DIY Olive Oil Treatments for Natural Hair Growth

Olive oil is one of those versatile oils that does wonders for the hair and skin. It’s one of my favorite oils to use on hair and in cooking.

There are a lot of hair products for natural hair with olive oil and I’ve detailed the top olive oil hair products at the end of this article.

However, you can also create some great olive oil hair mask recipes for natural hair with what you already have in your kitchen.

In this article, I will be sharing:-

• My top 3 olive oil recipes for natural hair
• Answering frequently asked questions about using olive oil on natural hair
• Best olive oil brands for natural hair

What is Olive Oil?

Olive oil is produced by cold pressing whole olives.

Traditionally, olives come from a tree that grows in the Mediterranean where olive oil is also a staple in their diet.

The largest producers of olive oil in the world include Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, and Morocco. 

What Does Extra Virgin Olive Oil Do for Your Hair?

There’s a reason olive oil features right, left, and center in a lot of cosmetic and hair care formulations. Its nutrient profile is impressive.

Olive oil contains essential fatty acids that coat the hair shaft and promote softer hair.

It also makes hair easier to detangle and helps restore moisture to dry and damaged hair.

Olive oil is one of the 3 natural oils that have been proven to penetrate the hair shaft.

With this advantage, olive oil treatments will deposit nutrients deep within the hair shaft making it more effective.

Olive Oil Treatments for Natural Hair

Egg Yolk, Olive Oil & Wheat Germ Oil Hair Mask

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of wheat germ oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 egg yolk

Directions

• Pour the egg yolk into a plastic bowl and whisk.
• Add the olive oil and wheat germ oil and whisk again.
• Add in the lavender essential oil and whisk until smooth and frothy.
• Apply the mask to dry hair focusing on dry and/or damaged ends. Apply in sections so you can get the most of the mix into your hair.
• Pinup your hair and cover with cling film or a disposable cap and leave on for 45 minutes.
• Afterward, rinse out thoroughly with warm water then wash with a mild shampoo followed by a moisturizing protein-free deep conditioner.

Viobin Wheat Germ Oil

The purpose of this treatment is to eliminate dryness and strengthen damaged hair. It also acts as a mild protein treatment.

Honey, Banana, and Olive Oil Deep Conditioner

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or sweet almond oil
• 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil
• 1 ripe banana or banana puree like Gerber 2nd Foods Banana Baby Food Cups
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey like Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Honey
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions

• Peel the banana and mash thoroughly in a plastic bowl. If using banana puree, empty the jar into the bowl and whisk with a plastic fork or silicone whisk.
• Add the olive oil, avocado oil or sweet almond oil, and vitamin E oil. Whisk again.
• Add the raw honey and essential oil and whisk until smooth. Ensure the banana is completely smashed. Use a hand blender like Bella Hand Immersion Blender if you have to. It’s annoying to get little bits of banana out of your hair.
• Place the bowl over a bigger bowl full of boiling water and allow it to warm up.
• Apply the warm mask to damp hair in sections with a focus on dry and/or damaged ends.
• Pin up your hair and cover with cling film or a disposable cap and leave it on for 30 minutes or sit under a hairdryer without the cling film for 15 minutes.
• Afterward, rinse out thoroughly with warm water then shampoo with a mild shampoo followed by a moisturizing protein-free deep conditioner.

The purpose of this treatment is to promote softness, eliminate frizz, and make hair shiny.

Instead of the avocado oil, you can use 1 avocado fruit instead. 

Olive Oil and Coconut Oil Treatment

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil like Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or Garden of Life Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil
• 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil

Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Directions

• Mix the olive oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil together in a plastic bowl
• Place bowl over a bigger bowl of boiling water and warm up the mixture.
• After shampooing your hair, apply the warm oil to your hair in layers like you’re applying a relaxer. Massage into your scalp as well
• Apply your moisturizing deep conditioner over the oil and sit under your hair steamer for 30 minutes.
• Rinse out and style your hair.

The purpose of this treatment is to address any scalp issues while also softening your hair and making it easier to detangle.

Bonus Treatment: You can also add 2 tablespoons of olive oil into your deep conditioner before applying it to your hair on your full regimen days. 

Related Hair Care Resources

Grow Your Hair Healthy & Long With Natural Oils

Arewa Hair Styling Oil

Recommended Gentle Shampoos

Below are gentle shampoo recommendations you can use with these treatments.

The shampoo needs to be gentle so it doesn’t strip the effects of the treatment from your hair:-

• Davines Momo Shampoo for Dehydrated Hair
• It’s a 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin
• Giovanni’s Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Shampoo
• Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo
• Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo
• Briogeo Rosarco Reparative Shampoo
• Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo
• Renpure Coconut Milk Nourishing Shampoo

Best Olive Oil for Natural Hair

Olive oil ranges in type from extra virgin to light olive oil, which has been blended with other oils. They all serve different purposes.

For use in your hair care treatments, virgin and extra virgin olive oil are fine.

All the recommendations below are extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that has not been adulterated with other oils:-

Venta del Baron Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Dehesa de la Sabina USDA Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Oro Bailen Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fonte di Foiano Grand Cru Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fuenroble Extra Virgin Olive Oil

You can also find extra virgin olive oil on Mountain Rose Herbs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Olive Oil

Can You Use Olive Oil in Your Hair Every day?

Yes, you can use olive oil in your hair every day as a styling aid or as a sealing oil after applying other styling products.

However, when it comes to the treatments above, they are better suited for application once or twice a week.

Can You Leave Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Your Hair Overnight?

You can leave extra virgin olive oil in your hair overnight if using it on its own.

If it’s part of the olive oil hair treatments recommended above or some other type of treatment, it might be overkill.

There’s nothing that suggests leaving olive oil treatments in your hair overnight will make any difference in results.

Can Olive Oil Fix Damaged Hair?

The purpose of olive oil treatments is to soften hair, make hair shinier, and treat dryness and damage.

Olive oil can help improve damaged hair provided you have eliminated the hair care practices that led to the damaged hair in the first place.

Is Olive Oil As Good as Coconut Oil for Hair?

Olive oil and coconut oil are two of the natural oils that have been proven to penetrate the hair shaft.

However, they achieve different things on hair so they are both excellent oils for hair but used for different things.

Coconut oil helps treat scalp issues and prevent the loss of protein from hair in addition to other benefits.

By combining it in one of the treatments above, you get the best of both worlds.

Olive Oil Hair Products for Natural Hair

• Carol’s Daughter Olive Oil Infusion At-Home Hair Treatment
• Curl Junkie Beauticurls Argan & Olive Oil Daily Hair Conditioner
• Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Moisturizer
• Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
• Organic Root Stimulator Creamy Aloe Shampoo
• Nubian Heritage EVOO & Moringa Repair & Extend Hair Butter

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Curly Abi

Abi is a curly hair expert, researcher, product tester, and author of the highly-rated Healthy Hair Care Series. She is also the founder of Ade Ori Hair Care, Healthy Natural Hair Products, and Natural Oils for Hair & Beauty. HNHP has strict editorial standards and ensures all the information on Healthy Natural Hair Products is the best for natural hair care. Learn more about our Editorial Policies