TL;DR Our overall best pick for the best hair oil is the Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil because it provides hair with a shiny, lightweight finish. For a more budget-friendly option, consider the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil that's hydrates and nourishes in just three drops. If you haveoily hair, the thought of applying hair oil is likely what your beauty nightmaresare madeof. Why would you want to add oil to grease-prone strands?Butaccording tocelebrity hairstylistClariss Rubenstein,every hair type (yes, even oily) can benefit from hair oils."Fine or coarse, anyone's hair needs an oil to seal the ends," she says. TrichologistKate Holdenadds that oils are also goodfor the scalp. "Tea tree,peppermint,ginger, and cade oil can help alleviate itchiness and reduce inflammation," she explains. So, while your hair type and concerns may dictatehowyou use one, chances are your hair could benefit from using an oil in one way or another. To help you take the guesswork out of finding the best hair oil for you, we scoured the internet to find the most popular and highly rated options before putting dozens to thetestin our Lab and then out in the real world. We evaluated each hair oil based on application, absorption, feel, shine, and ingredients, and we're sharing which ones impressed us the most. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Best Drugstore: Best for Breakage: Best for Adding Shine: Best for Damaged Hair: Best for Fine Hair: Best for Thick Hair: Best for Curly Hair: Best for Dry Hair: In This Article Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Why Trust Byrdie What We Like Lightweight texture No strong fragrance Leaves hair with shiny finish What We Don't Like It’s pricey for the amount of product in the bottle Key Ingredients: Grapeseed and fermented green tea oils | Size: 30 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes This Olaplex Bonding Oil has been a Byrdie favorite for some time now, and it's easy to see why. The product features a lightweight formula that nourishes the hair without leaving a thick or greasy film.In addition to a bonding complex that works to strengthen damaged hair, the formula also contains nourishing grapeseed oil and fermented green tea oil to help with moisture absorption and tame flyaways (or other signs of breakage). Aside from the weightless texture, we loved that we were able to work it through our hair with ease—it made combing and brushing feel effortless. After a few passes with a comb, our hair had a shiny, soft hair with a salon-like finish.In our experience, this is a great option for all hair types and comes in a compact bottle for easy storage, regardless of your bathroom vanity size. What We Like A little bit goes a long way Affordable and accessible Softens the strands What We Don’t Like Doesn’t add tons of shine to the hair Key Ingredients: Coconut and sunflower seed oils | Size: 100 ml | Cruelty-Free: No If you’re hesitant about hair oil or you prefer drugstore buys, this is a fantastic option for you. It’s affordable, accessible, and works for all hair types. It has a midweight texture (so, not super lightweight but not heavy) and it works to condition the hair and minimize flyaways. It made our hair feel soft and nourished without being sticky or leaving a thick film behind. We found that just three drops were enough to work through the hair, so keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way. While we didn't notice a significant improvement in hair's shine after application, we loved that it appeared sleek and smooth (read: no flyaways), and felt incredibly soft to the touch. What We Like Affordable and accessible Helps with reducing flyaways Adds shine What We Don't Like Some online reviewers find the woody fragrance to be too overpowering Key Ingredients: Keratin, marula oil | Size: 97 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes If you deal with flyaways and you're looking to smooth them out, this drugstore hair oil might be just what you need. It’s formulated with keratin and marula oil to strengthen and nourish the hair, while the lightweight formula helps to smooth strands and add shine.With just one pump before blow drying, we were able to achieve a sleek, shiny finish. While we loved the woody fragrance, some online reviewers find it to be overpowering. What We Like Absorbs quickly Smoothing Softening What We Don't Like Has a strong fragrance Key Ingredients: Living Proof Healthy Hair Molecule | Size: 50 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes Heat-styling can be quite damaging, so relying on an oil to prevent hair breakage while you style it is a great choice. This one in particular from Living Proof is formulated with squalane and amaranth seed extract (to reduce breakage and add moisture), while a blend of five nourishing oils gives the hair a soft look and feel. Those of us with fine hair found that four drops yielded beautiful results, leaving hair smooth, hydrated, and shiny. Note: The product has a subtle rose scent, and while we found it quite lovely, it's not for everyone. What We Like Adds noticeable shine to the hair Lightweight texture What We Don't Like People with fine hair might find it a bit too greasy Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, meadowfoam esters, hibiscus extract | Size: 50 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes Using hair oil can be a great way to add shine to dull hair. If that’s your main goal, then this is a great option for you. The lightweight formula utilizes the power of hemisqualane (squalane derived from sugarcane) to strengthen your strands, while other ingredients like meadowfoam esters and hibiscus extract provide gloss, moisture, and antioxidant protection.During testing, we loved how lightweight the texture felt and how it added shine to the lengths of our hair. It’s worth noting that some online reviewers say if you use more than a few drops on fine hair, it can become a bit greasy. What We Like Helps improve hair dryness Adds shine Helps with flyaways and other signs of breakage What We Don't Like Leaves a slight residue on the hair Key Ingredients: Marula, camelia, and argan oils | Size: 50 ml, 100 ml | Cruelty-Free: No This Kérastase Elixir has been loved by both stylists and Byrdie editors for quite some time. Because the silky formula glides through the hair with ease, we often recommend this to anyone who struggles with dry or damaged ends due to bleaching or excessive use of hot tools. Formulated with moisturizing oils (like argan and camellia oil), the product helps smooth breakage and frayed ends. When we tested it in the Lab, we could feel a bit of residue on our hair and our hands, but considering how well it helps to improve damaged hair, this isn’t a major concern for us. What We Like Absorbs quickly Creates a very shiny finish Contains a blend of moisturizing oils What We Don't Like Could be better at smoothing Key Ingredients: Bamboo extract, moringa seed and argan oils | Size: 60 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes If you have thin or fine hair, you might cringe at the thought of applying hair oil, but this one could actually be a great fit for you. Despite its fairly rich texture, a few drops absorb quickly into fine hair sans filmy residue. After applying the product and blow-drying our hair, we found that our entire head of hair was shiny and soft. The only downside is that we wish it would have more of a smoothing effect to handle broken ends and flyaways. What We Like Dropper applicator makes dispensing desired amount of product easy Rich, luxe texture Absorbs quickly What We Don’t Like People with fine hair might find it to be too greasy Key Ingredients: Honey | Size: 20 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes Applying a few drops of a luxe hair oil can serve as a moment of self-care, and this indulgent one is great for that. Between the chic packaging, the honey scent, and the rich texture, using this hair oil feels like an elevated experience. While the texture is pretty thick, we found that a few drops quickly absorb into the pores of damaged hair and help to create a smooth finish. When we tried it for ourselves, our hair felt incredibly soft, almost as if we'd applied a deep conditioning mask. The dropper is also fantastic; it dispenses just the right amount of product every time. One thing to keep in mind is that this formula does have a rich consistency. While this could be a major bonus if you have thick hair, those with thin hair should start by applying just one or two drops in order to avoid a greasy finish. What We Like Lightweight texture Contains a large blend of nourishing oils Can be used in a variety of ways What We Don't Like Nothing! Key Ingredients: Castor, carrot seed, grapefruit peel and orange peel oils | Size: 30 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes If you have curly hair, then chances are you experience some dryness from time to time. This product is a great option for those with any type of curl pattern or density because it’s formulated with a blend of moisturizing oils (like moringa, sunflower, castor, and more) to give hair the hydration boost it needs. In addition to its moisturizing benefits, we appreciated that the formula was quick to absorb and, once dry, added shine and softness. We also loved the dropper applicator, which makes application to the scalp a breeze.Also nice: Aside from being excellent for curly, dry hair, it can also be used to nourish the scalp and skin on the body. What We Like Helps nourish dry hair Lightweight texture Nozzle applicator makes precise application easy What We Don't Like It causes some scalp irritation when applied directly to the area Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, argan and baobab oils | Size: 237 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes If you have ultra-dry hair (or hair that has a low porosity), your best bet is to find a hair oil that works to add moisture without weighing it down. The lightweight formula one has an almost perfect rating at Ulta, so it wasn't surprising that we loved it too. It can be used on the lengths of your hair like a traditional hair oil, on wet or dry strands, or as the brand says, for the skin too.The nozzle applicator makes it easy to precisely dose and apply the product, and the light texture spreads through the hair easily and absorbs quickly. After using it, our hair felt hydrated and looked smooth. One thing to note is that some online reviewers who applied it directly to their scalps mentioned that they experienced some irritation. While this was not our personal experience, we recommend applying it to the lengths of the hair to help improve dryness, and if you’re going to apply it to your scalp, be sure to patch-test first. FAQ How do you apply hair oil? While you always want to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the specific oil that you choose, Matthew says that a general rule of thumb is to start applying the oil on your ends and work your way up the lengths, avoiding the root.Unless, of course, the product is intended to be used on the scalp, in which case, you can feel free to apply it liberally. When should you apply hair oil? Hair oils can be applied to wet or dry hair—it just depends on your needs and the directions of the specific product you’re using. Generally, we like applying it to damp hair before styling as it can help with manageability and smoothness, or as a finishing touch on dry hair for increased shine and a way to tame flyaways and breakage. Can you use a hair oil on oily hair? Like Rubenstein said, hair oil can be beneficial regardless of your hair type. However, if you have oily hair, it’s best to avoid applying oil near your scalp as it will contribute to greasiness. Instead, focus the product on your lengths and most importantly, the ends of your hair to help address dryness and damage. Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has fine, oily hair and has tons of experience using hair oils to help manage damage. She’s even tried several products on this list. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty. Alyssa also spoke to experts to discuss important things to consider when purchasing hair oil. Those experts included:Best for Damaged Hair
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil
Best for Dry Hair
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend
What to Look for When Buying a Hair Oil
Why Trust Byrdie
Updated byCaitlyn Martyn
Article Sources
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Rele AS, Mohile RB. Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage. J Cosmet Sci. 2003;54(2):175-192.