MayoClinic.com reports that extra virgin olive oil contains high levels of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants which help the body fight off free radicals that damage the body on a cellular level. Traditionally, extra virgin olive oil is believed to be an effective conditioner and moisturizer for skin, nails and hair. To experience the most benefit from olive oil as a hair treatment, warm the oil before applying. The heat helps to increase the oil's ability to penetrate the protective outer layer of your hair.
Step 1
Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil into a microwavable container. If you have short- to medium-length hair, 1/2 cup should be sufficient. If your hair is longer than shoulder length, you may want to use a full cup to ensure you have enough oil to coat the entire length of your hair.
Step 2
Heat the oil in the microwave on high for increments of 30 seconds until the oil is warm to the touch. If you accidentally overheat the oil, let it stand for a few minutes to cool off; do not use the oil until it feels comfortably warm to touch.
Step 3
Use the comb to part your hair into sections. After parting your hair, use your fingers to apply olive oil from the scalp down to the tips of your hair. Try your best to fully coat each strand of hair. If your scalp is dry, use your fingertips to massage the warm olive oil into your scalp.
Step 4
Cover hair with a plastic cap after every strand is completely covered. To achieve the best results, allow the olive oil to remain on your hair for at least 30 minutes; some people choose to sleep with the oil in their hair overnight in order to give it the most time to penetrate the hair. You can also encourage deeper penetration by sitting under a bonnet hair dryer for 30 minutes.
Step 5
Remove the olive oil by shampooing your hair with a very mild shampoo.
Tips and Warnings
- If you do not have a bonnet blow dryer, wrap a large towel over the plastic cap so that you can increase the temperature of the oil for better penetration.
- Hot olive oil can scald you; be very careful to test the temperature of the olive oil before applying it to your hair. Use care when removing the olive oil from the microwave to prevent burns.
Things You'll Need
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Microwave
- Container
- Plastic hair cap
- Large tooth comb
- Bonnet hair dryer (optional)
- Mild shampoo
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