In comparison to mineral oil, coconut oil is less effective at preventing frizz and fly-aways. 2017 Nov;10(11):39-48. So, read on and try it out. This is due to the texture that super curly or kinky hair has. Mineral oil is petroleum-derived and coconut oil is plant-derived, and natural oils are usually praised as being better for us, but what does a scientific comparison reveal? 2008 Apr;86(4):215-21. doi: 10.1139/Y08-008. It was noted that for coconut oil, the moisture-retention effects dissipated significantly over time. Forms a loose “S” very easily straightened, Forms a definite “S” shaped like a corkscrew, Very tight curl when stretched creates an “S”, Hair intentionally matted to form "ropes", Guides and resources for easy product selection, Learn how to read your hair product labels, Easy-to-make recipes for all your haircare needs, Community member favorites make up this coveted list, Chat with curl friends about your favorite curly topics. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2016 Jul;16(7):51. doi: 10.1007/s11882-016-0630-9. J Am Oil Chem Soc.  |  The study was extended to sunflower oil (SFO) because it is the second most utilized base oil in the hair oil industry on account of its non-freezing property and its odorlessness at ambient temperature. Today we are going to dig deeper into two popular oils in many of our products: mineral oil and coconut oil. Both sunflower and mineral oils do not help at all in reducing the protein loss from hair. Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Both mineral oil and coconut oil have pretty compact structures which should physically permit diffusion through the porous external layer of the hair shaft. Ultimately, coconut oil prevents the lifting of the hair’s cuticle, which contributes to a frizzy look. The main difference in coconut oil & mineral oil's attributes: coconut oil absorbs into the hair shaft (moisturizer) mineral oil seals water out of hair (frizz fighter) While the chemical structure of the molecules present in mineral oil is purely carbon and hydrogen, rendering them very non-polar, triglycerides such as those found in plant-derived oils contain carboxylic acid groups, which lend a little polarity to the molecules. The answer lies in the atoms. The oil acts as a sort of magnet for hair, attracting the fibers to one another. All of the oil-treated hair samples showed this effect, whereas the untreated control remained unchanged. First of all, we have to touch on the topic: are natural oils good for your hair? Adding either coconut oil or mineral oil to your hair care regimen may prove to be beneficial, but every curly head is different! It is best known for providing both shine and strength to locks, making it extremely popular for curly hair care enthusiasts. Many of the behaviors and performance of oils and moisturizers on the hair are affected by whether they remain on the surface or are absorbed into the hair. When applied to hair before washing, coconut oil has been shown to reduce protein loss more than sunflower and mineral oils. Continuous loss of protein over time from routine washing damages hair and can result in color fading, split ends, and breakage, so anything that can moderate this phenomenon is beneficial. Organic coconut oil can be used, but fractionated coconut oil does not go rancid. Sign up for our newsletter to get more tips and tricks. Sign up for our newsletter to get more tips and tricks. As the aim was to cover different treatments, and the effect of these treatments on various hair types using the above oils, the number of experiments to be conducted was a very high number and a technique termed as the Taguchi Design of Experimentation was used. Coconut oil for example, outperforms sunflower and mineral oil and is the only oil proven to reduce protein loss. So why does coconut oil do so, while mineral oil does not? Therefore, it is important to wash your hair a couple times a week to rid the hair of oil and dirt buildup. COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. As naturally produced oils have a difficult time sliding down the curls, using an abundant amount of coconut oil will not make the hair look greasy. Effect of Enzyme Pre-treatments on Bioactive Compounds in Extracted Tiger Nut Oil and Sugars in Residual Meals. Ultimately, this creates a more defined look. Extremely hydrophobic mineral oil performed the best in terms of its ability to seal water out of hair, while the more polar fatty acids such as coconut oil allowed greater transport of moisture through the cuticle and into the hair shaft.