The best hair oils for glossy, healthy looking locks
They’re all the rage, but which scalp serums, oils and capsules can be counted on for nourishment and serious shine?
Hair oil has become increasingly popular, with countless celebrities and influencers lauding its ability to smooth, protect and support hair growth. Some apply hair oil to their scalp, others to their strands; some apply oil to wet hair before styling, others use it on a finished style. With so many uses, it’s worth thinking about your goals before buying.
I’ve worked my way through 11 bottles, from a cheap-and-cheerful £9.99 to a steeper £65, to bring you this list of the best hair oils. Whether you’re looking for thick, nourishing oils to help nurse damaged hair to life or a featherlight option to add shine and scent to your strands, there’s something on this list for you.
Besides testing on my own locks, I spoke with trichologist Hannah Gaboardi to find out if and how hair oils can actually support hair growth. Read on for her comments and my nine favourite hair oils.
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Why you should trust me
Hair oils have been a staple of my hair care routine for the past few years. I’ve tried thicker oils that weigh hair down, and thinner oils that barely touch the sides of my dry ends. My hair has always been long, and for most of this testing process, I had waist-length hair that hadn’t been cut for a year. If an oil could nurse my ratty old ends back to health, it was a winner.
I’m also a beauty journalist, so I spend my life learning about advancements in hair care, from keratin bond fixers that “repair” hair strands to scalp-soothing formulas that support hair growth. A cosmetic science course has given me a background knowledge of all things hair health, from the scalp, right down to the cellular structure of hair.
How I tested
I tested 11 hair oils from the most popular brands, noting how each product affected the finish of my hair, mainly focusing on how hydrated it felt. As part of the testing process, I also assessed the consistency and greasiness of each one. If it was scented, I also checked to see how well the scent lingered on my hair.
In terms of ingredients, I looked for nutrients and vitamins that help to seal the cuticle and protect each strand from environmental stress. As always, price was a factor: you can forgive a lot more from a cheap hair oil than an expensive one.
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The best hair oils of 2026
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<em>Best hair oil overall:</em>Gisou honey infused hair oil
- What we love:Provides a glossy shine and a divine honey scent
- What we don’t love:The thicker consistency won’t work for everyone
Gisou’s honey-infused hair oil has been my go-to for more than a year now. Its thicker texture is perfect for nourishing the dry ends of my hair, adding a dose of hydration and shine where it needs it most.
Why we love it
Gisou is known for its honey-powered hair care, and the hair oil is a hero product. The Mirsalehi honey included in this formula is rich in protective antioxidants and minerals, but also has humectant properties to hydrate each hair strand. It also works beautifully alongside the emollient coconut and sweet almond oils in the formula to smooth out hair.
In my experience, a small amount of this hair oil goes a long way. I found it easy to disperse through my long hair after warming it in my hands and loved the glossy shine it gave, while making my hair strands feel stronger and preventing breakage. As with all the Gisou honey products, it also smells divine.
It’s a shame that … its slightly thicker texture won’t be for everyone. If you don’t have issues with dryness or have very fine hair that can’t handle richer products, opt for something else.
Size: 50ml
Price per ml: 74p
Key ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, coconut oil, sweet almond oil
Vegan? No
Certified cruelty-free? No
Suitable for: wet and dry hair
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<em>Best budget hair oil:</em>Hask Repair Series hair oil mist
- What we love:Extremely good value; adds shine without grease
- What we don’t love:Contains silicones that could lead to brittle hair
If you want to avoid greasy hands, this lightweight hair oil mist from Hask is ideal. Simply spritz over your hair to evenly disperse a fine layer of oil, leaving smooth, shiny and lightly scented locks. It shone in my tests, despite its low cost, demonstrating brilliant value for money.
Why we love it
Other than its bargain price and clean application, I found this oil added shine without weighing my hair down or making it feel greasy. Its atomiser consistently produced a fine mist, giving a lovely, even coating of fresh floral-scented oil on my locks.
The spray contains hydrating argan oil, as well as Hask’s trademarked RepairPro, which it claims can “repair” bleach-damaged hair by up to 98%. I couldn’t test this claim at home, but I can attest that my hair felt noticeably smoother after use. The silicones in the formula help to seal and smooth the hair cuticle, preventing snagging and further damage.
It’s a shame that … these silicones can build up over time if they aren’t washed off correctly, or if they’re overused, which leads to more brittle hair in the long term.
Size: 120ml
Price per ml: from about 8p
Key ingredients: argan oil, RepairPro
Vegan? Yes
Certified cruelty-free? Yes
Suitable for: wet and dry hair
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<em>Best hair oil for damaged hair:</em>K18 Molecular Repair hair oil
- What we love:Makes hair feel stronger; a little goes a long way
- What we don’t love:It’s very expensive
If you’re looking to include hair oil in your routine, chances are you’re hoping to counteract the signs of damaged hair – dryness, frizz and dullness. While no hair product can fuse split ends back together, the “molecular repair” element of this hair oil refers to an increase in hair strength and elasticity observed on bleach-damaged hair strands in the brand’s testing. After use, bleach-damaged hair should be less prone to breakage and more resilient to daily stressors, such as brushing, sun exposure and heat styling. This is easily the hardest-working hair oil you can buy, justifying its high cost – and it’s my favourite oil on test if you don’t take price into consideration.
Why we love it
This hair oil works to help hair strands look and feel stronger using K18’s patented peptides. The formula mimics the natural peptides that give healthy hair its structural integrity, which are diminished when hair is bleached, dyed or styled with heat. Packed in, you’ll also find antioxidant avocado and sunflower oils to condition the hair. Meanwhile, squalane and hemisqualane soften the hair and smooth the cuticle, locking in that goodness without the need for heavy silicones.
This oil can be used either on damp hair before heat styling or as a finishing flourish to add shine to styled hair. Thankfully, and perhaps counterintuitively when applying an oil to your hair, it offers heat protection up to 232C – so you don’t have to worry about it frying your locks. It’s a concentrated oil, giving a lightweight, even coating, and just a few drops left my locks looking instantly shiny and healthy.
It’s a shame that … it’s expensive. If you already have healthy-looking hair, you really don’t need to spend this much.
Size: 30ml
Price per ml: about £2.17
Key ingredients: squalane, avocado oil, sunflower oil, sh-Oligopeptide-78
Vegan? yes
Certified cruelty-free? Yes
Suitable for: wet and dry hair
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<em>Best lightweight hair oil:</em>Goldwell Smooth Weightless Shine oil
- What we love:Weightless and ideal for fine hair and oily scalps
- What we don’t love:Silicone can build up on hair if not washed out often
Even the best hair oils can be too thick and goopy for some people, especially those with fine locks and oily scalps. This lightweight and affordable oil from Goldwell is perfect for adding a touch of glossy shine without weighing down the hair.
Why we love it
This oil has an incredibly thin texture that feels completely weightless when applied. I used it to top off a bouncy blow-dry and it added a lovely shine while keeping the movement and volume I wanted. I was also impressed by how it handled frizz – Goldwell claims it can tame frizz for up to 72 hours, and I can confirm my hair stayed silky smooth on a particularly humid day in central London.
Inside the formula, you’ll find Himanthalia elongata extract (or sea spaghetti), which helps to moisturise hair. This is another oil that can be used on damp or dry hair, and I loved its uplifting, sweet, fruity scent. I simply rubbed any left over into my skin after use, and it didn’t leave my hands feeling sticky or greasy.
It’s a shame that … like many hair oils, it uses dimethicone, a silicone that could build up on the hair if overused and not cleaned out properly. It also doesn’t have as many oils blended in as other options, so it doesn’t feel quite as nourishing as heavier, oilier formulas.
Size: 100ml
Price per ml: 17p
Key ingredients: dimethicone, isoamyl laurate, Himanthalia elongata extract
Vegan? Yes
Certified cruelty-free? Yes
Suitable for: wet and dry hair
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<em>Best smoothing hair oil:</em>Arkive the Good Habit hybrid oil
- What we love:Brilliant at tackling frizz, and smells delightful
- What we don’t love:Contains silicones that build up if not washed out
If you have thick, frizzy hair that takes a lot of taming, this affordable hair serum-oil hybrid could be the fix you need. Simply add a pump or two to damp, clean hair after washing and conditioning, style your hair as usual and watch it work its magic.
Why we love it
This hybrid oil contains baobab and jojoba oils, which add shine and moisture to the hair. Jojoba oil is also an emollient that forms a protective layer to lock in the hair’s moisture and to give super sleek, smooth results. Used before styling, the oil helps protect your hair from heated tools, creating a shiny finish that was humidity-proof in my tests.
I loved this oil’s delicate scent, with slightly fruity top notes, a light floral heart and a musky vanilla base. I was also pleased to learn that this fragrance stuck around after application.
The next thing I noticed was its very thick, gel-like consistency. Even after warming the oil in my hands, it had a sumptuous, thick texture that properly coated each strand. This coated feeling vanished as soon as I styled my hair using a hot brush, leaving my strands looking hydrated, healthy and frizz-free.
It’s a shame that … it uses the silicone dimethiconol to smooth the hair, which is effective at smoothing and preventing frizz, but can cause buildup when not washed out properly.
Size: 50ml
Price per ml: 27p
Key ingredients: baobab oil, jojoba oil, dimethiconol
Vegan? Yes
Certified cruelty-free? Yes
Suitable for: wet and dry hair
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The best of the rest
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Dyson Omega hydrating hair oil
- What we love:Free from silicones; great hydration
- What we don’t love:Middling smoothing; expensive; iffy bottle design
Best for: natural ingredients and heat protection
You’ve no doubt heard of Dyson’s hair dryers and stylers, but fewer people know about the brand’s recent expansion into hair care. Among Dyson Beauty’s latest launches is the Omega hydrating hair oil, which uses sunflower seed oil grown on Dyson farms to hydrate and nourish hair.
More specifically, the Omega oil combines seven oils, each rich in omega fatty acids. These are sunflower, macadamia, avocado, olive, abyssinian, sesame and corn, and they work together to boost moisture, reduce frizz and protect hair against breakage. The Dyson hair oil also provides heat protection up to 230C, so you can style without damage.
In my tests, I loved how lightweight this oil was and enjoyed its uplifting, subtle fragrance. I found it easy and comfortable to apply to my strands, and my dry ends felt far healthier after application. Its smoothing performance was middling, but this was a compromise I was willing to accept, considering the formula is free from silicones.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s expensive and its lid likes to slowly open itself over time. I certainly wouldn’t want to store this hair oil lying down. Luckily, it looks lovely and sculptural on a vanity table.
Size: 30ml; price per ml: from about £1.53; key ingredients: sunflower oil, macadamia oil, avocado oil, olive oil, abyssinian oil, sesame oil and corn oil; vegan? Yes; certified cruelty-free? No; suitable for: wet and dry hair
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Hair by Sam McKnight Love Me Do hair oil
- What we love:Small bottle is secure and perfect for travel
- What we don’t love:Too light for thick hair; tricky pouring dispenser
Best for: fine hair
This lightweight hair oil smooths frizz using a blend of argan, sunflower seed and camellia seed oils. It’s the perfect consistency for fine hair, for which thicker oils are too heavy. It absorbed quickly, without leaving an over-greasy feeling on my hands. Once applied, I noticed my hair had a lovely shine to it and felt smooth and well-conditioned, with frizz and flyaways staying away even in high humidity.
The brand claims that this hair oil helps protect against UV-induced colour fading, so it could be a good option for those with dyed hair. And, if you travel often, the small lightweight bottle is far more secure than others I’ve tested.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s too lightweight to benefit those with very thick, dense hair. Its pouring dispenser is also difficult to control.
Size: 50ml; price per ml: 68p; key ingredients: argan oil, sunflower seed oil, camellia seed oil; vegan? Yes; certified cruelty-free? Yes; suitable for: wet and dry hair
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Remi Density Drop overnight scalp serum
- What we love:Supports hair growth; incredibly lightweight formula
- What we don’t love:A little on the pricey side
Best for: scalp care and supporting hair growth
Put down the rosemary oil. To best support hair growth, you want something water-based that can quickly and weightlessly penetrate the scalp, not just sit on top of it and cause buildup, like an oil. This lightweight, water-based serum from Ireland-based scalp-care brand Remi is what you need.
This serum is formulated with rosemary extract and vitamin E. Both of these are antioxidants that help calm the scalp and protect it from environmental stress, while the multitasking rosemary extract helps promote microcirculation. This helps to keep the scalp feeling healthy and calm while the microcirculation increases blood flow, which feeds the hair follicle, creating the perfect environment for healthy hair growth. Hair loss can be caused by multiple factors, from hormones to genetics, so no hair oil or serum will fix that. However, hair grows best from a healthy scalp, so it makes sense to take care of it.
In my tests, I was amazed by how lightweight this serum was. With a quick massage, my scalp instantly drank it up and was left feeling just as clean as when I started. I could apply this four or five times before it started to weigh down my hair.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s not exactly a hair oil. But if you want to apply something to your scalp that will support its health and, in turn, support hair density, pick this lightweight serum instead.
Size: 100ml; price per ml: 47p; key ingredients: rosemary extract, glycerine, vitamin E, peptides; vegan? Yes; certified cruelty-free? No; suitable for: damp and dry scalp
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Rehab Dose 1.0 hair oil
- What we love:Weekly capsules to streamline hair care routine
- What we don’t love:Capsules fiddly and smelly, but the oil is nice
Best for: intense treatment
This hair oil is incredibly rich and covers everything your hair needs to thrive. It includes omega fatty acid-rich Moroccan oil to add shine, while jojoba oil helps reduce breakage. You’ll also find moisturising vitamins A, C and E and moisture-locking vitamin B5. This oil smoothed my hair and enhanced shine, and, despite its thicker texture, didn’t weigh it down.
The oil comes encased in capsules, each containing one application. It’s intended to be used as an intensive treatment weekly after washing and before styling, which means you only need to get your hands oily once a week, rather than daily. I thought the biodegradable capsules stank a bit, but the oil itself smells nice and fresh once out of the capsule.
It didn’t make the final cut because … I found the hair oil capsules tricky to open without scissors, and messy to use when I eventually managed it.
Size: 30ml; price per ml: from about 58p; key ingredients: Moroccan oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera oil, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E; vegan? Yes; certified cruelty-free? No; suitable for: wet and dry hair
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What you need to know
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What is hair oil and what is it used for?
“Hair oils are a more natural way of moisturising the hair shaft,” says trichologist Hannah Gaboardi. “They penetrate into the cuticles and provide them with the vitamins, nutrients and fatty acids needed for healthier hair.” Hair oils can add moisture to support dry, brittle hair, she adds, and when applied regularly, they can add shine and tame frizz.
Some people apply hair oil to their scalp. This “can help promote hair growth by improving the circulation”, Gaboardi says. “More blood flow to the scalp allows the follicles to receive more nutrients.” Just always make sure you cleanse your scalp thoroughly afterwards to prevent clogging.
Can hair oil help with hair growth?
Not exactly. Hair growth rate is determined by many factors, including age, hormones and scalp health. Hair oils can only help with scalp health, and they need to be used correctly to make a big difference.
“Hair oil won’t directly grow your hair, especially when your hair loss is caused by genetic factors or health conditions,” says Gaboardi. The good news is that the nutrients, vitamins and fatty acids that make for healthier hair also benefit the hair follicles. “Hair oil also helps moisturise the scalp to create a healthy environment,” she says.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. “When hair oil is used incorrectly, it can damage scalp health and can clog the pores in your scalp,” Gaboardi cautions. “This can cause a delay in the natural hair cycle and slow down growth if [the oils are] not washed out. It can also lead to sebum buildup and cause seborrheic dermatitis.”
Can hair oil protect my hair from heat styling damage?
This question has confused me for years. Some hair oils are designed to be used on freshly washed, damp hair before styling. Others are better suited to adding shine to finished styles. But surely adding a hair oil before using heat styling tools is a recipe for disaster that can only result in damaged locks?
The answer to my fears lies in an oil’s smoke point. Smoke point is the temperature at which oils begin to smoke and break down. “Oils that have a lower smoke point can cause the hair further heat damage when combined with high heat tools,” says Gaboardi.
Avoid using hair oils containing oils with a smoke point of below 177C, such as flaxseed oil or extra virgin olive oil, before heat styling. Luckily, few hair oils contain these.
Instead, “oils that have a high smoke point can be used after hair washing to help retain moisture and defend against heat”, says Gaboardi. These include grapeseed oil, safflower seed oil, argan oil and avocado oil. If you’re in doubt, she recommends “using serums and oils designed for heat styling to ensure you’re safely treating your hair”.
Can hair oil protect my hair from sun damage?
“Certain oil types have antioxidant properties that are used as a shield against UV rays,” says Gaboardi. At the same time, some oils provide natural, albeit low, protection against UV rays.
If you notice your hair getting drier and frizzier when exposed to the sun, using a hair oil can help keep your hair smooth and nourished. That’s because hair oil helps lock moisture into the hair strand that could otherwise dry out in the heat.
For more, read the Filter’s guide to the best hair masks
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Sarah Matthews is a health and beauty consumer journalist who’s tested everything from hi-tech skincare gadgets to hair styling tools. With four years of hands-on experience, she’s built a reputation for honest, detailed reviews across hair removal, light therapy, and more. As someone with waist-length hair, she’s developed strong opinions on everything from heat protection sprays to detangling brushes