10 Best Hair Oils in 2022 (Licensed Cosmetologist-Reviewed)
Harsh weather, dust, direct sunlight, and more can severely dry out and damage your hair. But not everyone has the time or money to visit a salon. In that case, you should consider a great hair oil to give your hair the treatment and protection it needs!
However, choosing one isn't always that simple. You need to take into account your hair type, the condition of your hair, and the ingredients. After looking through hair oil products that are highly ranked on Amazon, Walmart, and ebay, we would like to introduce you to 10 best hair oil products that are favorites within the beauty community.
Quick List - Top Hair Oils
Soulflower
Cold-pressed Castor and Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth and Scalp Care
Macadamia Professional
The Power of Macadamia Oil for Damaged and Color-treated Hair
I'm a hairstylist who works with all types of hair daily. A large part of my job is repairing hair and helping clients restore their hair to a healthy and beautiful place. I'm also an expert on which products and techniques will be best for each person depending on what condition their hair is currently in.
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Why is Hair Oil Important?
Do you think shampoo and conditioner are enough to moisturize and nourish your hair, especially for those whose hair has gone through coloring, curling, or other styling steps?
Actually, your hair needs more than just shampoo and conditioner to be completely moisturized and protected. Most shampoos and conditioners will cleanse and treat only the outside of your hair strands, and the protection doesn't always last.
You need hair oil to nourish your strands from within, acting as a panacea particularly for damaged, colored, or oily hair. It can also provide a barrier to your strands in particularly harsh or drying weather, or against the heat of your own hair tools.
Hair oil is one of the most important natural ingredients our hair needs to stay strong, moisturized, and healthy. There are many different oils we can use in our hair, but the ones you may need depend solely on the condition of your hair.
Whether you're struggling with dryness, damaged strands, or just looking for a bit of shine, there is a hair oil that will meet your needs!
How to Choose Hair Oils
Hair oil gives your hair the right amount of support so that it can always look smooth and silky, especially after drying or styling. To help you with choosing the best hair products out there, we compiled a list of hair oil products that can supply your hair with the right nourishment.
Choose a Hair Oil Based on Ingredients
There are two types of oil that are frequently used for hair oil: plant-based essential oil and mineral oil. However, in comparison to mineral oil, plant-based essential oil has more plus points considering moisturizing and caring effects.
Some well-known plant-based oils for hair include olive oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, and so on. Notably, using hair oil will not clog your pores, giving you naturally smooth and silky hair. You can also use hair oil to massage your scalp to support blood circulation.
Try to keep your use of mineral oils to a minimum if possible, especially if you have textured hair. While it does have beneficial properties for our hair, mineral oil is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. Build-up of this type of oil will make it harder for your hair to absorb water or any other ingredients.
If you have fine or straight hair, try doing a hair mask with some of these plant-based essential oils before you shampoo. This will leave your hair soft and shiny without weighing it down.
Match Your Hair Oil to Your Hair Type and Condition
As you may have guessed, certain hair oils work with certain hair types and conditions. That's why we compiled a list of which oils might be a good fit for you.
Find Balancing Oils for Oily Hair
If you have oily hair you may think you're better off not using a hair oil, but you can actually benefit from one. People with oily hair should consider buying a suitable hair oil product that is anti-bacterial and can control the oil levels in their hair.
You should look out for oils like argan oil and avocado oil. Since argan oil contains a lot of vitamin A and can also penetrate quickly into hair strands, it can easily control the oil levels in your hair. It also has vitamin E to help protect your hair against harmful UV rays.
For those with oily hair, you'll benefit the most by avoiding putting oil directly on your scalp unless absolutely necessary. By applying oil only to the ends of your hair, you will be protecting the most damaged part of your hair. Our ends tend to be the most damaged part of our hair since it is the oldest hair and is more exposed to compromising situations.
Deep Moisture for Dry Hair
Dry hair needs oil that has deep moisturizing effects such as coconut oil or olive oil. Coconut oil contains a lot of nutrients essential for the growth of hair such as lauric acid and capric acid, as well as vitamin E to moisturize and provide antioxidants.
Olive oil contains a lot of active ingredients such as polyphenol that can prevent bacteria from damaging your hair and scalp. You can also look for products that specifically aim to provide deep moisture, which you can find by reading the label or reviews.
Your hair will receive the benefits of these oils the best if used on wet or damp hair. The hair's cuticle is open when the hair is wet, allowing the oils to properly penetrate the hair. Applying oil and oil-based products to dry hair will actually make it that much harder for your strands to receive the hydration that it needs.
Nourishing Hair Oil for Damaged Hair
If your hair is damaged from styling, split ends, or harsh weather, you should look for oils like almond and macadamia to provide moisture and nourishment from within. Almond oil is often used for damaged hair or coarse hair. With a high concentration of magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin E, almond oil can improve the health of your hair effectively.
Meanwhile, macadamia oil is rich in fatty acids, kali, and palmitoleic acid, giving your hair a smooth and lively feel. It's also rich in antioxidants, helping your hair to recover from internal and external damage.
Please be mindful that these oils will only provide a temporary fix. There is no product that can mend extremely damaged hair or split ends. The only way to properly rid yourself of split and worn hair is to cut it, (with the help of a professional, of course)!
Fast-absorbing Oil for Colored Hair
For people with colored hair, you should choose hair oil that absorbs easily in order to supply your hair with nutrients without taking away from color. Suitable hair oils are jojoba oil, argan oil, or almond oil. Jojoba oil in particular is similar to human hair oil, so it can penetrate more deeply into hair strands without making your hair lose its natural moisture.
Use these oils only when needed, and with a light hand. You don't want to oversaturate your hair with oil if you have color-treated hair and it's not wash day. Since your hair is color-treated, having to shampoo your hair more often than needed will cause your color to fade faster.
Castor Oil for Hair Loss or Hair Thinning
Packed with ricinoleic acid, castor oil keeps the moisture within your hair and enhances the health of your scalp, which is particularly important for hair growth.
However, you should keep in mind that castor oil is not the cure-all to hair growth. It is one of the most ultra-hydrating oils for your hair, but scientists have proved that even though castor oil can support the health of your scalp and hair, you should not rely on it 100% for hair growth.
Still, you should still consider castor oil as an option, since some people do witness hair growth! For best results, you should use castor oil once or twice a week and let it sit for around 15 minutes before washing it out.
For added benefits while using castor oil for hair loss, gently massage the area as well. Massaging the scalp helps stimulate blood flow which is necessary for healthy hair growth. Doing this in addition to applying castor oil can help show major improvements to your hair growth process.
Also, be sure when purchasing castor oil that it is 100% castor oil to receive the most benefits.
Take Your Hair Thickness into Account, Too
Meanwhile, those with fine hair should choose a hair oil product with light consistency to give your hair a smooth and silky look without being weighed down. This goes for styling as well as regular treatment as well; you'll end up looking totally flat with too much product in your hair!
If you have thick or coarse hair, consider trying a hot oil treatment. Warm up the oil, making sure that it's a comfortable temperature and not too hot. Apply to the midshaft and ends of your hair, then allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Once you rinse, you'll find that your hair will be softer.
For those with fine hair, it can be especially difficult to find the right oil to use. Lightweight oils that can be pumped or sprayed will be the easiest for you. You want to be sure not to use too much when applying oil to your hair.
10 Best Hair Oils Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leven Rose Jojoba Oil | | 100% Pure Jojoba Oil for Deep Moisturizing | |
2 | Soulflower Indian Castor Rosemary Hair Nourishment Oil | | Cold-pressed Castor and Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth and Scalp Care | |
3 | Sky Organics Organic Castor Oil | | Organic Castor Oil to Promote Hair Growth | |
4 | Macadamia Professional Nourishing Repair Oil Treatment | | The Power of Macadamia Oil for Damaged and Color-treated Hair | |
5 | Ancient Greek Remedy 100% Pure Nature's Moisturizer | | Natural Ingredients for Scalp & Hair Care with a Money-back Guarantee | |
6 | Garnier Triple Nutrition Miraculous Oil Hair Elixir | | Triple Nutrition for Very Dry Hair | |
7 | Moroccanoil Moroccanoil Treatment | | Nourishing Argan Oil for Softening and De-frizzing | |
8 | Maple Holistics 100% Pure Avocado Oil | | 100% Avocado Oil for Anti-aging and Restorative Effects | |
9 | Handcraft Blends Fractionated Coconut Oil | | 100% Fractionated Coconut Oil for Scalp and Hair Protection | |
10 | OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Penetrating Oil | | Affordable Argan Oil and Antioxidants for Deep Nourishment |
100% Pure Jojoba Oil for Deep Moisturizing
This product is infused with 100% pure and organic jojoba oil from Arizona. It was produced using a cold-pressed method to retain its nutrients and fatty acids. Since jojoba oil is relatively similar to the oils we produce, it can be absorbed into our hair pretty easily.
This product will help repair your frizzy and damaged hair. Since jojoba oil is safe for your body as well, you can even apply the oil to your skin and nails. However, some reviewers said the smell was somewhat uncomfortable for them. So, please check the reviews more carefully before making the decision!
SoulflowerIndian Castor Rosemary Hair Nourishment Oil
Cold-pressed Castor and Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth and Scalp Care
This hair oil is produced using a cold-pressed Ayurvedic process. The product is infused with castor oil and rosemary oil to nourish your hair and scalp.
The rich vitamins in castor oil further prevent hair loss and split ends. Additionally, rosemary oil strengthens the scalp and removes dandruff. Some users that suffer from hair loss and alopecia said it helps them regrow hair!
Organic Castor Oil to Promote Hair Growth
The product is infused with castor oil that comes from India and is rich in vitamins and fatty acids, nourishing while helping your hair grow out more easily. It's also cold-pressed, vegan, cruelty-free, and fair-trade certified, so you can use this to fit a variety of lifestyles!
Castor oil can be absorbed quickly into your hair so that it will become smooth and lush in no time! The rich vitamins in castor oil will also help support and hydrate your scalp.
The Power of Macadamia Oil for Damaged and Color-treated Hair
The product contains macadamia oil, argan oil, and vitamin E without any additional preservatives. As macadamia oil helps retain moisture in your hair, you can expect your hair to be all smooth and silky after a few drops.
Macadamia oil is loaded with omega 3, 6, 7, and 9, providing your hair with the nutrients it needs to repair and be luscious. The product can also prevent your hair from being damaged by mechanical, environmental, thermal, and chemical damage. However, some reviewers commented that the texture might be a bit greasy.
Ancient Greek Remedy100% Pure Nature's Moisturizer
Natural Ingredients for Scalp & Hair Care with a Money-back Guarantee
This product consists of four natural ingredients: extra virgin oil, almond, grapeseed and lavender oil to provide your hair with vital vitamins and antioxidants.
Extra virgin oil is rich in anti-aging vitamins and squalane for rejuvenation, and almond oil comes packed with monounsaturated fatty acids, potassium, and zinc to support growth and repair. Many reviewers said that they even used the product for babies since it was produced organically. You can also use this on your skin and nails.
Triple Nutrition for Very Dry Hair
The product's fructis triple nutrition formula consists of three different types of oil: avocado, olive and almond. This restoring formula will help restore your hair (especially very dry hair) back to health.
Another plus point is that the oil is lightweight, so you will not feel any greasiness in your hair after application. However, some reviewers said that the product might not be effective for damaged hair, and the smell was too strong for some.
Nourishing Argan Oil for Softening and De-frizzing
This is a hair oil product that is frequently used in salons. Even though the price is a tad expensive, the final results that this product can bring to your hair are worth fighting for.
The main ingredient in this product is argan oil, an important component helping to reduce the sebum production of your scalp. In addition, the product is rich in essential fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, minerals, and squalane. These essences nourish and soften your hair as well as detangle and control frizz.
The non-greasy and fast-absorbing formula will prevent your hair from feeling sticky. The floral and spicy amber smell is also comforting. Another good part is that this product can be used for all hair types, from wavy to straight.
100% Avocado Oil for Anti-aging and Restorative Effects
The avocado oil infused in this product is rich in vitamin A, a great antioxidant that can boost collagen production. Also, as it also contains vitamin E, essential fatty acids, as well as anti-inflammatory components, it can improve the health of your hair.
Another great point about this product is that it contains 100% of pure avocado oil, without any added preservatives. Some reviewers complimented that the oil even added some shine to their hair.
Handcraft BlendsFractionated Coconut Oil
100% Fractionated Coconut Oil for Scalp and Hair Protection
Despite the cheap price, this product works like a charm for many people who wish to improve their damaged hair. Coconut oil is packed with antioxidants and antibacterial properties to prevent scalp damage and fungal growth. Furthermore, coconut oil will provide your hair with a silky-smooth feeling.
Coconut oil is also lightweight, so it can penetrate quickly into your hair. Some reviewers commented that the consistency was a bit watery, and some wanted the product to actually be scented with a coconut smell.
Affordable Argan Oil and Antioxidants for Deep Nourishment
The formula allows nutrients to penetrate quickly and deeply into your hair, supplying it with vitamin E and other minerals. Your hair will become soft, lush, and extra shiny after just a small amount of oil.
This hair oil can be used for all types of hair from thin to coarse. Reviewers liked its light and comfortable fragrance. With high moisturizing power, this is a product you should consider buying!
Cosmetologist-Recommended Hair Oil for Hair Loss
Looking for a cosmetologist-recommended oil that can prevent and help with hair loss and hair growth? Courtney says, "Miracle drops by Kaleidoscope is definitely my favorite scalp oil for hair loss.
Not only does it stimulate your hair follicles, but it also adds shine to your hair. It's lightweight and absorbs into your hair quickly. I think it's perfect for all hair types or anyone who is wanting to see some extra hair growth."
Nourish Your Hair with Some of Our Other Favorite Products
If you're looking for more products that can nourish your hair, we've got some suggestions for you!
Buying Guide Reviewed by Licensed Cosmetologist Courtney Mack
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.