Olive oil for hair

Is extra virgin olive oil good for your hair?

Let’s face it, we abuse our hair every day, colors, reflections and countless chemicals as well as thorough treatment are responsible for this. So we have to make smart decisions that improve the health of our hair. Of course, there are many new products that are all promising to solve these problems.

The good news is that sometimes you can find the best hair products here, especially in your kitchen! According to experts, olive oil is one of them. Actually, olive oil has been used for thousands of years to make soaps and apply them directly to hair and skin. The cosmetic benefits of olive oil for hair range from dandruff prevention to conditioning including hair masks.

“Olive oil for hair can be used in many ways,” said Gabrielle Corney, a famous New York stylist. Gabrielle recommends using hot olive oil, or even add olive oil to a conditioner to soften your hair. Apply then a small amount to hair and scalp to improve hair health and shine. Cover the hair with a shower cap and let the oil sit on the hair for about 15 minutes. Rinse the oil out of the hair with warm water. Shampoo the hair, repeating this step if the olive oil leaves the hair greasy.

Good Housekeeping Institute experts also highlight the cosmetic benefits of using olive oil on your hair. Olive oil is most beneficial for dry, thick hair, and it can keep hair moist and strong. Also, olive oil tends to weigh down thinner hair. However, oily hair and scalps simply don’t need the conditioning.

Olive oil benefits

Regarding your hair, it doesn’t matter which olive oil is used, provided it is EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), the highest quality olive oil you can buy. It is an unrefined oil that has not been treated with chemicals and meets the specific requirements of the “Extra Virgin” qualification. EVOO is made in a special way to preserve the natural vitamins and minerals of the olives.

Also, olive oil for hair might be better than coconut olive oil. Actually, it softens hair texture and makes it a lot silkier than coconut oil does, and is more moisturising, even though coconut oil is an inexpensive and beneficial oil as well. So keep a bottle of olive oil handy for a nice head massage.

Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, and hair actually has the ability to absorb monounsaturated fats. And when olive oil is absorbed into the hair, it can actually help hair retain hydration. However, olive oil is not a conditioner, only water-based products can truly moisturize your hair.

In addition, olive oil also contains a large amount of antioxidants from vitamins E and K. Free-radical damage not only happens to the skin but hair as well; the oxidative stress can actually cause hair to age faster. The antioxidants will help neutralize those and mitigate any future stressors.

Is olive oil bad for hair?

Other than helping retain hydration, olive oil can also act as a lubricant for strands to reduce breakage. Shockingly, a significant amount of damage to hair can actually happen during the shower. The reason is that hair is weakest when wet, then when you add in surfactants from shampoo and the scrubbing motion, you cause friction between strands. This friction can lead to raised cuticles, stretching, and splintering. When you apply an oil before washing, the olive oil film helps minimize the chances of this.

Another potential side effect: If you are acne-prone on your chest or back, and your hair is long enough to touch the area, you might be unintentionally clogging pores and leading to worse breakouts. Finally, never use olive oil before using hot tools or a blow dryer. Olive oil has a burn temperature starting as low as 320°F. Most hot tools and dryers on the market go well above that, and you will be literally cooking your strands!

At Aceite del Campo, we always recommend consulting any health concerns with your doctor first.