In India, hair is traditionally seen as a sign of strength and beauty, which is why many people of the Sikh faith leave at least part of their hair uncut. However, unlike in the West, the hair and scalp are oiled first before washing in India. This simple, inexpensive treatment just involves massaging 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil (it can be diluted) into the scalp and through the hair, which is then left for an hour or even overnight.

So why coconut oil? There are several other oils recommended by Ayurvedic medicine for hair, with coconut oil being best for people with a Pitta dominance (one of the doshas in Ayurveda). This type of hair tends to be fair or red, oily, silky and prone to early greying and hair loss – traits that seem quite common in the West. In addition, a study in the Journal of Cosmetic Science has shown that out of coconut, sunflower, and mineral oil, only coconut oil can reduce protein loss in hair as a pre- and post-wash treatment.

The reason for this was that coconut oil is made of lauric acid, which has a high affinity for hair proteins because it is actually able to penetrate the hair shaft. This is due to its straight, linear chain and low molecular weight. Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon and therefore has no affinity for proteins, while sunflower oil is too bulky because of the double bonds present in this and all other unsaturated fatty acids. If the oil cannot penetrate the hair shaft, then it cannot protect against protein loss.