Do You Put Coconut Oil on Wet or Dry Hair? The Best Ways to Lock in Moisture

Co-authored by Mindy Nguyen and Eric McClure

Last Updated: November 29, 2022 References

Thinking about using coconut oil in your hair? You’ve made a wise choice! Depending on how you use it, coconut oil is a great way to protect your hair, lock in moisture, or keep those luscious locks just generally healthy. But knowing when to use it can be a challenge. As anyone who has experimented with the oil is sure to have noticed, the impact on wet or dry hair can be slightly different. If you’re curious about the optimal time to work coconut oil into your hair, we’ve got you covered!

Question 1 of 6:

Is it better to put coconut oil in wet or dry hair?

Both options are equally good—it depends on what your goal is. If you put the oil in dry hair, it will get some protection from the elements. If you put the oil in wet hair, it will help to lock in nutrients and moisture to keep your hair healthy and smooth. They’re both good options, so feel free to use it with either wet or dry hair. You can even use it in your dry hair, shower an hour later, and reapply it to get the best of both worlds!^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Think of it this way, in dry hair, coconut oil will protect.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mindy Nguyen
  Holistic Cosmetologist
  Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.} In wet hair, coconut oil will keep it healthy. That’s probably the simplest way to explain it!

Question 2 of 6:

How do you use coconut oil dry hair?

1
You can use it as a pre-wash treatment for dry or curly hair. Without putting any coconut oil directly on your scalp, scoop a glob up and work it into your hair by hand about an hour or two before you shower. The oil will keep your hair from drying out before you shampoo.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- This may not be the best choice if you have naturally thin hair. The oil can end up being too much for your hair if it isn’t especially thick.
2
You can apply it to damaged or split ends to smooth them. There are zero products out there that will fix split or damaged ends. However, coconut oil can hide this kind of damage by holding the strands together and giving them some sheen. Simply rub a little bit of coconut oil into the last 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) of your hair and you’re done!^{[4]
X
Research source}
3
You can use it as an overnight hair mask for deep hydration. Work a glob or two of coconut oil into your hair before going to bed for the night.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.} You can put a shower cap on if you’re worried about ruining any pillow cases. When you wake up, shampoo and cleanse in the shower to strip any remaining oil that hasn’t soaked into your hair. This should give your hair a shinier, smoother feel.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Expert Answer

Q

Can I apply oil on hair and exercise?

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Mindy Nguyen is a Holistic Cosmetologist and the Owner and Founder of Mai Blossom Organic Salon, an organic hair salon in San Diego, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in combining Eastern philosophies with Western science to provide organic hair coloring and holistic hair styling.

EXPERT ADVICE

Answer from Mindy Nguyen:

Definitely! Feel free to apply and wrap up some coconut oil in your hair before working out. Your body heat will help deepen the conditioning effects.

Question 3 of 6:

What will happen if you apply coconut oil to wet hair?

It will help lock in moisture but it's important to rinse it out thoroughly. Coconut oil does not moisturize on its own (no oil does—oil and water don’t mix). However, oils are occlusive, meaning that they lock in whatever is in your hair. When you moisturize or condition your hair, work a scoop or two of coconut oil into your hair. Then, wait at least 15 minutes before rinsing your hair thoroughly. Your hair will be super conditioned!^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Your hair should feel super soft and sleek by the time you finish drying off.

Question 4 of 6:

Should you oil hair every day?

It’s not the end of the world if you do, but it’s probably not a good idea. Coconut oil is comedogenic, which is a fancy way of saying it clogs pores. While this might not be a huge deal for you, it can make your scalp and skin oily or lock debris in your pores. Over time, this can cause you to break out. Overdoing it with the oil can also make your hair feel greasy, which can be unpleasant.^{[8]
X
Research source} Using it a few times a week is probably okay, though.
- You can always just do this whenever you wash your hair in the shower if you only wash your hair a few times a week.
- You should be able to feel if you’re using too much. If you start getting pimples around your hairline, your skin feels greasy, or the texture of your hair feels kind of off, just cut back on how often you use coconut oil.

Question 5 of 6:

Why do some people heat the oil before using it?

They’re liquefying it so they can put it into their hair. Quality coconut oil turns solid around room temperature. Depending on how cold your home is, the coconut oil may solidify. This really isn’t a big deal if it happens, though. You can just place a chunk of the oil in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it on low for a few seconds.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- You can even warm it up in your hands. It doesn’t take much heat to make coconut oil melt.
- Some people believe that the hotter the oil is, the better it is for your hair. In all likelihood, it probably doesn’t matter if the oil is hot or not. So long as it’s liquefied, it will be good for your hair.^{[10]
  X
  Research source}

Question 6 of 6:

What kind of coconut oil is best for your hair?

You should use extra virgin coconut oil for the best results. Less purified forms of coconut oil may contain very trace amounts of bleach and other chemicals that may damage your hair. Some of those chemicals may irritate your scalp as well. If you’re going to put coconut oil in your hair, look for 100% pure extra virgin coconut oil.^{[11]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

Can I put coconut oil on my dry hair?

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Mindy Nguyen is a Holistic Cosmetologist and the Owner and Founder of Mai Blossom Organic Salon, an organic hair salon in San Diego, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in combining Eastern philosophies with Western science to provide organic hair coloring and holistic hair styling.

Mindy Nguyen

Holistic Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Absolutely! Coconut oil works great when applied to dry or almost dry hair.
Question

Can I apply oil on hair and exercise?

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Mindy Nguyen is a Holistic Cosmetologist and the Owner and Founder of Mai Blossom Organic Salon, an organic hair salon in San Diego, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in combining Eastern philosophies with Western science to provide organic hair coloring and holistic hair styling.

Mindy Nguyen

Holistic Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Definitely! Feel free to apply and wrap up some coconut oil in your hair before working out. Your body heat will help deepen the conditioning effects.
Question

Is it bad to leave oil in your hair overnight?

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Mindy Nguyen is a Holistic Cosmetologist and the Owner and Founder of Mai Blossom Organic Salon, an organic hair salon in San Diego, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in combining Eastern philosophies with Western science to provide organic hair coloring and holistic hair styling.

Mindy Nguyen

Holistic Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Definitely not, as long as you plan on washing your hair the next morning. Just make sure your hair is covered with a plastic shower cap before heading to bed