Over the last few years, coconut oil has gained an unprecedented popularity in the natural health and beauty world. The internet has been abuzz with recipes for everything from hair masks and toothpaste to exfoliating and wrinkle reducing creams – all featuring coconut oil!
Along with its sudden rise in popularity have come a lot of dubious claims about what coconut oil can do, but the truth is that coconut oil does have some pretty magical properties!
The benefits of shaving with coconut oil for the skin
Along with having antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, coconut oil is an excellent hydrating agent. Because of its particular blend of fatty acids, including caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid, coconut oil has an amazing ability to hydrate the skin and increase lipid levels on the skin’s surface.
Beyond moisturization, coconut oil can actually repair and protect your skin from the effects of age. Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants which inhibit oxidization and prevent cell damage.
Coconut oil is also a great source of vitamins A, C, and E. Vitamin A is an all-around age-fighting powerhouse which helps reduce wrinkles, fade spots, and smooth skin while vitamin C helps firm and treat sun damage. Vitamin E moisturizes, neutralizes damaging free radicals, and helps heal cuts! Together, these properties provide the comprehensive skin care we’d expect from a sophisticated department store brand, but simple coconut oil has it all.
You can also use coconut oil in this homemade coconut oil body scrub.
So, did you know that coconut oil makes for a great shave too?
Shaving with coconut oil will leave your face, legs, armpits, and anywhere else you prefer to go hair-free feeling so soft and smooth you won’t believe the method was this simple all along! In case you want to give it a try right away, here’s a secret: yes, there’s an amazing recipe, but there’s also a simple way, a really simple way.
Honestly, the simple way is so easy, it feels a bit silly even to write it down! Just rub a little coconut oil on the area you wish to shave and… shave it! You’ll get a close shave and be left with super smooth skin and best of all, it takes no extra effort! However, if you’ve got a little extra time on your hands, you can turn a chore into an experience that makes you feel like you’re at the spa!
Try this recipe for a perfectly luxurious lather!
Recipe for shaving with coconut oil
Coconut Oil Shaving Cream
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup coconut oil
- ⅓ cup cocoa butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp liquid castile soap
- 2 vitamin E capsules
- 10-30 drops vanilla absolute (for a nice smell, optional)
Instructions
- Melt the solid oils. This is best done on a double boiler. Place the coconut oil and cocoa butter in a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water. When the oils are melted, carefully remove the bowl.
- Add the olive oil, castile soap, vitamin E, and essential oil. Stir to combine. Then place the bowl in the fridge until the contents harden.
- Remove the bowl from the fridge and let it sit until the contents soften. Then, using an electric blender, whip the mixture until it looks like frosting (it should smell like frosting too if you used the vanilla essential oil)!
- Store in an air (and water) tight container and enjoy!
This recipe makes a product reminiscent of aerosol shaving cream, but with a much more rich and velvety texture, so you can use a much thinner layer when shaving than you’re probably used to. The process is quite similar to making whipped hemp body butter.
Few tips for the best experience with coconut oil shaving cream:
- While Vitamin E is added to the recipe to prolong the shelf life by preventing the oils from going rancid, you can help make your shaving cream last even longer by making sure no water gets into the jar. Your best bet is to dry your hands before applying.
- This recipe stores best in a cool place. If it ever melts, however, you can simply re-whip it for the ideal texture.
- You can pick whichever essential oil or essential oil blend you like the scent of! You can also choose one based on the benefits to your skin. Try chamomile for a skin soothing effect or rose essential oil for anti-aging benefits!
- You may want to vary your recipe depending on where you plan to use your coconut oil shaving cream. For instance, if you plan to shave with coconut oil to keep your beard in shape, try substituting sweet almond oil for olive oil and shea butter for cocoa butter in this recipe!
- Always shave as close to the end of your shower as possible. Warm water will help soften the hair and make shaving easier!
Shaving with coconut oil is healthier for you skin, for the environment, and for your wallet, but there are always downsides to any switch.
Making your own shaving cream can certainly take more time than buying a cheap drugstore brand, so consider how much effort you want to put in and consider using straight coconut oil if it’s more suitable to your lifestyle.
Coconut oil can also have a clogging effect on your razor, so be sure to rinse thoroughly and often to keep things running smoothly. This method also has a tendency to, unsurprisingly, coat the shower floor in oil. Be extra careful when using coconut oil as a shaving lotion. You can counteract this effect by cleaning the tub or shower carefully, but it can’t hurt to invest in a non-slip surface for your bathroom areas – better safe than sorry!
Coconut oil has proven to be a veritable miracle product in the natural beauty revolution, but, as with any product, one size does not fit all. Try shaving with coconut oil and find out what works for you and what doesn’t, then try altering the recipe, amount, or technique to find out if you can benefit from the newest use for coconut oil.
Did you try shaving with coconut oil?
