Olive Oil for Hair

Along the length of your hair strands are scale-like structures called cuticles.  The crevices in these cuticles provide a space that pollutants can get trapped in and pathogens like bacteria and fungus can find shelter and grow in.⁴ When you rub oil into your hair, it gets drawn up into these cuticle spaces through capillary action.  The presence of oil can prevent pollutants from entering and can keep bacteria and fungal spores from invading your hair strands.  Clinical trials have demonstrated that applying olive oil to your hair can prevent the growth of the kinds of funguses that can cause scalp irritation, dandruff, and hair damage.⁵

Olive oil is also good at coating your hair strands and holding them together through a mechanism called capillary adhesion.  The lipid molecules in the oil are attracted to each other and tend to form a barrier against water.  This can help keep your scalp and hair from losing too much moisture.  It also causes your hair strands to stick to each other better, keeping flyaway hairs in their place.  Olive oil is able to retain its capillary adhesion when exposed to heat better than other plant oils.⁶ Oil is also known to reduce breaks in your hear strands, preventing split ends and helping to keep your hair long and smooth.⁷ 

Many types of plants produce phytochemicals that are beneficial for hair and scalp health.  Some are antioxidants, preventing oxidative damage to skin cells and hair follicles, while some have other biological properties that promote hair growth and strength.  Rosemary, peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils have all been found to reduce skin inflammation, improve microcapillary circulation, and boost hair production.^8-11 

Essential oils from these plants can be applied topically to deliver these bioactive compounds directly to your skin cells.  However, in their concentrated forms they are too strong to be applied straight, and must be diluted before they are safe to rub into your skin and hair.  Olive oil is a good carrier for diluting these herbal essential oils.  Its lipid makeup is ideal for maintaining the bioavailability of phytochemicals in essential oils and has a neutral smell that does not interfere with the pleasant scents of the other oils.  Try adding one or two drops of essential oil to a tablespoon of olive oil and mixing well before using.

Recent studies have indicated that the physical act of massaging your scalp has multiple benefits for your hair. Gently rubbing or stretching the skin on your head stimulates blood flow in the capillaries that feed your skin cells and hair follicles.  Massaging for four minutes per day can also improve hair thickness and growth rate.¹² Olive oil is an excellent lubricant to use when treating yourself to a head massage.

While olive oil can provide antioxidant and hydrating benefits to your skin, it can have some detrimental effects as well.  Some studies have found that routine application of olive oil can reduce the stability of the stratum corneum, the top layer of your skin.  So while olive oil itself can help keep moisture in, in the long-term it can reduce your skin’s ability to retain moisture itself.^13-14 Some people have also reported redness in their skin after applying olive oil.  So, if you have sensitive skin or a condition like dermatitis, you may want to refrain from rubbing olive oil into your scalp.  It also should not be used topically on infants and children.