7 Best Oils for Healthy Hair

Hair care can be difficult, especially if you’re trying to keep your hair healthy. You need to keep it clean, well-conditioned, and moisturized, but you also need to treat your hair gently and avoid harsh chemicals that can strip natural oils from your scalp and dry out the ends of your hair. Luckily, the world of oils has plenty to offer! Use these seven best oils for healthy hair from head to toe to make sure you’re caring for your hair in the most effective way possible!

How to choose the best hair oil
When it comes to hair care, there are a lot of products on the market. But when you boil it down, there are really only two things your hair needs: moisture and protein. And the best way to get both of those things is with oil. Here are seven of the best oils for healthy hair. A bit about each one, starting with our favorites:

Coconut oil
It’s no secret that coconut oil has become a bit of a miracle worker in recent years. This natural oil has been shown to be effective in everything from cooking to skin care. When it comes to hair, coconut oil can help to nourish and protect your locks. All you need is a tablespoon or two mixed with an equal amount of conditioner. Apply the mixture to your wet hair, starting at the ends and working up towards the roots, then rinse out after five minutes. If you have longer hair, use this once every week to keep it feeling strong and healthy. You can also use coconut oil as a deep conditioning treatment by leaving it on overnight before washing your hair the next morning. Just remember to make sure that any products containing this ingredient are labeled organic.

Argan oil
Argan oil is like liquid gold when it comes to hair—it conditions, hydrates and helps prevent breakage. It also works wonders on dry and damaged skin, so if you’re looking to treat everything from your scalp down to your toes with one bottle, argan is a good bet!

What’s more, unlike some other oils that can actually lead to dryness, argan is highly unlikely to irritate your skin. This means it’s safe for both color-treated and frizzy hair. Because of its rich nature, you don’t need a ton of argan oil to reap its benefits—just three drops will be enough. If you want to use it as a styling product, heat is what makes argan go from solid state to liquid in your hand. To get curls or waves, spritz it on your damp hair after blow drying and use a curling iron or flat iron while it’s still damp so that your curls can set in place as they cool down and become set.

Castor oil
Castor Oil: Castor oil makes a great hot oil treatment for dry ends that need some TLC. If you don’t want to heat up the castor oil on its own, try adding it to another heated carrier like olive or coconut before application. It’s also great as an overnight deep conditioner or scalp treatment. Because of its molecular structure, castor oil is really able to penetrate into your hair shaft and promote new cell growth.

Almond oil
Whether your hair is dry, damaged or color-treated, almond oil works wonders for all. This oil contains the highest amount of natural vitamin E, proteins, magnesium, and fatty acids, making it great for hair growth. It also protects your hair against hair loss, resulting in better hair growth. If you’re looking to get softer locks, try adding a few drops of almond oil to the shampoo and conditioner that you use. Your hair will love it! It’s also excellent at moisturizing your skin as well.

Avocado oil
Avocado Oil: As with jojoba, avocado oil is light enough to hydrate oily roots while still heavy enough to penetrate dry ends. Unlike jojoba though, it’s super nourishing, making it a great choice for anyone who uses heat on their hair or has seriously damaged locks.

You can find it at most drugstores. It’s affordable, especially if you buy it in a large bottle. Plus, its green color will make your bathroom look positively luxurious. But beware: avocados are pretty solid at room temperature, so your bottle might look like solid green jello on first arrival. To keep it liquid until you’re ready to use it, place your bottle in a bowl of warm water while you get ready in the morning and then shake well before applying to your hair and scalp.

Rose Mary oil
Rosemary oil is perfect for dry, brittle, and damaged hair. It can help to repair and protect your hair from further damage. Plus, it will leave your hair looking and feeling softer and shinier. To use, simply add a few drops of rosemary oil to your shampoo or conditioner.

In addition to its antifungal properties, rosemary oil improves blood circulation, which promotes hair regrowth. Adding rosemary oil to your shampoo or conditioner helps cleanse and moisturize your hair. Plus, it’s safe to use on all hair types, so there’s no reason not to give it a try! Use a few drops once or twice a week.

Amla Oil
Another oil that is commonly found in India is amla oil, which is derived from the amla fruit, also known as Indian gooseberry. It has many benefits, including being an antioxidant and having a potential to reduce hair loss. It’s good for both thinning hair and scalp conditions like dandruff or psoriasis. Amla oil is easily absorbed by your hair follicles, so it can even penetrate deep into your scalp to moisturize your skin cells. The best way to use amla oil is to apply it after you shampoo and condition your hair at night before bed and then cover with a shower cap overnight. In the morning you can rinse out the excess oil and proceed with styling your hair as usual.