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The 17 Best Hair Oils, According to Your Hair Type

We rounded up the top smoothing, softening, and nourishing elixirs for your hair — regardless of type or texture.
The 17 Best Hair Oils for All Hair Types 2020 Reviews
ROSDIANA CIARAVOLO

A head full of grease isn't glamorous, but a little oil is necessary to keep hair looking and feeling hydrated  — regardless of your hair texture or type. But are all hair oils created equally? Not so much. "Rather than choosing an oil for your hair type, you should consider what you need the oil to do for your hair," shares Sophia Emmanuel, a certified trichologist and hairstylist at Crown Worthy in New York City. Paying attention to ingredients will also help you decide which product you truly need.

For example, if you're looking for something to enhance shine, carrier oils, like olive, carrot, or jojoba, are helpful. Avid users of hot tools, on the other hand, should reach for silicone-infused products to protect your hair. "Silicones form a barrier, so there is no direct heat damage," says cosmetic chemist Ginger King.

Those who recoil at the mention of silicone: don't. "Generally speaking, silicones are safe to use in hair-care products," says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. "They coat the surface of the hair to smooth, add shine, and protect from heat,"  

Do use silicones (like dimethicone, for example) in moderation, though. "Continued used of silicones over time can weigh down the hair, so it is important to regularly wash the hair to remove them so they don't build up," he explains.

Ingredients aside, hair oils should be used with a light hand — and only when necessary. Below, you'll find 17 hair oils for all hair types, including dry, thick, thin, frizzy, and fine, recommended by editors and experts. 

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • Kopari Coconut Sheer Oil on white background
    Courtesy of brand
    1/17

    Dry Hair: Kopari Coconut Sheer Oil

    Los Angeles-based hairstylist Jen Atkin is a fan of Kopari's Coconut Sheer Oil for adding moisture to dry, thirsty hair. Coat dry, brittle ends with the coconut-scented liquid to help soften them, or tame flyaways with a drop or two. The antioxidants in the formula also help neutralize free radicals to protect your hair from UV damage. 

    $44 (Shop Now)

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    2/17

    Dry Hair: SheaMoisture Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Hair Serum

    Shea butter, Jamaican black castor oil, and peppermint leaf extract team up for SheaMoisture's Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Hair Serum to "moisturize and condition both hair and scalp," New York City-based hairstylist Tina Pearson explains. This slick stuff is perfect on hair that has been dried out from processing or heat styling.

    $11 (Shop Now)

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    3/17

    Dry Hair: Rita Hazan Shine Balm 

    Rita Hazan's Shine Balm combines sunflower, jojoba, moringa, and camellia oils to revive limp, dry hair. Allure contributing editor Marci Robin loves the effects it has on her 2B hair. "I am fully, unapologetically obsessed with the white-floral scent, which lingers in my hair long after I apply it to my ends," she says. "That's where this product does its most inspired work, erasing the dull, dry split ends and replacing them with smooth, sealed, shiny waves."

    $30 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand 
    7/17

    Dry Hair: Wella Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil 

    The macadamia and avocado oils in the Wella Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil give hair a radiant shine — no wonder Allure contributing editor Jessica Chia repairs her color-treated hair with it. "I simply smooth a few drops of the Luminous Smoothing Oil — which smells like a warm coconut full of tropical flowers — through my hair's length, and the halo of flyaways gets back in line while my hair feels kitten-soft," she says. "It looks shinier but not at all greasy."

    $40 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    8/17

    Thick Hair: Briogeo B. Well 100mg CBD + Arnica Flower Soothing Skin & Scalp Oil 

    The Briogeo B.Well 100mg CBD + Arnica Flower Soothing Skin & Scalp Oil employs healing arnica flower extract, hemp, and tamanu seed oils to soothe irritated scalps and add hydration. Massage a few drops onto your scalp before bedtime for an overnight treatment or onto dry, split ends in need of some extra care.

    $48 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand 
    9/17

    Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Treatment Original

    Serrano loves the Moroccanoil Treatment Original for medium to thick textures but cautions blondes to beware. "The amber color will stain your gorgeous blonde hair and make it appear brassy," he cautions. Another tip: Lean on this for special occasions because it contains dimethicone, a man-made silicone, which is better to use from time to time for heat styling as opposed to every day.

    $44 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand 
    10/17

    Thick Hair: Beleza Natural Nutri Shine Humectant Oil 

    The combination of avocado, coconut, and mango oils in the Beleza Natural Nutri Shine Humectant Oil feels like heaven on hair, especially those with coils and kinks. Staff editor Jihan Forbes reaches for elixir after she's gone a little overboard with gel on her 3C/4A curls. "It takes away the crunch while maintaining hold and makes my hair feel very soft," she says.

    $14 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand 
    11/17

    Thin Hair: Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss

    Those looking for added luster can turn to the Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss, which is favored by New York City-based hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew. Rice bran oil helps get rough ends in check while, of course, adding some serious shine to your crown.

    $30 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand 
    12/17

    Frizzy Hair: Tresemme Keratin Smooth Hair Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

    Keratin and marula oil in the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Hair Shine Anti-Frizz Serum gives the formula its superior smoothing abilities. The Best of Beauty Award-winning defrizzer creates a mirror-like shine without leaving hair annoyingly greasy, too.

    $6 (Shop Now)

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    16/17

    Fine Hair: Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil

    Work this Best of Beauty Award-winning Bumble and bumble oil into your hair, and it seems to disappear on contact — but that doesn't mean it's not working. You'll be pleased to see how well the Hairdresser's Invisible Oil adds moisture, detangles, and softens your hair. It also gives hair protection from UV rays and heat damage.

    $40 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand 
    17/17

    Fine Hair: Aveda Thickening Tonic

    Sturdivant-Drew has the Aveda Thickening Tonic in rotation because it "not only adds shine but also volume." This 97-percent naturally-derived formula will thicken the appearance of fine hair, too. Best of all, it doesn't leave behind any residue or grit, so fuller hair won't be weighed down.

    $30 (Shop Now)

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