Olive Oil Hair Masks and Treatments

Julia Roberts, Jerry Hall, and Miranda Kerr credit olive oil for their luscious locks. You too can achieve beautiful, shiny hair at home with these natural,cruelty-free and cost-effective recipes for olive oil hair masks.

Why use olive oil on your hair?

Olive oil is an active ingredient in many shampoos, conditioners, and hair treatments. Recent scientific studies have delved into why and how olive oil should be part of your hair care routine.

Olive oil can hydrate the hair. Squalene, oleic acid, and palmitic acid -- antioxidants found in olive oil -- are emollients that can provide a protective barrier to help seal in moisture. [1]

Squalene is naturally found in human skin cells.  However, after age 30, the levels of squalene production in the body reduce dramatically, which may contribute to dry skin and aging. Squalene has also been found to reduce damage from free radicals. Olive oil contains up to 300-fold more squalene than other vegetable oils and is a cruelty-free alternative to squalene that is derived from deep-sea sharks. [2]  (Note, squalene is present in extra virgin olive and to a somewhat lower extent in regular olive oil.)

Olive oil can also help prevent breakage and split ends. The omega-3 fatty acids found in olive oil will condition and strengthen the hair shaft reducing breakage. [3]  

Olive oil may even help with hair growth! A 2015 study found that oleuropein, a polyphenol contained in extra virgin olive oil induced hair growth on mice. [4]

So there are many benefits to using olive oil for hair. If you’re looking for a natural, inexpensive way to improve the health of your hair, give olive oil a try! You can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, deep conditioner or everyday moisturizer. Check out the recipes below!

Julia Robert's olive oil hair mask

According to Vogue Italia, actress Julia Roberts creates an emulsified mixture of extra-virgin olive oil with a little warm water and leaves it on her hair as a DIY mask for around half an hour.

Jerry Hall's overnight olive oil hair treatment

Jerry Hall shared her olive oil hair care tips with the Daily Mail. In her own words "On Sunday nights I massage it in, like my mother taught me, tuck my hair under a shower cap, tie a scarf over it and leave it as long as I can. Overnight is ideal, but it can stain pillow cases, so I tend to let it soak in while watching a film, before washing it out"

Miranda Kerr's overnight olive oil hair treatment

Model Miranda Kerr told Elle France that she uses olive oil and lemon juice on her hair weekly boost shine. “Minimum once a week, I mix both and I leave the mixture on as long as possible. This homemade recipe from my mum taught me and I still haven’t found a better one to repair my hair after the shows.”

Olive oil hot oil treatment

Hot oil treatments from the drugstore start at $5 per ounce. You can make the below hot oil treatment with extra virgin olive oil in your kitchen for just $0.50 per treatment!

Apply this treatment to freshly washed hair. If you have dandruff or an oily scalp, apply the treatment to the ends of your hair only. You can treat your hair once a week.

1. Microwave 2-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a microwave-safe bowl for 10 seconds.
2. Test a small amount of the oil on your hand to make sure the oil is not too hot.
3. Apply the oil evenly throughout your hair and massage it into your scalp. You can comb it through.
4. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap or wrap your hair with plastic food wrap. Wrap your head with a towel to trap the heat.
5. After 15 minutes rinse.

You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the olive oil for extra benefits. Lavender oil is good for all hair types, rosemary is good for oily hair and dandruff, and peppermint is invigorating. Just make sure not to get it into your eyes!

Egg honey and olive oil hair mask

• 1 egg
• 2 tsp honey
• 2 tbsp olive oil

To make the mask:

1. Warm the honey in the microwave for 10 seconds
2. Mix in the olive oil and the egg
3. Whisk all ingredients thoroughly
4. Apply the mixture to hair and scalp.
5. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap or wrap your hair with plastic food wrap. Wrap your head with a towel to trap the heat.
6. Rinse out after 15 minutes.
7. Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

Yogurt and olive oil hair mask

• ½ cup plain yogurt
• ¼ cup olive oil

To make the mask:

1. Mix the yogurt and olive oil together.
2. Wet your hair and apply the mixture to your scalp.
3. Work it through to the ends of your hair.
4. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap or wrap your hair with plastic food wrap. Wrap your head with a towel to trap the heat.
5. Rinse out after 15 minutes.
6. Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

Olive oil split ends treatment

Apply a small amount of olive oil to the ends of your hair to improve hair elasticity and prevent split ends. While olive oil can't heal existing split ends, it can improve the appearance of your shaggy ends.

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To maximize the impact of olive oil on your hair, make sure to eat it too! Dr. Whitney Bowe recommends consuming extra virgin olive oil because healthy fats are essential for your hair and skin.

[1] Biological importance and applications of squalene and squalane

[2] Olive based squalene – nature’s alternative to shark derived squalene products for skin care 

[3] Ethnopharmacological survey of home remedies used for treatment of hair and scalp and their methods of preparation in the West Bank-Palestine

[4] Topical Application of Oleuropein Induces Anagen Hair Growth in Telogen Mouse Skin