Coconut oil can work wonders for your hair. Most of us don't have the luxury of drying a coconut shell in our front yard and then pressing it to get the oil, but you can get something almost as good if you know what to look for. Read on to find out the best coconut oil for hair.



Difference Between Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil
It is good to start by understanding the difference between coconut milk and coconut oil because they do both come from the flesh inside the shell. Countries in Southeast Asia have different ways of extracting the milk, but it's basically the process of shredding the flesh while it is still fresh and then pressing it to get a white liquid that looks like milk. The milk is used in various ways, often in foods, but also for a number of beauty routines. To get the oil, the coconut is dried for several days, and the flesh shrivels up, making it easy to press out the oil.



Expeller Pressed and Cold Pressed
There are multiple methods for extracting coconut oil. Expeller pressing is when the oil gets squeezed out of the coconut flesh through intense force. The temperature for this process can reach around 210 degrees. Cold pressing is when the oil is extracted from flesh in a heat-controlled environment where the temperature stays at about 120 degrees. They are both healthy options, but cold-pressed oils such as Wilderness Family Naturals Cold Pressed Coconut Oil Organic, $12.95, do have a little advantage; due to the low temperature, it doesn't lose any of its nutritional content.

Refined and Unrefined
You may come across coconut oil options that are either refined or unrefined. Refined refers to the deodorizing and bleaching process of the oil. High heat or chemical solvents are generally used to extract the maximum amount of oil. This process changes the odor, flavor and nutritional content, and sodium hydroxide is often added to extend its shelf life. Refined coconut oil is not considered the best coconut oil for hair.

Unrefined refers to pure, unaltered coconut oil. Unrefined retains its nutritional content and is generally considered the best coconut oil for hair.



Virgin and Extra Virgin
Like olive and other oils, coconut oil comes in virgin and extra virgin varieties. Virgin oil is extracted the same way as cold-pressed oil, so whether you see "cold pressed" or "virgin" on a label, you are essentially getting the same product. You may also see "Extra Virgin" labels on coconut oil, such as for Nature's Oil Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, $9.30, but there are no significant differences between virgin and extra virgin, and either will have similar effects on your hair.



It's Worth Spending the Extra for Your Hair
It may seem that, when using coconut oil for hair, it's not as important to spring for high-quality products. However, good coconut oil has the ability to hydrate the hair and scalp and help treat conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Some cheaper brands of coconut oil may also sell coconut oil with additives, which may not be as effective. It's often better to spend a little bit more for high-quality brands, like Radha Fractionated Coconut Oil, $11.35, for your hair.