Coconut Oil!

It is about that time in the winter when everyone's hair and skin and lips are getting super dry. Thankfully there is a product to help that is probably in your pantry. This miracle product is coconut oil!

First it is great for hair. I like to recommend coconut oil as the first deep conditioning treatment for hair.  If that doesn't do the trick there are plenty of other great treatments; however, try coconut oil first.  The first step to using it as a deep conditioner is to warm a small amount in a bowl ( a little goes a long way) and then coat your hair in it. Just use your hand to work it through your hair.  Put it in a bun, go to bed for the night, and when you wake up, shower it out of your hair.  Your hair will feel extremely soft.  Do not expect your hair to curl well or hold a curl the first day after. 

 Recently a client and her family went on vacation to Florida where they were swimming a lot in a pool with chlorine.  When they got back both daughters' hair was fairly stringy and almost felt like a build up was on it.  Before doing a Malibu Treatment, I had them give coconut oil a try, and it worked like a charm.  Her daughters' hair is silky smooth now. They were nice enough to do a video for me of their hair before and after the coconut oil.  

Coconut oil is also great for skin.  It is amazing how quickly skin can dry out from the cold and from the dryness in the house.  I like to use coconut oil two ways for my skin.  First I use it in a sugar scrub that I make (recipe below) and secondly as a lotion after I use the sugar scrub. The sugar scrub not only takes the dead skin cells off but the coconut oil prevents your skin from drying out even more. 

For the sugar scrub I like to take about 1/2 cup of coconut oil, warm it slightly, and then mix in 3/4 cup of white sugar.  Mix well until it has a paste like consistency.  I like to add a few drops of essential oil just to make it smell good.