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Olive oil is one of the most versatile oils on the planet. It can be used as a salad dressing, in cooking, or even to moisturize your skin and hair. But what about olive oil for the beard?
This is what we are going to talk about in this article.
We begin our article with this question because it is a common one we get on a daily basis. Almost everyone wants to know if they can use olive oil as a conditioner for their beard.
Let’s explore this topic in more detail, starting with what olive oil is exactly.
What is Olive Oil?
Olive oil is made by pressing olives that are the fruit of the olive tree. The Olive tree is native to the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. Interestingly, the olive tree has been cultivated for over 6000 years and was mentioned in Egyptian hieroglyphs.
The Egyptians were so fond of this oil that they used it for everything from cooking to embalming their dead bodies (creepy!).
Today, olive oil enjoys a large part of the world’s production and consumption. It is one of the most popular vegetable oils and was ranked as the world’s third most consumed food oil. It is also the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet.
Olive Oil Extraction
As we already mentioned, the oil is pressed from the olive tree’s ripe fruit, and the extraction of this oil is a very delicate process.
For the best quality, olives are harvested in November and December while they are still green, washed, and milled or crushed with stone rollers to press out the juice. This liquid is then transferred to large vats where it comes into contact with water. As it stands for several hours, the lighter liquid floats to the top, leaving behind any impurities. The mixture is then allowed to sit and separate into layers: a top layer of olive oil and a bottom layer of water and other substances (called ‘pomace’).
The oil is skimmed off the top and sent through filters to remove any remaining debris, and the resulting oil is then bottled and sold.
Olive Oil Ingredients
Olive oil mainly comprises monounsaturated fatty acids, accounting for almost 85% of its total composition. About 10% of polyunsaturated fatty acids and less than 1% of saturated fatty acids are also found in olive oil. You can find more information here.
The exact proportion varies depending on the type of olives used, how ripe they are when pressed, and the climate conditions under which the oil was produced.
It is also rich in antioxidants that are beneficial for the skin, hair, and health, in general, and it contains high levels of oleocanthal, a compound that has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Nutritional Information for Olive Oil
Olive oil contains omega-6 fatty acids that you need for your skin and beard. These essential fatty acids help to keep your skin moisturized, combat irritation, increase sebum production, and keep the skin cells healthy.
According to recent research, the consumption of olive oil also increases testosterone levels, which in turn increases beard growth, prevents hair loss, and stimulating new growth.
Olive oil For Beard Growth
As we just mentioned above, olive oil increases testosterone levels.
Testosterone, in turn, stimulates beard growth and keeps the hair strong and healthy. Unlike other beard growth oils, it does not stimulate beard growth when you apply it to your beard and face but when you eat it!
According to the study we mentioned above, the young men that participated experienced an increase in testosterone of 17% after 2 weeks of olive oil consumption. So the answer to the question of if olive oil stimulates beard growth is yes! Olive oil for beard growth is not a myth.
You can also use it like other beard oils by applying it to your beard. This way, it will not only help with beard growth but also improve your facial hair and skin health.
The only downside to applying olive oil to your facial hair is its consistency. It is quite thick, so it will not absorb as quickly as other types of carrier oils like jojoba oil, castor oil, and argan oil.
Let’s see the benefits of olive oil for beards.
Related Article: 15 Foods That Help With Beard Growth [Backed By Science]
Benefits of olive oils for beards
There are several benefits of using olive oil for your beard:
Promotes Beard Growth
This is the main benefit we are discussing in this article. As we mentioned, the consumption of olive oil increases the level of testosterone, thus promoting beard growth.
Keeps Beard Soft and Healthy
It is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, which help to keep your beard soft, shiny, and healthy. It will soften and moisturize your beard and make it look healthier.
Prevents dandruff
Another benefit of olive oil is that it prevents dandruff because it keeps the skin underneath moisturized. This reduces irritation and itching, thus eliminating dandruff.
Natural Moisturizer
It is a natural moisturizer that will hydrate your skin and beard and keep it healthy. So, if you have dry skin and facial hair you should consider using olive oil as a moisturizer.
Prevents Itchiness
Olive oil is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that reduces itchiness and irritation. So if you have itchiness caused by dryness, you should try olive oil as the remedy. Vitamin E and antioxidants in olive oil also help to soothe the skin beneath your beard and eliminate itchiness.
Can help with styling
While it doesn’t have the strongest hold compared to beeswax, it can help with styling. Olive oil is easy to apply, especially in the beard area. You can mix it with other ingredients that give more hold when styling your beard or mustache.
So as we can see, olive oil has many benefits for your beard and health in general, but what about its downsides?
Olive Oil Downsides
Olive oil does have some downsides, especially when compared with other beard oils. You can find our list of the best beard oils here.
- It is thick, making it hard to spread on your skin and beard.
- Olive oil also has a distinctive taste and smell, which can be unpleasant if you are not used to it. You can buy extra virgin olive oil that has a smoother taste if you don’t like it
- It will leave a greasy residue on your beard, so you must wash it thoroughly after applying it to your face.
- It does not absorb into the skin easily, so the effect will be shorter-lived than most other oils.
- It can clog pores, so you should choose your think about it twice if you have sensitive skin.
How to Apply Olive Oil?
Applying olive oil to your beard hair is very easy and takes only a few minutes. You just need to do what you would do with other beard oils. Just apply a few drops in your palms and massage it into your skin and beard hair.
Diy Beard oil recipes
Le’s see how you can use olive oil to make your own beard oil recipe. Olive oil will be carrier oil in this particular recipe, but you can adjust it to your needs.
* It will be better to mix olive oil with another lighter carrier oil (50%-50%) to help with absorption.
Then you can use the 1/3 ratio (3 parts of carrier oil to 1 part of essential oil) and add your favorite essential oils.
So an olive oil recipe will look something like that:
- Olive oil (50ml)
- Jojoba oil (50ml)
- A mix of essential oils* (30ml)
The essential oils* could be:
- Lavender (Relaxing and soothing)
- Peppermint oil ( stimulates growth, increases blood circulation, and leaves the skin feeling refreshed)
- Tea tree (fights dandruff and other fungal infections; tea tree oil is antibacterial and anti-fungal, thus preventing infection and itchiness.)
- Almond Oil (tightens the skin pores, moisturizes dry areas, reduces itchiness, etc.)
- Lemon Juice (brightens your beard color and has astringent properties)
- Rosemary Oil (promotes hair growth)
- Eucalyptus oil (promotes beard growth)
You can find more recipes on our DIY Beard oil page.
You can play around with essential oils and find the perfect mixture that will fit your needs and preferences.
Olive Oil for Beard FAQ
Which Oil Is Best For Beard?
There is not a definite answer to this question because every beard oil has different needs and preferences. Olive oil is a great carrier oil for those who want their beard to grow faster and stay healthier.
Olive oil is also good as a daily moisturizer for your face and beard, or when you want to give your beard a shiny look. It also has many benefits for your skin and health in general, which is why it can be a good addition to your daily routine.
Does Olive Oil Prevent Hair Loss?
Yes, Olive Oil prevents both hair loss and thinning. Olive oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties which means it reduces inflammation in the skin and prevents itchiness.
It also helps nourish hair follicles and improve hair regeneration. Olive oil for beard is an integral part of any healthy beard grooming routine because it strengthens facial hair and prevents hair loss.
Does Extra Virgin Olive Oil Grow Beard?
Just like normal olive oil extra virgin olive oil can help you grow a healthy beard. It contains the same ingredients that increase testosterone levels and strengthen hair.
Should I Apply Olive Oil In Beard Overnight?
Yes, there is nothing wrong with applying olive oil overnight, Olive oil can be applied at night before you go to sleep, and wash it off when you get up in the morning. But if you do that your pillowcase will get greasy.
What Kind Of Olive Oil For Beard Hair?
As we mentioned above you can use any type of olive oil for your beard. All kinds of olive oil contain beneficial ingredients for your skin and beard.
Coconut Oil Vs Olive Oil For Beard
It depends on what you want to accomplish. Olive oil does not absorb into the skin easily, which means it moisturizes your beard for a shorter amount of time than coconut oil but promotes facial hair growth if you consume it. Coconut oil absorbs well so it moisturizes your beard much better but it doesn’t make your beard grow as olive oil does.
What Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
Extra virgin Olive oil is the first pressing of olives. Olive oil is classified according to its degree of acidity, this goes from 0-2%. Extra virgin Olive oils are low in oleic acid so it’s not as prone to becoming rancid or oxidized.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve covered a lot about olive oil and beards. We also discussed some important things you should be aware of when it comes to olive oil and facial hair growth. If you’re struggling with how often or what type of beard oil is good for your face, don’t hesitate to reach out! Comments are always welcome here at The Men’s Attitude – as long as they have something useful to say 🙂
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.
