Olive Oil As Grey Hair Remedy: Fact Or A Myth?

Hair oiling and oil massage have long been thought to be effective against hair dryness, graying, and hair loss

. Massage with olive oil for gray hair, most specifically, has been known as one of the most effective ancient methods for preventing gray hair. It has also been used to reduce hair dryness, restore natural hair color, and improve hair strength and shine.

However, does it really work? And if yes, what is the mechanism by which olive oil can reduce gray hair? We find out all that and more right here in this article. So, keep reading!

A Factual Guide To Olive Oil Hair Darkening Benefits:

While olive oil is sure a scalp nourisher, is it also a remedy against gray hair? You must have dug deep into your head to find the answer to this question and might have ended up totally confused.

Let me take you to the world of facts and help you recur the correct answer to olive oil for gray hair as an anti-gray agent or a myth.

1. Remedies Gray Hair Due To Dandruff:

Olive oil offers deep nourishment to dry and damaged scalp. It might also restore the sebaceous glands on the scalp, and if you have a dry scalp, chances are it can become a warehouse to common hair problems, such as frizz, dandruff, and lost sheen. It might be interesting for you to know that dandruff is one of the major reasons for gray hair occurring at a young age. Dandruff deteriorates hair, making it weak and can lead to hair loss (1). This leaves the hair open to further damage like hair lightening. Olive oil powerfully cures the problem of dandruff due to dryness. One great way to use olive oil is by mixing it with other beneficial oils such as black seed oil. The concoction offers your rough, gray hair the best treatment. This homemade hair oil for gray hair not only fights the dandruff but also strengthens the strands and reduces hair fall.

Quick Tip

Massage olive oil on your scalp for 10 minutes, cover it with a shower cap and leave it on for as long as possible. Wash it off with a clarifying shampoo.

2. Repairs Sun Damage To Regain The Hair Color:

It is amazing to realize that the sun is not only a life giver; it is also a life taker. The oil can seep into hair cuticles and strengthen and color the hair in the form of vitamin D (that can control the production of Pheomelanin- the hair graying and whitening pigment). It also makes hair gray when they get exposed to direct sunlight for longer hours by making them dry. Olive oil contains nutrients such as vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and amino acids that help repair sun damage by reinventing the lost moisture and hydration in dry hair.

3. Restores pH Level Of Hair Follicles:

It makes hair moist and keeps safe of further sun damage too. It ensures that hair that turned gray due to sun damage is restored back to its natural color. This basically happens as the pH level of hair follicles is restored. Once olive oil restores the pH level of hair follicles, melanin starts working efficiently. Hence, a normal balance between Eumelanin and Pheomelanin (the two hair coloring pigments) is restored. It restores the lost color of hair as well. Olive oil also contains hair protein that might help revive damaged hair and make them healthy to revive the hair growth cycle.

4. Fights Back Chemically Damaged Hair:

The next amazing fact to olive oil’s power of restoring natural hair color relies on its enmity for chemical damage. Excessive styling makes hair chemically damaged. Chemically damaged hair loses its natural hair color and turns gray and frizzy. This usually happens, as chemically damaged hair has damaged hair follicles. If you are wondering what to do about your frizzy gray hair, switch to using olive oil. It fights back chemical damage by re-strengthening weak hair shafts and smoothes the strands. Side by side, it also restores the upset pH level of the scalp and hair follicles. Hence, melanin finds optimal hair conditions to ensure Pheomelanin’s production is hampered and Eumelanin’s production is triggered. Lesser Pheomelanin darkens gray hair and increased Eumelanin makes them even darker (tones them to their natural color). Since chemical damage can disrupt the texture of hair, certain minerals in olive oil such as squalene and oleic acid might help in smoothing the hair.

5. Delays Premature Aging:

It is even more enticing to realize the impact of olive oil for premature gray hair that it is not just powerful enough to prevent premature gray hair issues; it is also equally powerful in reversing the damage. Is it to be believed then that olive oil can bestow hair youth forever? Has this hair oil been blessed with natural armors against whitening due to aging as well? Unfortunately, you will be disappointed to know that nothing can prevent aging. Age-related graying or senescence is a natural process that makes cells and tissues weaker. Olive oil contains enzymes such as polyphenols and antioxidants that promote collagen production, which can surely delay the signs of hair whitening. Oxidative stress may have an impact on scalp health, hair graying, and hair loss. Vitamin E and oleuropein, two potent antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil, can lessen the damaging effects of oxidative stress on hair. It can certainly help you in keeping your hair stronger and shinier with age as well, but cannot keep them black/dark forever. Since olive oil contains vitamin E and A, it will protect the keratin in hair that helps provide strength and shine in hair.

The above-listed factual guide is a personal surety on olive oil and gray hair, on how olive oil can prevent and cure premature hair whitening. However, it is also a surety that it cannot defy hair whitening due to aging, but can only delay it.

Quick Tip

Grey hair is finer, fragile, and vulnerable to split ends. If you have a greasy scalp, apply olive oil from mid-shaft to the tips to ensure stronger hair strands.

You can avail yourself of all these benefits of olive oil by adding this super ingredient to your regular hair care routine. In the following section, learn some easy-to-make hair mask recipes that blend olive oil with other nourishing ingredients to give your hair the moisture and shine it craves.

DIY Olive Oil Hair Masks For Gray Hair

The following homemade olive oil hair masks are perfect for the coarse texture of gray hair and can help restore their health and appearance.

1. Olive Oil And Honey Mask

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of honey

How To Use:

• Mix the olive oil with honey until it is well blended.
• Apply this mixture onto damp hair, starting from the roots and working your way down to the tips.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Rinse it thoroughly with warm water, followed by a gentle shampoo.

Why It Works:

Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, protects your hair from UV radiation, and is also a great emollient that can hydrate and nourish your hair (2). Honey helps lock in moisture, leaving your hair soft and shiny (3). This mask also helps tame frizz, making gray hair look smoother and healthier.

2. Olive Oil And Egg Yolk Mask

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 egg yolk

How To Use:

1. Whisk the egg yolk until smooth.
2. Add the olive oil and blend it well.
3. Apply the mask to your hair, focusing on the ends, where gray hair tends to be drier.
4. Let it sit for about 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Rinse off with cool water and follow up with a gentle shampoo.

Why It Works:

Egg yolk is like a protein-packed treat for your hair, boosting its strength (4). Paired with olive oil, this mask helps improve the texture of gray hair, making it less prone to breakage and adding a nice, healthy bounce.

Infographic: 4 Benefits Of Olive Oil For Gray Hair

Olive oil is known for its effectiveness in preventing hair dryness and loss and promoting overall hair health. Moreover, it is also said to be an effective remedy for reducing gray hair. Check out the infographic below to learn more.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Clearly, olive oil is extremely beneficial for your hair. This ingredient moisturizes dry scalps, prevents dandruff, repairs sun-damaged hair, and restores follicle pH levels. In addition, it rejuvenates chemically damaged tresses, prevents premature graying of hair, and boosts overall hair health. And you thought you could only use olive oil for gray hair! Not only does it restore your natural hair color, but it also makes your hair shiny, moisturized, and strong. So, if you want dark, strong, and beautiful tresses, apply olive oil to your hair and scalp regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave olive oil in my hair all day?

Yes. You can leave olive oil on your hair for about 30 minutes to an hour or even overnight.

Which is better – coconut oil or olive oil for hair?

Coconut oil is better for your hair. Coconut oil penetrates the hair strands and protects them from UV rays, prevents protein loss, and strengthens the hair follicles. Olive oil can penetrate the hair follicles only when heated.

Does olive oil fade hair color?

Olive oil can penetrate the hair strands and remove lightly faded added hair color. It can also be used to add a warm tone to your hair color.

Which oil is best for turning gray hair black?

Castor oil is said to improve hair health and appearance effectively. You should oil your hair and massage your scalp at least once a week, consistently, to prevent premature graying.

Illustration: Olive Oil As Grey Hair Remedy: Fact Or A Myth?

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Are you seeing your hair turning gray prematurely? Watch this video to learn how to use olive oil to help restore your natural hair color.

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Tiffany YoungCertified Trichology Practitioner

     

Tiffany Young is the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick and a certified trichology practitioner with 6 years of experience. She is also a recognized expert in the hair and beauty industry with celebrity clientele.

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Jyotsana RaoBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.

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Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.

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