Like most women, I’m really trying to stretch out my appointments with my hairdresser. And even though my bank account may be a little bit healthier, my hair isn’t looking so hot. Parched, desert-like, destroyed. These are the words that come to mind when I take a look at my ends. None of my usual deep conditioners were cutting it. And with a couple of weeks left before my next cut, it was time to take drastic measures.
Sure, I’d heard that olive oil can help quench seriously dry strands, but I never thought it was for me. My naturally-fine hair couldn’t be that dry, or so I thought. Besides, I didn’t want to wind up smelling like a salad.
Olive oil is full of vitamin E, which is essential for hair health. And since I only needed a little, it’s considerably less expensive than some of my favorite products.
So, last weekend I bit the bullet. I wet my hair, then slicked on a few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. I avoided my scalp because the damage is limited to the bottom third of my hair. (If yours is seriously stripped, go ahead and dab some on your roots.) Then I twisted my tired tresses into a bun and let the oil soak in for about 40 minutes before shampooing. I was prepared to be wowed and … I wasn’t. Sure, my hair looked a little better, but I was expecting a moisturizing miracle.
Luckily, I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. I waited until my hair was nearly dry, then massaged more olive oil into my frizzed ends right before bed. I let it soak in overnight and—hallelujah!—woke up to baby-soft strands and zero residue on my pillowcase the next morning.
I looked like a grease ball all night (be prepared to shampoo first thing the next morning), but I’m ready to permanently forgo all deep conditioners in favor of this heart-healthy hair-saver. Plus, if you use it sparsely, it makes a great body moisturizer—though it certainly doesn’t smell as good as anything you’d find a pharmacy shelf.
Comments (10)
Not only is Olive Oil good for your hair but it is also a great makeup remover. It’s better and cheaper than most makeup removers.
I would recommend using olive oil on DRY hair, not wetting it first. Also, I have put the olive oil on my hair before going out for a run in the morning – put a cap over it, let the heat do its magic, and then take a shower at the end. It really is fantastic – I color my fine, wavy hair, and this is how I keep it soft and non-frizzed.
Oh, that’s amazing to know! Thanks for this great article. I’m going to share this to our avid readers.
X of hair.ph
I am going to try the olive oil in my hair
I also tried this, and it works just fine:
if you want your hair to grow faster and be stronger, put RICINUS COMMUNIS SEED oil on your hair 24hrs before you want to wash it…then rinse it with stigning nettle (or dumb-nettle, dead-nettle) tea…
it’s great!
he this really works
Olive Oil is great stuff.
It’s a great weapon against heart disease by controlling LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising HDL (good cholesterol). It’s also been proven to lower the risks of colon cancer and it’s known for keeping your skin soft and supple and provides a gleam to your hair and skin.
http://www.kyriosblog.com/
Help, what did I do wrong? I tried this I put it all over my hair and slept in a plastic shower cap. I just rinsed it and put conditioner on the next day and it looked real oily which I was happy to see. Then the next day I used shampoo and it really didn’t look any less dry. Any suggestions?
I read about adding a few tablespoons of olive oil to your shampoo…. it really worked on my overprocessed hair.. My question is How often should I do an olive oiil treatment or wash with it. My hair is very fine But I am trying to Get rid of split ends and restore its softness. Also I read rosemary oil is good for hair growth how do I apply it?? Thanks.
Interesting that you are still writing about olive oil for your hair. I also used almond oil but best thing ever I have used for my frizzy hair is Moroccan oil (with Argan oil). That is just great stuff!! Would like to know if anyone has experience with that also?