Olive Oil: The Unexpected Elixir for Radiant Hair

We all aspire to have shiny, healthy hair. In Australia alone, in 2020, approximately AU$12 billion was spent on hair care products. While numerous commercial options exist, the solution to dry and damaged hair and scalp issues might be as close as your kitchen cupboard: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). Olive oil's benefits extend to haircare, where its moisturizing properties can be a game-changer for dry and brittle hair. For thousands of years, people have turned to olive oil for haircare, and claimed that it adds shine, body, softness, and resilience.

A Historical Perspective

Olives have been cultivated for over 6,000 years, and historical records indicate their use on both skin and hair to promote health and vitality. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is not just excellent for our health, but it may also be good for our hair.

Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil?

It’s best to choose Extra Virgin Olive Oil for our health and possibly for our hair. EVOO is highest in quality, natural antioxidants, vitamin E and phytosterols that give the oil its health benefits.

EVOO is abundant in qualities that may restore luster and strength to your locks.

• Oleic Acid: Oleic acid is the primary monounsaturated fat found in olive oil and is a natural cleansing agent (surfactant). Artificial surfactants are found in many shampoos and conditioners.
• Moisturization: Monounsaturated oils can penetrate the hair better than other oils, protecting the hair from damage and helping soften hair. Olive oil could add softness and strengthen hair by penetrating the hair shaft and preserving moisture.
• Antioxidant Properties: Oxidative stress may contribute to scalp health, hair greying and hair loss. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a good source of the antioxidants vitamin E and oleuropein, which can help to reduce the impact of oxidative stress on hair.The shine said to come from olive oil may be due to the oil smoothing the outer cuticle of the hair.

Olive oil’s primary chemical elements are oleic acid, palmitic acid, and squalene. These are all emollients, which means they have softening qualities. In fact, many shampoos, conditioners, and pomades contain lab-made versions of emollients.

Read also: How to Use Olive Oil Hair Lotion

The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind the Shine

There’s very little scientific evidence to support olive oil’s popularity in haircare. But some research on the effect of olive oil shows that it can have a major moisturizing effect.

How to Use Olive Oil for Hair: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here's a simple guide on how to incorporate olive oil into your hair care routine:

1. Preparation: Cover your top with a towel to avoid oily drips.
2. Gather Your Supplies: Go to the kitchen cupboard and grab your Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
3. Measure the Oil: Pour between 2 tablespoons and ¼ cup (depending on your hair length and thickness. More if your hair is long or thick) into a small bowl. If you’ve never experimented with olive oil as a hair product before, use just a tablespoon or two for your first treatment. How much olive oil you should use depends on how deeply you want to moisturize and where. The ends won’t require more than a tablespoon.If you’re treating your entire head, you’ll need at least 1/4 cup of olive oil - especially if you have long or very thick hair.
4. Application: Starting at the ends, massage the Extra Virgin Olive Oil through your hair. Make sure you massage some oil onto your scalp. Massage the oil deeply into your hair for a few minutes. You can also massage it into your scalp if you have dry scalp. To condition your hair all over, start at the scalp and massage the oil through to the ends.
5. Wait: Wrap your hair in an old towel and relax with a cup of olive leaf tea for 10-15 minutes. For the most effective conditioning, wrap your hair in a shower cap and let the oil soak in for 15 minutes or more.
6. Comb: Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb and then head to the shower. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb before you shampoo the oil out. This will make combing and styling afterward easier.
7. Shampoo: In the shower, wet your hair and then shampoo well (you may need two rounds of shampoo) to get out all the oil. Shampoo rigorously and dry your hair to see results. You might need to shampoo twice, depending on how much you’ve applied.
8. Frequency: Repeat this once a week for healthy, shiny hair. Unless your hair is dry enough to require a moisturizing treatment every day, use it once a week or less often for the best results.

Addressing Specific Hair Concerns

Olive oil can be tailored to address a variety of hair-related issues:

• Dry and Damaged Hair: Dry and damaged hair lacks shine and body. To bring back the condition of our hair, we need to counteract what might be damaging or drying it out. Oils can penetrate into our hair, protecting it from water absorption that can cause damage. Hair which is dry or damaged responds best to Extra Virgin Olive Oil treatments.
• Thick and Curly Hair: Thick and curly hair tends to become drier and more damaged than straight, fine hair. Olive oil is most beneficial for dry, thick hair. Advocates say it can keep hair moist and strong. Olive oil tends to weigh down thinner hair. Oily hair and scalps simply don’t need the conditioning.
• Processed Hair: Heavily processed hair - like hair that’s been treated with relaxers, perms, or bleach - especially benefit from extra moisture. Always wait at least 72 hours after the initial treatment before you apply olive oil. If you’re using olive oil on bleached hair, test a strand to make sure the oil doesn’t leave a trace of its green shade behind.
• Split Ends: Olive oil can help smooth the broken or burned ends of your hair. Apply it to the last 2 inches of the strands that are damaged. Even though you’re just treating the ends, keep your hair pinned up so the olive oil doesn’t get on your clothes.
• Dandruff: If you’re trying to treat dandruff, bear in mind it has many causes, including fungus. As far as we know, there’s no cure for dandruff, though using olive oil might reduce your flakes. Massage olive oil into your dry scalp and comb out dandruff flakes.
• Lice: Olive oil can help with removing head lice, but it isn’t any more effective than other oil or conditioning treatments. It’s critical to use the proper comb and make sure you get out all the live lice and their nits.

Dispelling Myths and Addressing Concerns

• Hair Growth: Healthy hair and scalp are more likely to help your hair grow well. Although there have been no studies on humans that have specifically looked at the effect of olive oil on hair growth, the antioxidants found naturally in Extra Virgin Olive Oil may help scalp health, promoting hair growth.
• Hair Type: Using oil in general may not be right for every hair type and texture because some hair types retain oil for longer than others. Your body naturally produces oil through glands attached to hair follicles, and this oil tends to travel faster down thin, straight hair than it does down coarse or curly hair.
• Olive Oil Variety: The great thing about using olive oil for healthy-looking hair is you can just reach into the kitchen cupboard and grab the same oil you use for cooking. But make sure you’re choosing Extra Virgin Olive Oil as it’s higher in nutritious compounds and antioxidants that benefit our health and our hair.

Beyond Hair: Olive Oil as a Beauty Multitasker

Ever had that oh-no moment when you realize your moisturizer is empty, and you've got a big day ahead? That was me, frantically rifling through my kitchen for anything that could help. My hand landed on a bottle of olive oil. Imagine olive oil as your skin's new best friend. Who needs expensive creams when you’ve got Olive Oil? It’s perfect for giving your skin a plump, hydrated look. Try mixing olive oil with a little coffee ground for a DIY scrub that’ll wake up your face better than your morning latte. Olive oil is also perfect for anti-aging efforts.

Got stubborn makeup? Swipe it off with a touch of olive oil. Cracked cuticles? Olive oil’s got your back. This stuff is basically the Swiss Army knife of your beauty kit.

Read also: Is Tea Tree Shampoo Right for You?

Read also: Wax apple benefits: A comprehensive guide

tags: #olive #oil #benefits #for #hair

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