

The culprit in the “coconut oil ruined my hair” blame equation for why so many people are reporting tragic coconut oil experiences is the altered structure of some coconut oil products.

If you are using anything other than a cold-pressed unrefined/organic coconut oil formula on your hair, you need to grab a trash bag and ditch that container of coconut oil.

Is coconut oil bad for your hair? When it contains Cocamide DEA, the answer is yes, it’s bad.

Cocamide DEA in coconut oil is the culprit that seems to be doing the most harm.

Extreme processes such as bleaching, refining, and deodorizing coconut oil help to alter the oil, which can be harmful to your hair.

Coconut oil users recommend that if you are going to dare to trust this oil with your hair that you must scrutinize your labels carefully, making efforts to avoid cocamide DEA ingredients, including but not limited to the following:

  • Oleamide DEA
  • Myrstamide DEA
  • Stearamide MEA
  • DEA-cetyl phosphate
  • DEA-oleth-3 phosphate
  • Cocamide MEA

Coconut Oil Clogs Your Pores

The following statement is controversial and may fly in the face of some natural remedies for the skin and scalp. However, in some cases, because coconut oil is highly comedogenic, that means it can clog pores.

Some people recommend using extra-virgin coconut oil as it is the more purified form.

Unfortunately, this version has the highest potential of blocking the hair follicle openings under which sebaceous (oil-producing) glands reside. Even processed (fractionated) coconut oil may clog the follicular openings.

Many people who have screamed “coconut oil ruined my hair” had underestimated the crazy impact clogged hair follicles or folliculitis can significantly impact the health and growth of your hair.

Also, clogged hair follicles are painful and may even lead to thinning or hair loss in some people. Common signs of folliculitis include a tender scalp, redness, bumps, itchiness, and occasionally, a bit of burning.

How to Reverse Bad Effects of Coconut Oil On Hair & Scalp

If you suspect coconut oil is ruining your hair, the first thing you will want to do is STOP USING IT. You will want to perform an inventory of the hair products you are using.

Take care to check the ingredients of everything you consider a component of your hair care regimen, and look for coconut oil or the elements we discussed in this article.

Next, wash your hair immediately and cleanse your scalp with a high-quality clarifying shampoo, ridding it of coconut oil.

You want to use a product that will remove any excess buildup that a moisturizing-focused shampoo could miss. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) may be another natural option to assist you with getting this oil out of your hair and away from your scalp.

ACV is a fantastic anti-inflammatory agent, and if you are dealing with an inflamed scalp as a result of coconut oil ruining it, this solution may prove highly effective in helping you calm an irritated scalp.

The best thing you can do with any irritant is to remove it.

Once your hair is clean and dry, you will want to perform a hair porosity test to evaluate the current state of your hair so that you have a sense of the following steps you might take in your product selection to restore the health of your hair.

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If Coconut Oil Ruined Your Hair - Avoid It Or Educate Yourself

Coconut oil can cause some long-term effects on the quality of your hair and the health of your scalp.

If you are experiencing any of the conditions discussed in this article with your hair and scalp, you may want to consider discontinuing your use of coconut oil and finding another more beneficial product that won't ruin your hair.

Take the time to read your hair product labels. Many products contain coconut oil, and you may inadvertently damage your hair if you have any degree of coconut oil sensitivity.

If you elect to give coconut oil another try, experts recommend that you consider using cold-pressed extra-virgin coconut oil or an unrefined version of this solution.

Don't force yourself to continue with coconut oil because of the benefits some get, with proper education on how and when to use it you may be able to get some good from it but I really don't want you to suffer and say "coconut oil ruined my hair" if you can easily avoid these problems.

Hey, if you like this article about how coconut oil can badly ruin your hair BOOKMARK THIS PAGE and get new hair articles sent to your email, sign up for FREE NHP article deliveries and product discounts here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa Lee 

Melissa Lee is a Contributing Editor to NHP and a former owner of the BlackhairOMG website. She formed 4C Trichology Growth Services, LLC., a US based hair care consultation service. She has also contributed as a writer and consultant for various hair and beauty websites. Melissa can be followed on Twitter here.