I don’t really remember what I did in my hair care routine before I found a good hair oil. Of course, using the right shampoo and conditioner has made a huge difference in the health of my hair, but a hair oil rounds out my routine by locking in moisture and nourishing it.
Curly hair also needs a little love and care. Because my curly hair is dry, frizzy and thick, it took me a while to find a haircare routine and curl cream that would provide enough hydration without making my hair oily or causing build-up. But after reading loads of reviews from different beauty stores, I’ve found a few that work for me. Below, you’ll find some of the top-rated hair oils for curly hair, plus advice from celebrity stylists on how to choose. Read on, it’s full of fun facts!
Best hair oil for curly hair
Kerastase Elixir Ultimate Hydrating Hair Oil Serum Aussie Miracle Curl Curl Defining Oil Ouidad Mongongo Curl Treatment Oil Shea Moisture 100% Pure Argan Oil Pattern Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil Blend
Best Overall: Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum
Kerastase
Elixir Ultime Moisturizing Hair Oil Refill
Rating: 4.5/5 stars, 1360 reviews
“I love Kerastase L’Iuile Hair Oil. It’s great for curly hair. It nourishes and strengthens my hair. It has marula, camellia, and argan oils.” — Jennifer Korab, Celebrity Hairstylist
Pros: A blend of four oils deeply moisturizes curly hair and reduces frizz.
Cons: Expensive
Customer review: “This product has been extremely effective at reducing my frizz and flyaways. It leaves my hair silky smooth. I’m totally hooked! I’ll definitely be repurchasing the larger size!”
Best Drugstore: Aussie Miracle Curl Curl Defining Oil
Australia
Miracle Curl Curl Defining Oil
Rating: 4.5/5 stars, 435 ratings
You can’t go wrong with the Aussie Miracle Curl line as it’s a classic line at an affordable price – I actually used this line as a kid and my curls have always been soft, shiny and manageable since then.
Pros: Affordable, contains moisturizing coconut and jojoba oils
Cons: None
Customer review: “This was amazing for my wavy/curly hair!! It doesn’t weigh my hair down or make it feel frizzy at all, and it gives great hold. So soft and smooth!”
Ouidad Mongongo Curl Treatment Oil
Ouidad
Moisture Lock Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Curl Treatment
Rating: 4.5/5 stars, 346 reviews
This treatment oil from Ouidad contains a blend of mongongo nut, coconut, palm seed, and broccoli seed oils, each of which works together to seal the hair cuticle, tame frizz, and form a protective barrier against damage.
Benefits: Absorbs quickly and creates a protective barrier on hair to prevent damage
Cons: Expensive
Customer review: “I love this curl spray oil. Just spray a little on the ends of my dry curls and they really bring life to my hair. It’s a little pricey but so worth it. I love this product!”
Shea Moisture 100% Pure Argan Oil
Shea Moisture
100% pure argan oil
Rating: 4.4/5 stars, 1487 ratings
Never underestimate the power of a single great ingredient. Argan oil is a great moisturizer and softener for many hair types, but it’s especially great for curly hair, as it provides extra moisture without making curls feel oily or weighed down.
Pros: Affordable, contains 100% pure argan oil
Cons: None
Customer review: “I’ve tried many different brands of 100% argan oil and by far my favorite is SheaMoisture’s oil. It really penetrates my hair, leaving it soft and shiny and manageable, but also absorbs well into the skin. Some argan oils leave the hair/skin feeling dry after absorbing, while others leave it extremely oily, but this oil doesn’t. It leaves the skin with a soft shine and glow without feeling greasy. Same for my hair – it’s not dry or brittle at the ends, but it doesn’t make my hair oily either.”
Pattern Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil Blend
pattern
Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil Blend
Rating: 4.8/5, 30 reviews
This blend of jojoba, safflower, and lavender oils helps moisturize curly hair, reduce breakage, and relieve an itchy scalp.
Benefits: Keeps curls moisturized, reduces breakage, lightweight
Cons: None
Customer review: “I’ve used many hair oils in the past (my hair is dry, curly, thick and wavy). This product is amazing! I woke up in the morning and my hair looked amazing!! The product is a great size and the price is great, so I’m very happy.”
OGX Renewing + Moroccan Argan Oil
OGX
Renewal + Moroccan Argan Oil
Rating: 4.6/5 stars, 6311 reviews
Another argan oil-infused superstar is the OGX formula, which is affordable, helps seal split ends, and provides light moisturization for dry or static-damaged hair.
Pros: Affordable, repairs split ends, reduces frizz and static, moisturizes curly hair
Cons: Nozzle easily gets clogged
Customer review: “My hair is wavy and frizzy a lot. I love that it comes in a spray form, which makes it super easy to apply. I’ve been using it for a while now and plan to keep using it as it works great for my hair.”
Living Proof Curl Moisturizing Shine Oil
Living Proof
Curl Moisturizing Shine Oil
Rating: 4.5/5 stars, 218 reviews
This moisturizing 5-oil blend from Living Proof mimics the natural lipids in curly hair to reduce flyaways, deeply moisturize and add shine to hair. Great for wavy, curly and coily hair.
Benefits: Silicone-free. Mimics hair’s natural lipids to smooth, moisturize and add shine.
Cons: Has a strong smell
Customer review: “I absolutely love this oil! The texture is light, the scent is amazing, and the performance is impeccable. I have long, thick, naturally wavy hair. Usually, professional wave products like these don’t do much for me. However, I was in need of a new oil and this oil and leave-in was on sale, so I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! Used in conjunction with the LP Curl Enhancer, my waves are tighter, softer, and more defined than ever before…”
Prador Organic Sweet Almond Oil
Pla d’Or
Organic Sweet Almond Oil
Rating: 4.6/5, 5576 reviews
As Korab mentioned above, pure organic oils like sweet almond are great for both skin and hair, as they provide tons of moisture and nourishment without weighing your hair down. However, if you have fine curls, you might want to use it sparingly. I have thick hair, and if I use too much sweet almond oil, it can make it a bit oily.
Pros: Can be used on both skin and hair, provides light moisturizing effects and nourishes curls.
Cons: Might be too oily for fine curls.
Customer Review: “I always reorder this. I use it on my skin every day.”
Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil
Mizani
25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil
Rating: 4.5/5 stars, 511 reviews
This Mizani oil is a blend of coconut, sunflower seed, and jojoba that nourishes hair, minimizes excess frizz, and restores natural shine. The only downside to this oil is that those with thicker hair types don’t necessarily like the spray nozzle. With so much hair, it can be hard to reach everything with a spray bottle. Sigh.
Pros: Lightweight, moisturizing, minimizes frizz and restores natural shine.
Cons: Spray nozzle may not be effective on thick hair.
Customer review: “I love this product. My hair absorbs the product and feels super soft right after I apply it.”
Briogeo Don’t despair, repair! Strengthening treatment oil
Briogeo
Don’t despair, repair it! Enhancing treatment oil
Rating: 4.1/5, 928 reviews
I’m a big fan of Briogeo’s “Don’t Despair, Repair!” range. Their deep conditioning mask is a must-have weekly treatment for me and I recently had the pleasure of trying their hair oil as well, which really works on damaged hair, adding moisture and strength.
Benefits: Strengthens and moisturizes dry and damaged hair, silicone-free and contains repairing ceramides
Cons: Not fragrance-free
Customer review: “I really love this oil. It doesn’t make my hair look oily. Be careful with the smell – it’s a bit strong (like perfume) but the smell goes away after a while. I use it after heat styling or on days when I don’t do a curl routine.”
FAQ
What should you look out for when choosing a hair oil?
Korab has advice for those with curly hair who want to invest in a good hair oil: “When looking for a hair oil for curly hair, I recommend looking for an oil that’s lightweight and non-greasy,” she says. “(It’s an oil that’s moisturizing and helps tame frizz. I also like to look for an oil that protects your hair from heat.”
If you have fine curls, keep the above in mind: heavy oils can make your hair greasy and weigh it down. Korab also recommends looking for organic, natural oils like avocado, olive, or sweet almond oil. “These will help define your curls without synthetic additives,” she says. Below, we’ve rounded up Korab’s favorite hair oils, along with some of our own picks.
How to apply hair oil?
How you apply hair oil will depend on the type of curl you have. If your curls are coarse or super dry, you may want to oil your hair daily after you get out of the shower. I have coarse curls and I’m a 3c, so I apply the oil as a finishing touch over my leave-in conditioner, starting with the ends and working my way up to the roots. I usually try not to apply too much oil to keep my roots from looking oily, but if your hair is super dry, it may be okay to use it on your roots daily.
It may be too thick for fine curls. Use it slowly at first to see how your curls react so you don’t make them oily. The frequency of applying hair oil depends on your curl type and what works for you.
This article was originally published earlier and has since been updated.
