[Heavenly Jumper]

For all the new users to coconut oil or those who would like to learn more about why it's so great.

What is so special about coconut oil/why is it better than other oils?

Unlike other petroleum based oils or products containing silicones, CO is different molecularly and actually penetrates INTO the hair shaft rather than simply coating the outside of the hair. A coated hair is sealed from recieving moisture. Even thought it may APPEAR slick, shiny or soft...it is actually starving for moisture. Often times after prolonged use of products such as Cowboy Magic or Show/Laser sheens the hairs become brittle and break. See this study.

What does it do?

Because of it's special properties it is a deep conditioner and moisturizer. A flexible hair is much less likely to break and will keep on growing. Think of it like a dry spaghetti noodle versus a cooked one. The dry one will snap right off whereas a moist one will bend.

Does it make the tail grow?

No. It doesn't. Hair GROWTH comes from the inside. You can encourage hair to remain healthy once on the outside by keeping it healthy and moisturized. It won't repair breakage but will help prevent it.

What kind do I buy?

I use cooking grade 100% pure virgin coconut oil. NOT any type of 'hair product'.



I critiqued the ingredients in a popular 'coconut oil hair product' The majority of the stuff in there is junk...the amount of stuff that actually enriches the mane is really small. No wonder it's cheap.

Where do I get it?

I personally have found two types at my local Wal-Mart.

Cooking oil aisle -



Vitamin/Supplement Aisle (I use this one)



You can also find CO online and at health food stores.

http://www.spectrumorganics.com/?id=205

How much do I use/How do I apply it/ How often do I use it?

When you use it, do about a table spoon at a time, rub it in your hands and use your fingers to sort of comb it through each section. Concentrate on the ends. I use it any time the hair or weather seems dry. I average about once a week.

I will put on CO down the length of the hair. I melt it in my hands or spoon it out if it is liquid, rub it together and run my fingers through about 2 inch sections of hair. Then I go back to the jar for more...and continue on down the mane or tail.

If after 30 minutes the hair still seems over oiled, you've used to much. Go lighter next time. It's ok to just leave on. It does not build up a residue.

Can I use it in conjunction with other products?

Sure. I especially liked using MTG at the roots and CO at the main length and ends of the hair. Double whammy.

What else do I need to know about coconut oil?

DON'T refrigerate it!

It will get as hard like white wax and you'll never get it out of the jar. It liquifies at something like 76 degrees. So it will stay liquid pretty much all the time. In winter, bring it inside if your barn gets very cold.

I have had NO experience with CO attracting insects. There aren't any sugars or anything like that in it.

And for it's texture, when you first apply it...yes, it's oily/greasy. It QUICKLY absorbs though (within 30 minutes, so long as you don't over do it) and it does not leave a sticky, or gross residue.

You do not need to wash the tail prior or after applying. Remember, the more you wash the more the soap strips out the natural oils and stuff.

If your horse has a light colored tail, expect it to pick up dirt. Sorry about that. Some horses do, some don't.

If you are interested in the absolutely AMAZING health benefits for humans, read here. Some of them include fighting viruses and diseases as well as weight loss. To think? You can lose weight from eating a fat?

The amazing benefits of coconut oil!

[HorseGurly143]

Great thread Heavenly Jumper! I think I see a new sticky...

[imjustjoking22]

Yay!! I love it!

You can also put in that feeding it to dogs is supposed to be very good for them- and they love it!!

[Equine747]

Originally Posted by imjustjoking22

Yay!! I love it!

You can also put in that feeding it to dogs is supposed to be very good for them- and they love it!!

Yeah my Dog eats it by itself After I put it in the horses hair she will lick my hands clean!

[Xiphias]

Humm I may try that on Amber's mane, and Mikey's too....as they have long manes, Xiphias's is kept pulled short....but it would now hurt her tail....I bet it's expensive too?

Cathy

[BonnieM]

Originally Posted by Xiphias

Humm I may try that on Amber's mane, and Mikey's too....as they have long manes, Xiphias's is kept pulled short....but it would now hurt her tail....I bet it's expensive too?

Cathy

No, it isn't expensive. Very reasonable!

Thanks, Heather -- good informative post. I think it should be a sticky.

BonnieM

[Heavenly Jumper]

Originally Posted by Xiphias

Humm I may try that on Amber's mane, and Mikey's too....as they have long manes, Xiphias's is kept pulled short....but it would now hurt her tail....I bet it's expensive too?

Cathy

The type I buy and use is about 10$, you can find it starting at 5$ I believe if you get the LouAna brand. I am currently trying to discover the main difference between the vitamin marketed type and the cooking type.

I would assume virgin, unrefined CO is better because it's not been heated or messed with chemically.

The Rexall brand is unrefined, and the LouAna brand IS refined...

This is what I have learned about refined CO -

This is from the Tropical Traditions website:
Refined Coconut Oil

Most commercial grade coconut oils are made from copra. Copra is basically the dried kernel (meat) of the coconut. It can be made by: smoke drying, sun drying, or kiln drying , or derivatives or a combination of these three. If standard copra is used as a starting material, the unrefined coconut oil extracted from copra is not suitable for consumption and must be purified, that is refined. This is because the way most copra is dried is not sanitary. The standard end product made from copra is RBD coconut oil. RBD stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized. High heat is used to deodorize the oil, and the oil is typically filtered through (bleaching) clays to remove impurities. Sodium hydroxide is generally used to remove free fatty acids and prolong shelf life. This is the most common way to mass-produce coconut oil. The older way of producing refined coconut oil was through physical/mechanical refining (see Tropical Traditions Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil.). More modern methods also use chemical solvents to extract all the oil from the copra for higher yields.

RBD oil is also sometimes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. This happens mostly in tropical climates, since the natural melting point of coconut oil is about 76 degrees F, and already naturally a solid in most colder climates. Since coconut oil is mostly saturated, there is little unsaturated oil left to hydrogenate. Hydrogenated oils contain trans fatty acids.

[outoftheblue]

Wow...awesome thread! Everything you need to know about CO in one handy place!

[MI Racer]

Can you put the oil in a spray bottle and spray it on?

[Heavenly Jumper]

Originally Posted by MI Racer

Can you put the oil in a spray bottle and spray it on?

Yes, but it must stay warm (over 76 degrees) to remain liquid. The sprayer must also be VERY fine...or else you will end up using too much and leaving the hair too oily.

I find using a pump vegetable oil sprayer works best. It is designed to spray a fine mist for cooking.