Everyone wants the hair on their heads to grow full and thick. That’s because fully grown hair contributes significantly to how we look, and it’s undoubtedly a measure of beauty for both males and females.
To achieve lustrous and thick hair growth, many people have had to use various expensive or risky methods, including hair transplants, to make up for sparseness or correct hairlessness.
But what if I told you that there is a natural substance that can help you achieve your goal without stretching your pocket or putting you at risk? Yes, olive oil, with the right combination, can help to stimulate faster and better hair growth.
But what is olive oil, and how do people prepare it? Let’s start from here before considering how best to use it for the hair and scalp.
What is Olive Oil?
Olive oil
is the juice you get by squeezing or pressing olives – the fruit of the olive tree. The tree is native to the Mediterranean countries of Spain, Greece, and Italy. It is pale yellow or green and has plenty of healthy fats and antioxidants.
Most homes use this oil for cooking and salad preparation, but its constituents benefit the scalp and hair.
There are three primary acids and one main fatty acid in olive oil: oleic, palmitic, and squalene. All of these substances have
emollient properties
and help smoothen rough skin. Many personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and pomades, use synthetic analogs of these natural emollients.
Olive oil’s many beneficial components make it an excellent choice for hair because it can treat damaged hair, stop split ends from appearing, and stimulate new growth.
You can use olive oil in various ways, including as a hair growth stimulant. But before we delve into how to exploit this natural product for hair growth, let’s examine why it is so good for you.
Benefits of Olive Oil for Hair Growth and Thickness
1. Reduction of DHT production
DHT, or
dihydrotestosterone
, is a crucial contributor to hair loss and is a byproduct of testosterone. Hair thinning occurs when this hormone is produced in excess in the body. As a result, hair begins to fall out in larger clumps, and there is a disruption in the hair growth cycle.
The 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and a reduced 5-alpha reductase activity reduces DHT synthesis. However, the oleic acid in olive oil hinders the synthesis of 5-alpha reductase, inhibiting DHT production. Therefore, olive oil massages can reduce DHT production, leading to healthier, glossier hair.
2. Olive oil is excellent for scalp health
Olive contains antimicrobials that effectively fight the fungi and bacteria that cause dandruff and other scalp issues. You can use olive oil to soothe your scalp and prevent dryness, itching, dandruff, and other issues.
3. Promotes hair growth
Oleuropein
, a chemical found in olives, helps to promote hair growth. It also increases blood flow to the scalp when you rub your scalp with olive oil.
4. Nourishes your hair
Olive oil massages increase blood flow to the scalp and nourish the hair follicles. Its nutrients and unsaturated fats also help to hydrate the hair shaft, protecting it from dryness.
5. Reduction of split ends
While olive oil’s hydrating properties don’t make it a good choice for fixing split ends, they help boost hair’s elasticity and keep split ends at bay. Therefore, you can use olive oil to maintain healthy hair, softness, and the absence of split ends.
6. Prevention of hair breakage
Olive oil helps to prevent dryness of the scalp, which in turn helps to prevent hair breakage and gives the appearance of fuller hair. Also, due to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, it conditions and fortifies the hair.
7. It maintains a healthy and hydrated scalp
With the oleic acid it contains, olive oil is emollient, sealing in moisture and nourishing the scalp and hair follicles.
While the usefulness of olive oil in achieving healthy and speedy hair growth is undeniable, the next question you may have is how do you appropriate these benefits to yourself?
Here are a few do-it-yourself hair care ideas that you may incorporate into your regular hair care routine.
Ways To Use Olive Oil for Hair Growth and Thickness
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Olive oil, holy basil, and neem
Ingredients
Holy basil leaves (preferably Tulsi leaves), 2 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil, and Neem leaves
Method
Make a powder by grinding a few neem leaves and some holy basil leaves. Mix the olive oil with powdered neem and tulsi herbs. Use your fingertips to massage this paste into your hair for two to three minutes. You should leave the neem-tulsi-olive oil pack for 30 minutes and then wash it off with a gentle shampoo. You can get the finest effects from using this recipe once a week.
Benefits
Olive oil is fantastic for the hair, and neem leaves are great for eliminating dandruff. Holy basil plants (Tulsi leaves) strengthen hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
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Hair growth from eggs and olive oil
Ingredients
Egg Whites (2) and 2 Tablespoons of olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
Method
Mix the whites of two eggs and olive oil in a bowl. Continue whisking until smooth paste forms, then rub it into your scalp and hair. Put on a shower hat to protect your clothes from soiling, and leave the mixture on your head and hair for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, remove the residue by thoroughly rinsing with cold water and mild shampoo.
Benefits
Eggs, a superfood rich in biotin, vitamin A, vitamin E, healthy fats, and folate, help restore moisture and strengthen hair. This pack is very beneficial for hair when paired with olive oil.
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Rosemary oil and olive oil for hair fall
Ingredients
3 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin) and three drops of rosemary essential oil
Method
All you have to do to make this easy hair pack is mix the oils and warm the mixture for about 15 to 20 seconds. Spend 10 minutes massaging olive and rosemary oil into your scalp. Put in some time (about 30–40 minutes) and let the oil do its thing. If you must wash your hair with hot water, use a mild shampoo and do it in lukewarm water instead. You can use this do-it-yourself hair recipe twice or thrice monthly.
Benefits
Rosemary oil helps reduce inflammation and boost circulation, which can help avoid several scalp issues. With the combination of olive oil and rosemary oil, your hair will have more strength.
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Hair Care with coconut oil and olive oil
Ingredients
3 tablespoons of coconut oil (extra virgin) and two tablespoons of virgin olive oil
Method
Melt three tablespoons of unrefined coconut oil over low heat. Avoid overheating, please. Combine it with olive oil and apply the mixture to your hair, massaging gently from the scalp to the ends. You may leave it in your hair for the night and then wash it out in the morning.
You can use this solution once or twice weekly to prevent irritation and promote hair growth.
Benefits
There are several positive outcomes from using a hair pack made of coconut oil and olive oil. Coconut oil’s ability to keep the scalp moist and hydrated makes it an excellent hair growth aid. Say bye to dryness and welcome to hair growth, thanks to olive oil.
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Banana and olive oil are another great hair care combo
Ingredients
1 banana and one tablespoon of olive oil (extra virgin)
Method
Prepare a banana puree by peeling, chopping, and pureeing it with a blender. Smoothen the banana puree by adding one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and whisking it thoroughly. Add half a tablespoon of organic honey if your hair is dehydrated. Please leave it in for 20 minutes, then clean your hair thoroughly with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo.
You can use this hair pack once or twice weekly to feed and moisturize the scalp.
Benefits
Bananas have many positive effects on hair, including improving luster, eliminating dandruff, increasing elasticity, shielding from UV damage, and taming frizziness. With the help of this hair pack, you can address hair problems such as dryness, itching, dandruff, hair loss, and so on.
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Cinnamon, honey, and olive oil honey
Ingredients
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder, one tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, and one tablespoon organic honey
Method
Gather all the ingredients in a bowl, and stir them together until they form a uniform paste. Put the mixture of honey, cinnamon, and olive oil on your hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Keep things tidy by using a shower cap. Please use a gentle wash and cool water to rinse your hair thoroughly. You can use this do-it-yourself hair care tip once each week to stimulate hair growth.
Benefits
Cinnamon can promote healthy hair by reducing split ends, treating acne on the scalp, and preventing hair loss. Honey helps maintain a healthy scalp and adds a silky texture to hair. If your hair is dry, try this hair pack.
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Fenugreek and olive oil
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of olive oil and a handful of fenugreek seeds
Method
Blend some fenugreek seeds until they become a fine powder. Mix this powder with two teaspoons of olive oil and gently massage it into your scalp and hair. After 40 to 45 minutes, wash the olive oil and fenugreek pack out of your hair with a gentle shampoo and lukewarm water. If you want lovely hair, do this once a week.
Benefits
Protein and iron, both of which are required for healthy hair growth, are abundant in fenugreek seeds. They also include antifungal and hair-growth-promoting flavonoids and saponins. This mask is excellent for hair growth, dryness, and itching.
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Olive oil and avocado
Ingredients
2 -3 tablespoons of olive oil and one avocado
Method
You may make an avocado puree by blending a ripe avocado. Make sure there are no lumps by thoroughly blending. To make an effective avocado-olive oil hair mask, combine the necessary ingredients (two to three teaspoons) and apply them to clean damp hair. You may sweeten it with a tablespoon of honey if you’d like, which can help you retain even more water. After waiting half an hour, give your hair a good washing.
Benefits
Avocados’ high biotin content promotes rapid hair development. In addition, magnesium and potassium in the formula make hair shinier and more resistant to breakage.
Precautions
Even while olive oil benefits all hair types, those with fine hair should only use a few drops and limit mask usage to once a week. For thick hair, try using the masks twice a week and increase the olive oil you use.
Conclusion
Olive oil is a cheap alternative treatment for your hair, and you have nothing to lose by giving it a try. It may help stimulate healthy hair growth. Olive oil can strengthen the hair follicle over time, extending the life of each hair and ensuring faster hair growth.