One of the most popular trending beauty products online right now? You guessed it *flips hair* - hair oils. Whether it’s to boost our shine, strengthen our strands, help our hair grow or take care of our scalp, there’s a hair oil for all moments of haircare. Not just mere styling products, hair oils are packed with essential nutrients and vitamins that help nourish and strengthen our hair from the roots to the tips. So, let your hair do the talking with our compilation of the best hair oils and top tips that will transform your locks into healthy, shiny tresses.
Hair oils are suitable for all hair types, but not everyone will benefit from the exact oil, brand, or heaviness. When choosing a hair oil, it’s essential to meet the needs of your specific hair type and texture. If you have dry or damaged hair, you'll need an oil that's rich in nutrients and antioxidants like Coconut Oil. If you have fine or oily hair, you'll need an oil that's lightweight and non-greasy.
Some oils, like Castor Oil, are known for their hair growth benefits. Other oils, like Argan Oil, are known for their moisturising and smoothing properties for better manageability. With so many essential oils for hair tailored to different concerns, there’s opportunity to experiment and find out which one works best for you.
By Sephora UK Haircare Editorial Team
Writers and experts
Updated: 2 May 2024
Elixir Ultime L'Huile Original Hair Oil
When it comes to Kérastase, love is in the hair. This luxurious oil is packed with a blend of six nourishing ingredients, including Argan Oil, Camellia Oil, and Pracaxi Oil. With heat protection for up to 230°, it helps to protect hair from heat damage and environmental damage. Great for all hair types, but especially those that are dry, damaged, or colour treated, it deeply hydrates, leaving hair feeling soft, smooth, and shiny.
Top tip: To avoid hair looking greasy, steer clear of too much oil – this can weigh hair down. As with all hair oils, the saying ‘less is more’ holds true; start with a small amount of oil and work your way up as needed.
Treatment
Our best hair oil roundup wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t include this MoroccanOil Treatment. This oil is a classic for a reason. Known for its nourishing properties, it's made with Argan Oil that’s extracted from nuts of the Argan tree found in Morocco. The lightweight formula helps to smooth hair, add shine, and protect from heat styling. Not to mention, your hair will be smelling dreamy after just one use. Pair up with our favourite Glimmer Shine Spray for double the gloss and protection.
Top tip: On hair wash day, after shampooing and conditioning, work a pea-sized amount through damp hair. Style as usual for a beautiful finish. Or, if you want to control frizz, apply a few drops to dry hair as often as needed.
Honey Infused Hair Oil
There’s nothing we love more than some sweet hair hydration. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with Gisou’s delicious, honey-infused hair oil. Luxurious and moisture-binding, this hair oil hydrates like no other, tames frizz and flyaways, and smoothes split ends. We love to use it as a finishing touch or an overnight treatment, focusing on the ends for full absorption.
Top tip: After an extra moisture boost? Mix a few drops in your hands with our sought-after Gisou Honey Infused Hair Mask. Apply to towel-dried hair from root to tip, leave in for up to seven minutes, rinse, and you’re good to go.
Brazilian Glossy Nourishing Hair Oil
Have a good hair day, every day, with Sol’s deeply nourishing hair oil. It’s our go-to all-in-one, whether enhancing shine, managing frizz (for up to 72 hours!), taming flyaways, or adding hydration in between washes. Even better, benefit from up to 230°C heat protection, Patauá Oil that’s rich in omega-9 and fatty acids, and Pequi Oil that defines and separates waves, curls, and coils. If you consider your hair frizzy, dry, or deeply damaged, use this oil alongside the Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-in Conditioner as your new fave duo.
Top tip: Add Amazonian moisture to dry hair by rubbing a small amount of oil in between your palms, starting with your ends, before working your way up to the mid-lengths.
OI Oil
With Davines, it’s never too late to invest in your hair. A multifunctional miracle, this oil adds shine and softness to coarse, dry hair while also detangling and fighting frizz. Your hair is left protected with natural, active, and vegan ingredients, without weighing it down. See the condition of your hair improve after a single use. And the scent? Heavenly.
Top tip: Allow 2-3 pumps of the oil to sink into towel-dried hair before and after drying, then apply another pump the following day to dry hair for days of shine.
Argan Oil Serum
While we know life isn’t perfect, your hair can be. Formulated with a blend of the finest Argan Oils, this rejuvenating treatment nourishes hair to the max. Gone are the days of dull, lifeless hair, hello to mirror-like shine. Helping to hydrate and soften hair, the oil’s high content of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and Vitamin E increase hair’s elasticity and manageability. The formula is 100% vegan friendly, delivering only natural ingredients that your hair will love.
Top tip: Use daily on wet or dry hair (including extensions) to tame frizz, flyaways, and repair split ends. Benefit further by adding Beauty Works Heat Protection Spray to your hair routine, leaving a protected, healthy-looking shine all over.
Protective hair oil - Repair + smooth
Our trusty Sephora Collection own brand will ensure you never give up on your hair. Perfect as heat protection for dry, curly, and wavy hair, this light-textured haircare oil will bring dull hair back to life. Containing 99% natural origin ingredients and enriched with Moringa Oil and Vitamin F, this oil repairs all types of hair damage to restore its shine. It's one we can't go without.
Top tip: Warm the oil between your palms before applying to dry or wet hair from root to tip. Only a few drops are needed of this non-greasy, no-rinse formula for intense nourishment.