We Tested 29 Hair Oils, And These 11 Are Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

5

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If you ask us, the best hair oils are those that get the job done without weighing hair down. This one does that and does that and so much more—making it our top choice. It has a lightweight formula that nourishes the hair without leaving a thick or greasy film on the strands, and it also works to tame flyaways. 

In addition to the weightless texture, our reviewer loved that she was able to work it through her hair with ease. She noted that it made combing her strands effortless, and it didn’t leave a residue on her hands or her hair. Her end result was shiny, soft hair with a salon-like finish. 

Key Ingredients: Grapeseed and fermented green tea oils | Size: 30ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $30

Best Drugstore

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Deep Nourishing Treatment

4.8

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If you’re hesitant about hair oil or you prefer drugstore buys, this is a fantastic option for you. It’s affordable and accessible—and it works. It has a midweight texture—not super lightweight but not heavy—and it works to condition the hair and minimize flyaways.

Our tester shared that the oil made her strands feel soft and nourished without feeling sticky or leaving a thick film behind. She also shared that just three drops was enough to work through her hair, so keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way. While she didn’t find that her hair looked much shinier after application, she loved that it appeared sleek and smooth (read: no frizz or flyaways), and felt incredibly soft to the touch.

Key Ingredients: Coconut and sunflower seed oils | Size: 100ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Price at time of publish: $8

Best Luxury

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil

4.5

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Applying a few drops of a luxe hair oil can serve as a moment of self-care, and this indulgent one is great for that. The chic packaging, honey scent, and rich texture elevate the user experience—but the product really works, too. 

While the texture is pretty thick, our tester found that a few drops absorbed into her long, damaged hair quickly, and helped to create smoother looking and feeling strands. She noted that her hair felt incredibly soft after applying the oil, almost as if she had applied a deep conditioning mask. She also noted that the dropper helped her to dispense just the right amount of product. 

One thing to keep in mind is that this formula does have a rich consistency. While this could be a major bonus if you have thick hair, those with thin hair should start by applying just one or two drops in order to avoid a greasy finish. 

Key Ingredients: Honey | Size: 20ml, 50ml, 100ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $87

Best Lightweight

VERB Ghost Oil

4.5

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If you have thin or fine hair, you might cringe at the thought of applying hair oil, but this one could actually be a great fit for you. Despite its fairly rich texture, it absorbs quickly into fine hair without leaving an oily film on the strands. 

Our tester shared that just a few drops were enough to evenly coat her thin hair, and the oil worked wonders in terms of adding shine and softness. She noted that after applying the product and blow drying her hair, it looked healthy and she achieved slight frizz reduction. Her one con was that she has very frizzy hair, and she would have loved to see this product create a more significant reduction in her frizz. 

Key Ingredients: Bamboo extract, moringa seed and argan oils | Size: 60ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $18

Best for Damaged Hair

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum

4.5

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This product has been loved by stylists for quite some time, and we understand why. The silky texture glides through the hair with ease, leaving it looking and feeling softer and more lustrous. 

If you struggle with dry or damaged ends due to bleaching or excessive use of hot tools, this is a great option for you. It can be used before or after styling to smooth and nourish the hair, and we love that it has just a slight floral fragrance that isn’t at all overpowering. Our tester found that it helped reduce frizz and make her hair appear healthier and more smooth. She did note that she could feel a bit of residue on her hair and her hands, but considering how well it helps to improve damaged hair, this isn’t a major concern for us. 

Key Ingredients: Marula, camelia, and argan oils | Size: 50ml, 100ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Price at time of publish: $48

Best for Shiny Hair

JVN Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops

4.8

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Using hair oil can be a great way to add shine and light reflection to dull hair. If that’s your main goal, then this is a great option for you. The lightweight formula utilizes the power of hemisqualane—squalane derived from sugarcane—instead of silicone (which can create residue on the hair over time) to strengthen your strands. Hemisqualane works to strengthen the hair over time, while other ingredients in the formula, like meadowfoam esters and hibiscus extract, provide gloss, moisture, and antioxidant protection. 

Our tester shared that she found the oil to be lightweight and effective at adding shine to her hair and making it feel smooth. It’s worth sharing that she along with some online reviewers note that if you use more than a few drops, it can look a bit heavy in the hair. So if you have fine hair, keep this in mind. 

Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, meadowfoam esters, hibiscus extract | Size: 50ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $22

Best for Smoothing

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Hair Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

4.8

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If you deal with poofy or frizzy hair, this drugstore hair oil might be just what you’re looking for. It’s formulated with keratin and marula oil to strengthen and nourish the hair, and the lightweight formula helps to smooth strands and add shine. 

With just one pump prior to blow drying, our tester was able to achieve noticeable frizz-reduction. She also noticed that it helped to tame her flyaways and add shine without creating a residue on her hair. While she loved the woody fragrance, some online reviewers find it to be overpowering.  

Key Ingredients: Keratin, marula oil | Size: 97ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $9

Best Moisturizing

Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend

4.8

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If you have natural hair or extremely dry hair, a hair oil that actually works to add moisture to your strands can be a complete game-changer. This one has an almost perfect rating at Ulta, and it’s easy to understand why. It can be used on the lengths of your hair like a traditional hair oil, on wet or dry strands, or as the brand says, for the skin too. 

You might assume that a formula that truly works to moisturize the hair would have a thick consistency, but this one is surprisingly lightweight—and still effective. The nozzle applicator makes it easy to precisely dose and apply the product, and the light texture spreads through the hair easily and absorbs quickly. Our tester shared that his hair felt moisturized and his end result looked great. 

One thing to note is that some online reviewers who applied it directly to their scalps mentioned that they experienced some irritation. We recommend applying it to the lengths of the hair to help improve dryness, and if you’re going to apply it to your scalp, be sure to patch-test first. 

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, argan and baobab oils | Size: 237ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $22

Best for Frizz

Living Proof No Frizz Vanishing Oil

4.9

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Heat-styling can be incredible for reducing frizz in the hair, but it can also be quite damaging. So, opting to use a hair oil as a form of frizz-reduction is a great option. This one is formulated with quick-drying emollients and the brand’s signature healthy hair molecule to block humidity and smooth dry hair, thus helping to noticeably reduce frizz. 

Our tester with fine hair shared that four drops yielded beautiful results—her hair felt soft,  smooth, and moisturized, and looked shiny and healthy sans any residue. She also said that she noticed an improvement in her frizz, and that she enjoyed the subtle rose scent.

Key Ingredients: Living Proof Healthy Hair Molecule | Size: 50ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $30

Best for Dry Hair

Playa Ritual Hair Oil

5

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Dry, parched hair can lead to frizz and dullness. That’s why using a moisturizing hair oil, like this one, can be extremely helpful if you’re looking to achieve smooth, healthy-looking hair. Formulated with a blend of nourishing oils, this silicone-free formula penetrates the hair shaft to repair damage, tames frizz, and adds moisture. 

Our tester loved that this formula felt undetectable on her strands, yet it created beautiful results. Her hair didn’t feel weighed down or greasy, but she noted that her ends felt significantly softer, and hair maintained a soft feel for a while after using the product. While she was happy with the results, she would have loved it even more if it added shine to her strands. 

Key Ingredients: Kukui, apricot, and coconut oils | Size: 45ml  | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $62