"I'm a firm believer in natural oils, especially nut oils, because the physical molecules in macadamia, coconut, and almond oil can penetrate inside the hair," Townsend said. "Whereas argon, silicons, and other things sit on top of the hair."
Think about it: coconut water is one of the most hydrating liquids we can put inside our bodies, and coconut oil does the same thing topically for hair and skin. Choose the raw, unrefined kind from health-food stores for the best results. And get creative! You can mix your nut oils to create a power potion.
Townsend suggests using nut oil as a preshampoo conditioner. This means you apply it to dry hair (perhaps put a cap over it) and let it sit on the hair for at least 15 minutes. Then, jump in the shower and rinse your hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual. (This is what Townsend's client Mary-Kate Olsen does!)
Here's what I like to do: coat dry hair with coconut oil before bed, put it in a topknot, go to sleep, wake up, and wash it out. Poststyling, it looks like I just got a fancy, frizz-taming salon treatment!
