International Journal of Ethics in Engineering & Management Education Website: www.ijeee.in (ISSN: 2348-4748, Volume 1, Issue 3, March 2014) 27 The effectiveness of coconut oil mixed with herbs to promote hair growth AdidaMuhammud, Faculty of Applied Science, UiTM Kuala Terengganu. Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia adida109@tganu.uitm.edu.my Abd Rahman Mat Amin, Faculty of Applied Science, UiTM Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. abdra401@tganu.uitm.edu.my Rubiah Abu Bakar, Academy Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. rubiah73@tganu.uitm.edu.my Ruhana Jaafar, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, UiTM Kuala Terengganu. Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia ruhana75@tganu.uitm.edu.my Abstract— Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) consists of lauric acid which has high affinity and low molecular weight that are able to penetrate into hair shaft and promote hair growth. In this project, the main objective is to study the potential of coconut oil towards hair growth. In addition, the coconut oil was mixed with two herbs, Nigella sativa and Aleurites moluccana to identify their potential in contributing hair growth. Nigella sativa, that contain high nutrient of linoleic acid (a short chain fatty acid), are very important in blood circulation. While, Aleurites moluccana is traditionally used to promote hair growth. In this experiment, 1L of the fresh coconut milk was heated at 60ºC for 15 minutes and cooled at 4ºC for 24 hours. The low molecular weight of the substance was separated and mixed with grinned herbs, Nigella sativa and Aleurites molucana. The mixture was left for 72 hours to make a homogenous component and then, were filtered two times to get pure oil. The coconut oil, coconut and Nigella sativa oil, coconut and Aleurites moluccana oil and coconut with mixed herbs were applied on shaven scalp three times per day. The three volunteered respondent was used and the effectiveness of these solutions was evaluated by measuring the length of hair. Hence, the most effective solution was coconut oil mixed with Nigella sativa. Index Terms— Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera); Habbatus sauda’ (Nigella sativa); Candlenut seed (Aleurites moluccana); lauric and linoleic acid; promotes hair growth. I. INTRODUCTION Hairs are one of the characteristic of mammals that composed of proteins and made of three layers which are medulla, cortex and cuticle. The cuticle of hair consists of hair bulb which is the most important part to promote hair growth. People have had hair problem at all level today and the solutions to these matter quiet blur since lots of chemical product in market. The usefulness of natural product to overcome this problem is quiet small and not widely identified. In this study, coconut milk is used by extraction method which is done traditionally but based on scientific method. Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) is used as hair treatment by previous people as it gives hair healthy and also can promote hair growth. The valuable content in coconut oil which is triglyceride component of lauric acid (short chain fatty acid) is a good nutrient that can easily penetrate into hair shaft and promote hair growth. According to Bias (1988), the pure coconut oil is obtained by extraction method which is heated to 60ºC for 15 minutes and cooled in refrigerator at 4ºC for 24 hours to form two layers. The top layer is the most affinity and low molecular weight where it contains high level of short chain fatty acid. The bottom layer is a water content. Coconut milk is an emulsion type of insoluble layers that contain of oil and water. The insoluble layer consists of short chain fatty acids that are easily to absorb. Nigella sativa or widely known as habbatus sauda’ and a candlenut (Aleurites moluccana) are also having potential in promoting hair growth. Candlenut , a famous ingredient in cooking and well applied on hair by some Indonesian to promote a healthy hair. According to Noviansyah and Sidharta (2009), Aleurites moluccana is used in traditional medicine to prevent hair loss and enhance hair growth. Habbatus sauda’ has various potential to treat disease and blood circulation. This study is held to find a new idea by mixing these herbs with coconut oil and observe their potential in hair growth. The mixture between those herbs with extracted coconut milk is homogenous enough and left about 72 days at room temperature. In this study, four different solutions are made, which is pure coconut oil, coconut oil mixed with Nigella sativa, coconut oil mixed with Aleurites moluccana and coconut oil mixed with both of herbs. The extracted solutions are filtered two times to get pure oil. The four types of oil solutions were applied on hair that has already smooth shave. In short, the effectiveness of those solutions can be evaluated based on the highest length of hair growth.