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The 8 best hair oils that hydrate strands and support the scalp

 

Using bleach or heat to achieve your ideal look means the health of your hair will inevitably suffer some damage. However, the best hair oils can be a bona fide savior for those of us suffering from overprocessed strands. 

Stylists say that to find an effective formula, you'll need to first take your current hair goals and concerns into account. With that in mind, our top pick is the UNITE U Oil; it's one of the best hair oils designed for all hair types and textures that works quickly to replenish your hair's nourishment and shine.

"Hair oils can provide a range of perks, such as nourishing and strengthening hair, adding shine, reducing frizz, promoting growth, and protecting against damage from heat styling tools," says Dawna Jarvis, an expert hairstylist at The Canyon Salon in Westlake Village, CA. While Jarvis notes that people of all different hair types can benefit from using hair oils, not all products are created equal. Read on for more of our favorite formulas that target common hair afflictions. 

Best overall: UNITE U Oil

The first time I used this product, my hair was in dire condition: dry, dull, and frizzy from repeated bleaching and heat styling. After just one application, I could already see a dramatic difference and it cemented itself as one of the best hair oils I'd tried. Not only did my strands appear shinier and feel softer, but there was noticeably less frizz and flyaways. 

This multi-tasking hair oil is suitable for all hair types and textures, including chemically-treated hair and extensions. Not only does it make your hair look and feel healthier, but it also reduces blow drying time and offers both heat and UV protection. I like to smooth one pump through my hair from the mid-lengths downwards while it's still damp, and then after blow drying or flat ironing add a few more drops to the ends.

Best for hair growth

In our guide to the best rosemary oils for hair growth, certified trichologist Meerika Khanna and board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at New York Medical College Dr. Shoshana Marmon, MD both recommend the Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil for its more than 30 nutrient-dense essential oils. While rosemary oil isn't a proven hair growth ingredient, it has been indicated to improve the scalp's health and calm irritation.

Best for fighting frizz: Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum

Frizz doesn't stand a chance against this serum, which includes marula oil for moisture and softness, camellia oil for hydration and shine, and argan oil for increased elasticity. Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, IL calls it her go-to hair oil for several reasons.

"It's great for all hair types — even fine hair can benefit — and a little goes a long way," she says. "This lightweight oil is also versatile: You can use it as a pre-treatment, leave-in product before styling, and as a finishing product."

Best for damaged hair: Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil

If you regularly put your tresses through the wringer with heat styling tools, this cult-favorite reparative styling oil is a must, according to Katelyn Ellsworth, hair stylist and founder of The Roslyn salon in San Diego, CA. 

What makes Olaplex No. 7 stand out is the patented technology that promises to rebuild broken and weakened bonds in your strands. Not only that, but this product offers heat protection up to 450 degrees. Since it's pretty concentrated, Ellsworth suggests starting with just a few drops on wet hair to achieve a smooth blow-out, or dry hair to tame fly-aways and frizz.

Best budget: Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil

Third-party lab testing has shown that this product can enhance shine by 75%, and I can personally vouch for the fact that this product did give my tresses a lustrous finish. But that's not all the Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil can do. It features smoothing and detangling moringa seed oil, strengthening bamboo extract, and hydrolyzed soy protein to lock in moisture. Best of all, it lives up to its name — and it's never weighed down my ultra-fine hair.

Another advantage of unlike many hair oils that tend to be yellow or orange-toned, this hair oil is translucent — making it ideal for blondes who are concerned about unwanted brassiness.

Best for dry hair: Virtue Healing Oil

According to Virtue Labs, a study showed that 100% of women said their hair looked shinier immediately after using this product, and 98% said their hair felt silkier and healthier eight hours later. Moreover, 100% of women felt this product didn't weigh their hair down. That was certainly the case for me: it gives me a lustrous sheen and even makes my split ends look less noticeable without making my hair look greasy.

This vegan and cruelty-free product is one of the best hair oils. It contains both kalahari melon seed oil, which can protect the hair from environmental aggressors and prevent moisture loss, and Tahitian gardenia flower extract, which can strengthen strands so they're less prone to breakage. The standout ingredient, however, is Alpha Keratin 60ku, Virtue Labs' proprietary hair-repairing protein that targets and fills in the cracks on damaged strands.

Best for adding shine: JVN Complete Nourishing Shine Drops

What sets this product apart, according to Perea, is that it's formulated with squalane instead of silicone — which offers similar shine-boosting benefits without leaving a residue on the hair.

Squalane is a sugarcane-derived molecule that can improve manageability and frizz, nourishing the hair while preserving color. This product also contains antioxidant-rich hibiscus extract to help protect hair from damage and prevent color from fading, as well as meadowfoam ester, which studies show can help lock in moisture.

While this formula may be too heavy for super fine strands, Perea says it's ideal for coarse hair.

Best for curly hair: Aveda Dry Remedy Daily Moisturizing Oil

The star ingredient in this daily leave-in treatment is certified organic buriti oil — a nutrient-rich oil that can nourish and moisturize the hair, adding shine and reducing frizz, says John Belt, co-owner of Belt Salon and Belt Hair Extensions.

Not only is the product 90% naturally derived but it's also formulated without silicones, which can coat the hair, blocking out moisture and making it appear dull and dry. It's especially advisable for curly-haired folks to avoid silicones since they can cause build-up that weighs those bouncy locks down.

A little goes a long way with this product, too — since you only need to use a few drops, the bottle is sure to last you a long time.