The Best Hair Oils for Your Hair Type

By Carly Cochrane - 2 years ago | Updated
woman applying hair oil

Hair oils: they’re the simple route to softer, sleeker locks. All you have to do is slather your strands, sit back and wait for them to work their magic, right?

Not quite. While they may seem pretty straight-talking, the world of oil-based hair treatments can get a little overwhelming, especially if you’re not too familiar with the ingredients – pick the wrong formula and you might just end up with hair oilier than the bottom of a chip fryer (eek)!

In a bid to help you save your coin, time and strands, we've rounded up the best hair oils and matched them to each and every hair type. But before you pick your potion, here's a 101 guide to using hair oils and serums.


What is hair oil?

Hair oil is a treatment that is liquid-based and can be used in tandem with other hair care products, aiming to add shine and nourishment to your strands. Its primary function is to coat the hair in a protective glaze that adds shine whilst in some cases delivering a specialised dose of nutrients (e.g. some serums are created to encourage hair growth).


How does hair growth serum work?

A hair growth serum won't directly increase hair growth, but it can support the hair follicles to grow thicker and shinier than usual which should improve the overall look of your 'do. Some hair growth serums work by focusing on the scalp and increasing blood flow to the scalp, which in some instances can encourage a healthy environment for hair to grow. However, it is important to note that how quickly hair grows is usually predetermined by your genetics, and no amount of serum can drastically change this.

How do you use hair serum?

You can use hair serums on pre-washed, post-washed or styled hair to smooth down flyaways – there really is no incorrect way to apply it! The latter is the most popular way as it adds shine and smooths down that unwanted frizz without drastically weighing it down.


Best oil for thick hair

Sebastian Professional Dark Oil Styling Oil

Sebastian Professional Dark Oil Styling Oil

£24.75 £28.20 (13% off)

The last thing thick hair needs is a slathering of heavy-duty oil. Check out this lightweight formula for a soft, weightless finish. It boasts a sandalwood, cedarwood and argan oil blend that leaves locks smelling scrummy, all whilst lacing hair with a nourishing invisible veil.

Best oil for curly hair

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl-Nourishing Creme-Oil

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl-Nourishing Creme-Oil

£5.63 £6.63 (16% off)

Fellow curlies know that finding a product that doesn’t weigh hair down, ruin curl patterns or leave locks looking lifeless can be hard, but oh, have we found you a good’un.

This cream-to-oil formula can be used post 'poo or for a quick revitalising boost as a blend of natural oils return the hold, body and bounce back to your curls.

Best oil for fine hair

Aveda Thickening Hair Tonic

Aveda Thickening Hair Tonic

£21.58 £24.50 (12% off)

Make limp, fine and thinning hair the least of your worries as this powerful treatment instantly thickens locks.

Utilising a blend of botanical ingredients, this tonic penetrates from the root down to the tip and leaves you with strands that are visibly fuller in appearance.

Best oil for dry hair

Moroccanoil Treatment Original

Moroccanoil Treatment Original

£12.99 £13.85 (7% off)

First they set the standard for oil-infused hair care, then they made argan oil go global. Now, they have over 15 awards to their name and are the ideal option for those that have dry or damaged hair.

Tripling up as a conditioner, styling and finishing tool, this oil from Moroccanoil provides silky, shiny and healthy results.

Best oil for colour-treated hair

Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Rose

Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Rose

£32.00 £41.20 (23% off)

Long-lasting hair colour, smooth strands and a luscious rose scent – we’re sold.

Hair experts Kérastase have an oil that’s specially formulated to keep bleached hair bright, healthy and full of shine.

Best oil for all hair types

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair 10-in-1 Leave In Oil

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair 10-in-1 Leave In Oil

£22.30 £26.06 (15% off)

Boasting not one, not two, but ten benefits, this fast-absorbing treatment is the remedy for a variety of hair problems. Designed to revive and refresh stressed-out strands, it drenches hair with moisture for a super-strong, high-shine finish. Use it to prep, treat, condition or style locks!

Best oil for split ends

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

£24.70 £28.00 (12% off)

If you’re suffering from a serious case of split ends then you’re going to want to grab this best-selling treatment from Olaplex.

Nourishing, conditioning and strengthening, the salon-grade formula repairs strands from the inside out, so you can relish in long, healthy locks.

Best oil for frizz control

Davines OI Oil

Davines OI Oil

£15.00 £26.00 (43% off)

The frizz-days are over, ladies and gents, as unruly strands and humid weather have nothing on this Italian favourite.

Lightweight and bursting with goodness, this oil smooths, conditions and moisturises hair, leaving it soft, glossy and ready for the day ahead.

Best oil for a sensitive scalp

The Organic Pharmacy Hair & Scalp Nourishing Oil

The Organic Pharmacy Hair & Scalp Nourishing Oil

£22.00 £23.16 (6% off)

Putting irritated, sensitive and sore scalps at ease once and for all is this soothing serum from The Organic Pharmacy.

A cocktail of vitamins balance the scalp and restore its natural barrier so you can look forward to a future of strong and healthy hair.

Best oil for heat protection

Grow Gorgeous Repair Heat Protection Leave-in Oil

Grow Gorgeous Repair Heat Protection Leave-in Oil

£21.00 £25.00 (16% off)

It doesn’t matter if it’s heat from your trusty straighteners or a tropical island, it'll still take a toll on your tresses.

Resurrect dry, damaged hair and protect it from future heat exposure with this multi-tasking leave-in oil, which works to seal cuticles, help improve the appearance of split ends, control frizz and protect hair fibres against heat damage of up to 195°C.

Now that we've kitted you out with your ultimate hair oil, it's time to get greasin'. Before you know it, you'll be flaunting Hollywood-worthy hair. Want to take your hair transformation that one step further? Check out our guides on How to Grow Your Hair Faster and Get Rid of Split Ends.

Carly Cochrane

Written by Carly Cochrane

As the Senior Content Editor for Cosmetify, Carly is the go-to for all the latest (and greatest) beauty tips, tricks and trends. With over six years of experience in the industry, she knows all the ins-and-outs when it comes to health, beauty and wellbeing. 

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