Make an Olive Oil Hair Mask

Olive oil is a natural ingredient that offers benefits when consumed, and when applied on the skin and hair. When olive oil is used as a mask and allowed to soak into the hair, it improves its look, feel and manageability. Olive oil is a rich emollient that conditions the hair and makes it easy to comb. It also adds shine and prevents breakage. Olive oil is beneficial for all hair types and ethnicities. Combining olive oil with different ingredients provides a variety of masks to add strength and shine to all types of hair.

Steps

Making an Olive Oil and Honey Mask

1. Select a high-quality extra virgin olive oil as the base for your mask. You'll need about a 1/2 cup of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is a little more expensive than other types, but it has a much nicer fragrance and more antioxidants and vitamins that will give your hair strength and shine.
   • To add pleasant fragrance and additional benefits, you can allow a sprig of dried rosemary or lavender to soak in the olive oil bottle several days prior to making your mask. These fragrances are excellent for relaxation.
2. Pour 1/4 cup honey into a glass container. Honey is a natural humectant (meaning it helps seal in moisture) and contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. These properties make honey ideal for restoring dry and damaged hair and split ends. Raw honey has more of these properties than processed honey. Using a whisk, incorporate the olive oil.
   • Mason jars with resealable lids are great for this (and for storing any extra), but you can use any clean glass container.
   • If your mask becomes too sticky, dilute it by adding more olive oil and continuing to whisk.
3. Pierce three capsules of Vitamin E and squeeze the contents into the mixture. You can find liquid-filled Vitamin E capsules at most grocery stores and pharmacies. The additional Vitamin E will not only help repair damaged hair, it has anti-inflammatory properties that will soothe your scalp. Whisk mixture until the consistency is smooth and manageable. The mixture shouldn't be overly sticky.
4. Use a basting brush or paint brush to smooth the mask over damp hair. Concentrate on the ends, which tend to be the most dry and damaged. Make sure the mixture is distributed evenly throughout your hair.
5. Cover hair with a shower cap, plastic wrap or a plastic grocery bag. If you have long hair, you may want to twist your hair loosely on top of your head and secure with a clip before you wrap it. Wait for 90 minutes to allow the oil and honey mixture to fully permeate your hair.
   • The heat that gets trapped inside the plastic will help the olive oil and honey absorb into the hair.
6. Rinse with warm water. Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm, not hot, water. Your hair may feel stiff or sticky; continue rinsing until your hair feels loose and supple. Use a gentle shampoo to wash your hair and follow with conditioner.
   • Shampoos that say "sulfate-free" or "surfactant free" are more gentle on your hair than other shampoos. They don't form the same foamy lather, but they clean just as well.

Making an Olive Oil and Coconut Oil Hair Mask

1. Select a good quality coconut oil for your base. "Extra virgin" coconut oil is best, but any oil without added fragrances, flavorings, or colorings will do. Coconut oil is especially good for damaged hair because its fatty acid composition penetrates the hair shaft much more efficiently than most other oils. It's also an excellent treatment for dandruff and dry, itchy scalp and is a natural anti-fungal agent.
   • If you can afford it, raw organic coconut oil is the most effective oil to use on hair. Like raw honey, raw coconut oil may solidify in the jar; if so, microwave it for 10-20 seconds until liquified.
   • Because this mask is so lightweight, it's perfect for fine or thin hair.
2. Mix 2 parts coconut oil with 1 part extra virgin olive oil. Stir these oils together in a resealable glass jar. If you have short hair, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of olive oil should be plenty, but adjust the quantities as necessary according to your hair's length and thickness.
3. Apply oil mixture to your hair. Using your hands, massage the oil through your hair. Focus on the ends, as these tend to be the driest and most damaged. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb or your fingers.
4. Wrap your hair. If you have long hair, put it in a ponytail or loose bun, then wrap with a shower cap, plastic wrap, or grocery bag.
5. Leave in overnight. Leaving the coconut oil mixture in your hair overnight gives it plenty of time to penetrate even the most damaged hair shafts. In the morning, rinse out with warm water. Follow with a gentle shampoo and conditioner.

Making an Olive Oil and Banana Hair Mask

1. Peel and mash a ripe banana in a medium bowl. Bananas are high in nutrients such as vitamins A and E and antioxidants, which foster healthy hair. The sugar and pectin in bananas will also help keep moisture in your hair. This mask is perfect for hair that's dry from over-processing or coloring.
2. Add 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is fairly smooth. You may have some small lumps of banana remaining; that's all right. Just try to break down any large chunks.
   • You can also puree the banana and olive oil in a food processor or blender, if you have one. This technique will create a more thoroughly emulsified mixture.
3. Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey. Raw organic honey is best for this, because it is highest in antioxidants, but any honey will work. Make sure the mixture is thoroughly combined.
4. Massage mixture through hair. Focus on the ends, where most of the damage usually is. Make sure the mask is evenly distributed and that you don't have any huge chunks of banana in your hair.
5. Wrap with plastic wrap, a shower cap, or grocery bag. If you have long hair, put it into a ponytail or loose bun, or secure it with a hairclip before wrapping. Leave on hair for 30 minutes.
6. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. This mask is quite sticky, so make sure you have completely rinsed it out! Follow with a gentle shampoo and conditioner.

Making an Olive Oil, Avocado, and Honey Hair Mask

1. Select a ripe avocado. Press near the stem tip; if the avocado gives slightly, it's ripe. Avocados are rich in vitamins A and E and monounsaturated fat, which will provide moisture and shine. The oils in avocado are very close to the natural oils in human skin and hair, which makes this mask ideal for dry or frizzy hair.
   • Because of its very high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, avocado is particularly good for natural hair, which can require extra moisturizing. This mask is also great for very thick, coarse, or curly hair. However, it may be too bulky for people with very fine or thin hair.
2. Scoop the avocado out of the skin with a spoon. Using a fork, mash the avocado into a paste in a medium bowl. A jar will not work as well for this mask because you have to have room to fully mash the avocado.
3. Stir in 2 tablespoons each of extra virgin olive oil and honey. Mix until thoroughly combined. The color should turn a light green and the texture should be as smooth as possible.
   • You can get a more thoroughly emulsified mask if you have a food processor, blender, or hand-mixer. Whip until smooth and airy.
4. Spread mask onto damp hair. Focus on the ends, where damage is usually greatest. If you have oily roots, avoid putting the mask on them. You can use your fingers or a basting/paint brush to spread the mask onto your hair.
5. Secure your hair. If you have long hair, put it into a ponytail or loose bun, or secure with a clip before wrapping. Wrap your hair with plastic wrap, a shower cap, or a grocery bag.
6. Apply heat. This mask does best if heated, but you don't want the plastic to melt onto your hair! Use a hairdryer on its low setting for 15-20 minutes, or find a sunny, warm spot and sit out for 30-45 minutes.
7. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. You may need to massage the water through your hair as you rinse, as this mask is very thick. Follow with a gentle shampoo and conditioner.

Tips

• If you end up with any leftover mask, rub it onto your hands and cuticles, then rinse off for a softening and healing hand treatment.
• You can add fragrances to any of these masks with a few drops of essential oils. Try lavender for relaxation, or peppermint for invigoration.

Warnings

• Although raw egg is sometimes combined with olive oil to make hair masks, this practice should be avoided since raw egg sometimes contains harmful pathogens that can easily be rinsed off into the mouth.

Things You'll Need

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Honey
• Coconut oil
• Banana
• Avocado
• Lavender or rosemary sprigs (optional)
• Essential oils (optional)
• Glass bowl or jar
• Whisk
• Shower cap, plastic wrap or plastic grocery bag
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

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Sources and Citations

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