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.

The 10 Best Hair Oils of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Collage of hair oils we recommend on a grey surface — Byrdie / Kevin Liang

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 on the market 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 ahead, we're sharing which ones impressed us the most.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Olaplex Bonding Oil at Amazon ($30)

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

L'Oréal Paris Deep Nourishing Treatment (See Price)

Jump to Review

Best Drugstore:

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum at Amazon ($9)

Jump to Review

Best for Breakage:

Living Proof Hair Oil at Amazon ($33)

Jump to Review

Best for Adding Shine:

JVN Nourishing Hair Oil at Amazon ($24)

Jump to Review

Best for Damaged Hair:

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil at Amazon ($58)

Jump to Review

Best for Fine Hair:

Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil at Amazon ($20)

Jump to Review

Best for Thick Hair:

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil at Amazon ($87)

Jump to Review

Best for Curly Hair:

Rizos Curls Nourish Oil at Amazon ($18)

Jump to Review

Best for Dry Hair:

Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend at Amazon ($27)

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

Best Overall

Olaplex Bonding Oil

Sephora

View On Amazon $30 View On Sephora $30 View On Ulta $30

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: 30ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This hair oil from Olaplex 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.

Byrdie / MELONY FORCIER
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Budget

L'Oréal Paris Deep Nourishing Treatment

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Deep Nourishing Treatment

Amazon

View on Ulta View On Amazon $16 View On Ulta $8

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: 100ml | 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 heav) 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.

Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Drugstore

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Hair Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

Amazon

View On Amazon $9 View On Target $7 View On Walmart $7

What We Like

Affordable and accessible
Helps with flyaway-reduction
Adds shine

What We Don't Like

Some online reviewers find the woody fragrance to be too overpowering

Key Ingredients: Keratin, marula oil | Size: 97ml | 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.

Person applying TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Hair Shine Anti-Frizz Serum to their hair — Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Breakage

Living Proof Hair Oil

Amazon

View On Amazon $33 View On Sephora $33 View On Ulta $33

What We Like

Fast-absorbing
Smoothing
Softening

What We Don't Like

Has a strong fragrance

Key Ingredients: Living Proof Healthy Hair Molecule | Size: 50ml | 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.

Person in mirror applying Living Proof No Frizz Vanishing Oil to hair — Byrdie / Tamara staples

Best for Adding Shine

JVN Nourishing Hair Oil

JVN Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops

Amazon

View On Amazon $24 View On Sephora $24 View On Jvnhair.com $24

What We Like

Lightweight texture
Adds noticeable shine to the hair

What We Don't Like

People with fine hair might find it a bit too greasy

Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, meadowfoam esters, hibiscus extract | Size: 50ml | 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.

JVN Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops bottle on a grey background with shadows — Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Damaged Hair

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum

Amazon

View On Amazon $58 View On Sephora $58 View On Kerastase-usa.com

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: 50ml, 100ml | Cruelty-Free: No

This product 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.

Byrdie / KHERA ALEXANDER
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Fine Hair

Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil

Amazon

View On Amazon $20 View On Sephora $20 View On Ulta $20

What We Like

Fast-absorbing
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: 60ml | 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.

Person's hands next to a bottle of Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil and hair accessories on a table — Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Thick Hair

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil

Amazon

View On Amazon $87 View On Sephora $25 View On Gisou.com

What We Like

Dropper applicator makes dispensing desired amount of product easy
Rich, luxe texture
Fast-absorbing

What We Don’t Like

People with fine hair might find it to be too greasy

Key Ingredients: Honey | Size: 20ml, 50ml, 100ml | 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.

Byrdie / Jessica Juliao
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Curly Hair

Rizos Curls Nourish Oil

Amazon

View On Amazon $18 View On Ulta $18 View On Walmart $25

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: 30ml | 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.

Person applying Rizos Curls Nourish Oil for Hair, Scalp & Body to their hand with a dropper — Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Dry Hair

Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend

Amazon

View On Amazon $27 View On Sephora $22 View On Ulta

What We Like

Lightweight texture
Helps nourish dry hair
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: 237ml | 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.

Person applying Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend to their palm — Byrdie / Tamara Staples

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.

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.

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.

Updated by Caitlyn Martyn

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