Coconut Milk for Hair Online India
I thought the person was nuts when they suggested coconut milk for hair.
Growing up my grandmother would pour coconut oil in my hair and massage it in.
In our family we use coconut oil infused with herbs, dried flowers all through the year.
It was prepared in a large pot on open fire in the summer and the resulting green oil would be distributed to all of families.
I hated that smell, for me it was too strong and too greasy.
All women in my family have long hair and very few colour their hair.
The newer generation justs buys its oils of the counters. There is no time for elaborate preparations and the secret recipes have been forgotten.
I rebelled and never used it as I grew older.
Recently I have come across coconut milk.
Though I thought it to be crazy I did my research and have come up with why coconut milk can be very good for the hair. ( it smells good so I was willing to give it a shot )
What you will find here
Coconut milk can be used for hair straightening, as a hair mask, for hair growth and can make your hair look shinier, stronger and full of life.
Coconut milk has fatty acids and proteins which are highly beneficial for our hair.
Beneficial is only when the milk can be absorbed into the hair.
So I went and did some research to find if it is beneficial.
The low molecular weight proteins can the hair-shaft cortex, thus repairing,
strengthening and protecting it from the inside.
High molecular weight proteins are good hair soothing and protecting agents, because of their ability to coat the hair-shaft surface (Huetter, I., 2003).
So yes the proteins in coconut oil penetrate the hair and repair , strengthen the hair from inside.
Proteins protect from environmental damage and increase the elasticity of hair hence breakage is less.
Lets compare coconut milk with Coconut oil
Coconut oil is also rich in fatty acids which can penetrate your hair remarkably well.
Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has a high affinity for hair proteins and because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft.
Src: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Coconut milk also has proteins and fats which get absorbed easily.
Coconut milk is an emulsion type of insoluble layers that
contain of oil and water. The insoluble layer consists of short
chain fatty acids that are easily to absorb.
Src: https://ijeee.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/27-30-Article-The-Effectiveness-of-Coconut-Oil-Mixed-With-Herbs-To-Promote-Hair-Growth.pdf
So, yeah looks like both coconut oil and milk are beneficial for hair .
Benefits of Coconut Milk for Hair
Fatty acids and proteins in coconut milk are your hair best friend.
Why? How?
Saturated fatty acids present in Coconut milk have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Fatty acids are easily absorbed, treat dandruff, skin infections. It also acts a natural moisturizer soothes dry itchy scalp.
Fatty acids make hair elastic, flexible, hence reduced breakage.
So basically your hair gets conditioned, protected and repaired … all naturally.
What else?
Coconut Milk has Magnesium … a lot of magnesium.
Magnesium is used by hair follicles to make the hair strong, and prevent it from breakage.
Hair follicles are tiny sacs from which hair grows and when these get blocked, they get inflamed.
Not good.
Inflamed hair follicles can cause folliculitis which can mean hair loss.
Dandruff, calcium deposits, dead skin can block the hair follicles which can cause the inflammation.
Magnesium present in Coconut milk can unblock follicles and provide the much needed nourishment to the scalp. Hair loss can be prevented naturally by the antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties of coconut milk.
Coconut milk also has natural antioxidant enzymes, protect against free radical damage.
Capric acid, Antimicrobial lipids and Lauric acid present in coconut milk have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Properties of Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is loaded with the good stuff.
- vitamin C, E, B1, B3, B5, B6
- Copper, iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium & phosphorous
- Antifungal
- Anti inflammatory
Can I use canned coconut milk on my hair
Study finds chemical BPA still in many canned foods.
It’s convenient and a staple in most kitchens, but a lot of canned food still contains a chemical linked to birth defects and cancer, CBS San Francisco reports.
Bisphenol A, or BPA, has been removed from baby products, reusable water bottles and most toys.
Src: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bpa-chemical-canned-food-study/
How to make Coconut Milk for Hair
There are two theories on making coconut milk. The hot process and the cold process method. I prefer the cold process method as heating will make the coconut milk lose vitamins and minerals ( all our benefits are down the drain ).
Process
- Scoop out the white part of a coconut also known as the coconut flesh. Blend it using cold water or hot water but not boiling hot.
- Strain using a muslin cloth or strainer.
- This is the coconut milk.
- It is a white liquid and some drink it daily. We use it to prepare curries and for the purpose of this article we apply it in the hair.
If you leave it in the fridge it thickens and application does get easier .
How to use Coconut Milk for Hair
Coconut milk can be applied directly on to your scalp and massaged in gently into the hair roots. You can also mix it with different organic ingredients to prepare some really easy and nourishing hair masks.
Coconut milk can be used a leave in mask, just apply i to the hair and let it dry and go about your day. It will work its magic all day long.
P.S. ‘I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter’
I want to know your experience with Coconut Milk, share them below.
40 Comments
Ila Varma
Will definitely try for my hair. I use natural things for my hair n this sounds beneficial for hair.
#MyFriendAlexa #ilaenjoys #Blogchatter
Sanjota Grampurohit
I regularly use coconut oil but coconut milk was just a milk to me 😀 thanks for this 🙂
Maheshwaran Jothi
Looks odd to have coconut milk on hair. But hey, when we apply every other eatables on us why not this 🙂
writenlive
Coconut milk for hair really sounds interesting. Your detailed post and the research sounds very credible so that I would like to use it right away.
Thanks for sharing this post.
Mann
When we say coconut oil, my memories go back to my childhood and Parachute…I loved the fragrance. Even now I use coconut oil sometimes. Milk is something new that I heard. I am sure it sis equally good. Great post.
#mannreads
Latha
yes Mann for me too…
Parachute I still use, I did not really like the smell as a cild, but now I like it.
Sonia Chatterjee
This is quite an informative article.
Latha
Thanks Sonia, trying to keep it as thorough as I can. I am adding in more information as and when I am able to find new information or prepare hair masks.
Geethica Mehra
I had been applying coconut oil to my hair but never knew that coconut milk also has so many benefits. And more surprising that it can be used directly on hair. I thought I had to drink it.
Latha
Gosh even me, when I learnt about the many benefits of coconut milk, I have started realizing how many false ideas I had.
Esha Chakraborty
Wow.. This is great.. I need to try thia
Sudip Saha
Thanks for such an informative article on coconut oil and milk.
Supriya
Thanks for this home remedy, will definitely try it out
saba irfan
indeed coconut milk is a really beneficial ingredient for hair
Charu
Just didn’t know coconut milk could be used for hair! This is new for me.
Pri
The benefits of coconut oil to hair is no secret.
But coconut milk?? Now that’s another story…
I am still wondering how I’d feel about trying this out. But nevertheless, thanks for sharing this information. 🙂
Huma Masood
A well-researched post. Would definitely try it.
Shri Krishna Sharma
Appears to be good, should be tried I feel.
Pranoti Muley
I thought coconut milk is only for cooking 🙂 thank you so much for sharing in details.
Anshu Bhojnagarwala
Wow, that’s a very useful post. I had never heard of applying coconut milk in hair. But as you said the benefits of coconut milk are more than coconut oil. Let me try that too and get back to you!
Priyal
This is something new for me that we can use coconut milk for our hair, will gonna try it for sure
Latha
Hello Priyal, do let me know how it works out on your hair.
Aditi Kapur
Wasn’t aware we can apply coconut milk on hair. Will surely give a try:)
Latha
Awesome Aditi, awaiting your feedback.
Mayuri Nidigallu
I love Coconut Milk in my food, but had no idea it could be used for hair, till I read this post! I am going to make my own coconut milk and use it in my hair asap. Thanks for sharing.
Latha
Great Mayuri, let me know how it works out.
Shubhra Rastogi
Very informative… Shall definitely try this and make it at home. #MyFriendAlexa
Latha
Shubhra thats wonderful
Pooja Tripathi
Coconut milk is new to me.
do we blend it in a mixer and then strain the liquid part?
Latha
Yes Pooja, blend it in a mixer and strain it. I get grated coconut from a local shop, hence I just add in warm water and squeeze out the milk.
Abhijit
Nice tip for great hair. I would, however, eat the coconut and not make milk out of it.
Latha
haha … very true
Gunjan Upadhyay
I have heard about it , but never tried it on my hair. will try and will share my feedback
Latha
I would love to get some feedback !
richa mina
great post, i use coconut oil regularly although i didn’t know about the facts and usefulness of coconut milk.
Deepti Menon
Thank you, Latha, for this great idea. When I was growing up, my grandmother used to massage my head with pure coconut oil mixed with herbs. I had lovely long hair as a result. However, I cut it off as a teenager. Today, I would love to get my hair back. I will try your method.
#DeepTiesReads #MyFriendAlexa
Maya Bhat
In my kitchen coconut milk always goes into curries. New information for me here. Sounds cool 🙂
Mahak
I regularly use coconut oil in my hair, but this use of coconut milk is new to me! I will give it a try for sure
Varsh
Coconut milk for hair is a new thing for me. I’m definitely going to try this out. Thanks for sharing!
Manpreet
My mom uses cocounut oil regularly… for so many things – hair, moisturizer, to remove dark spots… I totally believe coconut milk is also going to be good. I am going to try it