We've used coconut oil as moisturizer and hair oil (yes, we do not call it hair conditioner) for centuries. Generally, we oil our hair a lot, with coconut oil, almond oil, mustard oil, etc etc etc. Of course, you have to wash it off after 4-5 hours, but it does give you healthy hair!

eh... by we I mean women in the Indian subcontinent :-)

^ I was just going to say that myself. Its the perfect moisturizer for a dry scalp and it makes hair really soft and shiny once its worn off. I would not want to walk around with it in your hair though- it can have a strong smell and by the end of the day, you'll be super greasy.

A variation on the Indian technique is to heat up the oil and rub it into your hair, then tie it up under a towel for an hour or more. Then wash your hair like normal.

The problem with the Indian technique of using coconut/almond/mustard oil in the hair is that they are left in during the day and have a disctinct scent. I learned this the hard way as a kid... :(

I have Keratosis Pilaris (red, dry bumps on my upper arms and legs), which is super common, and I use coconut oil on them. It doesn't make them go away, but it's helped with the dryness and feel of my skin better than anything else I've ever tried. Seriously, I suggest anyone with this skin issue to try it!

Walmart sells a brand of coconut oil for really cheap. Apparently it's not great for cooking, but the moisturizing properties are the same and so it would be good for putting on your hair or elbows.

Yes, it must be washed out when used as a hair conditioner. I learned this the hard way, and ended up looking like Ke$ha for the day ;)
Another trick is to mix sugar with coconut oil to make a body scrub.

we use it as a diaper rash cream. it is especially great for yeast based rashes - and it is cloth diaper friendly! i also use to it make homemade deodorant :)

Having tried coconut oil for a range of things, I have to say it's best for the moisturizing tasks (duh!) such as skin and hair care, leather cleaning, and furniture polish. (I didn't try it on any particularly valuable furniture, not wanting to risk damage, though.)

As an insect repellent, it only works if you aren't being bothered by many insects. In areas with heavy insect issues, you need to go with something stronger. Similarly, as a deodorant it's not what you're going to want to use on a particularly hot day or if you tend toward odor issues. You are basically greasing your arm pits and applying baking soda or corn starch.

For hair and skin, though, it's amazing.

I'm a fanatic about coconut oil. I use it in my hair, as a moisturizer, as a treatment for minor cuts and scrapes, to cook with...and I mix up a big batch of coconut oil, brown sugar and a little vanilla for an awesome body scrub (once the sugar dissolves, I use the moisture from the oil as the perfect shaving cream substitute. My fiance even loves to use it. At times I even take it orally. There are some amazing studies out there on it.

I use coconut oil to massage my baby before her bath- she loves it, especially when I rub her tiny feet.

I had a lot of issues with acne as an adult, until I started using coconut oil as a moisturizer about 3-4 years ago. Not only is my acne 99% gone, but I have healthy, glowing, even-toned skin and not a wrinkle yet in sight (I'm in my 30s). I put it on rashes, burns, or other skin ailments and it soothes them really well.

It removes body wax too, from your body and the floor where you dripped. (Works better than orange oil Goo Off and the wax removing creams.)

Coconut oil is magic.

i used to use it on my hair as a daily moisturizer for a couple of years. i didn't need to wash it out. but i wasn't trying to deep condition. my scalp has been super dry lately. i'm gonna go get some today.

I bought some coconut oil a few weeks ago and am totally loving it as a moisturizer. I prefer to put it on right out of the shower.

Warning about the homemade deodorant above tho, it was too harsh for me. I tried it for two weeks until my skin starting peeling off. Ouch!

I am glad coconut is getting the 2nd look it truly deserves. Coconut oil is good on your hair and scalp... especially when doing hot oil treatment.

Coconut oil is good on skin too...

I melted some cocoa butter and coconut oil together and formed it in muffin tins for a body bar to oil up my growing pregnant belly. I oil up neck to toe with this bar in my hand and work a good amount into the bottom 6-9 inches of my hair before I shower. The oily coating spares my skin from the hot water and the heat helps the oil absorb into my skin and keeps me from being greasy all day. I also slather this on my husband for his eczema and he gets a nice massage out of it. We're a smooth buttery couple!

I use it every day to remove my eye makeup. Even works on waterproof mascara!

It also makes a nice substitute for KY.

I was just going to mention the personal lubricant idea before RIFKANONO beat me to it. We've been using it for years it's amazing b/c (obviously) there is no petroleum and it can be ingested too (if you catch my drift).

Also, it makes AMAZING popcorn. A giant heaping spoonful into a warmed stock pot at medium heat. Allow it to melt then throw in enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pot. Let it go until all kernels are popped.

Vouching for the popcorn! 100% awesome, 0% greasy. MAGIC.

I second Rifkanono's comment!

NOT very healthy to eat though.

Best lip balm I ever used.

Mei-Ling, do your homework, coconut oil is extremely healthy to eat because of the kinds of fat that make up coconut oil. Its been shown to help in metabolism and weight loss, improve cholesterol profiles, and its a great substitute for olive oil in medium temp cooking because it can tolerate more heat and doesn't oxidize the way olive oil does. Good stuff, seriously. The negative studies that came out years ago were on highly processed forms of the oil.

I second Carmen R on using it as an eye make-up remover! I use it to remove all of my eye make-up, including waterproof eyeliner, shadow, and waterproof mascara. Dab some onto a cotton ball or cleansing pad and hold to your eyelid for a few seconds to let it dissolve, and gently wipe away. Repeat as needed. I do this after I remove my contact lenses, though, as it can make vision a little cloudy with contacts in.

I also use it to remove excess facial wax instead of the (usually included) "soothing" wipes that remove the extra wax. Those wipes always made me have little swollen bumps, and do nothing to soothe! The coconut oil removes it all easily and no swelling/irritation at all.

I don't use it as a moisturizer on my whole face, though, since I don't think it is non-comedogenic. I haven't had any break-outs on my face after using it, but just be aware that it is possible.

I prefer to handle it in solid form, because it is less messy that way. No problem in the winter, but coconut oil melts around 76degF, and I keep my place a warmer than that in the summer. You could keep it in the fridge, though.

I use it

weekly as a hot oil treatment for my hair
daily as a skin moisturizer
as needed as a KY substitute

i love all-in-ones

What a weird day this has been for posts, but I may go get some.

you forgot one important use: lube.

i use it to take off my makeup & wash my face. then i rise it off with a tea tree soap. it works. my skin has cleared up & it's much softer & glowy.

It truly is an insect repellent--I used it on my son's head when he had lice. I just rubbed it in and left it and the lice soon were gone. No harsh chemicals needed! This is a great article on the benefits of coconut oil--

http://goldenbarrel.blogspot.com/2012/01/truth-about-coconut-oil.html

My fiance and I run a reptile rescue out of our home. Coconut oil is wonderful to shine up tortoise shells before educational events! Lol

I use it to make my own toothpaste, deodorant and as a lotion. Also use it when oil pulling.

How do you guys use it to take off your make up? How do you use it as a facial moisturizer? Do you use it at room temp or heat it up first?

@DEBSSS - I keep it in a small jar in the bathroom, scrape out a little with the outside of my fingernail, and just rub it onto my face. It melts right into the skin.

I know this is an article on non-food uses of coconut oil, but I've read that coconut oil combats Alsheimer's...( http://www.tampabay.com/news/aging/doctor-says-an-oil-lessened-alzheimers-effects-on-her-husband/879333)...I've also read that eating 3 Tbs. per day assists in weight loss. Thank you for this article with suggestions for using coconut oil in other ways. Interesting and useful!

My parents mix a little with their doggies food to help their itchy skin

what is the preferred brand? how good is the $5.99 trader joe's label?

Thanks @shannonlat! I have some right now in my shower b/c i read about someone who let the steam from her shower melt the oil and the rub it into her skin. I've used the molten oil after shaving my legs and it makes them SO soft. I cant wait to use it on my face! =)

Nutiva is my fave brand (for skin, hair, face, cooking, eating) and I get it on amazon. don't get me started on coconut water (amy & brians)...

my wife knows some "all natural" women that actually use it as a personal lubricant

PLEASE if you're going to INGEST coconut oil (including cooking w it) make sure to only use EXTRA VIRGIN or VIRGIN COCONUT OIL. Otherwise, it'll clog you arteries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For some reason that very important fact always gets left out....

If you're using non-virgin on your skin, it might make you break out. So EXTRA VIRGIN / VIRGIN should be the only type you buy.

This oil has great health benefits but you have to use the right kind

That very important fact, Tichrissie, gets left out because it's not true. People tend to think so because it's a saturated fat, and it USED to be thought that saturated fat clogs your arteries. But I can point you to any number of very recent meta-studies that review all the accumulated data and find no link whatsoever between sat fat and cardio-vascular disease. I'd venture to say most of us don't get enough of it because of health related fears. Sorry - bit of a pet peeve of mine.

If you're going to use it for frying, do NOT use the virgin kind unless you want whatever you're cooking to smell strongly of coconut. I did this with meatballs... never again.

Wow, if you guys like coconut oil, then you'd like jojoba oil too. Many of the same benefits (I don't ingest it, though) and it doesn't leave grease behind. Removes eye makeup, conditions hair & skin, safe for children and pets.

I like Tropical Traditions' brand of coconut oil for cooking and my skin - but it tastes and smells very strongly of coconut: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm

I have been using EVCO for almost 2 years now.. for everything. And I swear by it. I have been showing my friends and family the great benefits that the oil has to offer, too. There are many great articles on its amazing benefits, you really should read up on them. I also buy the Nutiva brand in bulk and then put it in smaller containers for my purse, in my bathroom, kids' bathroom, car, etc.. You just never know when you're going to need it. GREAT for acne.. I also use it on my face everyday as a moisturizer. Can't say enough about it. Eat it, put a tbsp in your coffee or tea, smoothies, use it as a replacement for oil when you bake... tastes great in brownies. There are many reports on it quickly healing canker sore and HSV breakouts, asthma, aging, cleans out your pores, headaches. So much to share... read up on it and start using it! :-)

When you use it as a deodorant and it's irritating, that's because of the baking soda. Decrease or remove the baking soda and substitute arrowroot or more corn starch. To people that said it doesn't work... It does, you're body just gets used to the chemical deodorants and it takes about a week to detox. After that week natural deodorants will work just as well. I use the coconut oil mixture when I need a heavy duty deodorant rather than just the Tom's.

For those of you who use it on your face or for acne: Do you just rub it on and leave it or do you wash it off afterwards? Do you use it with your current skin regimen or does it REPLACE your regimen. (basically, can I just get rid of my face lotion and pore scrub if coconut oil works for me?)

I've recently switched to coconut oil as my main cooking oil and have been wanting to venture into other uses for a while now! It's wonderful if coconut is your favourite scent like it is for me! :)

I love its cosmetic uses..., but "stain remover and cake ingredient" comes parlous close to being a "floor wax AND a dessert topping" for my comfort.

One caveat about using coconut oil as leather polish, it is solid and bright white at room temp. So rub it in good, get off all of the excess. I learned this on one cold day, the oil was invisible in my warm house, when I stepped out into the snow I had white chunky stuff on my shoes.
Lately, I have been coating my damaged ends with it before shampooing, not double shampooing to get it all out. On my hair type this works well, I can put quite a lot in my coarse hair without looking greasy.
And the TJ's brand is good stuff.

I've tried a spoonful of raw, organic coconut oil for the health benefits and I couldn't keep it down. I actually liked the taste it just ended up making me really nauseous. Anybody know why this happened or had this happen to them?

I love this coconut tea-->
http://myteashelf.com/tea/white-teas/cocoda