The very name of the oil “Monoy de Tahiti” carries something exotic, evokes associations with the paradise islands of tropical seas. And if you breathe in the aroma of the flower from which it is made, you will immediately be mentally transported to a snow-white sandy beach, where palm trees shaken by the breeze languidly bend over the turquoise surface of the lagoon ...
Perhaps for those who put above all the pleasure of the smell of cosmetics, this description will be enough. But we need to know everything about the beneficial properties of the oil and the possible harm.
How to apply it - for skin, hair, bath or massage? What is the composition of this product? Now mono oil is sold by many cosmetic companies - both domestic and foreign.
Which manufacturer to choose? All these questions will be devoted to our article. Of great importance to us is the opinion of customers, therefore, the basis for writing this essay was their feedback.
What is mono
First of all, we learn what kind of plant it is, from which aroma and useful properties for oil are extracted. Meet Tahitian gardenia, or (another name) tiare.
The plant itself is a low (up to two meters in height) bush with glossy dark green leaves. But mona oil is extracted only from one part of the Tahitian gardenia, namely from flowers.
They are very beautiful in the plant - in the form of a star, with white petals, gently turning to the middle in the yellow dot. Have you ever been to Thailand, Bali or similar countries and never seen a tiara?
Then look at Gauguin's painting “A Woman with a Flower”. The original name of the canvas is Vahine no te Tiare. That is, the flower that is stuck in the hair of a woman, this is the Tahitian gardenia.
How does this charming white star with a golden core smell? Charming Its aroma contains the viscous sweetness of tropical flowers, the tenderness of European gardenia, and the sour smell of apple petals. Therefore, perfumers and wanted to perpetuate the tiara in perfumes and other cosmetic products.
How to get oil mona
Educated readers will immediately ask themselves: what kind of oil can be obtained from flower petals? After all, these are not sunflower seeds or olive fruits. In fact, the main product is pure coconut oil.
By itself, this product is also useful. And not without its own pleasant smell. But so that it does not interfere with the aroma of tiara, this oil is carefully refined and refined. And then comes the process of enflerage.
This technology with the French name is more than two thousand years old. The Tahitians have long adapted to take away the aroma and useful properties of the flowers, soaking the buds that have just blossomed in coconut oil.
The process of enflerage lasts at least fifteen days. Moreover, the flowers should come into production no more than a few hours after collection. You can’t let them fade a little.
After two weeks, coconut oil is completely saturated with the aroma of flowers and will absorb all the beneficial properties of the plant.
Structure
First of all, it should be borne in mind that the basis of the product is refined coconut oil. It consists of a mix of fatty acids: lauric, palmitic, linoleic, stearic and oleic.
And coconut oil also contains vitamins E, A and C. This product is also valuable because it can harden at +24 degrees and again become liquid when heated, completely without losing its useful properties.
As for the mona oil, in it coconut is supplemented with elements from tiare flowers. And the plant, which has become a symbol of French Polynesia, is rich in saturated fatty acids with antioxidant effects. It also has vitamins A, E and C.
But the main useful component of the tiara flower, which is transmitted during coconut oil enflerance, is hyaluronic acid, a unique natural moisturizer that can hold fluid inside the skin. In addition, Tahitian gardenia contains benzyl and terpene alcohols, as well as esters.
Application in Southeast Asia
The Europeans were attracted to the flower tiara primarily by the smell. Therefore, the fragrance of Tahitian gardenia was adopted first by perfumers. But the Polynesians used tiare flowers not only as fragrant garlands of jewelry.
They treated the so-called "ghost disease" with mona oil, the symptoms of which are headache, insomnia, depression, unmotivated anxiety. Polynesian women oiled their body and hair with this remedy.
It is believed that the oil not only makes the skin smooth, and curls lush and shiny, but also protects against excessive ultraviolet radiation. Residents of Southeast Asia believe that the fragrant tiare flower has the properties of an aphrodisiac, enhancing male potency and female sensitivity.
Europeans were also interested in the composition of the plant and discovered that it has a lot of useful properties. In addition to perfumes and perfumes, oil began to be used for medicinal purposes.
Application in modern cosmetology
Users in their reviews of mona oil claim that it is an ideal moisturizer. Therefore, it is used for the preparation of daytime rehydration creams, which help restore the skin's water balance.
The oil is rich in antioxidants, which allows its use in other cosmetics. It is noticed that mona smoothes the structure of hair, nourishes them and eliminates dandruff.
Creating an invisible film, it protects the lips from wind, sun and frost. It also treats cold sores.
Gently softening, hypoallergenic oil can be used in children's cosmetics - in baths and creams for diapers.
It is ideal for massage: it penetrates deep into the pores, and its smell helps to relax, achieve spiritual harmony.
Oil softens even the driest skin, so it is often added to hand creams. Europeans adopted the Tahitian way of protection from the sun using tiara flowers.
How to use oil
The product is sold both in pure form and as part of creams, lipsticks, shampoos, balms, tanning products, hair masks. Mona butter is used both for massage and for baby baths.
Depending on the purpose and apply it in different ways. If you want to add a delicious aroma to a shampoo or cream, just add a few drops of monoi in a cosmetic product.
To keep your hands well-groomed, soft, oil them in the evening and put on cotton gloves at night . Before going out into the cold and wind, apply the product on the lips. They will remain soft and intact by the aggressive environment.
Due to the unique properties of coconut oil gently dissolves in hot water without forming a film on the surface. Therefore, it can be used for aroma baths.
Oil strengthens the tan, makes it smooth and bronze. Therefore, the product is applied before going to the sun.
Oil also heals skin burns. After sunbathing, grease damaged areas.
Hair care
But first of all, consumers characterize Mono butter in reviews as an ideal tool for repairing damaged curls. It also strengthens the hair bulb, eliminates dandruff, nourishes the scalp.
Thanks to coconut oil, in which the aroma and trace elements of tiare flowers are dissolved, the product is washed off well, without leaving a greasy film. It aligns the structure of the hair along its entire length, helping to solve the problem of split ends.
Oil will also be an indispensable tool in cases of unsuccessful hair dyeing. With it, you can return the hair to its original color.
Oil pacifies curly and naughty curls, and gives volume to too flat hair due to mild conditioning. Therefore, it is a frequent component of shampoos, conditioners and masks.
How to apply mona butter for hair
In the reviews, users recommend purchasing a natural remedy in its purest form. Then it will be possible to make a regenerating hair mask.
Due to the fact that the flowers of the tiara are dissolved in coconut oil, the product hardens even at a temperature of +24 degrees. But, despite the transition from a liquid to a solid state, it does not lose its beneficial properties.
Before applying oil to the hair, it should be heated. This can be done by simply holding the narrow neck of the bottle in your hands. You can also substitute it under a stream of hot water.
But to warm the oil over a fire or in the microwave in the reviews is not recommended. If you want to deal with the problem of dry ends, apply the product on the middle of hair washed and slightly dried with a towel. Then comb with a comb.
The folk way to moisten excessively dry hair is as follows. On slightly wet hair apply Mona de Tahiti oil.
In the reviews, consumers recommend putting a hat on for the head to take a shower, and a terry towel on it. Look like this for about 30 minutes. In especially severe cases, you can spend this way all night. Wash your hair with shampoo the next morning.
What tool to choose
Nowadays, many cosmetic companies use oil from tiare flowers in their products. Which manufacturer to choose?
Users praise the Israeli company Mon Platin in their reviews. Hair oil in it is presented as pure mona with coconut, and with the addition of Dead Sea mud.
Easy to use mask and conditioner from Yves Rocher. Those who want to support the domestic producer can recommend the companies Aromatika, Choyce, TM Planet Organika.
But still, it does not bother to look at the composition of the product. It should say: coconut oil and tiare flowers. Everything else is already superfluous.