What does Cocos Nucifera Oil mean on an INCI list?

It is coconut oil, the oil itself from the flesh of the coconut. Cocos nucifera is the Latin name for the coconut palm.

Are Cocos Nucifera Oil and Hydrogenated Coconut Oil the same?

No. Hydrogenated Coconut Oil is hardened coconut oil. Hydrogenation makes the oil firmer and helps it last longer. It is mostly used to provide texture, for example in makeup. Cocos Nucifera Oil is the oil itself.

What do studies show about coconut oil and hair?

Coconut oil can penetrate the hair shaft and reduce protein loss when you wash your hair. A systematic review found support for its benefits for fragile hair. There was little evidence that it makes hair grow.

Coconut oil

INCI: Cocos Nucifera Oil

Oil from the coconut that softens hair and dry skin

Good evidence: randomised trials

Written by ECOOKING Research (R&D) · Updated 06.11.2026

At a glance

Suits: Dry skin and dry hair
Helps with: Dry hair, Fragile hair, Dry skin
Pairs well with: Aloe vera, Panthenol, Shea butter
Found in: 5 ECOOKING products

What can coconut oil help with?

Dry hair

Used before or after washing, coconut oil reduced protein loss in both healthy and damaged hair. Sunflower oil and mineral oil did not.^[1]

Fragile hair

A systematic review of hair oils found support for coconut oil helping fragile hair. There was little evidence that it makes hair grow.^[3]

Dry skin

In a double-blind study, 34 people with dry skin on their legs applied either virgin coconut oil or mineral oil to their legs for two weeks. Both oils increased skin hydration, with comparable results.^[4]

Read our guide to coconut oil

How it works

Coconut oil is pressed from coconut flesh (Cocos nucifera). It consists mostly of saturated fatty acids, especially lauric acid. This is why it is solid at room temperature but melts as soon as it comes into contact with your warm skin.

Like most plant oils, coconut oil consists mostly of triglycerides, with lauric acid making up the largest proportion of its fatty acids. The oil’s molecules are small and straight, which may explain why it penetrates the hair shaft while many other oils remain on the outside. The oil also forms a thin coating around the hair, slowing down its absorption of moisture.

How to use it

Apply a little coconut oil to dry hair before washing it.
Apply a small amount to dry skin, preferably in the evening.
If you have oily skin, choose a lighter oil for your face.

Products with coconut oil

24 Hour Cream
Fragrance-free moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin that moisturises for up...
50 ml

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€40,95
Repair Conditioner
Moisturising conditioner for dry hair that leaves hair silky soft and easy to...
250 ml

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€27,95
Hair Mask
Hair mask and conditioner in one for dry and damaged hair, reducing split end...
200 ml

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€30,95
Volume conditioner 250 ml
Our Volume Conditioner 250 ml conditions normal and fine hair, gives hair vol...
250 ml

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€27,95
Lip Scrub 30 ml
Our Lip Scrub 30 ml removes dead skin cells from the lips, leaving them softe...
30 ml

4,3 4,3 out of 5 stars (15)
€13,95

See all 5 products with coconut oil

Frequently asked questions

Sources

This page is based on two laboratory studies of hair: one on how oils protect hair from damage^[1], and one on how a thin film of oil affects moisture in the hair.^[2] In addition, there is a systematic review of oils for hair^[3], a double-blind study of coconut oil on dry skin^[4] and a review of clinical studies of plant oils on skin.^[5] The studies were conducted using pure coconut oil. They therefore do not show how effective coconut oil is in a finished product. There has been little research into whether the oil can help hair grow.