The Best Oils for Conditioning Your Hair

It’s no secret that we’re seeing oils make a comeback. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, oils had a bad reputation, often blamed as the cause for acne and oily skin. But as our understanding of skin and hair care has expanded, oils have made a massive return to beauty, usually for moisturizing and softening the skin.

So, of course, it makes sense that hair oil has joined in on the spotlight. Although hair oil is used in a number of different cultures, it’s been gaining mainstream attention as a way to nourish the scalp, prevent split ends, and maybe even promote a thicker, stronger mane. Let’s talk about the best oils for your hair and what hair oil can do for your hair and scalp.

The number one rule about hair growth: it starts at the roots – in other words, the scalp. And when it comes to keeping your scalp healthy, hydration is the key. This is where the best oils come in.

Oils are perfect for the scalp because, unlike heavy creams and balms, they won’t clog the scalp’s sebaceous glands as easily. Instead, they absorb evenly into the scalp to deliver their fatty acids and lipids, which moisturize and nourish the scalp.

When it comes down to it, beautiful hair means healthy hair, thanks to a healthy scalp. And when you nourish your hair with oils, it really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Next, we’re going to talk about the benefits of hair oil beyond the scalp. As you might already know, oils are great for incorporating some deep hydration into your hair. They can be a lifesaver when your strands are dried out from that sea salt spray.

These strand-softening properties are due to the fact that oils contain fatty acids, which help replace lipids in the hair. Lipids are often depleted due to heat styling, chemical treatments, and environmental pollution.

What’s more, the best oils can also fill in the spaces between the cuticle cells of your hair strands. That, in turn, helps to protect the hair follicles. And with time, you can watch your hair begin to strengthen. You just might notice a boost in Rapunzel-like growth.

Hair oil can also protect your mane from daily wear and tear. It does so by reducing the swelling and drying of hair, which is known as hygral fatigue. This is really the secret power behind hair oil: it’s not just moisturizing, but it can even protect your hair from the elements.

Without further ado, here’s a breakdown of all of the best oils for happy, healthy hair growth.

Coconut Oil
With a high concentration of lauric acid and protein, coconut oil can penetrate and protect the hair while creating a protective barrier. Coconut oil is great for conditioning dry, damaged hair. It makes an especially effective at-home hair mask.

Avocado Oil
As an oil that’s especially rich in monounsaturated fats and oleic acid, avocado oil is one of the few oils that can penetrate the hair shaft rather than simply coat it. That makes it one of the best oils for damaged hair. These fats help strengthen the hair while preventing fallout.

Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is a favorite when it comes to skin barrier repair, and it may help strengthen hair, as well. Sunflower oil is rich in oleic acid, which helps prevent breakage. Plus, it may even help soothe an itchy scalp.

Brassicyl Valinate Esylate
Brassicyl valinate esylate is an interesting item on this list, because it’s not necessarily an oil, but it has all the hair-loving benefits we want from one. As a lipid derived from the amino acid known as valine, brassicyl valinate esylate creates an especially emollient seal around the strand. It helps condition and smooth, while managing flyaways.

Grapeseed Oil
With its high concentration of vitamin E, OPCs, and flavonoids, grapeseed oil has become a crowd favorite for healthy hair growth. On top of that, grapeseed oil is rich in linoleic acid and low in monounsaturated lipids. That seems to make it especially great for combating frizz.

Black Cumin Seed Oil
Black cumin seed oil is particularly known for its hair benefits thanks to its antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Black cumin seed oil is also rich in fatty amino acids, which may help lock in moisture to help promote hair repair.

Argan Oil
Argan oil is one of the most popular hair oils around, and for good reason! Argan oil can help reduce breakage while keeping the scalp healthy, fostering an extra-lush mane.

Jojoba Oil
Rich in essential vitamins, copper, and zinc, this nourishing oil can moisturize the scalp and strengthen your hair. Jojoba is also quite lightweight, which makes it great for those with finer hair types.

Like with all good things, it’s definitely possible to over-oil your hair. And if you’ve done it before, you know what it looks like: hair looks oily, almost as if it hasn’t been washed, and it may have a stringy, even brittle texture.

Typically, this happens when we use too much oil. It may help next time to halve the amount of oil you use. After all, a little goes a long way!

Aside from that, a buildup of oil may also occur when oil is left in the hair. This often happens when oil is left on the scalp for more than 24 hours, or when you use hair oil too often. As a rule of thumb, limit your hair oil application to 1-2 times per week.

A buildup of oil on the scalp may also be attributed to using the wrong kind of oil for your hair type. So, make sure to use a lightweight oil like jojoba or argan if your hair is fine. Thicker hair types will benefit more from rich oils, like coconut and avocado.