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.
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!
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 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"
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.”
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.
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!
To make the mask:
To make the mask:
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
[4] Topical Application of Oleuropein Induces Anagen Hair Growth in Telogen Mouse Skin