Olive oil can be a fantastic addition to your skin and hair. Its rejuvenating properties can help fight inflammation and provide moisturizing benefits. One of the ways to incorporate olive oil into your routine is to use olive oil soap. But is olive oil soap good for hair?
Olive oil soap is good for hair as it contains high amounts of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Olive oil soap also helps to moisturize the scalp which in turn promotes hair growth.
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The Benefits Of Olive Oil
The use of olive oil for hair and skin isn’t even a newfound beauty and wellness fad.
The Ancient Greeks and Egyptians both used this wonder product in order to fight early signs of aging and encourage soft, shiny hair growth. This is because olive oil is a penetrating oil.
So if you’re keen to take a leaf out of their books, read on for more information about exactly how and why olive oil soap could take your hair care routine to the next level.
Antioxidants
Olive oil is absolutely loaded with antioxidants, of which the two most important are vitamins A and E.
Antioxidants have multiple health benefits. This includes helping to fight inflammation and contributing to a reduced risk of both heart disease and chronic diseases.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial
One of olive oil’s key antioxidants – oleocanthal – has been shown in research to have similar anti-inflammatory qualities as ibuprofen.
Olive oil is also anti-bacterial. It contains nutrients that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in your gut.
Great for people with dry skin
If you experience skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, or even suffer from the occasional rash or sunburn, olive oil can help to relieve symptoms.
It’s hypoallergenic and contains a high level of vitamins A and E. This makes it naturally moisturizing.
When you use olive oil soap, it will gently cleanse skin without stripping it of its natural barrier. This helps to support and contribute to the production of these protective oils.
Don’t forget, too, that olive oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. It, therefore, works well as a treatment against fungal skin infections.
Inhibits signs of ageing
It’s a solution as old as time. Using olive oil on skin to improve elasticity, minimize the look of fine lines, and leave skin soft, supple, and protected.
The fatty acids, notably the oleic acid and polyphenols, in olive oil support the moisture barrier of the skin. This ensures it stays nourished and smooth.
The beta carotene content on the other hand encourages skin cell turnover and new cell generation. This promotes younger-looking skin and a more dewy complexion.
Also Read: How To Use Pomelo Oil For Hair Growth
What Is Olive Oil Soap?
Olive oil soap is a cleansing product that uses olive oil as its base ingredient.
It’s highly esteemed for those who have particularly dry skin. This is because it’s so moisturizing, helping skin to cleanse itself without stripping away essential oil levels.
That said, because it’s non-greasy and anti-bacterial, it can also work well for those who suffer from acne or other cystic skin conditions.
But olive oil soap will work just as well for people with all skin types. It is soothing and helps to smooth skin while softening its texture. It also provides a fabulous source of natural moisture and nourishment.
Olive oil soap has a lower pH level than most commercial soap as it shouldn’t contain foaming agents, petroleum oil, or animal fats.
Be sure to look for olive oil soap that doesn’t contain these nasty additives when you’re looking to buy some (more on that below).
Also, check out the benefits that African Black Soap can have for your hair!
The Benefits Of Olive Oil Soap For Hair
Olive oil soap also has particular benefits for hair care.
Olive oil in its pure form – that is, as oil – has been used for centuries to support hair’s natural shine and softness.
As long as you’re using an olive oil soap without any chemical additions, you’ll get all the conditioning benefits in a deeply cleansing form.
- Makes curls easier to manage and detangle, helping hair to achieve volume without stripping it of moisture.
- The vitamin E content of any olive oil soap can help hair grow and strengthen the hair follicles.
- Olive oil soap both softens hair and makes it significantly shinier.
- Can be used as a natural way to help manage dandruff. This is thanks to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities.
- Research shows that olive oil soap can also act as a lubricant, thereby minimizing hair damage. Hair is particularly vulnerable to friction and consequent breakage when wet. Using an olive oil soap can provide an extra level of moisture to reduce this risk.
Does Olive Oil Soap Have Any Disadvantages For Hair?
Before you head to your nearest olive oil soap stockist, it’s best to be aware of some of the drawbacks to its usage.
Hard hair
Some people who use olive oil soap – particularly when used with laurel – have complained that it can make their hair hard, or appear sticky, like it contains spray or gel.
To help mitigate this, it’s a good idea to use an apple cider vinegar rinse alongside your olive oil soap.
Hair becomes used to the olive oil soap
As with most products, your hair will become used to the olive oil soap after around 3-4 washes, adjusting its oil levels accordingly.
There have been reports of people noticing that hair appears more greasy or oily as hair adjusts to the inclusion of olive oil soap in weekly care.
Also Read: How To Use Castor Oil For Protein Sensitive Hair
The Best Olive Oil Soap For Your Hair
If you can, try to find an olive oil soap that uses either Greek or Syrian olive oil.
These will tend to be the most natural and are handmade using traditional methods. They’ll also tend to be green-olive in color. This would indicate that they have no additives and haven’t been bleached.
What’s more, these companies tend to be small batch and home run. They are invested in creating sustainable shampoo and soap made with the least environmental impact possible.
This means you can rest easy knowing you’re supporting small, eco-friendly businesses.
Traditional Handmade Aleppo Soap – Green Bear
Containing neither animal fats nor chemicals, this olive oil soap from Green Bear is absolutely natural and made in Turkey.
It’s long-lasting and made with traditional techniques, containing 16% laurel as well as olive oil.
It’s been made for the past 400 years in the same way. Stirred in copper caldrons, hallmark-stamped by hand. It’s then left to dry in the sun for 6 – 9 months in order to harden into the soap you’ll receive.
The packaging is also either recyclable or biodegradable, too.
Olive Oil Soap – Dalan
Suitable for all hair and skin types, this olive oil soap from Dalan is made using traditional techniques from Mediterranean olive oil.
It’s also ‘climate pledge friendly’. This means it’s accredited for removing and reducing the carbon footprint of both delivery and packaging.
You might notice a strong smell – but that’s totally natural. There are no additives or chemical additions.
The bars are also very large, so are economical. Uou can cut them in half and use smaller amounts if the initial product is too big for daily use.
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.
