Tester feedback: “Raking a few drops of this quick-to-absorb hair oil through my ends is the difference between a good hair day and a great hair day,” says Allure tester Paige Stables. “Besides controlling frizz, the formula really makes my blonde shine!”
Key ingredients: marula oil, argan oil, camellia oil | Hair it’s best for: frizzy hair | When to apply: damp or dry hair | Additional benefits: increased softness | Scent: woody, floral | Sizes: 3.4 oz.
Best for Brunettes: Moroccanoil Treatment
Why it’s worth it: People with medium-to-thick hair may need more intensive moisturizing oil treatments to maintain their silky strands, and Moroccanoil‘s Treatment Original is up to the task. You only need a few drops of this argan oil-based elixir to revive your hair’s natural luster and softness, so a little goes a long way. Though Los Angeles-based hairstylist Jorge Serrano loves the Moroccanoil Treatment for thicker hair types, he cautions blondes to beware. “The amber color will stain blonde hair and make it appear brassy,” he tells Allure.
Key ingredients: argan oil, linseed seed extract, dimethicone | Hair it’s best for: dark, thick hair | When to apply: damp or dry hair | Additional benefits: tame flyaways | Scent: spicy, floral | Sizes: 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do hair oils work?
As self-explanatory as it might sound (hair plus oil equals shine), there’s complex chemistry at work to help your hair achieve the glossiness you’re after. Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos spoke to Allure to explain the science. “Hair oils help smooth the hair cuticle and reduce styling breakage while minimizing frizz,” she says.
However, it isn’t the oil smoothing the cuticle. “Most hair ‘oils’ on the market actually contain very little oil, they’re primarily made from siloxanes and hydrocarbons,” says Dobos, who notes that these ingredients, which are also known as silicones and mineral oils, respectively, are added to many hair oils. (That’s because some of the lipids in natural oils can weigh hair down and can cause fine hair to look greasy, rather than glossy.) With that in mind, products with a high oil concentration are better on thick, textured, or coily hair, she says.
Which hair oil is right for me?
When choosing a hair oil, keep in mind the results you hope to get out of adding a new product to your hair-care routine. “Rather than choosing an oil for your hair type, you should consider what you need the oil to do for your hair,” says Sophia Emmanuel, a hairstylist at Crown Worthy in New York City. For example, if you’re looking to enhance shine and softness, olive, carrot, and jojoba oils, all of which act as moisture-sealing emollients, are helpful, according to Emmanuel. On the other hand, avid users of hot tools like blow-dryers or straighteners should reach for silicone-infused products to protect the hair’s cuticle.