As soon as the temperature starts to drop, my fine, thin hair becomes prone to static. That is, until I started using the best hair oils. They add moisture, reduce frizz, and boost shine, and—similar to heat protectants—add thermal protection, making them good to apply before curling or hair drying. To find the best ones, we tapped hair stylists and Glamour editors for their favorite recs, and tested over a dozen options on various hair types. Our top pick by far is the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil because it’s lightweight, didn’t weigh down even the finest strands, and left hair looking shiny—not greasy. We also found formulas that help repair damaged hair and promote hair growth.
The best hair oils, at a glance
All your hair oil questions, answered
What hair oil is best for your hair type?
The key to deciding between different oils is understanding your hair type and porosity level (how well the strands can absorb moisture). “For example, thicker oils would not benefit fine hair because it will weigh the hair down,” says Brendnetta Ashley, a hairstylist and Schwarzkopf Professional Ambassador. So if you have fine strands, it’s important to look for lightweight oils like grapeseed or jojoba. On the other hand, if you have thick hair, or curly or coily hair, go with heavier oils such as castor oil or coconut oil.
What hair oils promote growth?
How often should you oil hair?
Depending on your hair type, experts say that you can use hair oil every morning or evening. For an overnight treatment, Cavalcante recommends using a generous amount on the scalp and ends before bed when you know wash day is the next morning. If you use it in the morning, apply a small amount to dry hair for a smoother finish and frizz control.
Applying oil to wet or dry hair is completely a preference; however, Ashley prefers to use an oil when hair is wet, while the cuticle is open, so that it can more deeply penetrate. To do so, section out the hair down the middle, and work your way from the back to the front lightly applying oil from the mid hair shaft to the tip. “Just remember, a little goes a long way on dry hair to avoid greasiness,” says Cavalcante. And remember to not apply essential oils directly to the skin or scalp (unless it’s a scalp treatment). Instead, apply to the ends and brush it through.
We tested them in the mornings on dry hair over the course of one month, across a variety of hair types, including fine, thin, thick, curly, and textured. We looked for formulas that didn’t weigh our hair down or make it feel greasy. We also used them in the mornings after our blow-outs to see if they tamed frizz, and in the evenings on wet hair to see how they made our hair look and feel in the morning. The best hair oils that rose to the top were lightweight, left our collective hair types feeling soft and shiny, and killed frizz in its tracks.
Best Overall: Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Oils can make a visible difference in texture and appearance, and this high-shine bonding oil proved exactly that for Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “This oil is extremely lightweight, which made it perfect for my fine, thin hair. After a day of wearing it, my strands felt light as air, easy to pull back in a pony tail, and nongreasy.” Kilkeary found this particularly telling because she used it over a span of days in which her hair was oilier than normal. “I usually have to rely on shampoos for oily hair because my hair gets slick fast. I used it on a nonwash day and found that it was actually able to hold back frizz and add a little luster and shine without making me look like a total greaseball.”
- Ingredient highlights: Sunflower seed oil, green tea oil
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? Yes
Best for Frizzy Hair: Kerastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil
Original video by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
This deep-conditioning hair-oil elixir is a favorite of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle, because it hydrates her hair throughout with just a few pumps. “I have coarse, thick hair, and it’s also very long (mid-back length), so after showering it looks like a lion’s mane. I’m not one to use a ton of hair products because, honestly, it’s too many steps. But ever since using this hair oil, I don’t skip out on applying it. After showering, I apply it to my damp hair, and it quite instantly removes all the frizz so I can nicely manage to blow-dry it. I notice my hair feels soft and shiny for days after.” This hair feels almost like a serum and doesn’t leave hands sticky after applying. It also has a fresh, floral scent.
- Ingredient highlights: Wild camellia flower
- Size: 2.53 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? Yes
Best for Static: Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
“Static hair plagues me in the wintertime, to the point where I shock myself on almost every surface I touch. Luckily, hair oil has helped a lot with this (don’t ask me about the science behind it), and this frizz-taming pick has become a favorite for this reason,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. This oil is chock-full of nourishing hair ingredients like moringa seed oil and prickly pear that work to add shine, calm frizz, and prevent breakage. “This one is lightweight to the touch and doesn’t feel overly greasy during application, it actually absorbs very quickly and leaves behind a glossy finish with an addicting smell.”
- Ingredient highlights: Keratin, moringa seed oil, prickly pear oil
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? NA
Best for Shiny Hair: Bread Hair Oil Everyday Gloss
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
This silky pick is another favorite of Glamour’s Kilkeary because it increases shine like no other. “I deal with very dull-looking hair, especially when the temperatures drop,” she says. This hair oil has been her solution: It has kakadu plum, safflower oil, and triglycerides (a moisturizing additive) to provide a whole lot of silkiness. “While you can apply this one on wet hair, I personally love to apply it on my dry ends when they’re looking especially flat or crunchy. This instantly gives them a lustrous, healthy-looking finish,” she says.
- Ingredient highlights: Kakadu plum, safflower, triglycerides
- Size: 1.69 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? NA
Best for Heat Protection: Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
This hair oil does more than just leave your strands looking nourished and smooth. It also serves as a heat protectant for up to 450°, so it can be applied before you use your curling iron or hair straightener. Kilkeary likes to use this one in particular on days when her hair is looking too voluminous or frizzy. “Sometimes if I sleep with damp hair, I wake up looking akin to Hermione Granger. This hair oil helps a lot, and I think it’s due to the nourishing vitamin E, honey, and bee garden oil ingredients.” She loves this as a finishing oil to tame strands before heading out for the day. “Sometimes I’ll apply this oil to my hair shaft to ends and then work a straightener through it to get everything looking flat and glossy.”
- Ingredient highlights: Mirsalehi honey, bee garden oils
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? Yes
Best for Curly Hair: Pattern Beauty Jojoba Oil Blend
Original image by Glamour reviewer Luvzy Gold using Pattern Beauty Jojoba Oil Blend
This oil is a go-to for fashion and beauty influencer Luvzy Gold, who recommends it for textured hair. “I love this jojoba oil because it’s lightweight, doesn’t weigh your hair down, and gives you just enough shine,” she says. The formula helps prevent breakage in curly and coily hair, and can also reduce itchiness, dandruff, and dry scalp with rosehip oil, lavender and safflower oils. “It’s my number-one natural hair oil pick because it gives you just enough shine, without looking heavy or slick.”
- Ingredient highlights: Rosehip oil, safflower oil, lavender oil, jojoba oil
- Size: 4.05 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? NA
Best Color-Safe: L’Oréal Metal Detox Professional Concentrate Oil
Original image by Glamour reviewer using the L’Oréal Metal Detox Professional Concentrate Oil
Beauty influencer Tanisha Cherry swears by this concentrated oil for her type 4 naturally coily hair. “I like to reach for this immediately after washing and styling my hair to add brilliant shine and strengthen my strands—it’s the perfect last step to keep my hair looking consistently healthy and luminous,” she says. This one works to control frizz and is safe on color-treated hair. As a bonus, Cherry loves the oil’s refreshing smell, with notes of grapefruit flower, wood and bergamot.
- Ingredient highlights: Glicoamine
- Size: 1.6 fl. oz.
- Heat protectant? Yes
Best for Hair Growth: The Rootist Densifying & Thickening Serum for Thinning Hair
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Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
While hair oils can’t magically fix hair loss, they can certainly help to create a healthy environment for hair to grow in. That’s where this densifying and thickening serum comes in. It’s formulated with a blend of peptides (which are amino acids that help plump the skin and hair) and fermented ingredients (like root oils) that offer a healthy, balanced scalp and increase the look of thickness and fullness over time. One Glamour reviewer with thinning hair saw major hair growth improvement on her hairline, and liked that it made her hair feel soft, healthy and nourished. “It’s not oily and doesn’t weigh down my hair at all. The only downside is that the scent is pretty strong. It’s not bad, but it’s not something I would want my hair to smell like every single day,” she says.
