Description: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is certified organic according to strict USDA requirements. It is hand-made in the Philippines the traditional way.
Where to buy it:
You can purchase the oil from Healthybuyersclub.com, by using this link right here. If you are a first time buyer and use this link, you will receive a FREE Virgin coconut oil book with your first purchase.
First Impressions:
I have never used coconut oil before, so I was a bit intimidated by it when I opened it and it was solid. I was expecting an oil in liquid form, so I was quite surprised when I received what looks like a hard grease. I read the label, and noticed that it does say that coconut oil will solidify under 76 degrees.
I found the smell to be pleasant, and, well, slightly coconutty. The coconut oil, once liquefied, feels lighter than the Extra Virgin Olive oil that we normally use in our hair.
On Ally' hair (3b):
I used the Virgin Coconut oil on Ally's hair first, as a moisturizer after washing and conditioning her hair. I spooned some of the hardened oil into a microwave safe dish and microwaved it on high for about 15 seconds, stirred and kept microwaving in 15 second intervals until it was liquefied.
The coconut oil made her hair shiny and easy to manage. I attempted a braid out without using any additional product, but the results were less than satisfactory. It is an oil, though; not a holding product, so I didn't expect much hold, but I thought I would give it a try anyway. I was VERY pleased with how soft and manageable her hair was with just the oil in it. For 3 days, she wore her hair in a loose ponytail, just finger detangling the hair at night and braiding it in 3 or 4 big braids. I did not need to add any additional product, and after I washed her hair it still had a softness and shine to it that we do not see with olive oil.
On The Princess's hair (2a/2b):
I used the coconut oil as a pre-poo/hot oil treatment on her hair. We treat her hair with olive oil before every wash, so I was interested to see how well the coconut oil would work as a substitution. I applied the oil to her dry hair and combed it throughout her hair. Then she wore a plastic bag over her hair for 20 minutes.
Here is what The Princess's hair looked like immediately after applying the oil, before the bag was placed over her hair:
I washed The Princess's hair twice after using the oil (we normally only wash once), but I still felt the oil. I'm not sure why, because the oil does have a light feeling when it is in its liquid state, but it proved to be too heavy for her thin, fine hair. It almost felt as though the oil began to solidify in her hair. I braided her hair into this beaded style without using any additional product for moisture or conditioning, since there was still a residual greasy feel left from the coconut oil. Her braids looked healthy and shiny, so I think the oil may work for her before protective styling. However, I will not be using it again for ponytails or 'down' styles on The Princess's hair.
On Li'l Bit's hair (4a/4b):
Just like with The Princess, I used the coconut oil as a pre-poo hot oil treatment for Li'l Bit. Unlike with The Princess, the heavy feeling the oil left behind was EXACTLY what her little coils needed. I washed her hair once, and conditioned it. Then I added more oil to her hair as a leave in, and I sealed in all that great moisture with a butter based product. Here is what her hair looked like:
I absolutely LOVE the way her hair her hair looked and felt after using this oil. It was shiny and soft. And her curls were VERY well defined. After a few times using this coconut oil, I have noticed that Li'l Bit's hair is softer and easier to manage; and her curls look great!
Other ways we used it:
I like to try to get as much use as possible out of each product before I give a review. So I:
Cooked with it: I replaced olive oil with this virgin coconut oil while browning chicken for my coconut curry chicken. I didn't really notice a difference in the taste of the chicken; I guess its like olive oil in that aspect...the flavor is muted quite a bit once cooked.
I used it on my skin: My normal skin care routine is to mix lotion with the oil of my choice and apply it to my skin directly after showering, while my skin is still wet. I used Tropical Tradition' Virgin Coconut oil for this purpose, and I couldn't be happier with the results. My skin stayed moisturized all day, I didn't even need to add more lotion to my feet before bed. (A nightly routine of mine, I HATE dry feet) It did not leave my skin feeling oily, and the faint smell that it did have was did not overpower my fragranced lotion.
For more information, or to purchase this amazing oil for yourself, head over to Tropical Tradition's Healthy Buyer's Club.
Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
I love their coconut oil, it actually has a coconut flavor, I love cooking with it as well as using it for the hair and skin too. Great review, I love hearing about all the ways people use coconut oil.
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