12 Hair Oils That Will Fix Your Hair Problems

Hair oils are often overlooked when we’re perusing beauty products, on the hunt for serums, masks, and holding sprays. So, if you’re one of the few who passes by this magical elixir on the regular, we’re here to tell you: reconsider. Why? Because oils are one of the best-kept secrets for all hair woes. Frizzy strands? Add a bit of oil. Dry mane? Rub on some oil. Lackluster locks? Oil to the rescue. Seriously it’s a total game-changer, whatever your hair needs may be.

Speaking of which, there are many oil options for different hair types and we’re going to break them down in this hair oil guide. Another bonus to these silky, lustrous liquids is they happen to smell divine, so it’s like getting a hair treatment and a fragrance two-in-one. Always a bonus if you ask us.

Behold the go-to oils stylists and colorists can’t live without, plus a few of our personal faves.

For Dry, Damaged Hair

Expert Picks:

“African Pride Hair & Scalp Sealing Oil, $14, is a fantastic oil to keep your hair and scalp moisturized if you’re wearing braids, crochets, edges, weaves, and protective styles,” says Annagjid “Kee” Taylor, celebrity stylist and author of All Hair Is Good Hair. “You can use it daily, depending on how dry your hair is, although I’d recommend starting once a week and going from there. Just massage into your scalp and hair.”

According to hairstylist to the stars Linda Flowers, who’s worked with Selena Gomez, Gal Gadot, and Billie Eilish, the Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shine Oil, $6, is a must for instant repair. “It has a lightweight formula that absorbs instantly and restores a natural, beautiful shine – without any oily or greasy residue,” she says. Flowers is also a fan of its citrus fragrance that provides a fresh, clean scent and now, so are we.

Our Pick:

We love Oribe Gold Lust All Over Oil, $62, because it’s formulated with 17 natural oils, plus antioxidants and essential fatty acids to quench thirsty locks and lock moisture in. Gold Lust also earns bonus stars for being a true multitasker: it can offer luminous hydration to the body, face, décolleté – even bae’s beard – in addition to your hair. PS, it smells like royalty.

For Thin Hair

Expert Pick:

If your mane is a little thinner than your liking, Rita Hazan stylist Cristina Bosque suggests adding almond oil to your styling routine because it’s high in fatty acids, but more importantly magnesium, which has been proven effective on hair loss. “It’s also lighter in texture, so it’s perfect for thinner hair types,” she adds.

Our Pick:

Love Beauty and Planet Rose & Almond Natural Oils Infusion, $7, gives off wafts of handpicked Bulgarian Rose petals once it settles into your strands and invigorates stubborn roots, as it tames flyaways.

For Dull, Lifeless Strands 

Expert Pick:

“Shine Balm by Rita Hazan, $30, is a solid oil you apply to clean, damp, or dry hair, and for ultimate shine, use before a flat iron or curling iron,” says Bosque. The lightweight transformative formula starts as a balm and melts into a luxurious liquid oil from the heat of your fingers. It also contains an exclusive blend of color-protecting oils including sunflower, jojoba, moringa, and camelia, combined with vitamins A, C and E.”

Our Pick:

R+Co Two Way Mirror Smoothing Oil, $32: Infused with R+Co’s proprietary scent, Dark Waves, this oil has notes of cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo, and blonde woods. So good luck not drenching your head with the entire bottle as soon as you get one whiff. As far as results are concerned, you can expect smooth, polished, soft AF tresses with crazy glass-like shine.

For Frizz or Color-Treated Hair

Expert Pick: 

“I always recommend using a clear oil or serum for color-treated hair, such as #mydentity MyHairLube, $19,” says color wizard Guy Tang. “This product will not alter the tone of your highlights over time and make your hair go brassy.”

Our Pick:

Bumble and bumble. Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil, $40, is a lightweight 6-oil blend (think: argan, macadamia nut, grapeseed…) so it’s slightly addictive in the aroma department. It’s also your biggest weapon against heat styling and UV damage, along with the frizzies, since it goes on transparent and vanishes into hair – only leaving a trace of shine in its wake.

For Dandruff or an Itchy Scalp

Taylor is partial to Keira Ashley Hair + Scalp Cleanser, $28. “This is a great product as it’s an oil that actually cleanses your hair and scalp,” she explains. “It gently removes buildup and skin flakes, while moisturizing at the same time. I like to apply before I put my hair into a protective style to ensure my scalp is really clean, but if you have a really dry scalp, start by using once a week. If you are just using it for clarifying and maintenance, you can probably use it closer to once a month.”

Bosque recommends Kiehl’s Smoothing Oil-Infused Shampoo, $20, for any scalp issues, like dandruff and itchiness, because it’s known to alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis.

Our Pick:

We love us an Amazon cheapie find and since coconut oil is known to combat dandruff, Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, $13, gets our vote for nutrient-rich hydration for an inflamed scalp, minus the sticky ick.

Do you guys use hair oils? Our top tip is always to apply to dry hair. As curl expert Shai Amiel recently explained to us, water and oil just don’t mix, so it makes sense to always apply your oils to dry strands.