From DIY apple cider vinegar conditioner to beer shampoos, we have seen many a fad come and go. Similarly, it is now time for olive oil for hair care to dance to the spotlight. In the pandemic, people on TikTok have been sharing their hair care routine, which involves olive oil, as a one-stop solution for every hair-related problem. Maybe, truly your salad dressing is the secret to soft, healthy hair?
Olive Oil For HairSince hair masks can cost your purse quite some buck, maybe DIY-ing from a bottle of olive oil would help you save. If you ask the internet, olive oil works for literally everything, from hair growth to thickness. But before you scurry to your kitchen to grab the bottle of olive oil, here are a few things you should know to reassure yourself if it is another Tiktok fail or not.
Is It Good To Use Olive Soil For Hair?
It turns out that there is some truth to all those rumors about olive oil being good for your hair, after all. It helps to soften the hair, minimize frizz, and reduce breakage. In a conversation with Cosmopolitan magazine, trichologist and colorist Bridget Hill of Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa confirm that incorporating olive oil into your hair care regimen can seal the moisture into the hair fiber, which in turn, helps with elasticity and results in less breakage.
Hill further says that hair oils can penetrate the hair strands and reduce the amount of water the hair absorbs – which, in turn, cuts down on shrinkage and frizz. Celebrity stylist and trichologist Kari Williams in conversation with the same magazine opines that although most can benefit from olive oil for hair care, thin hair can easily be weighed down by olive oil. Thus, people with thin hair should think a bit before overdoing it.
As for the scalp, it is a bit tricky but olive oil can directly feed on the yeast that grows dandruff on the scalp thereby making it drastic. However, it can be helpful for people with a dry scalp as it restores lost ceramides and oils; so if you choose to apply olive oil to your roots use it in small quantities instead of dousing your hair with it.
What Are The Benefits Of Olive Oil For Hair?
The benefits of olive oil for hair are plenty and not many people regret using it.
The benefits, however, include:
- Strengthening the hair and making it healthy
- Repairing damaged and abused hair
- Strengthening the finer hair wall through the collagen and Vitamin C present in it.
- Reduces frizz
- Treats irritation, itchiness, and inflammations
- Works as a magnificent moisturizer
- Improves any type of hair
- Makes the hair soft and shiny
- Acts as a fantastic antidote for hair loss
Can Cooking Oil Be Used For Hair Care?
Although you can get olive oil specifically manufactured and cured for hair, we are fans of the good ol’ kitchen ingredient. However, make sure that the olive oil you are using is unrefined, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil. Olive oil is supposed to be an excellent career oil and can be blended with other basic oils like castor oil or black seed oil if you want to mix and match up your DIY game.
If you are mixing your oils, make sure you use the olive oil as a hot oil or conditioning treatment. Apply it once a week if you have dyed hair or dry and damaged ends. The procedure is simple and all it requires is warming 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil depending on the density of your hair. Massage the warm oil through the length of your hair and cover it with a shower cap. Let it penetrate and hydrate your hair cuticles and scalp for an hour or so, or, leave it overnight before rinsing it out.
Which Type Of Olive Oil Suits Best For The Hair?
If you have a sensitive scalp, it is recommended to stick with products that are specifically formulated for scalp and hair use, as they are less likely to stimulate dandruff. You should also look for a product that combines humectants and moisturizers with oils. If you are looking to opt for a pre-made formula, you must look at the order of the ingredients and choose a product that has olive oil listed as one of the first five to ensure that there is an adequate amount of it.
Olive Oil For Hair Growth & For Hair Loss
Although the benefits of olive oil for hair are plenty, olive oil lacks the scientific evidence to support its use as a hair growth oil for faster, longer strands or hair density. It’s quite ironic that Tiktokers claim that olive oil works as an elixir for growing hair faster. However, a study shows that there is a component of olive oil called oleuropein that can directly impact the growth cycle. But the research was conducted on mice, so how effective is it on humans is still a big question mark.
Olive oil may not help you boost your hair growth, but it does have a good anti-inflammatory property, which can help in calming some of the inflammation on the scalp. So, if you are facing hair loss due to inflammation on the scalp, olive oil can come to your rescue. But your inflammation can also signify serious scalp issues which are hard to detect by yourself. It is essential to consult a dermatologist in this regard.
How To Use Olive Oil For Hair Care?
Olive oil for haircare must have caught your attention now, but technically people have been using it for years, claiming it adds shine, body, and resilience. But it is important to measure the oil according to your hair type, length, and density. You might need only a tablespoon or two or even 1/4th of a cup, depending on your hair. Massage it thoroughly through the lengths of the hair and the scalp and leave it on for 15 minutes or so for a deep conditioning effect. Rinse it out with a mild shampoo for soft and shiny hair. Repeat the process once a week or more (depending on how dry your scalp is.
Also read- Winter Hair Care
