Image: MomJunction Design Team
Scalp care is essential. It includes massaging your hair with the best scalp oil that benefits your hair and scalp. Just like your skin, your scalp needs moisturization and hydration. The ideal way to achieve good scalp health is by oiling your scalp and providing deep nourishment.
Liz L. Sowers, a licensed cosmetologist and bridal and event hairstylist, says, “The best way to keep your hair healthy, shiny, and always growing is to maintain a nourished and well-moisturized scalp. Add an expert-recommended scalp oil to your hair care routine to ensure your scalp gets the nourishment it requires to promote strong and healthy hair.”
The benefits of oiling your scalp have been well known for generations. So, keep scrolling and pick your favorite from this list of the best scalp oils known for their proven efficacy.
Top Picks
15 Best Scalp Oils To Buy In 2024
1. Best For Breakage-Prone Hair: Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Hair And Scalp Oil
With Carol’s Daughter’s Strengthening Oil, you can give your hair and scalp the benefits of castor oil. Its moisture-rich formula protects the hair from dryness and split ends. This scalp oil keeps the hair moisturized, strong, and healthy while preventing breakage.
Its vegan formula, which contains black seed oil and castor oil, is entirely natural. It does not contain artificial colors, mineral oils, and petrolatum, making it a healthy option for breakage-prone hair.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 8,425 reviews on Amazon, it's clear that many people love this product.
2. Best Fast-Absorbing: Coco & Co The Purest Virgin Coconut Oil
Pamper your scalp and hair with this high-quality virgin coconut hair oil. Its luxurious formula contains antioxidant properties such as vitamin E, which helps keep hair soft and promotes healthy, thicker hair growth. Its moisture-intense formula is non-greasy and has an excellent consistency with fast absorption.
The hair oil from Coco & Co has a pure and clean texture and fragrance that come from superior quality raw and organic coconuts to provide excellent hair care and beauty benefits. It is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and gluten.
Quick tip3. Best Natural Ingredients: Hairfinity Nourishing Botanical Hair Oil
Hairfinity botanical hair oil, known for providing visible results, is an excellent choice for longer, smoother, and nourished hair. This anti-inflammatory scalp treatment oil contains vitamin E and essential oils of natural ingredients such as moringa, jojoba, coconut, almond, olive, apricot, and grapeseed. Olive and apricot improve collagen production and treat dry scalp.
The oil decreases hair breakage by 95% while pampering and repairing the scalp to improve hair strand shine and elasticity. It also fosters faster hair growth while preventing thinning and hair loss. This oil is free of artificial scents, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oils and is ideal for all hair types, including colored and keratin-treated hair. This product testing video demonstrates how the hair product works, making it easier to pick the right one for your needs.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying More than 6,924 independent reviewers on Amazon have acknowledged the product's durability and functionality.
Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Hair And Scalp Oil Best For Breakage-Prone Hair | Coco & Co The Purest Virgin Coconut Oil Best Fast-Absorbing | Hairfinity Nourishing Botanical Hair Oil Best Natural Ingredients | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | All, Curly, Dry, Damaged, Coily | Dry | Dry |
| Dimensions | 2.33 x 2.33 x 6.21 inches | 2.2 x 2.2 x 6 inches | 2.5 x 2.5 x 6 inches |
| Weight | 4.66 Ounces. | 1 Pounds | 1.8 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 8,425 | 847 | 6,924 |
| Price | $11.97 | $25.22 | $25.99 |
4. Best For Daily Use: Dermasolve Scalp Oil
If you are looking for an effective solution to treat dandruff, dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis, try the Dermasolve scalp oil. It conditions and moisturizes the scalp to prevent flakes and buildup, thanks to the benefits of over ten natural oils. The calming and soothing formula locks in moisture to keep scaling at bay. The dermatologist-recommended scalp oil is formulated without steroids and fragrances, making it safe and gentle for daily use.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
About 3,381 reviewers on Amazon have given their seal of approval to the product.
5. Best Moisturizing: NOW Solutions Shea Nut Oil
The shea nut oil from NOW Solutions is a healthy choice to take care of your hair and scalp, as it is formulated with nourishing and moisturizing ingredients. This versatile vegan hair product is made from fractionated oil extracted from the seeds of African karite trees. Its fast absorption properties and the goodness of stearic and oleic fatty acids provide tremendous benefits to your scalp.
The non-greasy and luxurious formula shows visible results by adding luster while delivering several other benefits. This expeller-pressed moisturizing scalp oil is also free of parabens and hexane and has not been tested on animals.
6. Best For Strengthening Hair: Jamaican Mango & Lime Island Scalp Oil
The Jamaican Mango & Lime Island Scalp Oil locks in moisture and strengthens hair. The non-greasy formula is infused with a blend of natural oils that nourish the scalp and keep strands healthy and radiant. Manuka honey and moringa seed oil provide intense scalp miniaturization, resulting in smooth and silky hair.
It restores and strengthens the hair follicles while repairing hair and preventing breakages. This nourishing scalp treatment oil is free of sulfates, parabens, and petrolatum, making it suitable for all hair types and textures, including colored hair. Here’s a review video detailing a tester’s experience with using the oil.
7. Best For All Hair Types: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
The organic hair and scalp strengthening oil from Mielle is formulated for all hair types and contains the benefits of rosemary and mint. Its intensive repair formula works by activating cell replenishment to restore hair texture. Its nutrient-rich formula prevents scalp dryness and split ends by delivering all necessary nutrients to your scalp and hair.
The all-natural scalp oil with biotin is made from a blend of organic ingredients used in home remedies to promote longer, healthier, and stronger hair. It has a refreshing minty fragrance and is free of toxic chemicals and preservatives. Learn more about the product in this review video.
Quick tip8. Best For Dry Scalp: As I Am Dry And Itchy Scalp Care Oil Treatment
The scalp care oil from As I Am helps prevent flaking, relieves itching, and soothes your scalp. This dandruff-fighting hair product is formulated with 1.8 percent salicylic acid, making it suitable for people with itchy, dry scalp, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Nutritional additives such as tea tree and olive oils moisturize the scalp and prevent scalp problems.
9. Best For Damaged Hair: Curls Blueberry Bliss Hair Growth Oil
Curls’ Blueberry Bliss Hair Growth Oil Oil is a blend of organic ingredients such as gardenia flower oil, blueberry extract, argan oil, and pomegranate seed to repair damaged hair and moisturize the scalp. The hair oil for healthy scalp and hair provides visible results and improves the look of your curls by repairing damaged hair and preventing breakage. It is suitable for kinky and curly hair.
Point to consider10. Best For Rough Scalp: ORS Olive Oil Nourishing Exotic Scalp Oil
Use ORS olive oil to condition and moisturize rough and dull hair. Its non-greasy formula is ideal for braids, twists, locks, and cornrows. The lightweight oil provides intense moisture and a lustrous shine thanks to a blend of ginger root, coconut oil, babassu oil, and castor oil. The twist nozzle cap allows you to apply the oil effortlessly.
11. Best For Scalp Buildup: OGX Extra Strength Scalp Treatment
The OGX dry scalp treatment combines the power of tea tree oil, peppermint, and witch hazel that act as a lightweight treatment to remove scalp buildup and residue, while adding a refreshing sensation to your scalp. Suitable for all hair densities, the nourishing formula hydrates your scalp, leaving your hair looking shiny and healthy. The paraben- and sulfate-free formula is gentle on your hair and scalp and is suitable for regular use to keep your scalp flake-free and nourished.
12. Best For Hair Growth: Genuine African Formula SuperGrow Hair and Scalp Oil
Bring your hair back to life with this hair and scalp oil. The vital minerals and vitamins in this leave-in treatment nourish the scalp and hair. The oil has regenerative properties and helps activate clogged hair follicles, improving blood flow and promoting healthier hair growth.
The oil for hair growth contains sweet almond oil, peanut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, apricot oil, butter, wheat germ, soybean oil with vitamins A, E, and D to nourish and strengthen your hair and moisturize your scalp.
13. Best Cold-Pressed: Act+Acre Cold Processed Scalp Detox
The cold-processed scalp detox is rich in vitamins and ingredients such as amaranth to thoroughly cleanse and regenerate the scalp. The healthy hair and scalp oil contains herbal extracts such as basil leaf, which helps remove buildup and dryness while reducing oiliness and itching. It is suitable for hair growth because it contains baobab, which provides all necessary nutrients to your scalp for optimum hair growth.
The patented plant-based herbal remedy relieves and conditions the scalp without irritating it, making it ideal for people with psoriasis and eczema. It’s free of gluten, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and other toxins and is clinically proven to deliver visible results.
14. Best Aromatic: Moroccanoil Oily Scalp Treatment
The protective formula of this Moroccanoil Oily Scalp Treatment is a five-minute pre-cleansing formula suitable for itchy and dry scalp. This rebalancing scalp oil contains a nourishing blend of essential oils to purify and revitalize oily hair and scalp. It contains biotin peptide, argan oil, lavender, and ginger root to strengthen the follicles and protect the scalp from potential imbalances.
The scalp oil’s refreshing and soothing natural fragrance comes from lavender and ginger roots, and it can also be used for aromatherapy to promote relaxation. Plus, this aromatic pre-wash hair treatment oil keeps oiliness and greasiness at bay while deeply cleansing, comforting, and rejuvenating the scalp.
15. Best Cruelty-Free: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Hair & Scalp Oil
Palmer’s scalp and hair oil contains cocoa butter, which deeply moisturizes the scalp and hair, and biotin, which helps strengthen and lengthen hair by reducing breakage and brittleness. Suitable for all hair types and textures, including color-treated and over-processed hair, the oil restores the natural and healthy shine of your hair. The formula has not been tested on animals and is free of silicone, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, gluten, and dyes, making it a safe and nourishing option for your hair and scalp.
How To Choose The Right Scalp Oil?
As each person’s scalp is unique, consider these points before purchasing any scalp oil.
- Scalp type: Scalp oils are used to treat various scalp problems. Choose an oil that best suits your needs, whether it is for treating dandruff, psoriasis, or eczema.
- Formula: It’s best to use an organic or natural formula to nourish your scalp. An oil made from naturally derived ingredients such as fruit extract, natural oils, and proteins is ideal. Ensure that the product you choose does not contain harsh chemicals such as silicones, sulfates, and parabens, and that it has not been tested on animals.
- Moisturization: To keep the scalp balanced and free of dryness, itching, irritation, and flakes, choose a product that hydrates the scalp from the inside out to soothe and heal it.
- Light oils: If you have thin or fine hair, choose lighter oils that do not weigh down your hair.
, a beauty and skincare specialist, suggests, “Before applying any oil to your scalp, perform a patch test to ensure you don’t have any allergic reactions or sensitivities. Introduce the oil gradually into your routine and observe how your scalp responds to it.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does oiling the scalp help?
Yes, oiling your hair with certain oils, such as coconut and peppermint oils, may improve scalp health, reduce dandruff, and promote hair growth (1) (2).
2. How often should I oil my scalp?
The frequency could vary as per the treatment you have undertaken. Read the directions given on the oil bottle because the frequency of oiling could differ on the type of oil being used as well. Some could be used daily, while others may require application once a week.
3. What can I put on my scalp for hair growth?
Vitamin-rich hair oils that improve blood circulation when massaged into the scalp could help with hair growth to a certain extent. You should also complement it with other hair products and eat a healthy diet.
4. Can thin hair become thick again?
Regular massages on the scalp could thicken your hair to a certain extent (3). Use coconut oil or other nourishing oils to further facilitate the massaging process.
5. How long should I leave oil on my scalp?
Since every oil has its own properties and viscosity levels, it’s always better to follow the instructions given on the oil bottle. You may also consult a hair specialist or a dermatologist.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Poulami Nag’s detailed reviews and analysis ensure that you get only the best scalp oils available in the market to provide extra nourishment to your scalp and maintain those luscious locks. These products she has listed here are gentle on your scalp and help reduce hair fall regardless of your hair type or scalp condition. So, find the best scalp oil to improve scalp and hair health.
The best scalp oils help keep your scalp hydrated and moisturized, which benefits your hair too. This article has listed various scalp oils infused with ingredients such as black seed oil, vitamin E, jojoba oil, almond oil, and olive oil, which nourish your scalp and prevent hair thinning in the long run. However, when choosing a product, pick one that suits your scalp and hair type so that it does not exacerbate any existing scalp problems. Further, choose one that does not contain harmful chemicals such as parabens and sulfates.
Infographic: What Not To Do When Oiling Your Scalp And Hair?
Nourishing and rejuvenating, oiling the scalp and hair promotes healthy locks and a well-nourished scalp. However, overlooking certain nuances can lead to dry hair and breakage. Explore our infographic below to learn about the mistakes you must avoid while oiling your scalp and hair, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Longitudinal study of the scalp microbiome suggests coconut oil to enrich healthy scalp commensals
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8012655/ - Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/ - Standardized Scalp Massage Results in Increased Hair Thickness by Inducing Stretching Forces to Dermal Papilla Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/
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