Olive oil doesn’t need much of an introduction. A quick trip to anyone’s kitchen cabinet will likely reveal a bottle or three of olive oil at various stages of use. While we know it’s the gold standard for dressing up salads, sauteeing veggies, and mixing into sauces, could this golden elixir hold to the key to beautifying our strands? Using olive oil for hair reportedly dates as far back as Ancient Greece, and many celebrities tout its superpower advantages to this day.
Whether you want hair to shine to the heavens or need freedom from breakage, we investigate everything you’ve been itching to learn about whether there are any olive oil benefits for hair. Here’s what you should know, and eight of our star products you can find olive oil in now.
Is olive oil good for your hair?
While there is no one cure-all ingredient to give us the locks of our dreams, olive oil for hair has a few nourishing properties that can certainly help get us there more quickly.
It moisturizes hair.
From a chemical perspective, the makeup of olive oil is promising for moisturizing hair. It contains an emollient called oleic acid, which is thought to penetrate the hair shaft to restore moisture and softness, as well as squalene, another common emollient beloved in the skincare world for hydrating skin.
It enhances shine.
Lustrous, light-reflecting strands are the hallmark of healthy-looking hair. In theory, since olive oil can coat and smooth the outer cuticle or hair, it allows light to better bounce off your mane, making it appear shinier.
It helps prevent breakage.
Properly moisturized strands improve their elasticity, making them stronger and more resistant to breakage. That means moisturizing olive oil can potentially prevent future split ends from occurring, but you’ll have to head to your stylist to trim away any existing ones. Sorry, but there's no getting out of that one!
Good hair day by @Pureology.
Is olive oil good to put in hair?
Olive oil has many benefits for hair, but think twice before heading to the grocery store to stock up! The best way to take advantage of olive oil is to incorporate olive oil-formulated products into your routine. Professional hair products break down the oil into smaller molecules that have a better chance of penetrating the hair shaft, whereas the oil in your kitchen will merely coat the strand without actually sinking in.
How long should you leave olive oil in your hair?
As always, we recommend following the packaging instructions on your olive oil hair products to determine how long and how often to use them.
If you decide to go the DIY route, it’s imperative to thoroughly wash the oil out of your hair afterward. Leaving olive oil in your hair will coat the strands so that the rest of your products can’t penetrate and function properly. A clarifying shampoo like Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo can cut through the grease and heaviness post-treatment. Not only does this cream shampoo purify hair from excess oils, but it also strengthens cuticles and adds shine.
Good hair day by @eboneedavis.
Does olive oil help in hair growth?
The jury is still out on this one! We’d love to wave a magic wand and have long hair that a princess would envy, but isolating and studying olive oil for hair growth can get murky. Hair growth ultimately depends on your growth phases and individual factors like age, genetics, diet, stress, and hormones.
However, a 2015 study revealed that oleuropein in olive oil stimulated the anagen (hair growth) phase in mice, but we’re still unsure how that translates to humans. On the flip side, olive oil's antioxidant vitamin E may support a healthy scalp environment conducive to new hair growth. Before getting too excited and selling out your local grocery store, be cautious that more research is needed.
The easiest way to reap olive oil benefits for hair is to swap out your go-to hair products for ones formulated with the ingredient. Not sure where to start? Keep reading!
Our 8 Best Olive Oil-Infused Products to Try Now
True Textures Morroccan Clay Steam Mask
A deep conditioning mask for wavy, curly and coily hair prone to dryness.
Mizani True Textures Moroccan Clay Steam Mask
Mizani True Textures Moroccan Clay Mask features Moroccan clay to clean strands, add moisture, definition, and smoothness to texture types three through eight. The mask also contains olive oil and sustainably-sourced coconut and Marula oils, contributing to its 96% biodegradable formula. Pro tip: Wrap with a warm towel around your hair to unlock additional moisturizing benefits.
True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion
A hair lotion for curls that adds definition and enhances texture.
Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion
Made with a trifecta of nourishing oils like olive, coconut, and marula, Mizani True Texture Curl Enhancing Lotion enhances and defines curly hair while keeping hair soft, never crunchy.
True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel
A moisturizing hair gel that fights frizz and is flake- and crunch-free.
Mizani True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel
The moisturizing properties of an oil blend, including olive, and the shaping abilities of a gel, meet in the middle in Mizani True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel. The result is a no-fuss styling product for those days you want a pared-down wash-and-go routine.
25 Miracle Nourishing Oil
A hair oil treatment for frizzy or curly hair.
Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Oil
We guarantee that Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Oil will change any preconceived notions that oil weighs down hair. This lightweight, multitasking hair oil has 25 incredible benefits, including moisturization and protection for all hair types. It also consists of a 99% biodegradable formula with natural coconut, olive, sunflower, and jojoba oils, so you can feel extra good about applying this to your strands.
Strength Cure Superfood Treatment Mask
A rinse-out, strengthening hair mask for damaged, color-treated hair.
Pureology Strength Cure Superfood Treatment Mask
Revive worn-out hair with a hair mask like Pureology Strength Cure Superfood Treatment. Formulated with superfoods and key ingredients like olive oil and goji berry, this rinse-out hair mask repairs and strengthens damaged, color-treated hair in just five minutes.
Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep Treatment Mask for Color-Treated Hair
Intensely moisturizing treatment mask with 21 benefits that restores, protects, and strengthens color-treated hair.
Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep Treatment Mask for Color-Treated Hair
They say you can't have it all in a hair product, but we'd beg to differ when it comes to Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep Treatment Mask for Color-Treated Hair. Boasting 21 hair-loving benefits, this intensely moisturizing treatment mask infused with olive oil may be the one item you can’t live without.
Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray for Color-Treated Hair
A multi-tasking leave-in treatment with 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair.
Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-in Spray for Color-Treated Hair
If a spray is more your jam, why not take Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-in Spray for Color-Treated Hair for a whirl? It also has 21 beautifying benefits, thanks to ingredients like shine-enhancing olive oil, nourishing camelina oil, and moisturizing coconut oil.
Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray
A fast-drying, strong-hold hairspray for color-treated hair that provides shine and maximum control.
Pureology Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray
The key ingredient, olive oil, in Pureology Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray helps add radiant shine while providing maximum hold and control to all hairstyles. As a bonus, the brand’s exclusive Antifade Complex® protects hair color from fading and features full spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen to shield your mane from environmental stressors.
You can find these olive oil-infused hair products and explore many more ingredients by shopping Hair.com.
True Textures Morroccan Clay Steam Mask
A deep conditioning mask for wavy, curly and coily hair prone to dryness.
True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion
A hair lotion for curls that adds definition and enhances texture.
True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel
A moisturizing hair gel that fights frizz and is flake- and crunch-free.
25 Miracle Nourishing Oil
A hair oil treatment for frizzy or curly hair.
Strength Cure Superfood Treatment Mask
A rinse-out, strengthening hair mask for damaged, color-treated hair.
Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep Treatment Mask for Color-Treated Hair
Intensely moisturizing treatment mask with 21 benefits that restores, protects, and strengthens color-treated hair.
Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray for Color-Treated Hair
A multi-tasking leave-in treatment with 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair.
Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray
A fast-drying, strong-hold hairspray for color-treated hair that provides shine and maximum control.
