I try my best to stay away from buying beauty products, especially hair, at grocery stores. But if I do, I buy them from beauty supply stores or salons because they typically have a wider selection of products that aren’t so rich in chemicals (not always). The problem with this strategy is that these products are expensive! But recently, I had quite an epiphany. There are plenty of beauty products I can buy at the grocery store. I’ve just been looking in the wrong section! My new obsession is coconut oil because it has so many different uses. For me, coconut oil has worked some miracles on my hair, my skin, for my oral health, and even for my carpet! It’s so versatile. Plus, it’s cheap. Here are 25 coconut oil uses you probably didn’t know about before!
The many uses for Coconut Oil are all the rage and it’s not all just hype! Of course, there is much debate, as there is about everything when it comes to health. But researchers are still in the beginning stages of finding out the real benefits of coconut oil in comparison to others-so until they come to a conclusion, we’ll continue debating! Let’s talk about the facts first and then I’ll share a list of uses for Coconut Oil in cooking recipes and beauty recipes!
What is Coconut Oil? Is It Good For You?
It is 92% saturated fat.
Coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids and it contains an unusual blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, primarily lauric and myristic acids. This unusual blend is why people theorize it could offer health benefits if used as part of your diet.
The Good
According to Penn State University cardiovascular nutrition researcher Penny Kris-Therton, PhD, RD, “Coconut oil is better than butter and trans fats but not as good as liquid vegetable oils…” Along with Dariush Mazaffairian, MD, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, he agrees coconut oil is the wiser choice when choosing between hydrogenated trans fats and animal fats.
The Bad
In terms of research, there is a limited supply of evidence that coconut oil helps with diseases. In the scientific world, studies focus on the impact coconut oil has on cholesterol levels. According to Dariush Mazaffairian, MD, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School and Harvard school of Public Health says, “the findings are intriguing but we still don’t know if it is harmful or beneficial…”.
However, experts still say that if you are looking for real health benefits for your diet to choose vegetable oils such as soybean, canola, corn, or olive oil.
Resources: WebMd
*Important Note: I’m not a professional. The opinions expressed are solely my own and the information comes from research I’ve compiled about Coconut Oil. If you have concerns or questions it is important to see an expert.
The Many Uses for Coconut Oil:
So what are some of the uses for Coconut Oil? Well, coconut is used for a variety of things; everything from cooking to beauty. Below I’ve compiled a list of unique and exciting uses for coconut oil! So if you are on the Coconut Oil train, check out some of these creative ways you can use your new favorite household goodie. If you haven’t quite made the leap, that’s okay! Research is being done every day-the more we learn about it the better! But hopefully you learn something new or find a fun recipe or DIY you want to try!
There are dozens upon dozens of different recipes touting the health benefits of coconut oil. We’ve tried to help narrow your search by categorizing our favorites! Whether you are looking for a great scrub to end your day with or a chocolate fudge to treat yourself with, we’ve got it!
*Note: Simply click the link to see the full recipe or tutorial!
Coconut Oil For Food Recipes
Cheesecake Bites w. Pecan Crust @ Flippin’ Delicious
Pound Cake @ My Life As Robin’s Wife
Chicken Nuggets @ The Domestic Man
Blueberry Coconut Granola Bars @ Two Peas And Their Pod
Chocolate Fudge @ Je Suis Alimentageus
Tropical Green Smoothie @ Rubies and Radishes, Learn more about MTC coconut oil.
Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies @ Persnickety Plates
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies @ The Live-In-Kitchen
Different Ways To Use Coconut Oil For Hair
How Do You Use Coconut Oil On Your Hair?
Coconut oil can easily be applied to your hair. There are lots of benefits for your hair and it is super easy to use.
Coconut Oil For Dry or Damaged Hair
Coconut oil makes a fabulous deep conditioner hair treatment. Scoop out some coconut oil in your hands and rub them together. This will help to produce a more liquid consistency. Then, put it ALL OVER your hair (while hair is dry). It will feel gross and greasy, but leave it on for at least 30 minutes. After your time is up, shampoo it out in the shower. It works wonders at making your hair soft and smooth. It is even great for fixing dry scalp!
You can leave the coconut oil on your hair for as long as you please. I’ve even slept in it before! I repeat this hair treatment every few weeks to help my hair from getting dry and to help it stay smooth.
If you don’t have dry hair or scalp, and instead have an oily scalp or hair, coconut oil probably isn’t for you.
Coconut Oil As Hair Styling Product
Coconut oil can also be used to tame your waves and curls daily without leaving it looking greasy. Just rub a small amount on your palms and work it through your hair like you would any oil or mousse.
Some have even suggested using coconut oil for use stopping hair loss and for treating lice!
Coconut Oil Uses For Skin & DIY Beauty Coconut Oil Recipes
Skin Moisturizer
Coconut oil is great this time of year because it great for dry skin. It will bring some relief to red wind-chapped cheeks and dry cracked hands. Put a very thin layer on your skin in the morning or overnight to leave your skin feeling extremely smooth. It may feel greasy at first, but trust it!
Massage Oil
Coconut oil is a great replacement for fancy massage oils. Be sure to soften it between your hands before using!
Coconut Oil For Pulling
Coconut oil pulling is great for oral health. Swish coconut oil in your mouth for about 15 minutes in the morning, and spit and rinse with water. This is called pulling because it “pulls” the bacteria from your mouth. Personally, it is very difficult for me to swish anything in my mouth for that long! So I only practice this occasionally. Coconut oil is also used in some toothpaste.
Stain/Spot Remover
Mixed with baking soda, coconut oil is great for lifting stains out of your carpet. It is very effective!
Rosemary Shaving Cream @ Food For My Family
Coconut Oil As Shaving Cream
Lather your legs with coconut oil instead of shaving cream to leave them feeling smooth!
Homemade Lip Balm & Scrub @ My Baking Addiction
Lip Balm
Coconut is very hydrating and adds some shine to your lips as well.
Ginger & Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub @ Food For My Family
Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub
The sugar rubs away dead skin and the coconut oil moisturizes and leaves softer skin.
Diaper Rash Cream @ Little House Living
Diaper and/or Nipple Cream
If you are nursing, try using coconut oil in place of lanolin for soreness. Also, apply it to your baby’s bottom to moisturize and help treat diaper rash. It is often a key ingredient in many DIY diaper rash creams.
Organic Coconut Oil
I will say that although it’s considered a “greener” option, coconut oil is not all created equal. Some brands come in giant plastic containers and others come in glass jars and that can affect taste. Personally, I don’t use coconut oil for taste, so the latter doesn’t apply to me. I buy organic coconut oil from my local Trader Joe’s. I like that organic coconut oil has no pesticides used in raising the coconuts so it is a more pure, healthy choice. Check out Family Focus Blog’s Eco-friendly Pinterest board for more inspiration!
I hope you enjoyed this list of uses for coconut oil and found some inspiration for a new recipe to try! What are your thoughts about Coconut Oil? Do you have any creative coconut oil uses? We would love to hear about them in the comments below or tag us @familyfocusblog
Related Posts:
Coconut Oil Hair Mask Recipe: All Natural Hair Strengthening and Conditioning
Linda Bradshaw says
When my nieces and nephew came out of the CPS system, they were infested with lice! They had 1000s of them! We used coconut oil to kill them! Worked great!
Meredith Rodefer says
Oh wow! I’ve never heard of that. That’s great!
Alana - eSpectacularKids says
I’ve heard that coconut oil is great for hair and I think that I will have to try it! I’ve tried using it for my face but it was a bit too greasy and my skin didn’t react well – now I use almond oil! But I love coconut oil for roasting, it adds the lovely coconut taste to vegetables!