7 Oils for Healthy, Beautiful Hair

Just a drop or two of these natural extracts can be the solution to hair obstacles and help your locks look better (and feel stronger) than ever.

Look for extra virgin choices, which means they’re in their most natural state and haven’t been hydrogenated, bleached, refined or deodorized.

When washing hair to remove oil, apply shampoo to your dry hair first and then lather with water and rinse thoroughly; if you wet your strands before adding shampoo, the oil will be difficult to remove.

1. Argan Oil

Argan oil can help nourish strands as a leave-in conditioner. If your hair feels dry—especially if you use heated tools—apply a dime-sized amount to your wet locks after you get out of the shower and let your hair air dry. (If you wash your hair before bed, you may want to wear a shower cap or place a towel over your pillowcase to protect your pillow from the oil while you sleep.)

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft so deeply, it locks in moisture, hydrating strands and preventing breakage; its lauric acid also reduces protein loss, which can lead to dull, brittle locks, as well as thinning and hair loss. Additionally, the medium-chain fatty acids (a good type of saturated fat) in coconut oil can aid in treating dandruff; massage a small amount onto your scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing hair.

3. Grape Seed Oil

When it comes to topical benefits, this oil is tops in treating dandruff. Massaging oil into your scalp will increase blood circulation and loosen those dry flakes, making them easier to lift out with a comb, but it’s the nutrients and moisturizing properties in the grape seed extract, specifically, that will encourage the growth of healthy skin cells.

4. Pomegranate Seed Oil

The large amounts of punicic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid) in pomegranate seed oil helps strands appear thick and shiny, while its vitamins and antioxidant properties increase blood circulation in your scalp, stimulating follicles and encouraging hair to grow. It can also help protect hair from the environment and actually control excess oil production.

5. Avocado Oil

Packed with healthy fats, vitamins and other nutrients, avocado oil prevents hair damage by nourishing hair follicles and hydrating and strengthening strands. Additionally, avocado oil is known to promote a healthy scalp, acting like a natural SPF and sinking into the surface of your skin to soothe dryness. When your hair is damp, work a dime-sized amount into your hair and scalp.

6. Jojoba Oil

This oil is especially helpful if you have an oily scalp and hair as it helps balance the sebum (oily substance secreted by skin glands) production and flow in your scalp. It can also help reduce hair loss, which can occur if your pores are clogged with sebum; jojoba oil encourages new hair cells to grow. Rub three or four drops of the oil into your scalp and leave it for 30 minutes; then shampoo.

7. Canola Oil

Dealing with split ends? Grab the canola oil from your pantry and use it as a hair treatment. Its high amounts of plant sterols help soften split ends and create a protective coating over strands to prevent further damage. Massage a drizzle of canola oil into your hair and cover with a towel, letting it seep in for at least 10 to 15 minutes, or leave in your hair overnight. Shampoo afterward.