As the media keep praising the health benefits of olive oil, you may be starting to wonder if they can also apply to your locks and whether olive oil is good for hair growth. After all, it has a wide range of beneficial properties as it contains antioxidants [1], anti-inflammatory[2] and antimicrobial agents [3]. So it would not be hard to fathom that it might help with your hair loss as well.
Unfortunately, however, there is little evidence to support that olive oil can do much for your tresses other than moisturising and nourishing them. There is no human trial to support the idea that olive oil treatment could stimulate hair growth or prevent hair thinning from any type of alopecia. In fact, since it is heavy and greasy, using it on already oily hair might clog your pores, causing common scalp problems such as acne or scalp folliculitis[4].
Fortunately, there’s no need to worry, even if olive oil is likely not one of the best hair growth oils, there are many other great natural remedies for combating hair loss and efficient medication which tackles the root cause of your hair shedding.
Keep reading this article to find out more about:
Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet, but it is also commonly used for cooking in many households nowadays. It has two main varieties, depending on the way it is extracted from olives: regular olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. The main difference is that the extra virgin variety is cold pressed and undergoes the least amount of processing, while the regular one is heated and refined, which can lower its amount of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants [5].
Olive oil is known to contain natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents (however, the concentration varies among oil blends) and has been shown to have multiple health benefits [6][7]. Olive oil benefits includes the following:
Extra virgin olive oil normally contains mostly triglycerides of fatty acids – a type of fat found in human blood, which gets converted into energy. It also has some minor components, such as phenols, beta carotene and lutein, which have proven health benefits [8][9].
Triglycerides (98-99%).
Minor components (1-2%):
So far, no human clinical trials have been made to demonstrate the properties of olive oil for hair growth or in preventing hair loss. The only indication that it may play any role in regulating the hair growth cycle is one small study conducted on mice, which experienced increased hair growth after being treated with topical oleuropein, a substance typically found in olives and olive leaves. However, there are several things that may prevent the conclusions of this study from being extended to human hair:
Thus, until further research, the only proven way olive oil can help your hair thinning is by moisturising it and thus preventing hair breakage, due to its high content of fatty acids.
While olive oil may not have proven benefits for hair growth at this time, it does have some properties which may be beneficial for your hair and scalp. However, most of them also require further research to determine the conditions under which they can be effective:
Excessive exposure to sunlight is not good for your hair and scalp, due to UV radiation. Since olive oil contains natural antioxidants [1] [11], it may reduce oxidative stress [12], prevent some UV damage to your hair and even help protect your scalp from skin cancer.
While there are no clinical studies in humans to confirm this, one study on mice found that using olive oil topically after exposure to UV radiation did indeed reduce the number of skin tumours they developed. However, using olive oil preventively, before exposure, did not have the same effect [13].
Olive oil contains a type of phenols that possess similar anti-inflammatory qualities to Ibuprofen [2], olive oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties when ingested [14].
However, no conclusive evidence has so far been presented that it may have the same effect when applied topically [15]. Therefore, further research is needed to determine whether olive oil can soothe inflammation, irritation or tenderness on your scalp.
Olive oil has demonstrated some antimicrobial qualities in vitro [3], including antifungal properties. One in vitro study found it efficient against candida, reducing it by 50% [26].
This means that there is a chance it could help prevent or treat yeast infections on the scalp, such as dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. However, more research is needed to determine whether it is also effective when applied on the human scalp against the fungus that causes these conditions.
This is especially important since there are medical professionals who believe olive oil may actually exacerbate dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis by feeding the yeast that causes them [4].
The abundant fatty acids in olive oil are good emollients, which soften and moisturise your hair and scalp and coat your strands in a protective layer that prevents friction-induced breaking or split ends. Moreover, it can seal the hair cuticle, keeping moisture inside for longer.
Olive oil is generally safe for human consumption, both ingested and used topically on your scalp and hair. It is not known to cause significant irritation or other types of damage to your skin. While it can cause some allergic reactions, they are generally rare and mild.
However, since it is high in fatty acids, using olive oil excessively on your scalp and hair can make them greasy and can clog your pores, which may lead to scalp acne or even folliculitis. So it is best to avoid this type of oil if you already have greasy hair. And make sure you always wash your scalp well with shampoo after using olive oil for your hair.
There are several ways you can use olive oil in your hair care routine. While neither has been proven to help your hair growth, they can help soften, moisturise and condition your strands, especially if you have dry, brittle hair:
Yes, you can apply pure olive oil to your hair without needing to dilute it first, as it is not likely to cause irritation or burns on your scalp. In fact, olive oil can even be used as a carrier oil, which means you can use it to dilute other essential oils.
It is normally recommended to leave olive oil on your scalp for 15-30 minutes, depending on your hair type (the thicker and drier it is, the more you can keep it in). If you have very dry hair or damaged strands, you can even leave it on overnight, but be sure to wash it well in the morning, to avoid grease buildup.
If you are interested in curbing your hair thinning, here are some of the best essential oils for hair growth you can try:
If you are looking for hair growth treatments, you are probably experiencing hair shedding or hair loss. If that is true, in order to get the most effective treatment, you need to book a consultation with a trichologist for the first signs of hair thinning and balding.
They will perform a careful examination of your scalp and hair and diagnose your condition, so they can recommend the appropriate medications and therapies to treat the specific cause of your hair loss. The most common and effective of these are:
More and more people opt for hair restoration surgery each year. Surgical advancements in this field have made it easier to get a natural-looking hair transplant regardless of whether you are getting an FUE or FUT procedure. Moreover, unlike medication which you have to keep taking, a hair transplant is permanent.
See the results for yourself in our before and after hair transplant gallery.
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