bumble and bumble/ Playa/ Sisley
We updated this article in July 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
When you have dry, brittle hair, it may seem like there’s nothing you can do to bring life back to your locks. But hair oil is a product designed to do exactly that. The hair styling product is typically made from oil or a blend of oil that you add to your hair for shine, bounce, and nourishment.
“It’s a product or treatment to restore, replenish, and add shine to hair,” explains Jen Novak, salon owner and hairstylist. She adds that hair oil works to fill gaps in the hair cuticle that appear as frizz, making hair smoother, shinier, and adding bounce.
But hair oil isn’t a one-size-fits-all adventure. Novak says that different brands are geared toward different hair goals. Many hair oils are used to seal in hydration and infuse hair with nutrients, adds Ciara Costenoble, global hair stylist and educator. Some even work to minimize bacteria and promote hair growth, says Kim Kimble, celebrity hairstylist.
It’s also important to note that when it comes to non-styling purposes, dry scalps and breaking hair should be addressed with your doctor to rule out certain medical conditions, like seborrheic dermatitis, a fungus, or genetic alopecia, explains Ken Williams Jr., D.O., FISHRS, ABHRS, surgeon, and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration and author of Hair Transplant 360: Follicular Unit. Additionally, be sure to practice proper hair care, which typically means shampooing only every two to three days to not over-dry strands, he says.
Here, the best hair oils from hair experts, and everything you ever wanted to know about hair oil.
How we chose the best hair oils
We consulted Novak, Costenoble, Kimble, Dr. Williams, Sabrina Porsche, Mane Addicts stylist, and sifted through tons of online reviews to find the best hair oils available.
Our top picks
1
Best overall hair oil
Young Again KEVIN MURPHY
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2
Best hair oil for natural hair
25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil MIZANI
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3
Best hair oil for thin hair
Bonding Oil Olaplex
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4
Best hair oil for damaged hair
Invisible Oil Bumble and Bumble
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5
Best hair oil for hair growth
Spanish Almond Regrowth Oil Naturalicious
Read More
1
Best overall hair oil
KEVIN MURPHY
Young Again
2
Best hair oil for natural hair
MIZANI
25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil
3
Best hair oil for thin hair
Olaplex
Bonding Oil
4
Best hair oil for damaged hair
Bumble and Bumble
Invisible Oil
5
Best hair oil for hair growth
Naturalicious
Spanish Almond Regrowth Oil
6
Best hair oil for heat protection
OUAI
Hair Oil
7
Best hair oil for dry hair
KERASTASE
Elizir Ultime L’Huile Original Beautifying Hair Oil
8
Best hair oil for curly hair
Pattern
PATTERN Argan Oil Hair Serum
9
Best hair oil for frizzy hair
TIGI
Custom Create Colour Lustre Oil
10
Best hair oil for scalp and hair
Kiehl’s
Magic Elixir Scalp and Hair Oil Treatment
11
Cantu
Shea Butter Tea Tree and Jojoba Hair and Scalp Oil
12
Kim Kimble
Miracle Hair Oil
13
NatureLab. Tokyo
Perfect Shine Oil Mist
14
Best hair oil for men
UNITE Hair
Hair U Argan Oil
16
Best hair oil for lighter-colored hair
Moroccanoil
Treatment Light
19
sisley paris
Hair Ritual Precious Hair Care Oil
Hair oil isn’t meant for everyone, but these people may want to add a little extra shine to their do.
✔️ Extensions. Novak suggests protecting your extensions with oil every day.
✔️ Damaged hair. Porsche says those who have damaged hair from color or heat can use oil to rejuvenate strands.
✔️ Long locks. The longer your hair is, the older it is and the more time it has spent under a blow dryer. Novak says those with long hair should add oil for some extra hydration.
✔️ Dry hair. If your hair is especially dry, Novak reveals it’s more likely to break. Adding in oil can improve the elasticity and protect it from snapping when you brush.
✔️ Colored Strands. Novak says hair oil can act as a sealant for colored hair, locking in moisture and protecting it.
How to choose (and use) hair oil
It’s best to look for a blend of oils to replenish lost hydration from many different issues, Novak says. These ingredients are most common in hair oil products to rejuvenate your tresses:
✔️ Grapeseed oil. This common ingredient can stimulate hair production, Novak says. She explains it’s high in oligomeric proanthocyanidins, which is an antioxidant that promotes hair and cell growth, so it’s extremely restorative.
✔️ Almond oil. Assuming you don’t have an allergy, almond oil is high in vitamin E and magnesium, which can prevent hair loss and encourage growth, Novak says. She adds that it’s great for sealing in moisture.
✔️ Jojoba oil. Another common ingredient in hair oils, Kimble says jojoba oil is great for hydrating thirsty tresses.
✔️ Coconut oil. Novak says coconut oil works great to promote growth and moisturize locks.
✔️ Argan oil. For bounce and moisture, Novak loves argan oil rich in fatty acids. She adds that though it’s great for hydration and smoothing, it doesn’t have any reparative agents so it won’t rebuild or restructure hair.
✔️ Castor oil. For shine and nourishment, castor oil is a great option, Kimble says. Novak adds this oil is great for hair follicle health but notes it shouldn’t be applied directly to the scalp.
✔️ Silicone oils. Though this tends to help your hair dry faster and smell good, it’s a much less expensive ingredient and tends to be less effective with repairing hair, Novak says.
Once you’ve decided to make hair oil a part of your regular routine, it’s important you apply it properly so you don’t waste the product. If you’re looking to apply your product to wet hair, Novak suggests slightly drying wet hair with a towel to remove excess water, but do not rub with your towel.
Then, add a few drops of the oil to your palms and rub your hands together to activate and emulsify the oils. Next, instead of rubbing the product into your hair, squeeze it into your hair working from the bottom up for best results without breakage and split ends. Finally, continue to rub your hands together and apply the oil until none is left on your hands. If you’re rubbing your hand on a towel at the end, you’re wasting product, she says.
If you have fine or oily hair, Costenoble suggests applying the oil to dry hair from the midsection to the ends and letting it sit for 15 minutes. Then, you can go ahead and shampoo your hair for a clean finish.
Arielle Weg Arielle Weg is the associate editor at Prevention and loves to share her favorite wellness and nutrition obsessions.
Shannen Zitz Freelance Editorial Assistant Shannen Zitz is a Freelance Editorial Assistant at Prevention who recently graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with an English degree.