These are the 12 best hair oils for all hair types, and how to maximise their benefits
Hair oiling may be trending on social media but it's certainly nothing new, and that’s exactly where its allure lies – few beauty treatments come with tried-and-tested validation as weighty as this ancient ritual. The concept of soaking strands in richly nourishing oils may be 5,000 years old, but it remains an important beauty ritual for many South Asian women today. For those who are experiencing dry hair, scalp concerns or sluggish growth, incorporating hair oils into your routine can do wonders.
Meet the expert
Anita Kaushal, founder of Mauli Rituals
What is hair oiling
“In India, massaging the hair is called ‘champi’ and it stems from the origins of Ayurveda,” explains Anita Kaushal, founder of Mauli Rituals . “While yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self, Ayurveda is the practical knowledge of how to live a healthy, full life.” According to Kaushal, using oil to massage the scalp and hair not only nourishes dry skin and strands, but works to replenish the body, too.
“We are working on the marma points (the body’s energy points, where two types of tissue meet), which in turn heal the body, release tension and rejuvenate,” she explains. “The point being, our body is a brilliant, complex, interconnected web and when we work on one area, we work on all parts.”
The benefits of hair oiling
Kaushal believes that hair oiling also delivers tangible benefits, in the form of longer, stronger hair growth. “There is truth in the idea that certain oils can encourage hair growth, and indeed there have been countless studies comparing the effects of herbs, such as bhrami and amla, with pharma hair-growth products, with the natural ingredients producing better results,” she says, divulging that certain big-name brands have previously attempted (and failed) to patent certain oils for their growth-boosting properties.
Of course, the quality of your oil is also important. “Another key factor is how the oils are matured and the percentages of oils or herbs used,” says Kaushal, whose own oil elixir is made the traditional Ayurvedic way, with 14 steps taking over three months. “In a world of instant gratification, we have lost sight of the value of simple steps to wellness – you have only to look at an Indian woman’s hair to know that these treatments work.”
It is worth noting that the thickness and appearance of your hair is, naturally, also influenced by genetics. But regular hair oiling with a good quality product will help maintain and encourage better hair health.
How to use a hair oil
While certain oils do offer bolstered benefits to different hair types (nut oils are great for thick and dry hair, while the lighter abyssinian is ideal for fine strands), Kaushal suggests the key to success lies more in the technique of hair oiling. Ahead, her recommended steps:
Instead of saturating the scalp, part the hair in sections and put a few drops through each area.
Use a few drops on the ends of your hair.
Give the hair and scalp a really good but gentle massage to help the oil absorb and boost circulation.
Depending on the oil and your hair type, leave in for a few hours before rinsing or leave on overnight and shampoo off in the morning. You can also do this before heading to the gym and then rinse off after your workout.
Today, the traditional ritual of hair oiling has given way to a host of new products, designed to benefit all hair types by imparting hydration, increasing elasticity, and promoting healthy growth.
Some are intended to be slathered and massaged into hair in the traditional style, before being shampooed out, whereas others are designed as a leave-in tincture, with a couple of drops delivering all the protection and moisture that dry strands demand.
There are also hair oils that perform as a heat protector and style finisher to tame flyaways and impart a lustrous shine.
How do hair oils differ to hair serums?
Where hair oils are designed to penetrate the strands to deliver nourishing benefits to both the hair and scalp, a silicone-infused serum mostly slips over the surface to create smoothness and shine. Pure, high-quality hair oils are often billed as silicone-free, but that doesn't mean that silicones are bad. It all depends on your preference and what your hair needs.
Ingredient technology also means that you can now find hair oils that are light enough to be used post-styling to deliver shine and disguise the appearance of split ends while taming flyaways. There are also options that target specific requirements such as for blondes and for heat protection.
The 12 best hair oils to try now
Fable & Mane Pre-Wash Strengthening Treatment Hair Oil
Founder Nikita Mehta created this hair oil as an homage to the childhood ritual she holds close to her heart, sitting cross-legged while her grandmother oiled her hair.
Dashmool (a traditional Indian blend of ten herbs) nourishes the scalp, while ashwagandha calms the nerves and castor oil increases blood flow around the scalp, helping to promote healthy growth when used as a pre-shampoo treatment.
Key ingredients: Castor oil, ashwaghanda, safflower seed oil
When to apply: Overnight or leave-in before rinsing
Hair type: Dry and dehydrated
Ceremonia Aceite de Moska Scalp Oil
It's natural to shy away from oils if you have hair that's naturally on the greasier end of the spectrum or finer strands. Thankfully, Ceremonia's scalp oil is extremely light and rinses out easily, leaving your scalp feeling refreshed and your hair looking much glossier. Even better, the clever combination of plant and seed oils actually helps to balance the scalp's sebum production, so you may find your hair feeling much less greasy after continued use.
Key ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil, chia seed oil
When to apply: Overnight, pre-shampoo
Hair type: Oily and fine
Mauli Grow Strong Hair Oil
Staying true to tradition, Mauli’s Grow Strong hair oil is made using argan, amla, bringraj and brahmi to condition both the scalp and hair. Massage a few drops into dry hair (just like you would a shampoo), then leave for two hours – or overnight, if you can – before washing as normal.
Key ingredients: Turmeric leaf, amla, sesame seed
When to apply: Overnight or leave-in before rinsing
Hair type: Fine and fragile
Kérastase Chroma Absolu Refillable Hair Oil
Specifically designed to revive blonde and bleached tresses, this lightweight hair oil uses edelweiss to plump up dry and processed strands while minimising the appearance of split ends. Aside from fortifying compromised hair fibres, this nourishing oil also help to keep damage at bay. Apply on dry hair to bring out the shine in your blonde and leave it feeling noticeably softer.
Key ingredients: Edelweiss flower
When to apply: After styling, on dry hair
Hair type: Blonde and bleached
Koba Gold Drip Body & Hair Nourishing Oil
Burgeoning independent brand Koba pays homage to Congolese beauty rituals with its naturally derived formulas. This multi-use oil is made with a base of safou fruit oil, which is prized for its antioxidant properties, alongside sweet almond and jojoba. Rich in texture and heady in scent, it’s ideal for massaging in before bed – after shampooing out come morning, your strands will visibly shine.
Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil
When to apply: Overnight
Hair type: Dry
£40.00 at thefrenchpharmacy.co
Monday Muse The Gloss
This dual-purpose pre-wash treatment contains black cumin seed oil, which has anti-microbial properties to help soothe itchy scalps. Meanwhile, pumpkin seed oil, which has vitamins A and C (along with essential minerals) help to reinvigorate fragile strands.
To use, massage in a full pipette from root to tip and leave for up to an hour (or overnight if you want to intensify results), before rinsing out and shampooing.
Key ingredients: Papaya seed, squalane, sweet almond oil
When to apply: Leave-in before rinsing
Hair type: Sensitive scalps and fragile hair
Ranavat Mighty Majesty Fortifying Hair Serum
This one has been billed as a serum, but really it’s an oil. The no-frills formula contains only three ingredients, each one undergoing a cold-process extraction technique to ensure a potent level of effective actives.
Sunflower seed oil is packed with fatty acids and vitamin E to encourage shine and softness, while amla fruit works hard to strengthen the hair and minimise shedding. The sunny, floral scent of jasmine is a bonus, too.
Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, amla oil, jasmine oil
When to apply: Leave-in before rinsing
Hair type: All hair types
Nutriplenish Multi-Use Hair Oil
Some hair oil formulas are too heavy to be used as a post-styling shine booster. But this one by Aveda promises to streamline your haircare routine by performing as a wash-off, pre-shampoo scalp treatment, a leave-in hydrator or to add some lustre after a blow-dry. The argan, coconut and avocado oil delivers moisture that satiates even the straggliest of strands, without adding any extra weight.
Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil
When to apply: Leave-in, as a finishing oil, overnight
Hair type: All hair types
Hair Oil
This silicone-free multi-use oil is designed specifically with 3a – 4c curls in mind, and combines castor, argan and sweet almond oils for a heavy-hitting moisture injection. It smells like a sweet shop, and imparts unrivalled shine.
Key ingredients: Castor oil, argan oil
When to apply: Leave-in, as a finishing oil, overnight
Hair type: Curly, dry
Dizziak Oil Mist, £22
If you'd rather use a hair oil as a finishing touch to add softness, this mist makes application easy. The fine spritz of oil settles evenly on strands, imparting a greaseless gleam without adding any weight. The light formula blends the likes of babassu, inca inchi and argan oils alongside murumuru butter and coconut emollients and is perfect for all hair textures and types.
Key ingredients: Babassu oil, inca inchi oil
When to apply: After styling
Hair type: All hair types
Authentic Beauty Concept Indulging Fluid Oil
This German haircare is a go-to for hairdressers backstage at fashion shows (hairstylist and brand ambassador Anna Cofone relies on them for the looks she created at Erdem and Roksanda) as it delivers a polished, picture perfect finish while caring for all hair types. This styling oil not only imparts luminosity, it also takes care of flyaways, temporarily disguises split ends and features heat protective benefits. The gentle fresh floral scent is a welcome addition, too. A one-and-done styling oil that's worth a space in your beauty kit.
Key ingredients: Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
When to apply: Before and after styling
Hair types: All hair types
Hair By Sam McKnight Love Me Do Nourishing Hair Oil
Another staple for hair professionals, this silky oil promises to deliver moisture to parched hair and leave it looking healthier and shinier. It makes light work of taming flyaways and creates a polished finish to updos, be it a slicked-back ballerina bun or a ponytail. The handy bottle deposits the smallest amount of product at time, so you don't risk overloading the hair (or any spillage in your bag).
Key ingredients: Argan oil, camellia oil, sunflower seed oil
When to apply: On dry hair
Hair types: All hair types
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