This article will outline the best olive oil brands to use for your hair, as well as recommending a few treatments you can do at home in order to make the most of olive oil’s hair benefits.
This post contains affiliate links and we may earn if you click on them (at no extra cost to you). Please read our full disclosure policy here.
In A Hurry? Our Top Picks
| Image | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Palmer's Olive Oil Formula Leave-in Hair Conditioner, 8.5 Ounces | Buy on Amazon | |
 | ORS Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion 8.5 Ounce (Pack of 4) | Buy on Amazon | |
 | African Pride Olive Miracle Leave In Conditioner Creme (3 Pack), enriched with olive and tea tree oil to protect and condition scalp and hair, 15oz. | Buy on Amazon | |
 | ORS Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion | Buy on Amazon |
Benefits Of Using Olive Oil For Hair
Olive oil has been used as a traditional hair care ingredient for years thanks to its moisturizing qualities.
Incorporating olive oil into your hair routine is purported to help tame hair’s frizz, soften hair, seal moisture into the hair fiber and encourage elasticity. Not bad for a common cupboard ingredient.
Benefits include:
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Olive oil has antibacterial qualities, which is why it has been a traditional treatment for both dandruff and helping to remove head lice.
It’s important not to use too much, but olive oil on dry scalps can restore lost ceramides and oils.
Olive oil also contains antioxidants and nutrients like vitamins A and E.
These are the nutrients that your hair needs to grow, and using olive oil on your hair can help to strengthen and support the hair follicle, which may, in turn, contribute to hair growth.
Moisture
Olive oil will seal moisture into the hair fiber, reducing the amount of water it absorbs.
The result? More elastic, shiny hair will suffer from less frizz or shrinkage. Fatty acids in the olive oil will also nourish and soften hair.
Manageability
Olive oil can make curls more manageable, helping to detangle even the peskiest knots.
It acts as a lubricant, which will reduce any damage that might occur through friction when the hair is wet.
Best Olive Oil Brands For Hair Care
Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Leave-In Hair Conditioner
We love Palmer’s, and of their selection of hair care products that contain olive oil, we’ve selected this leave-in conditioner as our favorite.
That said, they have many other products in their olive oil for hair range, including a hair milk, conditioner, and hair gel, so you can select according to your needs.
Containing extra virgin olive oil, black castor oil, and vitamin E, this leave-in conditioner will nourish and repair.
It’s lightweight and also has plenty of water in it – a vital humectant for drawing hydration into your strands.
Just spritz through dampened hair and style however suits – there’s no rinsing required. It’s also free of nasties like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. It’s also a really good price.
Why we like it: Palmer’s has something for everyone, and comes at budget-friendly prices.
ORS Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Moisturizing Hair Lotion
Like Palmer’s, ORS is a brand well known for creating great olive oil products for hair.
This hair lotion blends olive oil and castor oil into a thick conditioning lotion that adds softness and sheen and will protect against the damage from any heat tools (so it’s great to use pre-curling).
It’s not too greasy and is wallet-friendly, too. Don’t forget to try their ‘Fortifying Crème Hair Dress’, ‘Smooth-N-Hold Pudding’, and other products.
Why we like it: Premium hair products intensely moisturize without adding grease or shine.
Check Price on Amazon
African Pride Olive Miracle Leave-In Conditioner
A super lightweight formula protects hair from damage whilst working to rejuvenate and strengthen hair strands, leaving them soft and smooth and minimizing frizz and damage.
The formula is enriched with extra virgin olive oil in order to condition both your scalp and hair, and it can be used on a daily basis by various hair types and textures.
It’ll also provide protection against any heat tools, and there are minimal chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, or petroleum.
We’ve linked to a three-pack but you can also find single items, and check out their other range of olive oil products for hair, including their ‘Miracle Growth Oil’, ‘Miracle Sheen Spray’, and ‘Silky Smooth Edges’ gel.
Why we like it: Great for natural hair, providing a hit of moisture to dry, frazzled strands.
Hollywood Beauty Olive Oil
Hollywood Beauty is another brand that does great olive oil hair products. This olive oil is combined with other nutrient-dense ingredients like chamomile extract, macadamia nut oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, and vitamin E to deliver a serious hit of minerals to your hair.
It will add shine and fight against hair breakage without weighing your hair down.
Just add a few drops to your conditioner, as a pre-poo treatment, or work directly into your hair, paying particular attention to your ends.
Why we like it: Multi-use olive oil with added mineral-rich ingredients.
Check Price on Amazon
Ultimate Originals Therapy Extra Virgin Olive Oil Stimulating Growth Oil
There’s neither petrolatum nor alcohol in here, and the oil is specifically formulated to work on both skin and hair, restoring moisture and elasticity.
Just add a few drops to your conditioner, as a pre-poo treatment, or work directly into your hair, paying particular attention to your ends.
Why we like it: Cost-effective extra virgin olive oil designed for use on the skin and hair – can be added to a variety of treatments.
Check Price on AmazonWhat Type Of Olive Oil Is Best?
When choosing olive oil for your hair, you’d ideally choose one that’s specifically formulated for hair. Otherwise, it may be too dense and lead to build-up and residue.
If your hair is prone to greasiness, then olive oil is not for you – hair types 1A should definitely avoid olive oil.
Unrefined, cold-pressed oil is best, as it will have been treated with neither chemicals nor heat, which means the oil has retained its essential nutrients.
Extra virgin olive oil is the preference, but you can also look for olive oil products that have been designed with hair in mind, and contain other humectants and moisturizers.
How To Use Olive Oil For Hair
Olive oil can be applied to the hair in a number of different ways.
From liquid formulas to spray, they are each valuable ways to use olive oil for hair. It’s all about finding what works for you.
Remember to look for unadulterated oil that’s ideally been cold-pressed and designed for use on your hair.
You can add other oils like black seed oil or castor oil to your olive oil formula if you’d like.
Hot oil treatment
- Depending on your hair’s thickness and type, warm two to four tablespoons of oil. Section your hair and massage the oil through it, taking care to pay attention to any damaged ends, or to your scalp if you suffer from dryness.
- Cover your hair in a shower cap or Seran wrap and leave for anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour. You can always leave it overnight if you feel like it.
- Grab a wide-toothed comb and use that to detangle your hair before shampooing the oil out. You might need to shampoo twice to really get all of the grease out, and you can follow up with conditioner if you’d like.
Pre-poo
- Pre-pooing is when you work a treatment into your hair before shampooing, so as to help boost your hair’s moisture levels.
- Separate your hair into sections to make the application easier, and remember to detangle your hair before applying the pre-poo treatment.
- If you lightly dampen your hair with water prior to the application, this will make it easier. You can do this using a spray bottle filled with water.
- Warm the pre-poo treatment up before applying it to your hair, as this will help it to penetrate faster.
- Massage the treatment into your hair to help stimulate hair follicles and blood flow.
- Cover your hair with a shower cap or Seran wrap and leave to soak in. Leave it for as long as possible, but a minimum of half an hour.
- Remember to wash and condition your hair properly following the pre-poo, so as not to leave any excess grease in.
LOC method
- The LOC method refers to a specific sequence by which to apply products to hair. L stands for leave-in conditioner, O for oil, and C for cream. It’s mostly used by curly girls, but can work for different hair types depending on your oil levels.
- Add the leave-in conditioner of your choice to your hair – your type, porosity, and thickness will determine what product is best for you.
- Next, add the olive oil to your hair.
- Then add a cream formula to really lock that moisture in.
- Ideally, you’d be doing the LOC technique after having washed your hair, so as to minimize product build up. It can also refresh your curls between washes, but try to avoid doing it every day.
Add to conditioner
- Make your life easy by adding cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil to your conditioner. It will soften your hair, adding luster and shine to parched strands. This is by far the easiest way to use olive oil on hair if you want the benefits with minimal faff.
Is Olive Oil Good For Hair Growth?
Hair loss or thinning can be caused by a number of different things. If you suffer from scalp inflammation or infection, and that causes your hair loss, olive oil may help as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties.
It’s also rich in antioxidants and nutrients, all of which are important for hair growth, but evidence that olive oil will lead to hair growth is very thin.
Disclaimer: This site is not intended to provide professional or medical advice. All of the content on LovedByCurls.com is for informational purposes only. All advice should be followed at your own discretion. Ingredients may change at any time so always check the product label before using. Check our full disclaimer policy here.
