No, coconut oil doesn’t dissolve in water. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get the two ingredients to mix.
The reason that I get asked can coconut oil dissolve in water often has to do with hair care. People want to know if they can first dissolve the oil in water before applying it to their hair. Well, since I do use the oil in my own mop, I do have plenty of insight.
Below, you can learn about whether these two components can be mixed and just how to use the combination in your hair.
Table of Contents
Like most oils, coconut oil isn’t soluble in water – this means that it can’t dissolve in water at room temperature.
If you are curious about why this, we will need to get scientific for a moment.
Water molecules are considered to be polar. This means that they have an uneven distribution of charge across their molecules. Other polar molecules that are attracted to the water molecule can have their chemical structures broken by the charges at the end of the water molecule.
Oil molecules, on the other hand, are non-polar and aren’t attracted to the polarity of water molecules. In reality, the opposite effects take place. As oil molecules are considered to be hydrophobic, they actually repel water molecules.
This is why if you were to pour coconut water into a glass of water, you would notice that the two liquids would separate. There would be small pools of coconut oil floating within the water.
Despite these opposing features, it is still possible for coconut oil and water to be mixed to a certain degree. For this, you will need to heat the water first. This allows the coconut oil to melt a bit, allowing it to combine with the water more easily.
The hotter the water is, the more that the oil will dissolve in it. Therefore, for the best results, you may want to use water that has just reached the boiling point. Even then, though, some separation will exist as the bonds will not be completely broken.
As mentioned, I get asked about coconut oil dissolving in water mostly for use in hair. What many people don’t realize, though, is that it is actually a good thing for your hair that coconut oil doesn’t mix well with water!
When the strands of your hair are wet, they are weaker, more prone to damage and breakage. When the strands are coated with coconut oil, though, the water isn’t able to penetrate the strands as much. This protects your hair.
However, you may want to use coconut oil as a spray to prevent frizz or flyaways. If this is the case, place some warm – not hot – water in a spray bottle and add a few drops of coconut oil. Close the bottle and shake really well.
Then, spritz the oil onto your hair as needed.
As you can see, coconut oil can’t really dissolve in water. However, you now know why this and have learned the trick of how to mix oil and water regardless of this.
If you enjoyed this post, check out our Pinterest page. We have tons of other content on coconut oil and how you can use it for cooking, skincare, haircare, and more!
