Olive Oil For Hair: 5 Benefits and How To Use It The Best Way?

Sharing is caring!

Have you tried using olive oil for hair yet?

You’ve probably been hearing about how olive oil is the best oil in the market and how good it is for health. Especially the extra-virgin olive oil is the most popular choice. It is used in salad dressings, cooking other delicacies, and even moisturizing your skin and deep condition your hair.

But, did you know that extra-virgin olive oil is not the only kind of olive oil out there?

There are so many varieties, and they all are popular because they contain antioxidants and can reduce blood pressure and inflammation.

Whichever kind of olive oil you use, they have a common denominator – they come with immense health benefits and are greatly beneficial for hair.

Olive oil can help hair grow faster and add a much-needed moisture pop to your hair.

Olive Oil For Hair

Olive oil is extracted from olives and is native to the Mediterranean region but has become widely popular across the globe including India. Fitness enthusiasts swear by the benefits of this oil.

The extraction of olive oil is done by pressing whole olives. The oil is used for various purposes such as cooking, cosmetics, and soap making.

Did you know that traditionally, olive oil was used to fuel lamps?

Properties of Olive Oil

Vitamin E: Olive oil is a rich source of vitamin E, which helps reduce damage caused by free radicals and thus slows down the process of aging.

Vitamin K: It contains vitamin K, which is necessary for good bone health.

Omega 3s and Omega 6s: Olive oil contains fatty acids essential for youthful and hydrated skin.

Anti-Inflammatory: It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps soothe the redness and swelling caused due to acne.

Benefits Of Olive Oil For Hair

Olive oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants and provides several health benefits, some of which are listed below:

Nutrients: You have probably dipped your sourdough and baguettes in olive oil or whipped up vinaigrettes using olive oil. This oil is used in several ways in cooking, but it has more than just culinary benefits to offer.

You can slather it on your body, nails, and especially your hair. Olive oil is a rich source of vitamins A, D, E, and K, and fatty acids. It has trace amounts of calcium, iron, potassium, and sodium.

Antioxidants: This oil is a natural antioxidant and can help counteract the effect of free radicals, which cause untold damage to health. They can lead to heart troubles, damage skin cells, and prevent cell regeneration, which speeds up the process of aging.

Emollients: Olive oil is good for dry, itchy, and chapped skin. It is excellent for the entire body – from the top of the head to the tip of the toes, and within and without.

How To Use Olive Oil For Hair?

To Eliminate Dandruff

Massaging olive oil on the scalp helps combat dandruff.

To use it, simply mix few drops of lemon juice to 3 tsp of olive oil and massage it gently on the scalp. Or you can mix olive oil with castor oil, almond oil, and camphor to whip up a quick potion to help you soothe your itchy scalp.

To Treat Split Ends

Split ends occur due to dryness and lack of moisture. The regular application of olive oil on hair adds moisture which in turn treats split ends.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nimisha | HairCareSquare (@nimisha.popat)

To treat your split ends and add moisture, try the egg, banana and olive oil hair mask.

Strengthen Hair Roots

Olive oil is a rich source of vitamins A, D, E, and K, which help lock keratin in the hair, thus making it stronger. Massage the scalp with warm olive oil using your fingertips. It improves blood flow and stimulates the growth of new hair follicles.

Promote Hair Growth

Olive oil discourages the sebum build-up on the scalp, which is detrimental to hair growth. Without the presence of excess sebum, new hair follicles can grow healthier and faster.

To use olive oil for hair growth, take 3 tsp of olive oil in a bowl and warm it in your microwave oven. You can mix the yolk of an egg and almond oil to your olive oil along with honey and apply it on the scalp. Massage the dry scalp with the mixture.

You can also use olive oil and make cayenne pepper oil which boosts your hair growth rate.

What Are The Precautions to Be Taken While Using Olive Oil?

Olive oil is extremely beneficial for your health unless you are allergic to it, and then it becomes a problem. People allergic to olive oil may suffer from mild diarrhea if they consume it in large quantities.

It is also recommended that you should not use a lot of olive oil in your food if you are on medication for blood pressure or diabetes.

Although this oil is beneficial for both blood pressure and diabetes, using excessive olive oil in your food and taking medications may cause complications in some cases.

FAQs

Does Olive Oil Speed Up Hair Growth?

Olive oil contains fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It not only promotes hair growth, but it also speeds it up. But, you need to massage the oil regularly on your scalp for the growth of new hair follicles.

Should You Be Leaving Olive Oil In Hair Too Long For Better Results?

Olive oil or any other oil works well even in an hour or two. If your hair is too dry and in need of extra nourishment, heat your oil using double boiler method and massage it well in your scalp, hair ends and roots well.

Leave it on as an overnight hair mask. Do this once a week.

If you leave olive oil in hair for too long, (I mean for days), then there is a strong possibility that it will attract dirt, dust and even get damaged due to air pollution. Along with it, it might also cause a layer of build-up which hampers hair health.

And if like me, you belong to sensitive skin family, then there is a sleek chance that you might notice breakout.

So, it is recommended that you should keep olive oil in hair for just a few hours or overnight but not for days as it will cause more harm than good in the long run.

Can Cooking Olive Oil Be Used For Hair Massage?

Yes. Olive oil, irrespective of whether it is cooking oil or salad oil, contains the same beneficial properties and can be used for hair massage.

How Does Olive Oil Work?

Olive oil works by improving the flow of blood to the hair follicles, stimulating growth. It also prevents dandruff by moisturizing the scalp and strengthens the hair roots.

As per a study conducted, it was evident that among olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil and mineral oil, only olive and coconut oil were able to penetrate deep with the hair shafts and were able to prevent protein loss. Thus helping in better hair health and less hair breakage.

Which Olive Oil Do We Recommend?

I have had wonderful results using Figaro olive oil. Its one of the best in the market.

People use olive oil for overall health, but the lesser-known fact is that it is good for hair growth too. You can apply this oil as a hair mask or massage your hair with it daily to provide it with the nourishment it needs. Use it twice or thrice a week, and watch as your hair turns shiny, glossy, and longer.

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

~Written by Nidhi Khurana, who is a happy-go-lucky girl. Started as a pastime, writing became her passion and now she dabbles between lifestyle and travel writing. You can follow her journey filled with beauty, travel, and lifestyle solutions at 365Gorgeous.