Despite the clear association between olive oil and food, its use is not restricted only to cooking. Olive oil is a product that can be very beneficial for overall beauty, specifically for hair and skin. Its moisturizing properties make it especially useful for treating and taking care of the hair.
After reading what we have listed below, you will reserve a little bit of olive oil for the bathroom. We will show you the benefits of using olive oil in your hair, including moisturizing, strength, shine and more.
Olive Oil In Your Hair
Applying olive oil to the hair is a technique that has been used for thousands of years. Who uses it affirms that the oil leaves the hair brighter, bulky, soft and resilient. This is in part due to the composition of the oil, which presents chemical compounds such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, and squalene, which are emollient substances that promote smoothness to the hair.
In fact, various hair products such as shampoos and conditioners have industrial emollients in their compositions.
Types of Hair
Some types of hair benefit more than others to the beneficial properties of olive oil. Thicker and drier hair, for example, benefits greatly from the use of olive oil. Thin and oily are the only exception on the use of olive oil because this type of hair does not need any kind of oil for conditioning and its use, even in a small amount, can result in heavy hair. You can test with a few quantities of oil and observe the results.
The oil in curly hair is beneficial since it can help to retain moisture and keep the hair stronger, assisting in the definition of curls.
Olive oil in blonde hair also has benefits, as this type of hair, especially when dyed, tends to become drier than darker hair. However, always test before applying the entire length, as in some cases it may leave a greenish spot on the hair.
Although they do not have much scientific evidence on the specific use of olive oil in the hair, the regular application seems to bring about a moisturizing effect, resulting in healthier, stronger and brighter hair. Also, it can act as a moisturizing conditioner or even be used as a finishing product for various types of hairstyles. The main benefits of using olive oil on hair are described below:
Benefits Of Olive Oil For Your Hair
1. Fights against dandruff and lice
Olive oil, especially if mixed with lemon juice, may help in the treatment of dandruff. This is because of the lemon juice, which is acidic. The best is to mix equal amounts of olive oil and lemon juice diluted in water. A few spoons of each are enough for great results. Massage the mixture into the scalp and let it act for about 20 minutes. Then rinse and use the shampoo and conditioner of your choice.
Although it is great for dandruff, this treatment is only indicated every 15 days, as it can dry out and damage the scalp. In addition to dandruff, olive oil can also be used for the removal of lice.
2. Beneficial for split ends
Olive oil can help give volume and increase dry hair moisture during the winter, for example. During cold times, hair is more prone to damage, such as breakage, frizz and split ends. A little oil applied to the ends of the hair can help reduce these problems.
Olive oil can fill the hair cuticle cells, preventing damage and repairing the split ends. Just pass a little oil on the fingers and apply directly to the hair, smoothing throughout its length. This will even lessen the messy looks that hair gets during winter due to dry weather and strong wind.
3. Strength and brightness
It is possible to replace your conditioner with oil to help increase its moisture, making it healthier, stronger and brighter. Being rich in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin E, and antioxidants, olive oil helps protect the keratin by keeping moisture in the hair. The presence of unsaturated fatty acids also helps to make your hair brighter.
4. Care
When the hair is dry and malnourished, it is more difficult to comb it and take care of it. Through the application of olive oil, the hair is better nourished and hydrated, facilitating any type of hairstyle. One tip that works is to use warm olive oil to increase your hydration capacity.
5. Softness
Olive oil strengthens brittle ends and curls. It also softens the hair. Adopting a moisturizing treatment with olive oil on the hair once a week can give a feeling of permanent softness.
6. Stimulating hair growth
Many people use oil in their hair to make it grow. Olive oil helps eliminate the accumulation of sebum in the hair follicles. This helps the hair growth because many times the hair stops growing because the follicles are clogged by sebum. Also, hair needs to be well nourished to grow, and olive oil has several nutrients that promote healthy hair growth.
7. Hydration of chemically treated hair
People who usually expose their hair to intensive chemical processes like strengthening and perms can benefit from the use of olive oil. This is because it helps to retain moisture and promote hydration of the strands. The only rule is to wait at least 72 hours after the treatment before applying the oil to avoid any damage.
8. Moisture
Scientific studies indicate that the use of oils such as olive oil in the hair helps retain the natural moisture of the hair. This is due to the presence of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and lipid protective substance, keeping the hair strands always moisturized, protected and healthy.
9. Reducing hair loss
The increase in hair strength promoted by the olive oil reduces its fall. Also, studies indicate that vitamin E helps to decrease hair loss. Some studies also indicate that azelaic acid plays an essential role in reducing hair loss by inhibiting the activity of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme.
In this way, the inhibition of this enzyme by azelaic acid in the oil can cause your hair to stop falling out.
It is possible to use olive oil in combination with other products like honey or egg yolk to potentiate the effects against hair loss.
10. Fights against infections
Olive oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that fight against various infections on the scalp. Also, the unsaturated fatty acids present in their composition help protect the hair and prevent unwanted microorganisms from penetrating the scalp.
Tips & Tricks
If you use olive oil as a conditioner or moisturizer, we separate a step by step how to apply it.
Use the right amount:
First, measure the right amount for the length of your hair. If you’ve never used it before, start with one or two tablespoons. If you put too much olive oil, your hair will look greasy and ugly.
Massage the region:
Then massage the oil into the scalp for a few minutes if you have dry scalp. If your hair is oily, massage only the length and avoid passing the product to the root. For the conditioning effect of being most effective, wrap the hair in a shower cap and let the oil act for at least 15 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly:
Finally, thoroughly rinse the hair to remove all traces of oil, washing it with shampoo.
How Often To Use Olive Oil On Your Hair?
Unless your hair is severely damaged, treatment with olive oil once a week will bring great results.
The dryer the hair, the longer the oil should be in the hair to bring a good result. It is possible to let the olive oil act for up to a whole night. One tip is to apply the product before bed, wrap it with a cap and wash the wires only in the morning.
Another question that arises is whether olive oil can be applied to dry or wet hair. You can use the product both ways as described below.
Application on wet hair
To apply oil on wet hair, after the shampoo, pass the conditioner of your choice and rinse your hair thoroughly. After combing the hair, wipe the oil throughout the length, massaging well with your fingers and let it act for about 15 to 30 minutes or as long as you wish for a deeper moisturizing. Then rinse the hair again and wash it as usual.
Application on dry hair
To apply the oil on dry hair, use the desired amount of olive oil, spread it in the palm of the hand and start the application on the ends of the hair. Spread olive oil all the way through. After that, take the hair dryer. Keep the heat on the wires for about 2 to 3 minutes to facilitate penetration of the oil into the strands.
Never use appliances such as a dryer with too hot air or hair straightener with oil, as this can result in permanent breakage and damage.
5 Tips for Choosing the Most Healthy Olive Oil
If you need to identify a good olive oil, have in mind our tips at the time of purchase. Check out here our tips:
1. Give preference to extra-virgin olive oil:
It contains more nutrients and less acidity. When it is not possible, choose the virgin.
2. Choose the olive oil with acidity up to 0.8%:
The lower the acidity, the purer and better the quality of the olive oil.
3. Choose pure olive oil without mixing with other oils:
You can find the information about the ingredients on the label. Make sure that olive oil is not mixed with refined olive oil or other oils.
4. Pick up the oils from the bottom of the shelf, stored away from the lighting:
Exposure of the oil to light and the sun can oxidize the monounsaturated fats and cause the oil to lose its nutritional qualities.
5. Choose olive oil from dark packaging and glass:
This prevents the light from getting in contact with the oil and losing its nutritional properties. The one I always buy and use is
Personally I always use Zoe Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I also apply on my hair and even on my eyelashes for strong and faster growth.
