Coconut oil has been used for over thousands of years in Thailand with proven nutritional and cosmetic benefits. Cosmetically, Thai's used coconut oil as an ointment to maintain their smooth and soft skin. When preparing the oils, the coconut oil is often used as the base oil, and then other seed oils and flowers are added for fragrance and variety. Coconut oil can provide moisturizing benefits for the skin and is, without any comparison, an excellent hair conditioner.  These days coconut oil is used as an ingredient for making skin care products, hair treatments, and body and sun protection lotions.
Pure, Virgin Coconut Oil is high in antioxidants that penetrate into the underlying tissues of your skin to prevent and protect against the formation of free radicals (which break down your skin's connectives tissues as you age). The Oil will also soften and moisturize your skin, as well as aid in removing the outer layer of dead skin cells making your skin smoother and more evenly textured with a healthy "shine".

There are many uses for virgin coconut oil which are summarized below.

Massage oil

Pure Coconut Oil makes great massaging oil, since it is absorbed through the skin easily. Virgin coconut oil is 100% natural and organic and at temperatures of around 24°C becomes a crystal clear liquid that can be used as a fantastic moisturizer for smoothing dry skin. It will produce real positive changes in skin texture thus making your skin wrinkles look smoother. Pure virgin coconut oil smoothes and cools the body making it ideal as massage oil, which also moisturizes your skin. It will absorb easily into your skin without feeling greasy; it is excellent to use on very dry skin, making your skin soft and smooth. Moisturizing your hands and feet with the important nutrients that are available in coconut oil will lead you to see the difference of this powerful and unique oil against skin dryness that can sometimes lead to roughness, hardening and splitting. Pure virgin coconut oil is ideal as a skin lotion because it not just makes your skin soft; it can protect your skin against damage and can make your skin younger looking.

Soap

Virgin coconut oil is an excellent ingredient for making  high quality soap by bringing its own unique qualities; it is naturally rich in Lauric Acid, which protects your skin from micro-organisms. This naturally occurring defense is carried on in the soap. Virgin coconut oil is pure, free of impurities and gives big, fluffy bubbles. Virgin coconut oil adds volumes of lather to a soap making recipe. Coconut oil and products such as coconut oil soap are also effective in the treatment of a variety of skin problems. Some of the skin problems that benefit from coconut oil soap use include eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Coconut oil soap also has antioxidant properties, which help delay the aging of skin and prevent skin cell damage. Finally, coconut oil soap has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial benefits. Therefore, it helps with ringworm and infections. It speeds up the healing of tissues as well.

Hair conditioner

Virgin Coconut oil enhances shine and gives an incredible glossy softness to the hair. Virgin Coconut oil has anti-fungal and anti-microbial qualities that help combat dandruff and bacterial scalp infections. Highly refined Virgin Coconut oil  will absorb into your hair shaft quickly and easily to replace natural oils that are missing. Virgin Coconut oil is such a good conditioner for hair as it contains the following.
Lauric Acid: Microbial action on the scalp and hair roots is in charge of much hair fall and hair loss. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil helps reduce hair loss & also has wonderful antimicrobial properties.

Vitamin-E: Coconut Oil contains Vitamin E, which keeps scalp and skin healthy and hair rejuvenated.

Moisture Keeping Capacity:  Coconut Oil is very stable and doesn't let moisture escape simply and so keeps hair moistened and soft, stopping breakage of hair.

Anti-Dandruff:  Coconut oil is a great moisturizer, and is anti-fungal, so it helps dandruff, whether the flakes spring from dry scalp, or a fungal / yeast condition like seborrheic rash.

So to wrap things up we could say that coconuts are not just for eating but can be great for your skin & hair too.