Can You Use Olive Oil On Your Hair?
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We’ve talked about olive oil shampoos and how good they are for hair. But what if you used olive oil directly on your hair since it’s much richer with ingredients than shampoos?
In this post, I’ll show you the effects olive oil can have on your hair and why you might want to start using it on a regular basis.
Key Takeaways:
- Olive oil is rich in nutrients like Vitamin B12, Folic acid, B6, E, and K, aiding in hair growth and health.
- Stearic and oleic acids in olive oil protect hair from elements and maintain moisture.
- Vitamin K in olive oil regenerates hair, making it thicker and preventing frizz and calcium buildup.
- Olive oil contains oleuropein, an antioxidant promoting the anagen growth phase, and squalane for hair luster.
- Best for dry, coarse hair; not ideal for thin or oily hair due to its thickness and difficulty in washing out.
Can You Use Olive Oil On Hair?
As it turns out, olive oil is not only great for cooking. Its wealth of nutrients makes it perfect for topical application on skin and hair.
Including this oil in your hair care routine will improve your mane’s luster and quality. However, even when using olive oil, you still need to keep up with your regular hair care routine.
This oil enhances the outcome of other hair care techniques. If your hair is really bad, olive oil alone might not whip it back to shape.
One thing that makes the oil such a joy to use on your hair is the easy application.
Here is how to use olive oil on your hair:
- You need 1/8 or ¼ cup of olive oil.
- When applying, rub it between your palms to warm it for easier absorption.
- Massage it into the hair and scalp, and then wait for 20 minutes.
- Shampoo your hair properly (use natural shampoo).
Benefits of Olive Oil For Your Hair
Here are the main benefits of using high-quality natural olive oil on your hair:
1. It has important vitamins that nourish the hair
It contains Vitamin K, which regenerates your hair. It makes the strands thicker and more resilient and enables them to grow longer. This vitamin prevents the build-up of calcium on the scalp, which prevents proper hair growth. Vitamin K can also prevent the hair from frizzing.
Vitamin B6 is also available in olive oil. In the body, this vitamin helps in the cellular uptake of amino acids. It helps in the formation of red blood cells that transport oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to different body parts, including the hair.
Vitamin B12 strengthens the hair strands so they won’t frizz out or split at the ends. Thicker and healthier hair strands are not susceptible to falling out. Thus, this vitamin can also prevent balding.
2. Oleuropein and Squalane Prevent Hair Damage
Oleuropein is a type of polyphenol that is found in the olive tree. This antioxidant prevents damage to skin, hair and cells.
It helps the body to flush out toxins and free radicals that would otherwise cause damage to skin, hair, and other cells.
Research shows how oleuropein helps in the anagen growth phase. This is the stage of fast growth and runs for about six years before the hair enters the resting phase.
Olive oil contains squalane, albeit in trace quantities. This compound forms a thin film on the hair strands, preventing moisture loss and giving your hair a healthy luster. It does this without adding extra weight to the strands.
3. Hair-absorbable monounsaturated fats help in moisture retention
Hair absorbs monounsaturated fats, and this is what helps it to retain moisture.
Once absorbed, the fats help the hair to retain its moisture. Please note that olive oil is not a moisturizer. It just helps the hair to retain its moisture. Therefore, keep using your organic hair moisturizer even if you are using olive oil.
Disadvantages of Using Olive Oil On Hair
The main disadvantage of olive oil is that it is not good for all types of hair. The oil works best on dry and coarse (thick) hair. Thus, people with thin or oily hair might not benefit a lot from using this oil on their heads.
Olive oil is thick, so if left on oily hair too long, it starts feeling greasy, thick, and heavy after some time.
This oil is hard to wash out of hair. Use it once or twice weekly for 15 to 20 minutes before washing your hair with clarifying shampoo.
What To Use Instead of Olive Oil
If, for some reason, you don’t want to use olive oil for your hair, there are several alternatives.
Here are a few of the top ones:
Olive oil shampoos:
- There are so many olive oil shampoos, and the search can be challenging for a first-timer. However, look for one that’s fortified with 100 percent olive oil, is enriched with vitamins K and E, and/or other organic ingredients.
- To make it easier for you, we compiled a list of the best olive oil shampoos, so make sure to check it out.
Coconut oil:
- Coconut oils’ wealth of fatty acids enables deep penetration into the hair strands. This helps to lock in the moisture, preventing dryness and frizzing.
Avocado oil:
- If you have dry, rough, and frizzy hair, avocado oil might help. It has a high quantity of antioxidants, and it gives your hair a good shine. You could use it on dry or wet hair.
Moroccan oil:
- This is also called argan oil, and it is rich in Vitamin E, fatty acids, and antioxidants. Because of its restorative qualities, it is best for dry, frizzy, and weak hair.
Sunflower oil:
- It contains a high amount of oleic acid, which can help to prevent dandruff on the scalp. You could also use sunflower oil alone or combine it with another essential oil for hair because it’s a good carrier oil.
Jojoba oil:
- This oil is both a moisturizer and a scalp maintenance agent – the former because it penetrates hair very well and the latter because it’s similar to sebum. This (sebum) is the oil that our skins produce naturally).
Other good alternatives for olive oil include grape seed and almond oil.
Bottom Line
The key to keeping your hair healthy, neat, and unbroken is by using 100 percent organic hair care products.
Due to its qualities of monounsaturated fats, vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients, olive oil can help bring back the glory to your crown.
Don’t forget to follow your regular hair maintenance schedule. Most importantly, use the olive oil shampoo as instructed. If your scalp is susceptible to dandruff and you have dry, thick, and frizzy hair, olive oil is a daisy.
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