How to Use Olive Oil for Hair Growth – 6 Best Recipes for Stimulating Regrowth

Can something as simple as olive oil stimulate serious hair growth and put a stop to hair loss?

We found an amazing scientific study on how oleuropein, a compound found in olive oil, can actually promote hair regrowth.

The best part? It only took 28 days to see visible before and after results using olive oil – that’s less than a month!

In this review article, you will learn every detail about how olive oil can help with hair growth.

We will first go over olive oil benefits for general health as well as hair and skin, scientific research on using olive oil for hair loss, the 3 best olive oils to buy for hair, and the 6 best olive oil recipes for stimulating hair growth and stopping hair falling out.

What is olive oil?

Olive oil is nothing new when it comes to everyday cooking, in addition to its various uses as natural remedies for curing certain illnesses and health symptoms including hair loss.

Olive trees have been around for thousands of years and are mainly found in the Mediterranean.

Olive oil is obtained from pressed olives. Spain is known to be the biggest producer of olive oil, but thanks to its increased consumption in United States over the years, California is also making a name for itself by producing one of the best olive oils such as this brand.

What contributes to the popularity of olive oil?

Known as the healthiest fat available on earth, olive oil is very rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E. These essential properties protect your body from free radical molecules and prevent damage of cells and tissues.

Olive oil is also rich in Vitamin K, another essential fat-soluble nutrient for keeping your heart and bone healthy and regulating blood clotting in the body.

There are literally hundreds of uses of olive oil, with culinary applications being one of the most well known.

For instance, numerous studies suggest the power of olive oil as a natural remedy for improving various health conditions (such as heart disease prevention, cholesterol regulation – the full health benefits are listed below).

Olive oil is also one of the most popular ingredients to add when making homemade beauty recipes, especially for improving hair and skin health. In this article, we will give you 6 amazing olive oil DIY recipes for promoting hair growth. (Click here to go straight to the olive oil hair growth recipes)

Olive oil benefits for health (when consumed)

Here are a few general health benefits of olive oil in our lives:

• Reduces cardiovascular disease
• Regulates blood pressure
• Lowers LDL cholesterol level
• Helps with weight loss
• Regulates blood sugar and diabetes
• Prevents osteoporosis
• Lowers the risk of stroke
• Reduces depression
• Protects against skin and breast cancers

Olive oil benefits for hair and skin (when topically applied)

There are a great number additional benefits of using olive oil for hair and skin

Olive oil for hair and scalp benefits:

• Stimulates hair growth
• Increases the anagen active growth phase
• Prevents hair loss
• Works as deep hair conditioner
• Adds shine to your hair
• Helps with frizzy hair
• Reduces split ends
• Reduces dandruff and scalp inflammation
• Calms down itchy scalp

Olive oil for skin benefits:

• Deeply moisturizes skin
• Reduces wrinkles
• Increases skin elasticity
• Alleviates chapped lips
• Hydrates cracked heels
• Works as a natural makeup remover
• Enhances exfoliation
• Reduces eczema

Now, let’s get to the most important part – Research studies on how olive oil for hair loss works.

Research study on olive oil for hair growth

Can olive oil prevent hair loss and possibly put a full stop to gradual hair thinning?

A 2015 study by Korean researchers gives a solid green light.

In order to test out the efficacy of olive oil for hair growth stimulating agent, the researchers performed scientific experiments using different methods (mice and follicle cell culture analysis).

How the research for olive oil for hair growth was designed:

For the animal experiment, the scientists used 24 mice in total. These mice were divided into 3 groups (so there was 8 mice in each group) and the following treatments were topically applied daily for 28 days straight:

• Group #1: 200 μL of reagent
• Group #2: 200 μL of reagent + 0.4 mg of oleuropein (Compound found in olive oil)
• Group #3: 200 μL of reagent + 3 mg of minoxidil (The only FDA-approved hair growth topical treatment)

Reagent was made of 50% ethanol, 30% water and 20% propylene glycol, and group #1 was served as a control group in this experiment.

How long did the study last?

The study lasted 28 days, which is a little less than a month. Even though the duration was rather short, the before and after results showed significant differences among these 3 groups.

Also, in order to ensure the accuracy of the study, the samples were measured every week and photos were taken of each mouse during the time.

What was the result? Olive oil for hair growth results

Let’s go over the olive oil for hair loss before and after pictures first: 

No improvement in group #1: As you see above, all of the mice in group #1 (the control group that was topically applied with 200 ul of reagent), you can clearly see bare skin at the end of 28 days. This means that this group had NO improvement when it comes to regrowing hair.

Now that we know the control group didn’t have any visible results, let’s take a closer look at before and after photo comparisons between group #2 and group #3 (oleuropein-treated group and minoxidil-treated group):

The above pictures show that both groups showed regrowth of hair follicles. If you look at it closely, group #2 (Oleuropein-treated group) has more number of mice with fully grown hair on their backs.

The researchers also noted that this mice group had longer hair, higher number of strands and bigger sizes of hair follicles, compared to the Minoxidil group:

Summary: The mice group #2, which was treated with oleuropein, had the BEST hair regrowth results (Yes – better than the minoxidil group).

Were there any side effects during the research?

The scientists didn’t find any adverse side effects in any of the groups (which includes the control group, olive oil group, and minoxidil group).

5 Important research findings using olive oil for hair loss

So, the mice experience proved the oleuropein found in olive oil can stimulate hair growth, but what triggered the hair regrowth in mice?

Here are 5 crucial points the researchers found out:

Finding 1 Olive oil (oleuropein) can positively impact the hair growth cycle

The scientists conclude that oleuropein increases the likelihood of hair follicles to transition from the telogen phase to the anagen phase, thus elongating the active hair growth duration.

If the terms such as telogen and anagen are unfamiliar, no worries! These are frequently used words to describe the three phases of hair growth cycle. Let’s quickly go over them here:

Hair growth cycle is made of 3 stages – Anagen, catagen, and telogen.

1. Anagen: Anagen is known as the growth phase, meaning hair follicles are actively growing during this stage. This phase continues for 2 to 7 years depending on each individual. If you are having a difficult time growing your hair beyond a certain length, it’s likely that you have a shorter anagen phase. In reverse, women who can grow their hair very long without thinning on top have a longer anagen phase.
2. Catagen: Also known as the transitional phase, hair follicles in this stage detach themselves from the derma papilla, where nutrition for follicles comes from. There are about 3% of hairs in this stage at any given moment and it only lasts about 2 weeks.
3. Telogen: Telogen phase is also known as the resting period. When follicles are in the telogen phase, they are simply sitting there without getting any nutrients. This, in turn, will result in these follicles falling out from the scalp. About 10-15% of hair follicles are in this stage and it usually lasts about 3 months.

Each follicle goes through this 3-step hair growth cycle, which repeats itself continually.

Hair growth cycle of people with alopecia: The same research adds that people with the most common type of hair loss (androgenetic alopecia – also known as male and female pattern hair loss) are likely to have an abnormal hair growth cycle (click here to see reasons for hair loss)

This usually means that thinning hair is often caused by a shorter duration in the anagen phase and a longer duration of the telogen phase.

In other words, follicles don’t get to spend enough time in the active hair growth stage. Instead, these follicles spend more time in the telogen phase where no nutrition is available, thus hair fall out occurs.

While there hasn’t been any clear evidence on why this abnormal hair growth cycle occurs, one of the possible reasons is linked to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – the biggest hair loss enemy.

Olive oil helps hair follicles to stay in the anagen phase: The researchers found that oleuropein converts telogen follicles to the anagen phase, so that they can get the proper nutrition from dermal papilla and continuously grow.

That’s where olive oil comes in.

Finding 2 Olive oil (oleuropein) may work better than minoxidil for stimulating hair regrowth

While this study was limited in mice, the before and after photos clearly proved that oleuropein can work just as effective as minoxidil as a topical treatment (or even better).

When the researchers performed a test about the effect of oleuropein on derma papilla cells, the results showed oleuropein’s natural ability of cell proliferation, which was significantly higher than minoxidil.

Finding 3 Olive oil (oleuropein) stimulates the Wnt10b/β-catenin pathway – key to hair regeneration

Beta-catenin is a protein involved in cell development. When it comes to hair, the activation of Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role for developing and regenerating hair follicles.

The researchers found that oleuropein (found in olive oil) significantly increases the level of B-catenin in dermal papilla cells as much as 212%!

Another study we found proves the importance of B-catenin when it comes to promoting new hair growth (source). In this study, the researchers observed B-catenin actively being present in the dermal papilla of the anagen stage. But when B-catenin was removed, it led hair follicles to go into the catagen phase prematurely in mice (meaning no more hair growth).

Here is another research finding about Wnt10b/B-catenin in relation to age-related hair symptoms (source). The result of this study also points to the same conclusion When Wnt10b is up-regulated, it also increases B-catenin in hair follicles. These two then work together synergistically and stimulate follicles to RE-enter from the telogen to the anagen (hair growth) phase and regrow hair.

Finding 4  Olive oil (oleuropein) regulates various hair growth factors

The study also found that the oleuropein-treated mice group showed a significant increase of mRNA levels of the following hair growth and development factors in their skin tissues (a lot higher than minoxidil group):

• Insuline-like growth factor (IGF-1) – It helps regulating cell proliferation in the hair follicle development process
• Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) – It promotes the proper growth of epithelial cells inside follicles
• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) – It promotes development of new blood vessels in the anagen hair growth phase
• Keratocyte growth factor (KGF) – It stimulates hair cell proliferation

The researchers point out oleuropein’s ability in regulating the above gene expressions, which are directly related to different aspects of growing healthy hair.

Finding 5 Olive oil (oleuropein) consumption can reduce heart disease, which is linked to pattern hair loss

This is an interesting one. The above 4 findings are based on applying oleuropein topically, while this one is about dietary consumption.

Then, there are a number of studies suggesting a close link between heart disease and premature baldness. These studies gathered data from about 40,000 men with male pattern baldness. About up to 70% of these men who experienced hair loss on the crown area of their heads had increased risk of heart disease.

This is where olive oil can come as a natural remedy to alleviate this symptom. One of the main benefits of consuming olive oil is known for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and providing anti-inflammatory benefits.

Findings summary – Olive oil (oleuropein) for stimulating active hair growth? Check ✓

The above scientific findings lead to one conclusion: Olive oil can be an effective natural hair loss remedy by inducing hair follicles to stay longer in the anagen phase and stimulating various hair growth factors.

How to find the best olive oil for hair

When it comes to finding the best (real) olive oil, you need to start your research from knowing the different grades. And within each grade, it can further be divided into types.

For this article, we will keep it simple and give you the essence.

There are basically 3 types of olive oil:

• Extra virgin olive oil (the best quality)
• Virgin oil
• Olive oil

What makes extra virgin olive oil the TOP quality is the pressing and production methods.

In order to be qualified as extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), it starts from non-defective fresh olives. These olives are then pressed without any high-heat or chemical additive processes to ensure its purity and full aroma.

What olive oil brands to AVOID

Not all olive oils are considered to have the same quality. Here are the olive oil brands that failed to meet IOC extra virgin standards according to the UC Davis olive oil report in 2011:

• Star
• Bertolli
• Filippo Berio
• Pompeian

Which olive oil is best for hair growth? Top 3 real olive oil brands

Here are olive oil brands to trust according to the National Consumers League.

These high-quality extra virgin olive oils are great for both topical use of stimulating hair growth as well as consumption. They are also called the “healthiest” because of the pure cold-pressed extraction method which keeps the active enzymes intact for maximum benefit.

#1 California Olive Ranch’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The name says it all – This extra virgin olive oil is 100% locally-grown on California ranches.

Featured in numerous magazines and sites including Food & Wine, Forbes, and bon appetite, this superior quality oil is certified by the California Olive Oil Counter (COOC).

The committee goes through a rigorous process to ensure its freshness and purity. This oil is also non-GMO verified – another big plus for being 100% natural oil.

#2Lucini’s Premium Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Lucini Premium Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from 100% Italian olives.

In order to ensure the quality, farmers first hand-pick olives in the central estates of Italy, where100+ year old trees are grown in an optimal climate to produce the best olives.

These hand-picked olives then get cold-pressed WITHIN 24 hours of harvest for maximum freshness. This oil is also free of both gluten and GMO’s.

#3Colavita’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil happens to be the #1 best seller on Amazon right now.

Also imported from Italy, the company uses the same rigorous procedures to produce the best quality extract (no chemical additives, cold-pressed, minimal acidity).

Colavita EVOO also has the quality seal from the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), which follows the strict IOC standards, requiring an array of chemical and sensory analysis to test its quality and authenticity.

6 DIY olive oil hair growth recipes and treatments

Looking for the best olive oil recipe for hair? Use any of these olive oil treatments.

After compiling a handful of olive oil for hair growth reviews, we selected and formulated a number of recipes for the purposes of 1. preventing hair loss; 2. stimulating new hair growth; 3. providing deep moisturization to hair strands.

You will get the full amazing hair growth benefits from each olive oil treatment recipe here:

Recipe 1 Olive oil + powerful essential oils for maximum stimulation

Recipe 2 Olive oil mask for getting rid of dandruff

Recipe 3 Olive oil damaged hair repair mask

Recipe 4 Promote faster hair growth

Recipe 5 DIY natural hair growth shampoo

Recipe 6 Add these oils to your shampoo for hair growth promotion

Frequently asked questions about using olive oil for hair

Can you sleep with olive oil in your hair overnight?

Yes, olive oil is a gentle carrier oil that provides both moisturizing and hair growth stimulating benefits. Cover your head with a shower cap or a plastic wrap to protect your bed.

How to apply olive oil for hair growth?

Refer to the directions from any of the DIY olive oil hair growth recipes above. In general, you can dab on your fingers and apply directly onto the scalp section by section. Once applied all over the scalp, use a scalp massager tool such as this in order to increase absorption and hair growth stimulating effects.

How long should olive oil be left in hair?

In general, it’s recommended to leave olive oil (or olive oil based hair mask or treatments) for about an hour. There are people who leave olive oil on their hair overnight. If you plan to leave it overnight, we recommend starting with once a week and slowly increase the frequency.

Is olive oil good for black hair growth?

Yes, not only does olive oil have a natural hair growth stimulating property that works for all types of hair, this carrier is also widely used as a deep conditioner for treating frizzy and curly hair strands and adding a smooth finish.

Is there any side effect of olive oil for hair growth?

Unless you have an allergic reaction to olive oil, there haven’t been any major side effects reported in using olive oil for hair.

A couple of minor side effects includes acne or skin breakouts when used on sensitive skin. When it comes to consumption, over-consuming olive oil can cause diarrhea due to its natural laxative property.

Have you used olive oil for stimulating hair growth? Share your experience in the comment!