published on September 20, 2024 in blog

The 15 best hair oils for softness, growth and shine

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Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Oil

Credit: Boots

Founder Nikita Mehta created this hair oil as an homage to the childhood ritual she holds close to her heart, sitting cross-legged while her grandmother oiled her hair.

Dashmool (a traditional Indian blend of ten herbs) nourishes the scalp, while ashwagandha calms the nerves and castor oil increases blood flow around the scalp, helping to promote healthy growth.

Koba Gold Drip Body & Hair Nourishing Oil

Credit: The French Pharmacy

Burgeoning independent brand Koba pays homage to Congolese beauty rituals with its naturally derived formulas. This multi-use oil is made with a base of safou fruit oil, which is prized for its antioxidant properties, alongside sweet almond and jojoba. Rich in texture and heady in scent, it’s ideal for massaging in before bed – after shampooing out come morning, your strands will visibly shine.

Mauli Grow Strong Hair Oil

Staying true to tradition, Mauli’s Grow Strong hair oil is made using argan, amla, bringraj and brahmi to condition both the scalp and hair. Massage a few drops into dry hair (just like you would a shampoo), then leave for two hours – or overnight, if you can – before washing as normal.

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Monday Muse The Gloss

Credit: Monday Muse

This dual-purpose pre-wash treatment packs the seed oils of black cumin, pumpkin and papaya in a bid to rebalance overloaded scalps, while sweet almond oil soothes.

To use, massage in a full pipette from root to tip and leave for up to an hour (or overnight if you want to intensify results), before rinsing out and shampooing.

Ranavat Mighty Majesty Fortifying Hair Serum

Credit: Cult Beauty

This one has been billed as a serum, but really it’s an oil. It’s made with just three ingredients: and they’re three very impressive ones at that. Steeped in the sunflower seed oil base is nothing but a drop of circulation-boosting amla fruit and jasmine sambac for a ridiculously addictive white-floral scent.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Florale Multi-Purpose Dry Oil

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Credit: Cult Beauty

Nuxe’s iconic multi-use oil is ideal for applying head-to-toe. The ‘dry’ texture is ideal for fine hair, as it’ll mollify frizz and flyaways without making your scalp or strands appear greasy. The much-loved original version may considered a holiday hero, but this lighter floral iteration is perfect for day-to-day use.

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Aveda Nutriplenish Multi-Use Hair Oil

Credit: Sephora

Aveda’s replenishing oil can be either slathered on before shampooing, or applied sparingly to damp or dry hair to smooth and add shine (just as you would a finishing serum). The argan, coconut and avocado oil delivers moisture that satiates even the straggliest of strands, without adding any extra weight.

Aman Argan Scalp & Hair Oil

Credit: Aman

For something that exudes spa-level luxury, turn to Aman's sublime hair oil (which you'll also find used in the hotel brand's famous spas).

Moroccan argan is combined with anti-inflammatory neem and Amazonian patua oil, which is believed to combat dandruff. With a grounding, woody scent of neroli and cedarwood, this is a treatment you won't want to wash out.

Bread Hair Oil

Credit: Cult Beauty

The Black hair market is long overdue a touch of modernisation, and new brand Bread is here to do exactly that. This silicone-free multi-use oil is designed specifically with 3a – 4c curls in mind, and combines castor, argan and sweet almond oils for a heavy-hitting moisture injection. It smells like a sweet shop, and imparts unrivalled shine.

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Dizziak Oil Mist

If you find the application of hair oil hard to control, this one from Dizziak is for you. The fine 'oil mist' settles evenly on the hair, imparting a greaseless gleam without adding any weight.

The surprisingly lightweight formula blends the likes of babassu, inca inchi and argan oils alongside murumuru butter and coconut emollients and is perfect for all hair textures and types.

Bouclème Revive 5 Hair Oil

Credit: Lookfantastic

This rich hair oil is designed to bring the spring and shine back to curls. It contains olive, coconut and moringa oils amongst others, and can be used in multiple ways. We love using a small amount before diffusing hair to protect from heat and add gloss.

Ches Editions The Ultimate Oil for Hair Edition 29

Here's an award-winning organic formula from the creators of some of the finest hair oils out there. Divinely scented with fragrances from essential oils – think patchouli, rosemary and jasmine– it improves hair health from root (stimulating growth) to tip (protecting split ends), while quenching dryness and taming frizz. A luxurious do-it-all.

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Fushi Really Good Hair Oil

Credit: Sephora

This Aurvedic hair oil blend contains anti-microbial neem and brahmi oils to balance scalp irritation while conditioning hair. Indian jasmine imparts a heady, spa-standard scent that’ll have you putting off that shampoo for just one more hour...

Philip B Rejuvenating Oil

Credit: Net A Porter

This hair treatment oil is especially beneficial on dry, brittle hair and curls that need a serious moisture injection. Leave it to linger before shampooing, or smooth a drop over damp hair before leaving it to air dry. A couple of weeks of loyal use will result in stronger, shinier hair with improved elasticity.

Bourii Calming Pitta Body Oil

If you're searching for an all-over oil that's as nourishing on hair as it is skin, look to Bourii's blend, handcrafted using organic ingredients and ancient Ayurvedic principles.

The aromatic elixir cocktails yuzu, ylang ylang, rose and cedarwood essential oil to boost the mood while its hemp seed, camellia seed and coconut base oils quench parched skin and strands, leaving the scalp soothed and locks luminous-looking.

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