Olive Oil vs Coconut Oil for Hair

Your hair is a defining feature, which is why it can take such an emotional toll when you notice more and more shedding. Or, when you see more of your forehead or scalp in the mirror than used to. Maybe you’re just struggling with dryness or scalp irritation.

At any rate, there are so many natural remedies you can turn to when you want to improve hair health, including olive oil vs coconut oil for hair. We see them compared all the time, but is olive oil or coconut oil better for hair? 

The short answer is that one isn’t inherently better than the other. They serve very different roles in your haircare routine. Olive oil is all about deep moisturization. It seals in hydration and supports elasticity, all while bringing anti-inflammatory properties to the scalp.

Meanwhile, coconut oil actually penetrates the hair shaft to reduce protein loss and prevent breakage. It doesn’t necessarily moisturize, but it does help your hair retain more moisture. It also has antimicrobial properties to support a healthier scalp, setting the stage for healthy hair.

You may want to consider mixing olive oil and coconut oil for hair to get the best of both worlds. Or better yet, shop at Rennora Beauty for the best hair growth oil for black women. 

We’ve brought together 30 of nature’s finest ingredients to help you breathe fresh life into your hair, encouraging new growth in areas that have been dormant for years. It’s backed by a 120-day satisfaction guarantee, so you can place your order with peace of mind!

What Does Olive Oil Do for Hair?

The benefits of olive oil for black hair are impossible to overlook, as this is one of the most common solutions in any African American haircare routine. 

Very few oils can soften, smooth, and hydrate the hair like olive oil. It’s packed with oleic acid, squalene, and vitamin E - compounds that work wonders to improve hair health. But let’s get more specific about how it works.

Olive oil coats the outer layer of the hair shaft (the cuticle) to help it lie flat. This reduces frizz, adds shine, and makes dry, coarse strands feel more manageable.

It also seals in moisture and prevents water loss after you’ve hydrated the hair, which can be a saving grace for people whose hair dries out quickly between washes. It calms flakiness, itching, or tightness on the scalp through its anti-inflammatory and emollient properties, too.

While heavier oils tend to cause buildup, olive oil is light enough to be used regularly in most routines. It’s super versatile as well. You can use it alone, in masks, or blend it into a serum to support elasticity, protect against breakage, and improve softness in the long run.

What Does Coconut Oil Do for Hair?

Coconut oil goes deeper and actually penetrates the hair strand to work its magic. It’s one of the few oils made up of fatty acids (mostly lauric acid) that can move past the cuticle and enter the cortex.

What does this mean, and why does it matter? Coconut oil can help reduce protein loss from within the strand, which is why it has earned a reputation for strengthening hair and minimizing breakage simultaneously.

It’s especially useful after chemical treatments, heat styling, or long-term damage from tight styles. It reinforces the hair’s protein structure to make each strand more resilient under stress, and thus, less likely to snap during brushing, washing, or detangling.

Coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties so it’s really useful for calming minor scalp issues like dryness or irritation caused by fungal buildup. 

People with high-porosity hair that absorbs moisture quickly but loses it just as fast rely on coconut oil to help hold hydration longer. Just be aware that coconut oil isn’t for everyone. People with low-porosity hair may feel as if it leaves their strands stiff or heavy.

Olive Oil vs Coconut Oil for Hair: Key Differences to Consider

We’ll preface this comparison of coconut oil vs olive oil for hair by saying each has its place in haircare. They bring different benefits to your regimen, from hydration to strengthening. 

This is something we’ll dig into more in a moment, but you can’t bring out the full potential of your hair by choosing just one oil - be it coconut or olive oil. You need a more well-rounded haircare ritual with plenty of oils pulling their weight.

That being said, the main difference between olive oil vs coconut oil for hair comes down to their function on the scalp and hair follicle, so let’s start there. 

Function and Composition

Olive oil is primarily a softener and moisture-sealer. Its concentration of oleic acid, squalene, and antioxidants work on the hair’s surface to reduce frizz, smooth rough cuticles, and trap in hydration. Think of it as a way to protect and maintain hair rather than change it.

On the other hand, coconut oil works deep into the hair shaft and binds to the hair’s natural proteins with its high lauric acid content. This can help slow down internal protein loss so the hair strands become stronger from within, especially after heat or chemical exposure.

In this sense, the difference between olive oil vs coconut oil for hair is this: olive oil softens and smooths the hair, coconut oil makes it stronger. Perhaps a bit of an oversimplification, but that’s the gist of it. 

Absorption and Hair Shaft Penetration

We’ve talked a bit already about how deep coconut oil goes into the hair, but this matters quite a bit when comparing coconut oil vs olive oil for hair growth. It’s one of the only oils shown to reduce protein loss during washing and styling by reaching the inner cortex of the strand.

Olive oil is more of a surface-level treatment that simply coats the cuticle. This isn’t a bad thing as it still helps impart a beautiful shine on hair and encourages slip for effortless detangling. But again, it’s not going to really make a difference on the hair’s inner structure. 

Scalp Benefits

Both coconut and olive oil work beyond the hair and bring benefits to the scalp, too. They say a healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair, so this is really important.

Olive oil calms the scalp by soothing inflammation, hydrating flakiness, and softening buildup that can clog follicles. It’s a solid choice for managing tightness, dryness, or itchiness,

In contrast, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that could help in cases of mild dandruff or fungal overgrowth, both of which could prevent healthy hair growth. It won’t hydrate in the same way olive oil does, but it may help manage an unbalanced scalp microbiome.

Ideal Hair Types and Use Cases

Each of these oils is a good candidate for black hair types - with a couple of caveats. Olive oil works best for medium to thick textures, natural styles, or hair that’s consistently dry or frizzy. It plays well with low-porosity strands and can be used regularly without stiffness.

Meanwhile, coconut oil is a better choice for high-porosity or chemically processed hair that’s fragile and prone to breakage. We love using it post-color relaxer when the internal strength of the strand has been compromised.

That said, coconut oil can make some hair types (most notably low-porosity hair) feel stiff or waxy. It should be saved for deep treatment rather than used as a leave-in unless you know your hair tolerates it well.

So, is Olive Oil or Coconut Oil Better for Hair?

All that being said, is olive oil or coconut oil better for hair? You might be starting to lean towards one or the other after reading through this comparison of olive oil vs coconut oil for hair already. But the key takeaway is pretty straightforward:

• Olive oil offers surface-level softness, hydration, and soothing benefits for the scalp. 
• Coconut oil works deeper to reinforce hair’s internal structure, preventing protein loss.

Some people find one is enough. Others discover that layering or rotating the two makes the most sense. So, when does mixing olive oil and coconut oil for hair work best? 

Does Mixing Olive Oil and Coconut Oil for Hair Make Sense?

Mixing olive oil and coconut oil can bring a balance of moisture, softness, and strength to your hair and scalp. You just need to know how to blend the two oils and use them correctly.  

This pairing works best in pre-shampoo treatments or deep conditioning masks. We recommend a 1:1 ratio as a good starting point, but you can skew it however you see fit based on your hair types and needs.

Low porosity hair, for instance, might benefit from a higher concentration of olive oil. Damaged, over-processed, or highly porous hair would be better suited with a higher coconut oil concentration - just don’t leave it in too long. 

Some people use the mix weekly as a treatment; others rotate it in once or twice a month. Apply to damp hair, leave it on for 30-60 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Now, you came here specifically to learn about olive oil vs coconut oil for hair - but these are just two of the many options at your fingertips. We’ve covered the chebe oil hair benefits, gotu kola hair benefits, calendula oil for hair, rosemary oil black hair, dandelion for hair growth, and more.

This is to say that you shouldn’t narrow your focus just to choosing between coconut oil vs olive oil for hair. You should round out your regimen with one of the best hair growth products for black women at Rennora Beauty: our comprehensive hair growth serum.

Bring Out the Full Potential of Your Hair With Our Serum at Rennora Beauty

Our Hair Growth Serum at Rennora Beauty is a targeted formula built to support real progress where you need it most. We combine olive oil with over 30 other plant-based ingredients to address the full picture: moisture, strength, scalp health, and growth.

You’ll see botanicals like chebe, calendula, pygeum, and biotin all working together to support stronger roots, healthier follicles, and more resilient strands. 

The formula is lightweight, non-greasy, and designed to work on protective styles, natural hair, and chemically treated textures alike. Women with types 3 and 4 hair are seeing results in as little as two weeks. Just see what others had to say:

“I'm sooooo.. grateful for you and your product. After about 3 months BAMM!! 😊I will continue to use this oil, I have also referred to my friends.” - Latrice

“This stuff is MAGIC!!! I started noticing growth in the first week of using the product. I've already re-ordered!!” - Marvin

“My Sister purchased Rennora for me. My hair was completely gone, but it us slowly coming back! It works! Be consistent and you will see results!” - Cecilia

You can rest assured you’re getting a solution that works with more than 6,500 verified reviews. But your order is also backed by a 120-day money-back guarantee, so what do you have to lose? 

From restoring the black women hairline to filling in edges, thickening up the crown - Rennora Beauty works, and it’s time to bring Mother Nature’s finest into your own haircare ritual!

Wrapping Up Our Comparison of Coconut Oil vs Olive Oil for Hair

Olive oil and coconut oil both support healthier hair, albeit through different mechanisms. Olive oil softens, seals in moisture, and soothes the scalp. Coconut oil penetrates deeper, reinforcing the hair’s protein structure and helping reduce breakage.

In this sense, it’s not necessarily about choosing between olive oil vs coconut oil for hair - it’s a matter of determining which best suits your goals, and deciding if BOTH have a place in your routine.

Start feeding your hair what it’s really asking for with Rennora Beauty, the #1 hair growth serum on the market. See for yourself what’s possible with the right product in your hair routine!