There is nothing more beautiful than healthy hair. However, taking care of it is always tricky. Natural oils are here to help to maintain it.
Our hair can become damaged quickly. Heating, a lack of humidity, bleaching, or keratin treatments – these are just some factors that can make our hair look dull, hard to style, and damaged.
Fortunately for us, drugstore oils are here to solve a lot of problems with dull and unmanageable hair. Use them alone, or add oils as ingredients to homemade shampoo recipes – the possibilities are endless.
However, you need to be careful. Not all oils are the same, and they don’t have the same effects on all hair types. Indeed, some of these oils work better than others.
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We have listed some of the best drugstore hair oils. Be careful – don’t go over the line when using them. It wouldn’t hurt you to do a little test as well. Since most of these oils are plant- or nut-based, they can cause some reactions on your scalp. Simply, before using any of these oils, try them on a small part of your head.
Best Drugstore Hair Oils Worth Trying
All these oils are widely available, and most of them are quite cheap. Let’s go on.
1. Coconut Oil for All Hair Types
Hair Type: Best for all hair types
Usage: In the last few years, people tend to use coconut oil for literally everything – from cooking to cosmetic treatments. It is a healthier substitution for regular cooking oil, but when it comes to our face and hair, coconut oil has countless benefits.
Coconut oil is enriched with vitamin E, carbohydrates, minerals, and fatty acids. Sculps tolerate it pretty well, and that is why it is perfect for many different things. If your hair is dull and damaged apply this oil in the form of a mask. Once or twice a week will be just enough to make it shiny and healthy again.
Vitamins and fatty acids from coconut oil are great for stimulating hair growth. Frizzing hair won’t be a problem if you start to use coconut oil regularly. However, don’t exaggerate with the amount – the dime-size amount will be just enough.
Try Handcraft Fractionated Coconut Oil, which is not only perfect for moisturizing hair but also goes very well for skin, massage, and aromatherapy. Or opt for 100% Pure USDA Certified Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil by Viva Naturals.
2. Macadamia Oil – Perfect for Damaged Hair
Hair Type: Best for dry, damaged, and curly hair
Usage: Macadamia oil comes from the macadamia tree nuts. Unlike some other oils, like coconut, it is always in a liquid state.
This oil is enriched with fatty acids, potassium, palmitoleic acid, and antioxidants. It penetrates into your scalp and hair follicles much better than any other oil, making it look smooth and shiny.
If you have problems taming your curly hair – macadamia oil is a great drugstore oil to try. It will help you style your curls much easier. Also, count on its potential of making your curly hair look healthy, even after different treatments and heating.
Try Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment, which has a delightful smell and texture. If you fall in love with Macadamia oil, pair it with Natural Deep Repair Masque and Rejuvenating Shampoo for best results.
3. Avocado Oil
Hair Type: Best for all hair types
Usage: Avocado oil is pressed from the avocado flesh, which is very rich in fatty acids. Cold-pressed avocado oil can be found almost everywhere. It is enriched with vitamins D, E, and A. Biotin, which is found in avocado oil is one of the best proteins you can use for your hair. It also helps in growing new hair.
Avocado oil is excellent for deep moisture. It is lighter than olive oil so you can use it as a leave-in treatment. It penetrates deeply into your hair shaft, and won’t make your hair heavier.
If you have a sensitive scalp, avocado oil is one of the safest ones to use. It quickly penetrates to the dermis, leaving you with moisturized skin and even greater hair. It’s also great for dandruff treatments, UV protection, and hair growth.
Try Maple Holistics 100% Pure Avocado Oil – it will make your hair softer and smoother and much easier to brush through. Similar to other oils, use it to massage both your hair and face.
4. Argan Oil Helps Dry, Thin Hair
Hair Type: Best for dry, frizzy, colored, and thin hair
Usage: Argan oil is known as ‘liquid gold.’ It comes from Morocco’s argan tree, and it became famous thanks to the Moroccanoil brand. Argan oil is used in skin, hair, as well as in the cooking industry.
Argan is one of the drugstore oils that is enriched with fatty acids, powerful antioxidants, vitamin E, oleic, and linoleic acids. It is mostly used as a leave-in, but you can also apply a significant amount after washing your hair.
Argan’s protective features are great for colored hair. You should use this oil, especially in the summertime, since it is an excellent UV protector. This oil tends to reduce split ends, making your hair looks thicker and healthier.
USDA-certified cold-pressed Moroccan Argan Oil by Kate Blanc is the right choice. Another very effective alternative – Argan Oil for Hair Treatment by Arvazallia, which has a somewhat more expressed aroma.
5. Olive Oil
Hair Type: Good for all types, especially for dry and thick hair
Usage: Olive oil is one of the most popular drugstore oils that is used for thousands of years. It found its way to the hair and skin industry since there are claims it adds shine to the hair and improves the look of the skin.
Olive oil is rich in elements such as oleic acid, squalene, and palmitic acid. Their mutual feature is softening both hair and skin. This oil penetrates deeply into hair follicles and keeps them moisturized.
There are no reservations when it comes to the amount of olive oil you should use. If you have long hair, you will need to put at least ¼ of a cup.
Go for 100% pure, greek, cold-pressed, unfiltered, non-GMO Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Sky Organics, or opt for a perfect blend of olive, lavender, almond, and grapeseed oils with Vitamin E by Ancient Greek Remedy. People love this particular oil because of its blend, aroma, and the way it makes the skin feel.
6. Jojoba Oil
Hair Type: Best of all hair types
Usage: Jojoba plant grows in the desert regions of Mexico, Arizona, and California. Oil is extracted from the seeds, and since 1970 people started using it in both cosmetics and for cooking.
Jojoba is enriched with vitamins C, B, E, copper, and zinc. Because of all of these elements, jojoba oil became one of the favorites ones for hair straightening and hydrating.
Use jojoba oil if you have dandruff problems, itchy, and dry scalp. If you are not sure how to use it, make a mask or a leave-in treatment. Since it has microemulsions that help carry active ingredients in other products, don’t hesitate to add jojoba oil to your shampoo or conditioner.
If you have problems with hair loss, jojoba is something you should try. It strengthens your hair and makes your hair look thicker.
Jojoba Oil by Leven Rose is perhaps your go-to choice because it’s pure cold-pressed, natural, and unrefined. If your hair ends always get dried out, just put your hair in a braid and apply this oil only to the ends. Then comb it through with a fine comb and leave it overnight. In the morning ends will be soft and healthy-looking again.
7. Almond Oil
Hair Type: Goes well for all types
Usage: Almond oil is one of the drugstore oils that is used for many many years since it is proven to have healing and health features. It includes proteins, omega-9 fatty acids, and vitamin E. There are many benefits to hair treatment – that is why it is recommended for all hair types.
You can use almond oil to naturally repair damaged and dry hair. Since it has lubricant features that come from nuts, almond oil is excellent for hair follicles, before and after hair treatments and heating.
Almond oil can also make your hair grow faster. It helps soothe and repair split ends and hair thickness. Vitamin E in this oil will make your hair look healthy.
It is a proven fact that almond oil helps with inflammation, redness, and dandruff. You can massage your scalp before washing your hair. Also, use this oil as a leave-in, after washing your hair, or add a bit of it to your conditioner.
Try 100% pure and hexane-free Sweet Almond Oil by Viva Naturals or cold-pressed almond oil from Pure Body Naturals. Or go for the above-mentioned blend of oils from Ancient Greek Remedy.
8. Castor Oil
Hair Type: Best for thin and damaged hair
Usage: Castor is one of the most available oils on the market – you can find it almost everywhere and for a decent price. People use it mostly on their damaged hair, for treating hair loss or alopecia. This oil consists of 18 fatty acids, as well as ricinoleic acid, vitamin E, and minerals.
Castor oil is usually used for hair growth and in alopecia treatment. However, its possibilities are much more significant – you can use it for dandruff reduction, split ends, damaged and thick hair, and shine.
This oil is best-used cold-pressed. That is how all vitamins and other elements will remain in the oil. You can apply it on your hair pre-washing, leave it as a mask, or massage your scalp. Since castor oil is very thick, it is recommended to mix it with some other drugstore oil – coconut, almond, or sesame oil.
People love organic, pure, cold-pressed castor oil by Kate Blanc. Another excellent choice – Majestic Pure Castor Oil. You can use it for hair, skin, and eyelashes as well. Oil is thick and takes time to spread over the skin, but it’s so worth it! Skin feels fantastic without being greasy like with some other oils. It does take a little while to soak in but doesn’t remain thick on the skin.