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Plus, exactly how to use these supercharged formulas.
Using oil blends to treat hair and the scalp has origins in the 5,000-year-old system of Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Talk about deep roots. Shalini Seneviratne, founder of holistic beauty brand Wildpatch, was raised in the tradition and has been oiling her hair for as long as she can remember. The practice, she says, is “the first beauty ritual many South Asians learn.” The rest of the world has been catching on to its myriad benefits—like stronger, thicker hair and a healthy scalp—as the global hair-oil market is projected to reach $3.9 billion by 2024.
With so many new hair and scalp oils to choose from, it can be hard to find the one to achieve your healthiest hair yet. Here are some of our favorite slick picks.
This pre-wash treatment can actually help your hair grow stronger and thicker, thanks to rosemary extract.
This dry scalp treatment works to gently clarify your scalp while also soothing itchy, flaky skin. Plus, we're just obsessed with the scent.
A blend of raw virgin coconut oil, made specifically for hair and skin, this oil is perfect for indulging in the ritual of hair oiling.
Jasmine, amla, and sunflower oil in this hair serum help to strengthen strands and boost volume (sounds counterintuitive, but it really works).
Not only does this oil smell amazing, it can be used as a pre-wash treatment, left in for a few hours, or even slathered on overnight for a little extra conditioning.
Designed by Tracee Ellis Ross specifically for curls, this cocktail of oils can be massaged into the scalp to soothe any itchiness. You can also use it on wet or dry hair.
This lightweight hair and scalp oil-in-serum treatment helps leave hair impossibly shiny (and smelling so good) without making it look flat or greasy.
Great for fine and medium hair, this perfumed hair oil mist is great for adding a light dose of shine to dull strands. It's all the benefits, with less mess.
Cold processed and all-natural, this pick includes five plant-based ingredients that work to nourish and condition hair. It's just as good at taming frizz as it is at protecting against heat damage.
Bring on the shine! This silicone-free hair oil is enriched with kakadu plum to leave hair super-soft. We hear that Quinta Brunson is a fan.
This scalp treatment is filled with antioxidant and humectants that calm and soothe your scalp as you sleep.
Scalp oils can help to balance the scalp and remove buildup. After all, a healthy scalp sprouts fuller hair. “Dullness, brittleness, or a lack of volume can start at the root,” says Helen Reavey, celebrity hairstylist, trichologist, and founder of Act+Acre hair care, who cites follicle-clogging buildup as a common cause of weakened strands. Most scalp oils are meant to be used as a prewash treatment, massaged into the scalp to loosen debris, then shampooed out.
When it comes to hair oils, these strand-centric formulas are used primarily to protect the hair and dial up shine. Most versions are also surprisingly lightweight, helping to make locks lustrous but not lank. For best results, these blends are usually applied to clean, damp hair as you would a leave-in conditioner.