10 Surprising Reasons To Keep Coconut Oil In Your Bathroom

Coconut oil doesn’t cease to amaze me. It boasts a plethora of health benefits and nourishing properties, exotic and gentle taste and alluring smell. If you aren’t using it in your bathroom yet, start today. I’d be surprised if you go back to vegetable and refined oils after having a taste of this tropical beauty.

In this post we would like to explore some of the uses of coconut oil in cosmetics and body care. It’s great when what you eat can also be used to protect and enhance your body’s health and appearance!

Unrefined, organic, cold-pressed coconut oil is your best option (and should always be used when taken internally).

10 Uses of Coconut Oil in Your Bathroom

1. Best Skin Moisturizer

This is the most obvious and common use of coconut oil. When applied after shower, it makes your skin soft and shiny. It reduces scarring and stretch marks and rejuvenates the skin. At first it tends to have a greasier consistency, but it quickly absorbs into the skin.

Coconut oil can also be used for the face and actually makes your skin less oily by pulling out the dirt and unclogging the pores. Start with a small quantity (a pea size) and apply around your eyes and face, and even your lips if they are dry and chapped.

And don’t forget you can extend the use of coconut oil into your bedroom and use it as a massage lotion or a lubricant (coconut oil is one of the best home remedies for vaginal dryness).

2. Great for Oil Pulling

If you haven’t done it before, oil pulling is a way to cleanse the mouth of harmful, inflammation-causing bacteria and toxins.

1. Take about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil when you wake up in the morning and before you eat anything.
2. Swish around your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes.
3. Spit out the oil (don’t swallow it – it’s full of bacteria).
4. Brush your teeth.

Some also add a drop of essential oil to coconut oil to enhance the antibacterial and antiviral properties. For example, you can use eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary or cloves essential oils.

You can also use coconut oil as a toothpaste!

3. Efficient Hair Treatment

Coconut oil can be used both as a pre-wash or post-wash treatment. It has been found to reduce the protein-loss in both damaged and undamaged hair. Since hair is mostly made of protein, supplying enough protein is essential for healthy locks.

A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science compared coconut oil with mineral oil and sunflower oil. The experiments showed that mineral oil and sunflower oil had no effect at all on the protein-loss, while coconut oil made a significant difference.

To avoid the greasy effect, it’s best to add some coconut oil as a pre-wash:

1. Take ½ tablespoon of coconut oil (the amount also depends on the length and volume of your hair).
2. Apply the oil, starting from the roots and make your way down to the ends.
3. Leave the oil on for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Rinse your hair well and wash as normal.

4. Frizzy Hair Care

If your hair is frizzy, you can use some coconut oil to tame it. Dry, curly hair tend to lift when you brush them, so put a little bit of coconut oil on your fingers and run them through your hair to prevent the frizz.

Make sure you don’t overdo it with the oil or you’ll just end up with an oily look.

5. Your Leg Shaving Companion

When it’s time to shave your legs, apply a little bit of coconut oil on your legs before you start. This will make the skin softer and less irritated.

You can also use it as a post-shaving/epilating treatment to calm down the skin and reduce the unpleasant sensations.

6. Natural Home Remedy for Toenail Fungus

Many are aware of just how hardy toenail fungus is. After months and years of treatment, it still persists.

Coconut oil works its magic by targeting the fungal membrane. The fatty acids insert themselves into the membrane and disturb its function, which eventually leads to cell disintegration.

1. Take a bit of coconut oil and rub it onto the affected area. A tiny layer of oil will suffice.
2. Let it absorb and dry.
3. If you have more than one nail that needs treating, wash your hands before applying the oil to the next toe, or wear gloves.
4. Repeat two to three times daily. It’s very important to be diligent and patient, so don’t skip a session!

7. Preferable Carrier Oil

Many essential oils need to be diluted, and coconut oil works great as a carrier oil. Using a carrier oil is crucial when working with powerful essential oils and/or when trying to cover a big area of the body.

Just mix a tablespoon of coconut oil with a few drops of your preferred essential oil and enjoy the multiple benefits.

If you don’t like the solid consistency of virgin coconut oil at a room temperature (up to 25 °C), you can use fractionated coconut oil, (like this one) which has some of the long fatty acids removed and unlike the cold-pressed oil, which solidifies when temperatures drop, stays liquid. However note that virgin coconut oil contains vitamins, antioxidants and minerals which are beneficial to skin and hair care products, whereas fractionated coconut oil does not contain all of the same nutrients.

8. Easy Eye Makeup Remover

Coconut oil makes makeup removal less of a chore. Wash your face first and then use coconut oil to remove the rest. It’s less likely you’ll be going to bed with a layer of mascara, if your favorite oil is at hand.

 9. Great for Nail Management

Not just body massage, coconut oil is also very good for gentle nail massage and can help you tame the rough cuticles. Simply apply a bit of oil on your finger and toe nails and massage as often as you wish.

This is a great fungal prevention as well – as mentioned above, coconut oil is a powerful warrior against those annoying fungal infections.

10. A Soothing Treatment for Rashes and Burns

Apply coconut oil if you experience a rash or a burn. It’s also effective with diaper rash and can be safely used with your little ones.

Another option is to mix coconut oil with tea tree essential oil. Tea tree essential oil has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Just combine 1-2 drops of tea tree oil with a little bit of coconut oil and message gently over the rash.

Originally published on Healthy and Natural World