It seems like an old school myth: using olive oil as part of a beauty routine to receive any desired benefits. However, olive oil is not just merely for cooking, as it does provide a host of benefits for skin, hair, and even nails.
Dating all the way back to ancient days, olive oil was a coveted ingredient used to enhance the appearance of the skin, the shine of the hair, and the strength of the nails.
Olive oil may seem an unlikely oil to have in a beauty routine, but in fact derivatives of olive oil are used in many skin, hair, and nail products, which may even include some of your favorites. Not only does olive oil have many benefits other ingredients have, it is plant-based and naturally derived.
Olive oil contains works as an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and a moisture-locking hydrator to deliver skin and hair that looks and feels soft, shiny, and protected.
While there are many benefits for the skin and hair, olive oil also has benefits for your nails that can often be overlooked in favor of a hair mask or skincare treatment.
The same hydrating and strengthening properties that deliver results to your skin and hair, work to restore your nails and cuticles as well. Nail care is a small part of your beauty routine, however your nails deserve the same love as your skin and hair.
So, can you use olive oil on your nails? Yes, you can absolutely use olive oil on your nails as a treatment. Not only will olive oil work to strengthen your nails and protect brittle nail beds, but it will soothe the cuticles and soften your hands as well.
Below we dive into all the beauty benefits of olive oil, including the complete guide on how to use the oil on your nails to see long, strong, and shiny results.
Olive Oil Beauty Benefits
Olive oil has many uses beyond the kitchen in terms of beauty benefits. It can be used in different ways for skincare, haircare, and nailcare remedies.
Most popularly in relation to beauty, olive oil is known for the effectiveness when incorporated with skincare. Yet, olive oil can also improve both hair and nails as well.
If you are interested in wanting to incorporate olive oil into your routine to see the benefits, it is important to look for unrefined and cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil for the best results.
Olive oil derivatives can be found in many skincare treatments, however olive oil on its own is also able to deliver many improved skin results.
Moisturizer
Containing many fatty acids and antioxidants, olive oil makes enhances the texture and moisture of the skin that is generally non-irritating and can work with many of your other existing skincare ingredients.
Along with the fatty acids and antioxidants, olive oil is also rich in squalene, which is an ingredient available in a host of skincare products from serums to moisturizers for its hydrating properties.
Skin Protector
Due to the antioxidants, olive oil can protect the skin against harmful environmental aggressors, also known as free radicals. The squalene also helps olive oil provide deep moisture to the skin, while preventing any moisture from escaping, enhancing the overall texture and appearance of the skin.
Makeup Remover
Olive oil can also be used as a method for breaking down stubborn makeup to be removed. Similar to a makeup remover oil, olive oil works to break down the products on the skin to allow for an easy removal, without leaving a stitch of makeup behind.
Like a makeup remover oil, it is not meant to be used as the only removal method, and skin should be thoroughly cleansed with your facial cleanser after using the oil.
Emollient For Scrubs
If you are interested in creating your own face or lip scrubs using natural ingredients found in your kitchen, olive oil works as an excellent medium to create the mix with, as it will be gentle on the skin yet will not hinder the exfoliant.
Olive oil is an emollient, so mixing an ingredient like coarse sugar to create a lip or face scrub, will not overly strip your skin of moisture while the scrub is exfoliating off the unwanted skin cells.
While the main benefit of olive oil in skincare is to provide intense hydration, if your skin is acne-prone it is best to avoid using this oil on the face.
Olive oil is generally thicker than other skincare oils available, and if your skin is already prone to breakouts, using a thinner oil or an oil that is specifically geared towards calming acne breakouts would deliver you better results.
Hair Treatment
Along with the many skin benefits, there are also methods of using olive oil in your hair routine for shiny, healthy locks. Again, the fatty acids and antioxidant properties come in handy as they are able to work on soothing frizzy, unruly, and dry hair types.
The fatty acids are able to penetrate into the hair shaft to ensure the locks are being nourished from the inside out, while the antioxidants work to protect the skin against environmental aggressors that can dehydrate the hair.
The squalene helps the hair lock in moisture and stay hydrated, which will help with the texture of the hair to appear smooth, with less frizz and potential breakage. Olive oil in the hair can be used many ways, but using it as a hair mask will provide you with all the benefits.
Prior to showering, apply olive oil onto the hair for anywhere between 10-20 minutes, or apply to the hair at night and cover with a shower cap to be used as an overnight hair mask.
By using olive oil as a hair mask or a pre-shampoo treatment, it will help smooth the hair strands from being tangled while washing in the shower. It will also help protect against any harsh detergents in your shampoo or condition, and will lock in any needed hydration.
It is important to apply the olive oil as a pre-shampoo treatment before showering, as you do not want to apply the oil in the shower as it can cause an increased slippery surface.
Hair Thickener
Similarly, olive oil can also be used to massage into the scalp to promote increased hair thickness. Stimulating the scalp through a massage engages the hair follicles while also increasing blood circulation.
Incorporating an olive oil scalp massage for about five minutes before letting the oil sit on the hair, can strengthen the hair growth and help improve the overall thickness of your hair.
Of course, the moisture-locking nature of olive oil also works to help skin feel smooth, soft, and hydrated when massaged into the skin. It works well to calm irritation, as it is an anti-inflammatory, and can help with dry or cracked skin, such as cracked hands or feet.
Olive Oil Beauty Side Effects
While there are benefits of using olive oil, there are also side effects to incorporating it into your routine, particularly in terms of skincare.
When used in excess, olive oil can cause breakouts to occur, and is not recommended to be used on already acne-prone skin. Olive oil is a thicker oil that is comedogenic and the fatty acids can cause bacteria or yeast to grow, which causes breakouts to occur if used too much.
Olive oil can also potentially cause an allergic reaction if you have sensitive skin, so it is best to use caution if you are trying to incorporate this oil into your routine.
Being a thicker oil, the skin won’t break down olive oil to truly absorb into the skin, as with some other, thinner facial oils that can penetrate deep layers of the skin.
It is an oil that will remain sitting on the surface of the skin, however it will prevent against moisture loss and will retain the moisture already existing in the skin. Because the oil will remain on top of the skin, it is best to avoid sun exposure as it can lead to increased chance of sunburn.
As for hair care, olive oil will soothe dehydrated strands, however it may not treat dandruff or flaky scalps for long term benefits.
While it may help to soothe the scalp, offer hydration, or even remove the flakes after it is applied onto the hair for a period of time, if you are looking for a long term solution for your scalp, looking for a specific product geared toward treating dandruff will be a better option.
Especially on babies, olive oil is not recommended to be used as a treatment. As far as nail care goes, however, there does not seem to be any negative side effects for using olive oil as a treatment for your nails.
Can You Use Olive Oil On Nails?
After hearing about all of the ways olive oil can be used on the skin and hair, nails are naturally the next step in a beauty care routine. Yes, olive oil uses all the same beneficial properties to enhance the growth, strength, and appearance of your nails as well.
There are a few ways olive oil can be used to benefit the nails and hands that can easily be added to your beauty routine, as a once a week special treatment or as daily nail and cuticle maintenance.
Benefits Of Olive Oil On Nails
Much like with encouraging hair thickness, olive oil helps the nails’ growth overall. Among the other rich components of olive oil, the substance is rich in vitamin E which will help promote nail growth while building up the strength of the nails.
If you find that your nails feel weak or brittle, the vitamin E-rich oil can help to recover your nail beds.
Olive oil also helps to enhance the shine of your nails, while also softening the cuticles. When massaging the oil into the nails, it can also help to hydrate and soften the hands due to the moisture-locking properties of squalene found in the oil.
If you find that your nails have not been able to grow past a certain point, or especially if you are taking a break from nail extension or gel manicures that can make nails feel weakened or sensitive, an olive oil treatment is an ideal way to rehab your nails to feel smooth, strong, and shiny while encouraging their growth.
Methods To Using Olive Oil On Nails
If you are looking to apply the olive oil to your entire nail to help promote strong growth, the best method is to dip the nails into warm olive oil once to twice a week.
The ideal remedy is to warm the olive oil first, dip the nails into the bowl to soak for anywhere between 15-20 minutes. You can then remove the nails from the oil and lightly pat dry or massage in the remaining oil into the skin.
For an ultra-restoring method, after the soak, remove the nails from the bowl but do not wipe off the oil. Instead, you can massage the excess oil and cover the hands with gloves to leave on for an overnight nail and hand treatment.
Doing an olive oil soak at least once a week will help the strength of the nails improve, while also promoting nail growth and an increased shiny appearance.
While the olive oil soak does target the cuticles as well, if you are only wanting to focus on only hydrating your cuticles or do not have time to do a full soak, you can also massage a small amount of oil into the cuticles and the surrounding skin which takes minimal time.
Just as you would apply a nail cuticle oil, using olive oil on the nails multiple times a day or week will help prevent the cuticles from feeling dry or cracked.
Conclusion
Although it may seem like an unlikely ingredient, olive oil has proven over time that is does indeed have beauty, skin, hair, and nail benefits.
The fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and squalene derivatives found within olive oil are the same types of ingredients that can be found in many skin, hair, and nail care items across the beauty market.
Taking advantage of these naturally derived ingredients will help to improve the appearance of skin, hair, and nails, depending on how it is used and what the desired results are.
While there are many benefits, olive oil is not going to work for every skin type. Particularly if you are oily or acne-prone, olive oil will be too thick of an oil for you, which can lead to clogged pores, more breakouts, or increased blackheads.
However, if used correctly with the right skin type, olive oil can deliver proper skincare benefits. In terms of hair care, olive oil will work for most hair types to hydrate, smooth, and add shine to dry strands.
Although olive oil has many benefits for skin and hair, the ultimate benefits can be seen when it is used on the nails. The fatty acids, antioxidants, and especially the vitamin E will increase the overall strength of your nails, which in turn will promote healthy growth and shine.
Olive oil will keep nails, cuticles, and hands hydrated and smooth, and will recover brittle nails to feel stronger than ever.
Olive oil is the secret, indulgent nail treatment that is easy to add to your beauty routine, by simply walking into your kitchen to swipe some of your favorite olive oil.
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