A high-quality hair care product should contain a mixture of vitamins, nutrients, and properties to repair and protect your hair. But did you know that you can use olive oil for hair to do just that? Instead of spending your hard earned money on expansive hair care products, you can use olive oil to treat, protect and nourish your hair.
Olive oil is one of the best natural oils for your hair, and this article will look at the many ways to use it for your hair as well as the many benefits that you can get from this natural product.
First of all, let’s have a look at the benefits of using olive oil on your hair.
Why Olive Oil is Beneficial for Hair
I’ve already mentioned that olive oil has amazing health benefits, and it is these same properties which also make it good for hair.
Although there hasn’t been a lot of research into using olive oil as a hair care product, it contains many properties which are known to benefit hair and skin.
Olive oil contains a high amount of vitamins E and K.
Vitamin E is well known for its antioxidant properties which can help protect your hair and scalp from the damaging effect of free radicals. It can also help reduce sun damage. For more information, please read my article on how to use vitamin E to benefit your skin, hair and health.
Vitamin K is also good for the skin. It helps fight aging and helps damaged skin look younger and healthier.
Olive oil can also give amazing shine to your hair because of the mono-unsaturated fatty acids it contains. One of these is oleic acid which can moisturize the hair and skin and provides a layer of protection.
Olive oil also contains properties which are known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.1
Types of olive oil and which one is the best for your hair
Olive oil exists in a variety of grades depending on processing.
Extra virgin olive oil is considered the premium type. It is produced from the first crush of the olives and is extracted through cold-pressing whereby no chemicals are added. Extra virgin olive oil has the highest content of vitamins, minerals and oleic acid. Extra-virgin olive oil must have an acidity of less than 1 percent.
Virgin olive oil – It is considered the second-best type. It has an acidity between 1 and 2 percent.
Refined olive oil is obtained from refining virgin olive and it has an acidity level of over 3.3%.
Always use organic unrefined extra virgin olive oil for your hair. In this article, all references to olive oil are to extra virgin unrefined olive oil.
Now let’s have a look on how to use olive oil for hair.
How to Use Olive Oil for Hair
Olive Oil for Hair Growth
While there is no scientific study showing that olive oil can encourage hair growth, it does contain properties that promote healthy hair growth.
By massaging olive oil into the scalp you help to cleanse the scalp and some think that massaging also helps to promote blood circulation which stimulates growth.
To really make olive oil boost hair growth there are some essential oils which are known to be effective in promoting hair growth and these can be added to olive oil to make a hair mask.
For example, rosemary essential oil has shown to be just as effective as minoxidil, a popular drug used to promote hair growth. You can read about the study into rosemary essential oil in my article on how to use rosemary for treating hair loss.
In one clinical study, peppermint essential oil was shown to be even more effective than minoxidil to promote hair growth.2
To use olive oil for hair growth:
Mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil with a few drops of rosemary essential oil or peppermint essential oil (3-4 drops of essential oil for every tablespoon of olive oil).
Place and seal in a small jar and put the jar in a bowl with hot water until it is warm.
Gently massage all of the olive oil hair mask into your scalp for several minutes, making sure to coat the scalp and the whole length of the strands.
Put your hair in a shower cap and wrap with a warm damp towel.
Keep changing the towel when it cools.
Do this for 30 – 45 minutes.
Rinse the oil out with shampoo.
For better results, you can leave the olive oil hair mask on your hair overnight to encourage hair growth and wash out in the morning.
For other ideas, read my article on how to make your hair grow faster.
Olive Oil for Lice
Tea tree oil has many benefits for the hair and is an effective treatment for lice. The combination of olive oil and tea tree oil can help you get rid of hair lice.
Olive oil works as a great carrier oil for essential oils and tea tree oil has proven antimicrobial properties and was found to be effective in combating lice infestations.3
To use olive oil for lice, this is what you should do:
Mix 2 oz of olive oil with 15-20 drops of tea tree oil.
Apply to the scalp and hair. Make sure it doesn’t get into the eyes.
Cover with a shower cap, wrap a towel around and leave for an hour.
Comb through all the hair with a nit comb to remove lice and eggs. Each time, wipe the comb clean.
Wash the hair with shampoo to remove all the oil.
For even better results, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo bottle.
You should remember that olive oil alone won’t kill off lice. Olive oil is good for the hair and is also a good lubricant for lice comb. The lice comb is one of the most effective and necessary ways to get rid of lice. Repeat this 3 times a week.
For other natural treatments for lice, read my article about the best home remedies for lice.
Olive Oil for Dandruff
You can also use olive oil for dandruff, and it is one of the most effective ways to get rid of dandruff.
There can be various reasons why a person suffers from dandruff, and one of them can be caused by a yeast infection or fungi on the scalp, so you can combine olive oil with other essential oils which have antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Some of the essential oils that are good for dandruff are:
Tea tree oil
Thyme oil
Lemongrass oil
Lemon oil
Peppermint oil
Lavender oil
If you want to use olive oil on your hair for dandruff, warm the oil before applying to the hair and add a few drops of the essential oils mentioned above.
Apply a little bit of the oil mixture onto your scalp and massage gently. Cover your hair with a towel and leave the oil for at least 30 minutes. Wash with a shampoo afterwards to remove excess oil.
For other ideas, read my article about the best natural ways to get rid of dandruff.
Olive Oil for Scalp
When you use olive oil on your hair you are also helping to keep your scalp healthy. One study into the components of virgin olive oil found that there are many anti-inflammatory properties in it when used as a topical application.4
As I’ve already mentioned in this article, olive oil can help protect your scalp from damage from free radicals. In studies, olive oil has also shown to have a protective effect against damage from UVB radiation.5 Therefore, olive oil is great for your scalp because it moisturizes and protects it and at the same time helps to strengthen and nourish hair.
Olive Oil For Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis can affect all areas of the body, including the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp looks like dandruff and can have a yellowish color. It is a common skin condition that is similar to eczema and sometimes occurs in patients with eczema.
If you suffer from seborrheic dermatitis, you can use olive oil on your scalp to soften and remove scales from your scalp.
To use olive oil to help treat seborrheic dermatitis you can mix one tablespoon of olive oil with a few drops of tea tree essential oil, massage into your scalp and wash out after one hour.
Olive Oil Hair Masks
There are many ways to make a nourishing olive oil hair mask and here are a few ideas:
Olive oil, Avocado and Honey Hair Mask
To make this nourishing hair mask, you will need to do this:
Mash 1/2 avocado and mix well with 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil and a teaspoon of honey.
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Apply to your hair, put your hair in a shower cap and wrap in a towel.
Leave for 30 minutes.
Rinse through with warm water and wash your hair with a shampoo.
Olive Oil and Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Coconut oil is extremely beneficial for your hair and mixing it with olive oil creates a great combination. To make the hair mask, you will need to do this:
Mix 2 parts of coconut oil with one part of olive oil.
Massage the mixture into your hair, making sure that you coat all the strands from root to tip.
Put your hair in a shower cap and leave for at least 30 minutes.
Wash the oil out and style as usual.
You can find other ideas for hair masks in my article about the 12 best natural treatments for dull hair.
Olive Oil for Skin Care
The benefits of olive oil aren’t just for the hair. Olive oil can also be used as part of your overall skin care regime.
There are many ways to use olive oil on your skin. For example:
Massage a small amount of olive oil onto your skin before shaving. This can replace shaving foam or gel.
Add 5 tablespoons of olive oil to your bath to keep your skin looking great.
After finishing your shower, but before you towel dry, rub a layer of olive oil all over your skin.
Dab a few drops onto a cotton ball to remove makeup and rinse your face with water.
Rub a few drops of olive oil into each nail to help nourish and strengthen nails.
Rejuvenate your skin using this oil cleansing method.
Read my other related articles:
1. Seven Reasons to Consume Olive Oil Every Day
2. 8 Ingenious Ways to Use Coconut Oil on Your Hair
3. Tea Tree Oil for Hair and Scalp – The Complete Guide
4. How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster: The Best Natural Ways
Resources:
1. Oleuropein in Olive and its Pharmacological effects.
2. Peppermint oil promotes hair growth without toxic signs.
3. Treatment for head lice.
4. Virgin olive oil on topical anti-inflammatory assays.
5. Protective effect of topically applied olive oil against UVB.
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