Entrepreneur Lucie Macleod’s appearance on Dragon’s Den to pitch her haircare range, Hair Syrup, has sent it stratospheric on social media. The brand sells products ranging from haircare sets to satin pillowcases, but its viral offering revolves around hair oil.
Hair oiling has exploded over the last few years, mainly thanks to TikTok, where the hashtag has garnered over 87,000 videos. But what exactly is hair oil, and what does it do?
Hair oil is usually made from plant, herb or fruit oils, which can improve the condition of hair in a number ways, from moisturising and protecting to smoothing, softening and adding shine.
Oils like coconut and argan can hydrate hair, while jojoba and almond oils lock in moisture. You can get oils for curly hair, heat-protection oils, and oils that exfoliate the scalp to reduce build-up. Rosemary oil is popular for hair growth and combatting hair loss.
Different oils achieve different results, so make sure that you consider your individual hair goals when choosing one. For example, damaged hair might benefit from an oil with higher fat and protein content. However, these can make fine or thin hair appear greasy, in which case a lighter oil like macadamia seed or abyssinian would be a better choice.
Read on for some of our favourite hair oils to achieve that covetable yet elusive ‘just-been-blow-dried’ finish.
This product instantly improves the look and feel of hair by applying one-to-three drops to dry or towel-dried hair. Used two or three times a week, it delivers long-term nourishment and protection, helping to reduce damage and split ends caused by over-styling, heat, aging or environmental factors. The Hair Oil hydrates, detangles and controls frizz, resulting in hair that looks healthier and shinier, and can also aid hair growth by reducing breakage. It’s also a lightweight and fast-absorbing product and therefore suitable for all hair types, including thinner and more grease-prone hair.
The OI Oil is made from roucou – a plant native to the Amazon which is rich in beta-carotene, a pigment which helps protect the natural structure of hair and aids its growth. This product is multifunctional: it promises hydrated and frizz-free locks as well as the reversal of damage from styling and environmental factors, leaving hair looking shiny and soft. The product works best on dry, coarse hair which lacks shine – two-to-three pumps on towel-dried hair should do the trick, but if you have particularly fine hair, start with one.
This oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly, making it great for dry, damaged and colour-treated hair. It uses a long list of ingredients to condition, strengthen and smooth: jasmine oil, for example, is rich in antioxidants, while watermelon, lychee and edelweiss flower protect hair from oxidative stress, photoaging and the deterioration of keratin. Argan oil adds shine, reduces frizz and improves hair’s manageability, all while shielding against UV rays and environmental aggressors. To use, apply through damp hair or add to the ends after styling.
For hair that is particularly damaged, look to Ouai’s Hair Oil, a multitasking oil which is built to heal breakage and seal split ends which, in turn, improves shine and smoothes frizz. This product is extracted from African galanga, ama and Asian borage oils, which protect hair from heat damage and stop colour from fading. Warm one pump up in your hands and apply to either wet or dry hair, focusing on the mid-shaft and ends for a high-gloss finish.
This hair oil is ‘biotech-engineered’ to repair, reduce frizz and improve shine by working at two levels of the hair fibre: first, a peptide addresses the damage at the innermost layer of hair that causes frizz. Meanwhile, on the surface of hair, natural oils like avocado and sunflower nourish and smooth, which enhances shine and improves colour vibrancy. You can use this product on damp hair for the strengthening benefits and to reduce frizz during air-drying, or on dry hair as a finisher to smooth flyaways and add shine.
This perfumed hair oil is perfect for those who want to elevate hair and bring extra luster and shine. It uses shea oil to smooth the hair cuticle (the outer part of the hair shaft) and prevent dehydration; moringa oil to sheathe the hair; and passion fruit oil and cotton seed oil, both of which have nourishing properties. Combined, these ingredients restructure the hair and create a film around the shafts, helping to amp up its radiance.
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