10 Uses of Coconut for Healthy Skin and Hair + DIY recipes

Coconut is an age-old remedy for many problems. Normally we use coconut oil for skin and hair, but you do not have to restrict yourself to coconut oil only, you can use coconut water and milk for your hair and skin.

Coconut water is one of the purest element that you can use. It is low in calories and has many nutrients which are beneficial for your body. It’s best to drink a glass of coconut water every day, but you can also apply it on your skin and hair. It will hydrate your skin and hair and is known to prevent skin cancer by blocking UV rays to an extent with a SPF of 4. Coconut oil strengthens the skin tissues, nourishes hair and skin and has anti-bacterial properties due to lauric acid. It is also known to fight against certain skin diseases such as Eczema, Psoriasis or Dermatitis. Coconut milk is rich in magnesium. It is a natural moisturiser which will nourish your hair and skin deeply. You need to extract fresh coconut milk in order to see the benefits. Now let us look at some uses of coconut in your daily routine!

1. Coconut water as a Toner

Do you want an alcohol-free natural toner? Then use coconut water; it will naturally reduce your pore size and moisturise your skin. Simply dip some cotton balls in coconut water and apply it on your face. It is a natural toner that will control the secretion of excess oil and remove impurities. Coconut water also controls acne and lightens blemishes. It has essential elements such as vitamin C, potassium and calcium, so drinking a glass of coconut water will also keep your skin healthy.

2. Coconut water for tan removal

Do you want to get rid of that stubborn tan instantly without leading to breakouts or other issues? Then use fuller’s earth (multani mitti) with coconut water, both these ingredients will remove a sun tan and give you a healthy glow. Coconut water has antioxidant elements to prevent your skin from sun damage. Take 3 spoons of fuller’s earth with 2 spoons of coconut water, mix it until it has the consistency of a paste. Apply it on your face and after 15 minutes when it is dry, wash it off. Doing this twice a week, will get rid of the tan completely.

3. Coconut milk for hair loss prevention

Coconut milk has proteins and vitamin E to strengthen your hair and prevent hair loss. You can simply take some coconut milk and massage it on your scalp for 2 minutes, this will lead to hair growth and will moisturise your hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wash it off. Do this twice a week and you will see that your hair loss will stop significantly. Coconut milk will give you a refreshing feeling and it will nourish your hair deeply. In addition to that, it will also prevent any further damage or split ends.

4. Coconut oil as a Body Scrub and Moisturiser

Coconut oil will deeply moisturise your skin. If you want to use it as a body scrub then combine sugar and coconut oil, and gently rub it on your skin in circular motions to remove the dead skin cells. This way your skin is being moisturised while you are exfoliating. Do this twice a week to have a smooth and even skin. After scrubbing you can massage some coconut oil on your skin, this will deeply nourish your skin. You can also apply coconut oil while shaving your legs or arms instead of a shaving cream. Coconut oil has SPF 4 which means after applying this if you forget to apply sunscreen and you go out, it will at least protect you to some extent. It is better than having no sunscreen at all. If you do not want to apply oil on your skin during day time, you can just apply it at night and wake up to a soft and smooth skin.

5. Uses of Coconut milk for anti-ageing

Coconut milk is a natural component with vitamin c which is nourishing and healthy. For your skin, you can apply coconut milk using cotton balls on your skin and then wash it off after 15-20 minutes. It will reduce wrinkles and fine lines and make your skin supple and soft.

For your hair, applying coconut milk will instantly make it softer and stronger. But other than that it can also prevent greying of hair. Mix equal amounts of coconut milk with amla (Indian Gooseberry) oil and then keep this for an hour for it to mix with each other. Apply this on your hair from roots till tips and then cover it with a shower cap for an hour. Do this regularly to see a difference.

If you want the overall benefits then just drink a glass of coconut milk to have a radiant skin and healthy hair.

6. Coconut oil as a deep-conditioner

Coconut oil is one of the most effective oil for deep conditioning. It will deeply nourish you hair and protect it from any damage from environment. It will also infuse your hair with essential properties for growth and strength. Coconut has vitamin K which will keep your hair shiny and strong. Just take a small bowl of coconut oil and heat it up, it should be warm but not boiling hot. Now take your hair in small sections and apply it on your hair, concentrating more on roots. Wrap your head with a towel or a shower cap as you need to trap the heat for it to work effectively. After an hour or more, wash it off and you will have smooth and soft hair.

7. Coconut oil to remove makeup

Removing make up is the most important step in having a healthy skin, but the harsh chemicals might damage your skin. Coconut oil is the answer to your problems, it is a natural product that will remove any type of makeup. It is best for the sensitive area around your eyes. It can even remove products which are waterproof or smudge proof. Just dip a cotton ball in coconut oil, you only need a tiny amount and gently remove the make-up. Just wash your face with a cleanser after this, and you will have a make-up free and moisturised skin.

8. Coconut milk as a moisturiser

Coconut milk is a natural moisturiser, dip some cotton balls into coconut milk and apply it on your skin, and then massage it gently for a minute and then leave it on for 20 minutes. After washing it off, you will have very soft and supple skin.

9. Coconut milk for brighter skin

Coconut milk has properties to keep your skin smooth and it lightens blemishes and dark spots. Combine 2 spoons of coconut milk with half a spoon of turmeric and 1 spoon of honey, to make a paste and apply it on your face. Keep it on your skin for 15 minutes and then wash it off. Turmeric has been used since ages to give you an even and brighter skin tone. This mask will leave your skin glowing and soft.

10. Uses of Coconut water for healthy hair

Coconut water improves blood circulation and leads to healthy hair. Massage some coconut water on your hair and then wash it off after 30 minutes, do this thrice a week. This will eliminate frizzy hair and give your soft and shiny hair. Coconut water has anti-bacterial properties, which makes it one of the best ingredient to prevent dandruff.

Coconut water in its purest form will keep your hair strong, soft and healthy. Try out coconut in your skin and hair care routine to have healthy hair and radiant skin.

Precautions: 

1. While using coconut oil you need to make sure that you don’t use too much of it, otherwise you would dry out your skin. A small amount goes a long way.
2. If you are going to drink coconut water, make sure that you don’t overdo it as it can lead to high blood sugar level and digestive problems.
3. Every skin type is different and reacts differently to ingredients, coconut oil can lead to acne for some people, so test it out before you use it.
4. People who suffer from allergies such as tree nut allergies, should avoid coconut, as it is a tree nut.

Guest post by Sucharitha V.