in summer 2010, i made the decision to rid myself of chemical hair relaxers and go natural. this was before natural-textured haircare products were being sold, and the words “natural” & “hair”, ensemble1, were part of the beauty industry’s lexicon.
for me, it was an embarrassingly long period of trial-and-error with drugstore products that were suited for looser textured coils. i was mocked for my decision, but i knew that, one day, i’d find the right formula. in the interim, i wore my hair straightened.
fast forward a few years, in 2012, via YouTube’s emerging natural hair guru community, it was recommended i try coconut oil; i listened and the rest was history.
from coconut to castor, but especially coconut oil, i was keen on using it to adhere to the infamous LOC method (leave-in, oil, and conditioner).
as new brands and products made their way to store shelves—with the promise of being exclusively designed for Afro-textured hair—the love affair with coconut oil eventually tapered.
a few months ago, however, i rediscovered my love for coconut oil and it has, since, made a grand reappearance into my life, and in more ways than one.
firstly, it’s the only oil i use on my hair in its natural state. it’s thick, yet silky [when melted] form makes it ideal for my texture, coating each individual strand, reducing both breakage and frizz.
coconut oil is not only ideal for a shinier appearance, but it also cleanses the scalp and, in colder temperatures, creates a quasi-hold for updos and braids. in the past, i heard people complain that coconut oil is too heavy, but its promise to reduce shedding and breakage is unyielding, a nonnegotiable for me.
its other use functions as a face cleanser. in a previously published post, i talked about the puissance2 that is oil cleansing, and coconut oil is one of those holy grail oils that also doubly acts as a makeup remover and cleanser.
coconut oil’s antibacterial properties melts away makeup residue with ease, and the fatty acids ensures that the face stays firm, hydrated and plump, not dry; dryness is what causes wrinkles.
as someone who who can’t afford to test and splurge on beauty and haircare, coconut oil is the multipurpose product i need to maintain the health of my hair and skin. (sn: i heard Tracy Ellis-Ross once say in a video that she uses coconut oil to remove her makeup.)
anyways, if you’re looking to save in more ways than one—and also help mother earth as coconut oil is typically sold in glass jars—unrefined coconut oil is for you.
anyways, i hope this is helpful.
love & madness,
Bojepsÿ 
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