12 best hair oils for shiny, soft and smooth locks

Hair oil is an often unsung haircare hero, promising to smooth strands, fight frizz and give that just-been-blowdried glossy finish. So, if you’re yet to include one in your daily routine, we’re here to convince you of how and why that needs to change.

Aesthetic results aside, a good hair oil will nourish your hair with a huge range of healthy fats and minerals, battling breakage and helping to stop split ends. But, as with most beauty buys, not all hair oils are made equal, and not everybody will benefit from the same brand, type or heaviness.

To better understand what makes hair oil particularly great, we sought the advice of Kuldeep Knox, founder of haircare brand Chāmpo. “The best hair oil is the one which will meet the needs of your specific hair type, texture and scalp condition and takes into consideration factors like climate, lifestyle and any concerns you’d like to address,” she explained.

“Those with damaged or brittle hair may see benefits from an oil with a higher fat and protein composition [such as argan or coconut oil],” she added. “While those with fine or thinning hair will likely see better results with lighter oils like macadamia seed and abyssinian oil.” Kuldeep also attributed hair damage to heat tools, air conditioning, and daily styling, noting that “it’s important to choose ingredients that will repair hair’s cuticle and protect it from further damage”.

With this in mind, and took on the task of testing a range of formulas to help find the best hair oils for different hair types, including curly,