There are countless beauty hacks on the internet [1] — some good and some terrible — but when we spotted the idea [2] of dousing our hair in pure coconut water, this hack made total sense. After all, coconuts are filled with a ton of moisture-boosting benefits. This is likely the reason there are already a whole host of hair products infused with coconut water [3]. Sure, you can just use those, but the idea here is to reap the benefits of this moisturiser in its purest form. Logistically, it could be tricky. Who's really up for buying a substantial-enough supply of bottled coconut water to rinse your hair regularly? Before sorting through those details, here's what you should know about whether or not it's actually worth the hassle.

What are the benefits?

There are pretty much only a handful of ingredients that top the list of moisture must-haves, and coconut is certainly one of them. Coconut oil has already secured a spot as the holy grail of hair moisturisers [4], particularly in the natural hair community, but coconut water, on the other hand, is somewhat uncharted territory. Bridget Brager, Herbal Essences celebrity stylist, said that there isn't a single person who wouldn't benefit from using coconut water as a hair treatment. "Coconut water helps to nourish and condition the hair because it's rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants," she said. Cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson also explained that the contents of coconut water include sugars and amino acids which can help hair strands maintain moisture.

Will any coconut water do?

"Depending on the age of the coconut, the water can have more sugars or more protein," Wilson explained. Younger coconuts (the green ones) contain more sugars, while the proteins in the water from more mature coconuts (the brown, furry-looking ones) can help strengthen hair strands temporarily.

Is it safe?

Yes, it's safe, but there is a slight risk of going overboard on protein with water from more mature coconuts.

How should you use it?

Try it as a treatment first once a week, when you feel like you need a moisture boost. Wilson says that your frequency of use should be determined by the age of the fruit. "Young green coconut water can be used more frequently because it contains more sugars. Mature fruit water has a higher protein concentration, so I would use it sparingly first to see how your hair responds to it," she added. There is a slight risk of packing on too much protein and potentially damaging your hair [5]. "If your hair doesn't get dry and brittle, then you can use it more frequently," Wilson notes. The tricky part is that unless you're cracking open coconuts straight from a tree, there's no real way to know if what you're buying in a bottle is young or mature. So test it out first to see how your hair adapts. Try it after shampooing as a rinse or in a spray bottle on already damp hair as a leave-in conditioner. There's no need to dilute it, and although the younger fruit contains more sugars, it won't leave a sticky residue on your strands. It should soak right in.