My grandmother believed in the miracle properties of olive oil.

Many warm spring and summer days she would call my cousin and me outside to sit on folding chairs in the sun while she massaged olive oil onto our faces and into our scalps. When we protested that the olive oil was running into our eyes, she waved away our complaints saying, “One day you’ll be glad I did this because it will keep your skin and hair healthy.”

Many personal hair and skin products now tout the same promise my grandmother made years ago.