Attention long, thick, straight, wavy, thin or curly hair types: hair oils are the essential products to getting that perfectly-coifed look you need. Heavy products that weigh hair down are out, and sleek, healthy oils are in.
I’ve never thought much about hair oil. As someone who has really thick hair that loves to make little knots throughout the day, my one goal is to use as much conditioner as possible and keep a hairbrush on hand at all times. Over the years, though, I’ve found out ripping out hair with a brush and weighing your head down with tons of conditioner to keep things tame isn’t the right answer. Hair oils, on the other hand, have always seemed like something just ‘extra’ to me. But I recently found out, they’re not. They’re magic, and when used correctly, they’ll make you look like you’re in a dang hair commercial.
So when I first started using hair oils, I’ll be frank, they just made my hair feel really oily. I’d use it from scalp to ends to create a sheen look that ended up seeming unshowered. I was trying to tame flyaways on the top of my head, while giving my ends some nice moisturizer. But much like my conditioner stint, I found out less is certainly more.
It all started after a really wonderful spa day at a resort on vacation when I squeezed a dime size amount of the sample Morrocan Oil into my palm and stroked it through my damp hair. As the day went on, the only thing I seemed to be able to talk about was my fabulous, flowing hair. It was soft, silky, and felt like I had just gotten a blow out. When I got home, I got in it. Into hair oils. I love them so much I tried out different brands, researched the best ingredients, and am now providing you a tell-all of just why hair oils are so amazing, and the best ones—and ingredients—to use.
“Hair oil is such an easy and convenient way to nourish hair on a daily basis (especially those that don’t leave an oily residue behind),” explains Debbie Pereira, owner of Melbourne-based company TLW (Three Little Words), which specializes in luxury hair care systems. “It can be easily applied and absorbs into the hair shaft quickly, sealing the outer cuticles.”
A common misconception (and one I had myself), is that hair oil will leave you with flat and oily hair, but all types of hair can benefit from oil.
The top 5 reasons to use hair oil are:
1. Promote shine and smoothness
Caught a case of the frizzies? Hair oil can totally tame your unwanted poof. Rubbing a little into your palms and applying to your natural hair will settle down even the wildest of manes.
2. Helps strengthen strands
The various vitamins, minerals, fatty and amino acids, and protein found in many hair oils works to prevent hair breakage by strengthening your strands.
3. Stimulates hair growth
I feel like a lot of ears will perk up at this benefit. While I couldn’t need hair growth any less, I have SO many friends who complain about having thin, brittle hair that refuses to grow past their shoulders, or just looks so dead even with a haircut if it does. The nourishing ingredients in hair oils help increase cellular metabolism that stimulates hair growth, and help stimulate the hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp.
4. Soothes dry scalp
I can’t step foot in the desert without my entire body rejecting the dryness. Seasons and climates can really wreak havoc on your beauty routine, which is why it’s important to keep products around that can help you go with the flow. Many hair oils have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to calm irritated scalps.
5. Can be used as a hair mask
Sometimes you do need different products for different things, but it’s really nice to know you have the opportunity to use hair oils in more than one way, like turning your regular hair conditioner into a deep conditioner. All you have to do is mix the oil with your regular shampoo, leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse — applying from mid-shaft down.
Now that you know how much your natural hair can benefit from oils, it’s time to pinpoint the best ingredients to look for:
- Rich in vitamins A, C, and E, and loaded with antioxidants, linoleic acid, and omega-6 fatty acids, argan oil helps boost cell production for healthier hair.
- Roucou oil is known for its incredible sunscreen, antioxidant, and photo protective properties. It also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, while the beta-carotene in it helps stimulate the production of melanin, which helps keep hair’s natural color, avoid grays, and keep frizz at bay.
- Moringa oil has a whopping 72 percent of oleic acid, which provides the hair and skin vital nutrients and works to retain their moisture.
- Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mostly omega-6 fatty acids, as well as vitamin E, grapeseed oil is a great option for anyone experiencing dandruff, as it can help loosen dead skin and restore moisture.
And last but not least, the top 4 hair oils I love are:
1. MoroccanOil Treatment Original
With plenty of argan oil, this is the O.G. of product that really put oil-infused hair care on the market. It smells SO amazing, and can be used to condition, style, and serve as a finishing tool for your luscious locks. The oil is wonderful for anyone who has tangly hair, as well as for those whose hair takes way too long to dry. If you just want to boost shine, MoroccanOil is bomb. It makes my hair feel way more manageable and smooth.
2. Davines Oi Oil
Davines’ Oi Oil is an anti-frizz miracle. It’s lightweight enough for even the most sensitive of strands, and provides a boost of shine that dry or coarse hair is in dire need of. The serum is a serious strengthener as well, thanks to the roucou oil that prevents hair aging and breakage.
3. TLW Let’s Get Tacos Treatment Oil
TLW’s oil is a potent elixir consisting of grape seed oil, which strengthens, repairs, and adds sensational shine to the hair. This is another oil that has an incredibly delicious smell. I found that the oil is lightweight enough for me to smooth out my ponytail for a sleek look while still having a healthy bounce.
4. Verb GHOST OIL
The name says it all. Verb’s Ghost Oil is an exceptional hair oil for anyone who can’t seem to find a product that won’t make their head turn into a grease ball. But just because it’s lightweight doesn’t mean it’s less powerful. This oil revitalizes from roots to ends thanks to the addition of moringa oil, with a resulting frizz-free mane that’s shining with radiance.
Now that you’re jazzed on hair oils, stay excited by making sure you do it right, because, let’s face it, we can’t all be hair experts, and if you’re doing things like using half the bottle of conditioner on your hair like me, or ripping out knots with a vengeance, you need all the advice you can get.
According to Debbie of TLW, “The hair oil can be used on damp hair after washing to nourish and protect from heat damage or can be used for a little bit of a boost on dry hair.
“The oil can be used as part of your daily routine, and since we don’t recommend washing hair daily it’s a great idea to use the oil between washes for a hit of hydration to keep your locks looking top-notch all throughout the week.”
So go ahead and get soft, silky, and perfect hair!