Like an effective serum, the best hair oils are designed to deeply penetrate the hair shaft to help lock in moisture and luminous shine. Sure, a good hair mask and conditioner gives your hair a dose of hydration, but hair oils are less maintenance. Although hair oils tend to get a bad rap, professional hairstylists say this high-quality hair care product plays a vital role in keeping both the scalp and your strands as healthy as possible. We spoke to stylists and hair experts on the benefits of hair oils, the best hair oils for your hair type, and more.
Why use hair oil
So why exactly should you use hair oil? After all, it’s just another product and one more step to add to your hair care routine. Well, hair oils take care of several concerns beyond adding moisture to your dry strands. Hair oils appeal to almost every hair type thanks to the variety of benefits they give. Mydentity founder and hair color icon, Guy Tang says, “hair oil replenishes the hair’s moisture, which then helps the hair feel softer, reduces frizz, and makes it shinier.” The result? Healthy-looking hair. “The benefit of using an oil by itself instead of a cream or conditioner would be if you do not want to wet your hair in order to moisture it,” adds Candace Witherspoon, owner of Candace Witherspoon Salon in NYC.
How to pick hair oil
“The type of oil you choose can differ depending on hair type and its porosity level (the measurement of your hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture),” explains Darby Backes, hairstylist at Whiteroom Salon in Brooklyn. If your hair is fine or highly porous (meaning that it allows moisture in easily and quickly loses it), hairstylists recommend sticking to lighter-weight oils, like grapeseed or jojoba. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people with textured or coily hair that doesn’t absorb moisture easily should look for slightly heavier oils, like castor or coconut, which contain fatty acids that help keep hair moisturized longer.
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How to use hair oil
According to Danielle Priano, celebrity hairstylist to Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, and Ariana Grande, you can use hair oils in three different ways. One way is ” to apply the product to damp hair after your leave-in conditioner to help detangle, seal the cuticles and moisturize,” She tells SELF, “This is a great step, especially for those who like to air dry their hair and don’t want a frizzy untamed look.” Priano also suggests using it as an overnight scalp treatment or a few hours before washing. The final way is to “apply two to three pumps mid-length to ends and brush it through before using hot tools to protect the hair from the heat and give that extra shine,” she shares.
Robin Groover, founder of Too Groovy Salon in Atlanta, also suggests using it as a “pre-poo” treatment (one that’s used before shampooing to detangle and hydrate hair). Similar to Priano’s suggestion she recommends mixing in with your favorite deep conditioner, in combination with a liquid leave-in conditioner and cream (otherwise known as the L.O.C. method, from liquid, oil, cream). Remember, while hair oils can help improve hair’s hydration levels overall, it’s important to note that these products are regarded more as lubricants, not day-to-day hair moisturizers, like a cream or leave-in-conditioner.
Not sure what hair oil to add to your cart? From oils that treat frizz to ones that prevent breakage, we compiled a roundup of the best hair oils you can buy.
Source: SELF
