Because of its nourishing content and health benefits, olive oil has become an indispensable culinary ingredient in our pantries - but did you know olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is also great for your hair and skin?
In fact, this deep gold to green oil is a blessing that we have known for a long time. From our Neolithic ancestors who cherished olives in the wild to the Egyptian beauty queen Cleopatra who considered olive oil a beauty essential, from the ancient Greeks to the Romans, everyone took to olive oil as soon as they tried it.
And there is a good reason for it. Olive oil is rich in a wide range of natural plant-derived compounds that nourish the skin and hair. It contains nutrients, antioxidants, and other organic agents that make it an ideal herbal remedy for a range of hair and skin-related issues.
Today, we’ll be covering the benefits and uses of extra virgin olive oil for hair and skin. But first, let’s take a moment to understand what olive oil is and how its produced.
What is Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a type of fruit oil that is extracted by pressing ripe olives that grow on olive trees. Olive trees are evergreen shrubs, native to many parts of the world including Mediterranean Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Olive extracts like olive oil are considered culinary and cosmetic essentials because of their unique nutrient profile. Olive oil is packed with monosaturated fatty acids - also known as ‘friendly’ or ‘healthy’ fats because they are wonderful for health. It is also rich in a blend of antioxidants and vitamins, all of which support good health.
At Nature’s Blends, our extra virgin olive oil is derived by single cold pressing the best organic olives sourced from the sun-kissed shrubs in Mount Atlas of Morocco. To ensure that you get only the finest nature has to offer, we add no chemicals, preservatives, or artificial ingredients to our oil.
Read more about how we source our extra virgin olive oil .
Quick Facts About Olive Oil
Type of Ingredients:
Antioxidant, emollient, anti-inflammatory, moisturiser
Calories in a tablespoon (1 tbsp) of Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
1 tablespoon (or 13.5g) of olive oil contains 119 calories
Who Should Use it (specifically for hair and skin):
Olive oil is safe to use for everyone. Because of its powerful hydrating effects, extra virgin olive oil works best for those with dry hair and skin.
How Often to Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
Olive oil can be used for hair and skin every day.
What’s the Best Olive Oil to Use for Hair and Skin?
The best olive oil for hair and skin (topical usage) is extra virgin olive oil. That’s because extra-virgin olive oil is carefully cold-pressed and unprocessed, so it retains its natural goodness and potency. It is also devoid of any artificial impurities.
Is Olive Oil Good for Skin?
Loaded with natural anti-aging and hydrating ingredients, olive oil is perfect for skin. Applying it routinely can keep your skin fresh, soft, and supple.
Here are some of the benefits of extra virgin olive oil for the skin:
- The Perfect Blend of Antioxidants
Olive oil is rich in a variety of antioxidants that work together to shield the skin from external damage, puffiness, and inflammation. Dabbing a bit of extra virgin olive oil onto your skin can rejuvenate it and protect it against aging and redness.
- An Excellent Moisuturiser
Organic olive oil is packed with natural compounds that hydrate the skin and keep it baby soft. Among its herbal constituents are squalene, oleic acid, and palmitic acid, all of which are very moisturising and skin friendly.
- Nutrient-Rich Skin Treatment
Ripe olives contain lots of nutrients including vitamins which have a key role to play in skin health. Olive oil is rich in vitamins D, A, K, and E that counter oxidative stress and keep the skin supple and healthy.
Vitamin E is particularly beneficial for the skin. Herbal oils rich in Vit E are used to counter some of the symptoms of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
- Potent Anti-Microbial Properties
Research indicates that olive oil may have potent anti-microbial properties. A study found that extra virgin olive oil was effective against bacteria. It is worth noting that bacteria cause many skin problems including acne.
While more research is needed to fully explore the antimicrobial properties of this oil, anecdotal evidence indicates that it soothes the skin during bacterial infections.
- Aids Skin Repair
The anti-inflammatory properties of extra-virgin olive oil hasten wound healing and skin repair after external damage. Olive oil has special plant compounds called Triterpenes. Think of these as the body’s healing potion. Triterpenes are needed for wound healing and skin repair.
How to Use Olive Oil for Skin?
Olive oil is one of the most versatile oils on earth! You’d be surprised at all the different ways you can let your skin benefit from extra virgin olive oil.
You can include it in your daily skincare regimen or enjoy a massage with it. Extra-virgin olive oil is rapidly absorbed into the skin so there are many ways to give yourself an all-natural skin treatment with it.
We have listed the main ways you can use extra-virgin olive oil for soft and supple skin:
The Relaxing Way: Enjoy a Massage with Olive Oil
It’s a myth that olive oil treatments are only for the face and neck area. Because of its enriching nutrients, extra-virgin olive oil is great for the rest of your body too.
Enjoy a relaxing massage with olive oil to soothe your muscles and nourish your skin. Since extra-virgin olive oil is a wonderful carrier oil, you can even blend it with black seed oil or raw coconut oil to make your own massage oil.
The anti-inflammatory agents present in extra virgin olive oil and black seed oil combine to soothe pain and lower swelling while raw coconut and olive oil combo work wonders for the skin.
Wrinkle Removal Remedy: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Anti-Ageing Treatment
Use olive oil every night to keep your skin wrinkle-free. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in plant-based antioxidants that fight oxidative stress and aid in skin repair.
To use extra-virgin olive oil as an anti-aging treatment, dip a swab of clean cotton in it and then dab it around your eyes gently.
Hydrate: Use Olive Oil as an Organic Moisturiser
Use only a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil to moisturise throughout the day. Virgin olive oil is packed with friendly fats that protect the skin from dryness as well as skin-friendly vitamins that keep it healthy.
Remember to use only 2-3 drops depending on your skin type. Use a dropper if possible. If your skin is already oily, you may end up clogging your pores and causing an acne reaction.
Lip Care: Exfoliate Naturally with Olive Oil
Lips tend to get dry in windy or cold weather. You can make your own homemade remedy to exfoliate your lips. The best thing about this recipe is that unlike commercial cosmetics, it is made of all-natural ingredients and you get to make it yourself!
You need:
- 5 tbsp of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil by Nature’s Blends
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar Crystals
- 1 tsp Raw Honey by Nature’s Blends
Blend all these ingredients into a mixture in a small bowl. Then, massage it onto your lips with a fingertip for a couple of minutes before washing it away with warm water.
Perfect Eye Makeup Remover for Dry Season
Often, makeup items have a water-resistant base. This is true of most eye makeup including eyeliner and mascara. No need to stress too much though; where water doesn’t work, olive oil does.
Extra virgin olive oil works by tenderly breaking down liner and mascara particles, making it easier to wipe them away more easily.
This remover hack is particularly useful for extreme seasons when the wind is stripped of all its moisture. That’s because olive oil also has an overall hydrating effect on the skin so it doubles as an eye moisturiser.
Only a few drops of olive oil are enough to do the trick. Use a dropper to add 2-3 drops of extra-virgin olive oil on a cotton pad and wipe your eyelid gingerly. Most of your eye makeup will come off.
Is Olive Oil Good for Hair?
The olive oil hair care regimen is thousands of years old. It has been passed down from generation to generation with the claim that it adds extra shine and softness to hair and aids in hair growth.
That’s not surprising since raw virgin olive oil contains a range of hydrating compounds. From squalene, nature’s chief hydrator to oleic acid and palmitic acid, all are natural emollients that protect the hair against dryness and help it retain its natural moisture.
Here are the chief benefits of using extra virgin olive oil for hair:
- Natural Hydrating Agent
Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats. They get rapidly absorbed into the hair and improve its ability to lock in moisture, offering round-the-clock protection against dryness and flakiness.
Our hair soaks in extra-virgin olive oil because our hair can naturally absorb simple fats. This has an overall hydrating effect on the hair. It coats our hair and keeps it moisturised and glossy. Use in conjunction with an organic water-based product for best effects.
- The Antioxidant Effect
Raw virgin olive oil is a natural blend of many antioxidants all of which work against free radical damage in not only the skin but also our hair. According to a study, oxidative stress can cause hair to prematurely age and become fragile and damage-prone.
We have already established that extra-virgin olive oil is an oxidant powerhouse. When it is applied to hair, it gets rapidly absorbed into the shafts. The antioxidants act to reduce any stressors and keep the hair healthy and thick.
- Protection Against Split Ends and Breakage
Not only does extra virgin olive oil hydrate the hair but it also shields it from breakage, brittleness, and split ends.
Apply olive oil pre-shower to prevent wet hair from breaking. The oil forms a thin layer of moisture that protects your hair from root to tips.
This film acts as a lubricant, reducing friction between individual cuticles and strands. Olive oil acts by lending more volume and protection to your locks during the shampoo and conditioning phases of your hair wash too.
- Tame Frizz
The lubricating effect of extra-virgin olive oil is also very effective in taming frizz. Sometimes, hair becomes dry and brittle, making styling even more difficult.
Extra virgin olive oil is a natural hair aide that helps reinstate the natural moisture content of your hair, preventing brittleness and frizz.
So, if you’re having a bad hair day, rub a bit of olive oil between your fingers and apply it to your hair tips to tame the frizz.
- Improved Blood Flow
There’s nothing like a head massage with extra virgin olive oil to soothe your mind. Massaging your hair and scalp with this wonder oil can reduce dryness and improve blood circulation to your hair follicles.
A massage is doubly effective. Not only does it relax you fully, but it also allows the hair to absorb more nutrients and promotes hair growth indirectly by improving blood circulation in the scalp area.
- Thicker Locks
Olive oil contains plenty of omega fats and vitamins all of which are key nutrients essential for overall health including hair health. All of these fantastic nutrients strengthen the hair, revive its natural shine and add to its thickness.
How to Use Olive Oil for Hair?
Incorporating extra virgin olive oil into your hair care routine is simple and easy. There are several ways to do it depending on your hair care goals.
Remember to use extra-virgin olive oil because it is not refined and packed to the brim with many natural nutrients and antioxidants that play a key role in hair health.
Refined olive oil is less potent because it is artificially processed and/or exposed to heat. Some olive oil companies also add preservatives and chemicals to improve the shelf life of their product. Organic (extra virgin) produce is devoid of all such ingredients.
We have listed the main ways you can use extra virgin olive oil for haircare:
The Pre-Shampoo Route: Use Olive Oil to Tame Hair Before a Wash
Hair becomes more breakage-prone when it is soaked. We lose most of our hair during a hair wash. Use this simple pre-wash treatment to protect your hair so you can fully enjoy your shower.
Apply extra virgin olive oil to your hair before you take a shower. The quantity depends on the length and condition of your hair. Long and dry hair might require larger amounts and a scalp-to-tip coating while oily hair should get a middle-to-tip coating.
Keep it on for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse it off during your shower. For best effect, add a few drops of olive oil to your hair conditioner as well.
The Anti-Split End Treatment: Fix Dry and Damaged Hair Tips
Need a quick fix for split ends or brittle hair? Part your hair and section it into smaller strands.
Then, squeeze a couple of drops of extra virgin olive oil onto your palm and rub your hands together to warm the oil up and spread it evenly.
Next, apply the oil to the tips of your hair, working your way through each strand. This would remedy dullness and split ends by giving a natural shine and volume to your hair. If your hair is dry, coat it from mid-shaft to the tip instead.
The Ultimate Haircare Blend: Power of Herbal Oils
Extra virgin olive oil is a mild carrier oil so you can blend it with other oils to create your haircare oil.
Couple with black seed oil to give extra shine to your hair or mix with coconut and Argon oil to create a powerful blend that encourages hair growth.
The Olive Oil Frizz Smoothie: Have a Good Hair Day
Have frizz, baby hair, or fly-aways? Check them with a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Frizz is a direct result of raised cuticles present on hair strands.
Olive oil prevents frizz by layering the hair and sealing the cuticles in. That is why this oil is present in a wide range of hair care cosmetics as well.
The best way to tame frizz is to warm a couple of drops of olive oil by rubbing it between your fingers and gently apply it to your hairline and other strands prone to frizz. Finish by slowly combing your fingers through your scalp.
Nature’s Blends: Sustainably Sourced Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Try our extra virgin olive oil single-pressed from the ripest Moroccan olives we could find at the uninhabited foothills of Mount Atlas. f
We are quite the olive oil aficionados ourselves so each bottle we collect is a testimony to original taste, boundless passion, and age-old local tradition.
At Nature’s Blends, we are committed to bringing you the finest nature has to offer. Our extra virgin olive oil is the best on market. It is 100% natural, unprocessed, unheated, and free of preservatives.