Olive Oil for Hair Growth? Benefits of Olive Oil for Hair

Are you looking for an oil that helps with growth? You may have come across the benefits of olive oil for the hair. Considering most people already have a bottle of olive oil in their homes, it might seem too good to be true – can a household item truly boost hair growth? Here, we’ll break down whether using olive on the hair is worth it and whether (or not) it impacts growth. Basically, we’ll answer your question: is olive oil good for hair?

Olive Oil: A Mediterranean Staple

Let’s start by knowing what olive oil is. Olive oil comes from olives, which grow on the fruit of Olea Europaea, native to the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It’s frequently used in Mediterranean cooking, specifically for dishes such as spaghetti, fresh salads, and fish. It’s popular thanks to its olive flavour and healthy fats, which lends itself nicely to dressings. There’s no denying its deliciousness!

Olive oil has other uses, too, particularly in cosmetics, where people often use it on the skin for extra moisture. So, what about the hair?

Can You Use Olive Oil in the Hair?

Yes, you can use olive oil in the hair – and perhaps you should. Olive oil is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, including squalene, oleic acid, and palmitic acid, all beneficial for the locks. In terms of growth, however, there isn’t much evidence to suggest that it will actively make the hair grow more or thicker than before. There isn’t enough research to point either way, so keep that in mind.

The Benefits of Olive Oil for Hair

If you’re unsure whether you should use olive oil as a hair mask or hair treatment, consider the following benefits.

It Has Anti-inflammatory Properties

One of the main benefits of olive oil (for the hair and consumption) is its antioxidants, which include oleocanthal. [1] This has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body and scalp, which can help inflammation-caused hair loss. Overall, this ingredient leads to healthier hair growth.

Lots of Moisture

Olive oil is full to the brim with fatty acids, which gives your hair lots of nourishment. Use just a little olive oil through your strands, and you’ll notice your hair feels much more conditioned and softer after washing it out. That’s why many people use olive oil as a conditioning treatment.

It Can Improve Scalp Health

The ingredients in this “liquid gold” can make your scalp healthier, particularly if you have an overgrowth of bacteria or fungus. The reason behind this is the presence of the chemical oleuropein in olive oil, which has natural anti-fungal properties. As a result, you might find growing your hair much easier when you consistently use an olive oil treatment.

Low Risk of Irritation

Unlike some other oils, olive oil won’t be irritating or cause chemical burns. It’s a very safe oil to use.

Tons of Shine

Everyone dreams of shiny hair. Olive oil may make that dream a reality. Thanks to all the fatty acids, olive oil for hair will often lead to well-nourished locks that you’ll love.

A Reduction in Damage

If you have dry, damaged hair, one of the best hair care products you can use is olive oil. That’s thanks to the presence of vitamins A and E in the olive oil, which can help repair your stands. Plus, this oil also makes your hair a lot smoother, making it less susceptible to breakage. If a cause of your hair thinning is due to breakage, olive oil may be a handy solution.

The Risks of Using Olive Oil in the Hair

While olive oil is mostly safe, there are some risks you should be aware of before slathering your entire scalp and hair in the stuff. The primary risk is that you might end up clogging your pores and hair follicles if you use too much of it; or, if you are prone to an oily scalp (which often affects fine-haired people). If you have thinner hair, are prone to grease, or suffer from scalp folliculitis, olive oil is best avoided. Also, it’s important to note that, while olive allergies are rare, they do exist, and anyone with an olive oil allergy should of course never use it, whether through ingestion or applying topically.

How to Use Olive Oil on the Hair

The good news is using olive oil on the hair is nice and straightforward. Simply apply the olive oil to the hair and scalp, comb your hair through, cover it with a shower cap, and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. After that, take a warm shower and rinse all of the olive oil out before shampooing and conditioning as usual. You may need to shampoo more than once, as olive oil is heavy and greasy! That’s it – that’s how simple oiling hair with olive oil is. You don’t need any special techniques.

Regarding how often to use olive oil for hair, aim to use it around two to three times a week. Your hair shouldn’t need much more than that even if it’s very dry, as olive oil is a thick, heavy treatment.

Does the Type of Olive Oil Matter?

You might already know there are different types of olive oil available on supermarket shelves. Which one is best, and does it matter? The best type is extra virgin olive oil, which comes at a heftier price than standard olive oil. There’s a good reason for this: extra virgin refers to oil with zero defects and less than 0.8 free acidity, while standard olive oil has minimal defects and under 2.0 free acidity. [2] As a result, extra virgin olive oil has a lot more natural antioxidants and vitamins, which is what you want when using it in your hair (or consuming it). So, yes, the type of olive oil does matter to a degree.

Is it Worth Using Olive Oil for Hair Loss?

Overall, olive oil is a fantastic oil packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe the scalp and strengthen the strands. As far as regrowing hair, however, there’s not much to say about that. While some of the properties may mean you achieve healthier hair (and perhaps can regrow some hair because of that), most people with hair loss will need something a little more direct to regrow their locks. Ultimately, you’re better off looking at another hair loss treatment.

Solutions to Hair Loss

If you’re suffering from hair loss, here are some other solutions to consider:

Other Hair Oils

Some hair oils have genuine scientific evidence that they can regrow the strands. Take rosemary oil as an example – this oil has shown it’s just as effective as minoxidil at regrowing hair, which is undoubtedly something to keep in mind. If you are searching for an oil that can target the hair follicles and stimulate growth, you’re better off going with rosemary oil than olive oil.

Hair Loss Medications

Hair loss medications are specifically designed to regrow the hair. The most popular is minoxidil, as you can get it over the counter, and it has been proven effective at regrowing hair in both men and women. Some other hair loss medications for men are finasteride and dutasteride, which work by blocking the hormone DHT. If you’re trying a new hair loss medication, it helps to use a hair track app to see your progress.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a method that involves increasing the blood circulation to your scalp to stimulate the cells there. It’s done using light therapy, which you can do at home or receive in a clinic. It takes around six months to see the results of this treatment.

Hair Transplant

For people with androgenetic alopecia, or male/female pattern hair loss, a hair transplant is an excellent option. Instead of having to take a medication every day or hope that a marketed topical hair loss treatment will work, a hair transplant actively grafts hair follicles from a healthy section of the scalp and plants them into the area that requires new hair growth. After just some months, you’ll have new hair growing through that will last a lifetime.

Olive Oil for Hair Loss: Final Thoughts

Olive oil is brilliant. It’s tasty, full of antioxidants, and can perform well as a hair care treatment. However, don’t look at it as a miracle solution to your hair loss. It might be called liquid gold, but that’s not because it can reverse female or male pattern hair loss – if you’re suffering from that, you need something with more scientific proof behind its effectiveness.

Are you ready to finally tackle your hair loss? We can help you. The talented team of surgeons at Harley Street Hair Clinic are experts in FUE hair transplants and would be more than happy to assist you on your hair restoration journey. To see what our team can do for you, head to our patients gallery or get in touch today!

Sources:

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/olive-oil-can-it-lower-your-risk-of-dying-early-202203012695#:~:text=Olive%20oil’s%20main%20anti%2Dinflammatory,be%20one%20driver%20of%20cancer.

2. https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/whats-the-difference-between-virgin-and-extra-virgin-olive-oil#:~:text=If%20the%20olive%20oil%20is,it%20is%20graded%20as%20virgin