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 have oily hair, the thought of applying hair oil is likely what your beauty nightmares are made of. Why would you want to add oil to grease-prone strands? But according to celebrity hairstylist Clariss 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. Trichologist Kate Holden adds that oils are also good for 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 dictate how you 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 the test in 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.
Best Overall
Olaplex Bonding Oil
Lightweight texture
No strong fragrance
Leaves hair with shiny finish
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.
Best Budget
L'Oréal Paris Deep Nourishing Treatment
A little bit goes a long way
Affordable and accessible
Softens the strands
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.
Best Drugstore
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum
Affordable and accessible
Helps with reducing flyaways
Adds shine
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.
Best for Breakage
Living Proof Hair Oil
Absorbs quickly
Smoothing
Softening
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.
Best for Adding Shine
JVN Nourishing Hair Oil
Adds noticeable shine to the hair
Lightweight texture
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.
Best for Damaged Hair
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil
Helps improve hair dryness
Adds shine
Helps with flyaways and other signs of breakage
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.
Best for Fine Hair
Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil
Absorbs quickly
Creates a very shiny finish
Contains a blend of moisturizing oils
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.
Best for Thick Hair
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
Dropper applicator makes dispensing desired amount of product easy
Rich, luxe texture
Absorbs quickly
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.
Best for Curly Hair
Rizos Curls Nourish Oil
Lightweight texture
Contains a large blend of nourishing oils
Can be used in a variety of ways
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.
Best for Dry Hair
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend
Helps nourish dry hair
Lightweight texture
Nozzle applicator makes precise application easy
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.
What to Look for When Buying a Hair Oil
- Ingredients: It’s always best to seek formulas with nourishing ingredients, like squalane, plant oils, and coconut oil (which is particularly effective in helping to prevent damage). According to hairstylist Davey Matthew, jojoba, grape seed, argan, and castor oils are great for sealing and provide slip, shine, and smoothness, while babassu, shea butter, coconut, and olive oils do a nice job at penetrating the hair to improve strength, elasticity, and encourage moisture. In terms of ingredients to avoid, that depends on your preferences and needs, but avoiding fragranced formulas is wise if you’re going to be using hair oil on your scalp because fragrance is known to be a potential irritant on the skin. Matthew also recommends avoiding oils containing high concentrations of silicone, as the ingredient offers an almost immediate transformative effect that's ultimately short-lived. "Silicones can be very difficult to break down and have the potential of blocking moisture from getting in, thus dehydrating the hair," he explains.
- Texture: Finding a hair oil with the appropriate texture and consistency is key to yielding the best results. If you have fine hair, opting for something with a thin, lightweight texture is key. This will ensure that your hair isn’t weighed down and the oil doesn’t contribute to excess greasiness. If you have thick hair, your strands will be able to tolerate a richer formula—they might even require it, especially if they’re dry or damaged.
- Hair Porosity: Another element to consider when looking for a hair oil is your hair's porosity. "Hair porosity is basically each hair's ability to absorb moisture, and ultimately depends on how open or compact your hair's outermost layer, aka the cuticle, is," says Matthew. The more open the cuticle layer is, the more porous your hair is, he explains. Those with high porosity will receive the most benefit from penetrative oils, while people with low porosity hair will benefit most from sealing oils (jojoba, grape seed, argan, and castor oils)
- Product Size: Like most things, size matters. If you'll be using a hair oil to treat your scalp or lengths on a regular basis, you might want to opt for a product that comes in a value size. However, if you plan on using the oil sparingly (like once or twice a week), you can probably get away with a smaller product.
Why Trust Byrdie
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:
- Clariss Rubenstein, a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with clients like Gemma Chan, Cindy Crawford, Leighton Meester, and more.
- Kate Holden, a UK-based trichologist and member of the Institute of Trichologists.
- Davey Matthew, a NYC-based hairstylist.