Is Olive Oil the Solution For Reviving Dry, Damaged Hair? An Expert Review

As a hair stylist with over 20 years of experience repairing dry, brittle hair in my salon, olive oil treatments remain one of my top recommendations for restoring moisture, shine and manageability.

I’ve personally seen dramatic improvements in clients with parched locks using pure, high quality extra virgin olive oil to intensely condition and transform hair from straw-like to supple.

In this article, I’ll draw from both research and decades of hands-on expertise in hair care to provide a comprehensive guide on using olive oil for dry hair.

Discover how olive oil nourishes hair, application tips to get the most benefits, and considerations around frequency, quality and technique so you can unleash the rejuvenating potential of this kitchen staple.

Why Olive Oil Benefits Dry Hair

Dull, damaged hair happens for many reasons – over processing with dyes and bleach, heat damage from hot tools, mineral depletion, weathering from sun and pollutants, and disrupted moisture barriers in the hair cuticle.

Olive oil proves uniquely equipped to address these issues and revive dry, tired tresses. The reasons why include:

• Nourishing Fatty Acids: The predominant fatty acid in olive oil called oleic acid deeply conditions, while palmitic and squalene fatty acids coat the hair to prevent moisture evaporating.
• Antioxidant Power: Vitamin E and phytonutrients repair free radical damage and environmental stressors. This protects elasticity and strength over time.
• Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Inflammation damages hair follicles and the scalp. The anti-inflammatory effects in olive oil improve scalp health.
• Light Molecular Structure: Unlike thicker oils like coconut, olive oil molecules have a light structure that can better penetrate inside the hair shaft itself. This enables deeper repair.

When olive oil penetrates into hair follicles, the results include restored elasticity and suppleness, protected keratin infrastructure, locked-in moisture, added shine and ease of managing knots and tangles.

Next let’s explore specific ways olive oil improves different markers of dry, damaged hair.

How Olive Oil Improves Dry Hair Properties

There are clear before and after differences when olive oil works its magic on lackluster locks. The transformations include:

Renewed Moisture Levels: Olive oil coats each strand to prevent moisture evaporating. This seals existing moisture in while attracting and infusing new moisture. After an olive oil hair mask, once-dry hair bounces back to be hydrated and supple instead of shriveled or brittle.

Shield Against Damage: Lifestyle factors like chlorine, salt, wind, pollution and UV rays deplete hair’s moisture reserves causing progressive dryness and brittleness. Olive oil functions as a protective buffer shielding hair while also mitigating and reversing prior damage. It’s nutrients reinforce resilience over time.

Less Frizz & Easier Detangling: Dehydrated hair tends to get tangled easier leading to frustrating knots, particularly for curly hair types. The rich fatty acids in olive oil provide lubrication allowing combs and brushes to pass through smoothly without ripping or breaking the hair strands. Flyaway frizz calms down post-olive oil as well.

Improved Elasticity & Strength: From gooey honey treatments to dusty egg yolks, many DIY hair remedies aim to mimic what olive oil achieves naturally: Fortifying hair’s elasticity and strength. As olive oil penetrates the cortex, hair gains flexibility and reinforced architecture to withstand bending without giving way to split ends over time. Hair feels and looks robust.

Enhanced Shine & Luster: Dull, lifeless hair often results from mineral and nutrient deficiencies along with residue build-up. Clarifying then nourishing hair with antioxidant and fatty acid rich olive oil restores lost radiance and healthy glow for hair to shine like new again.

Now that you know why olive oil renews dry hair, let’s get to the good stuff – how to leverage olive oil for maximizing results!

Best Methods for Using Olive Oil on Hair

Getting the most benefits from olive oil hair treatments relies on following specific techniques adapted to your hair’s unique needs and structure.

Here are my top recommended methods for using olive oil to combat lackluster locks:

Hot Olive Oil Soak

This intense moisturizing treatment harnesses heat to prepare hair cuticles to readily absorb all of olive oil’s benefits. Follow these steps:

1. Warm up pure olive oil either by placing the bottle in a sink/bowl of hot water for 5+ minutes or heating in the microwave for 15 seconds max (test temperature before applying!).
2. Section hair evenly and evenly coat every strand from roots to ends with the warm oil.
3. Put a shower cap or plastic wrap over your head then wrap hair in a warm towel to allow body heat to further penetrate the oil into hair follicles.
4. Allow the hot oil soak to sit for 30-60 minutes then shampoo thoroughly with a gentle cleanser 2-3 times until water runs clear.
5. Finish with a cold water rinse to seal cuticles. Hair will feel remarkably softer, smoother and more supple!

Pro Tip: Mix the warmed olive oil with other antioxidant-rich oils like coconut or avocado oil along with a vitamin E capsule squeezed into the blend to amplify the strengthening effects.

Ultra-Conditioning Olive Oil Hair Mask

For a lighter yet still ultra-moisturizing conditioning treatment, follow these overnight conditioning steps:

1. On dry hair, massage a generous amount of room temperature olive oil thoroughly into hair and scalp before bed.
2. Twist hair atop head and secure with a loose towel or shower cap to allow deep penetration all night long.
3. In the morning, shampoo well with a moisturizing poo until hair feels cleansed.
4. Enjoy silkier texture immediately with less breakage over time.

Olive Oil Leave-In Conditioner

When hair feels a little unruly post-shower:

1. While hair remains damp, smooth a few drops of olive oil evenly from mid-length to ends.
2. Use a wide tooth comb to evenly distribute then let hair naturally air dry as usual.
3. The olive oil will soak in to hydrate and de-frizz without leaving oily residue.

Boosting Other Masks with Olive Oil

Get creative mixing supplemental oils and ingredients into your olive oil hair treatments:

• Avocado oil to thicken hair
• Argan oil to boost shine
• Honey to seal in moisture
• Egg yolk or mayo to fortify strands
• Banana puree to increase manageability
• Greek yogurt to calm irritation

No matter which treatment you DIY, always shampoo thoroughly after to avoid greasy buildup in hair over time.

Next let’s dig into picking the best quality olive oil for maximizing results. Not all olive oils operate equally when it comes to hair repair!

Choosing the Best Olive Oil for Dry Hair

With endless options ranging from mass market to luxury artisanal olive oil, it can get overwhelming selecting one ideal for hair health benefits and optimal treatment results.

Here’s what to look for when shopping pure olive oil for dry hair salvation:

Extra Virgin: Extra virgin olive oil comes from the first cold pressing of ripe olives and contains the highest concentration of fatty acids and antioxidants compared to later pressings. Always select extra virgin for hair treatments over more processed refined grades.

Cold Pressed & Unfiltered: Cold pressing and not filtering olive oil preserves more nutrients like fatty acids, vitamins and minerals vital for restoring hair vitality. Check labels for these indicators of premium quality.

Dark Glass Bottles: Exposure to heat and light oxidizes olive oil causing it to go rancid faster. Select olive oil housed in UV protective dark glass bottles.

Organic & Single Source: Organic olive oils guarantee purity without toxic pesticide residues. Single source oils from family farms or a specific region often abide by traditional methods yielding carefully crafted, high quality harvests ideal for hair revitalization.

A few of my favorite olive oil hair superstars include:

With superior quality olive oil ready for harnessing, next let’s explore ideal treatment frequency.

How Often Should You Use Olive Oil Hair Treatments?

When it comes to coconut oil, I often recommend withdrawing usage if hair becomes overly oily. However olive oil tends to be less pore-clogging.

Here are my general rules of thumb for olive oil hair treatment frequency:

Once Per Week: Using hot oil soaks or overnight conditioning treatments weekly provides sufficient moisture and protection for moderately dry hair prone to seasonal, environmental or minor processed damage.

Twice Per Month: If deep conditioning hair that tends toward oiliness, scaling back to biweekly olive oil treatments prevents saturating hair beyond what it needs.

Monthly: Virgin hair or strands lacking severe parchedness only needs an intense olive oil moisture injection monthly to maintain health.

Pre-Shampoo: Those prone to oily roots can use olive oil as a pre-shampoo once a week just on the ends for extra insurance protecting against splits.

Being attuned to your hair’s ever-changing needs and weather impacts allows customizing ideal olive oil treatment frequency for optimizing ​results.

Now that we’ve covered why, how and when to harness the power of olive oil for restoring dry hair, let’s address some common questions and considerations to round out your knowledge…

Additional Olive Oil Hair Treatment Tips & Precautions

Here I’ll tackle some key areas beyond basic usage I get asked a lot about using olive oil for hair TLC:

Will olive oil accelerate hair growth? While longer hair starts with healthy hair, olive oil won’t speed up the genetically pre-programmed growth rate itself. However by preventing breakage, olive oil allows hair length to increase fuller over time indirectly supporting growth.

Does olive oil lighten hair? On blonde hair, olive oil has the reputation for lightening by improving shine via deeper conditioning. However olive oil doesn’t contain active ingredients to directly lighten like lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide. Improved vibrancy comes from hydration not lift.

Can you use too much olive oil? Overdoing olive oil, especially on fine hair, can lead to a lank, greasy, limp look at the roots. Stick to small amounts mid-length down. Clarify weekly to prevent oil buildup.

Will olive oil clog follicles? Thicker oils can congeal along the scalp blocking follicles plus oxygen that feed hair growth. Tea tree oil helps keep scalp pores clear. If you see more shedding than normal, reduce oil usage.

Should you shampoo after olive oil? Always shampoo thoroughly post-treatment, aiming for 2-3 gentle cleansing rounds until hair regains lightness and movement. Skipping the shampoo step causes oil accumulation and bacteria inviting breakouts.

And if shampooing better doesn’t cut it, clarify occasionally using an apple cider vinegar rinse instead to fully strip excess oils for ultra clean strands.

Who shouldn’t use olive oil? Unless you have severe allergic sensitivity or known irritation to olive derived ingredients, pure high quality extra virgin olive oil remains gentle enough for most hair and scalp types. Those avoiding all oils or with skin conditions like fungal acne or seborrheic dermatitis should abstain though.

For even more custom support attaining your healthiest hair ever using timeless olive oil treatments, don’t hesitate to book your next appointment with me!

People Also Ask

Still have questions about using olive oil for dry hair? Here I answer some of the most frequently asked queries:

What oil is best for very dry damaged hair?

Olive oil, argan oil, and sweet almond oil offer lightweight hydration ideal for super dry or damaged hair. Unique fatty acids penetrate well to nourish while vitamin E repairs existing damage.

Does olive oil help hair grow thicker?

While olive oil conditions hair excellently, it doesn’t influence hair follicle structure to increase density or thickness substantially. However nourishing hair well minimizes thinning associated with breakage allowing hair to grow in thicker to maximum genetic potential.

Is coconut or olive oil better for hair?

Olive oil offers lighter weight hydration ideal for fine or oily-prone hair vulnerable to greasiness. Coconut oil provides deeper penetration best for porous dry strands. Blend both oils to get the best of both!

What is the best olive oil for hair conditioning?

Look for extra virgin olive oil in dark bottles that is organic, cold pressed and single sourced from a reputable producer for the highest quality hair enhancing olive oil. My favorite is La Tourangelle for smooth feel and mild scent.