Pure and natural beauty aids are an alternative if you are trying to avoid additives, preservatives and other elements that may be harmful to skin and bodies. For instance, with naturally occurring ingredients such as vitamin E and other antioxidants, olive oil helps to maintain and restore hair beauty, according to the Carefair website. Olive oil not only works as a beauty aid for hair but also as a healing remedy for hair and scalp conditions.
Moisturize
Olive oil preserves and restores hair and skin vitality and beauty, according to Carefair. Olive oil moisturizes and revitalizes hair, and it brings back hair elasticity and health lost due to pollutants, sun damage, stress, medication and unhealthy foods. It also helps eliminate buildup from man-made hair products. Olive oil shampoos "rich in pure, extra virgin olive oil" provide needed nutrients and moisture for hair, Carefair says. Avoid harsh chemicals and additives and use olive oil as a natural hair and scalp conditioner.
Treat Dandruff and Cradle Cap
Use olive oil to condition the hair and scalp and keep dandruff flakes away. Dandruff is a skin condition affecting the scalp and hair, and cradle cap is a related infant skin condition. Seborrheic dermatitis is the medical term for both dandruff and cradle cap, according to the Family Doctor website. It causes skin to become scaly, flaky and greasy. Although seborrheic dermatitis primarily affects the scalp and hair, it is also problematic for other areas of the body likely to have hair, such as the face, chest, arms and groin.
Besides using over-the-counter anti-fungal and anti-itch lotions for seborrheic dermatitis, use olive oil to loosen scales, according to the Mayo Clinic, especially for cradle cap. Also olive oil will soothe the scalp and help keep hair free of flakes. After massaging the olive oil into the scalp, leave it on for a few minutes, then gently brush it through the hair. Dandruff sufferers who use olive oil products find them very helpful, Carefair says. The Mayo Clinic also suggests washing hair daily with an anti-dandruff shampoo. Carefair says using shampoos with "high concentrations of olive oil" is most effective and to look for purer forms of olive oil for dandruff.
Remove Lice
Nothing is worse than having a bad hair day due to lice. Pediculosis, or head lice, is a contagious condition that is typically spread from head-to-head contact, according to the DSHS National Guideline Clearinghouse. Sometimes lice are spread in other ways, such as from sharing hair brushes or hats. Lice infestations usually occur where children congregate, such as in schools and at recreational facilities. Typically, complete lice removal takes around two weeks, and a mechanical nit comb is used on a daily basis to remove the insects. The National Guidelines Clearinghouse recommends washing hair with an olive oil based shampoo twice before using the nit comb. Don't rinse after the second shampoo. After wrapping the hair with a towel and leaving it on for about 15 to 20 minutes, begin lice removal with the nit comb. It's OK to use an olive oil based bar soap or pure olive oil also.
Hair Growth
Although hair loss is primarily attributed to heredity, it's sometimes caused by disease, medication, hair products and stress, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Men make up the majority of hair loss sufferers, but women commonly experience thinning or loss of hair, too. Since olive oil contains high levels of the antioxidant vitamin E and other nutrients that are good for the skin and hair growth, it is often recommended for hair loss.
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