Fatty Acids, Part 3: Lauric Acid

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Lauric acid, known as dodecanoic acid, has an affinity for protein. So, products with a high amount of this acid will pair well with hydrolyzed proteins. Lauric acid is known to fight hair loss due to its anti-microbial nature. Microbial activity is a significant reason for hair loss so it is believed that oils consisting of lauric acid will aid with this problem.... Although, the microbial activity in lauric acid is not enough to work on its own without other ingredients to combat hair loss.

FYI: Coconut oil is great for providing moisture to the skin and hair. This oil may cause problems for acne prone skin since it clogs pores. The oil contains more than ten percent of myristic acid which is not always a friend to the skin as it sometimes causes acne breakouts and skin irritation. The typical composition of coconut oil contains between thirteen to eighteen percent of myristic acid.

Below are some oils that have high amounts of lauric acid. The listed amounts of lauric acid are based on the general composition of the oils, each supplier will have a different percentage of lauric acid.

Babassu oil: 40%-45% (moisturizing for skin and hair)

Coconut oil: 47% (moisturizing for hair and skin)

Palm kernel oil: 50% (offers moisturizing properties for skin)