How is Coconut Oil Made

Most commercial category coconut oil is obtained from copra. Copra is the thoroughly dried kernel of the coconut. It can also be produced by kiln drying, sun drying, or smoke drying, or a combination of the three process derivatives. If natural copra is utilized as a raw material, the crude coconut oil obtained from copra is not suitable for consumption. Instead, it should be purified. The method of refining used by drying copra is not hygienic. In this article, we will talk about how coconut oil is made.

The conventional final product extracted from copra is known as RBD coconut oil. The abbreviation RBD is the short word for refined, bleached, and also deodorized.

Extreme heat is supplied to deodorize the oil, and then oil is separated through (bleaching) clays to exclude impurities. A compound known as Sodium hydroxide is utilized to prolong shelf life and of course to get rid of free fatty acids. This style has become the most popular way to produce coconut oil in large scale. The former method of making refined coconut oils was accomplished through mechanical/physical refining.

More advanced way also utilized chemical solutions to extract oil from this copra to ensure higher yields.

Copra is the term used to define the dried coconut flesh produced crude coconut oil.

This method is different oil as compared to extra virgin or rather a virgin coconut oil, that is on the current market.

The bulk of coconut oil made in the entire world is extracted from copra. But due to its inferior quality, the need for refining has become imperative.

Copra is a slightly cheap bulk raw material. However, since copra has been set to steady heat during the process of oil extraction and process of refining, the oil obtained from it is likely to be less sanitary.

Typically coconuts utilized for copra are broken in the garden with axes then chunks of fresh coconut content are gouged out, assembled and taken to a drying machine. The drying machines can range between solar to an uncomplicated rack above the sophisticated kiln or smoky fire.
There are various types of quality, but the recommended drying period usually takes more than three days to complete.

This copra is supposed to be bagged up. Copra is moldy and rancid by the actual time it reaches to industrial oil-seed millers. So it is not amazing that once it is removed, the oil had already been Refined, Bleached and even Deodorized (RBD) to ensures that it is suitable for human consumption.

During extraction of coconut oil, extreme heat is applied (typically 90C / 194F) and the oil that’s extracted in brown so requires to be bleached using the chemical to turn it whiter.

The refining is always done using a less concentrated caustic soda mixture to get rid of the 3% plus of Free Fatty Acids and turn the oil to be edible. The process of deodorization requires high heat of 446F / 230C while steam is passed within the oil.
The only by-product of coconut oil processing is a high-fiber and copra meal which is utilized as animal feeding product

Benefits of Coconut Oil For Hair Use

This world is full of wonders and blessings that sometimes can't be explained, nature has the ability to take care of all the needs of humans. A good example of natures gift to us is the coconut, people who live along the coast line where they grow do understand the importance of a coconut plant to their daily life.

The ability to use coconuts for more than one use is just incredible. A coconut can be eaten directly or added into food to add a nice flavour, beside that coconuts are very rich in fats and oil. These oil too have a lot of benefits to the body especially to the skin and the hair. Most people prefer using coconut oil on their hair since it is pure and it is rarely combined with chemicals that may be harmful. This helps to protect and take care of hair naturally, below are some benefits of using coconut oil on your hair.

1. Protects from dandruff.

Continued use of chemicals on the hair is a good cause of dandruff, dry skin and fungal infections are also major causes of dandruff in the hair. Coconut oil contains fatty oils that are antibacterial which help to combat any fungal infections that cause dandruff furthermore it moisturizes the scalp and prevents the scalp from drying up and causing dandruffs.

2. Promotes hair growth.

Coconut oil contain essential vitamins and fatty oils that penetrates the scalp and enters deep into the hair follicles and the hair roots which encourages growth of long, healthy and thick hair. Coconut oil also prevents loss of protein which is vital for growth of healthy hair.

3. Protection of the hair from the sun.

Just like the skin, hair also can be damaged when it is exposed for too long under the hot sun. Coconut oil helps reduce the impact of exposure protecting the hair from the impact when the hair is exposed to the sun.

4. Coconut oil moisturizes dry hair.

As stated above coconut oil adds moisture in a dry scalp, it also helps to maintain the moisture and prevents loss of moisture from the hair this helps to rehabilitate dry hair and prevent it from further drying.

5. Helps to prevent balding or hair loss.

Coconut oil helps to strengthen the hair roots which hold the hair into the scalp, weak hair roots are the major cause of hair loss. It also improves the quality and health of hair keeping the hair and the scalp moisturised this helps to prevent dandruff which is also a major cause of hair fall out.

6. Protects the hair from lice.

Unlike other hair products that contain a lot of chemicals may damage the hair, coconut oil is a good and a natural way to treat or remove lice in the hair. Getting rid of lice is difficult since they easily come back especially when they lay eggs in the hair, coconut oil completely removes lice in the hair and prevents lice eggs from ever hatching.

Coconut oil can be mixed with substances such as milk or lavender oil and other natural beauty products for better results. Use of coconut oil on the hair has proven to be better than using other hair products that have a lot of chemicals that may be harmful to the hair and the scalp in general.