Suddenly, they’re everywhere. Why are hair oils making such an impact right now? First, lose the preconceived notion that it will weigh your hair down because it’s an oil. These aren’t the oils of old, ladies—those that saturated dry strands and left them looking unkempt, heavy, and weighed down. Modern hair oils are infused with nourishing ingredients that actually strengthen your hair and leave it shiny, lustrous, and magazine cover worthy. Here are the best of the best—here are our favorite hair oils and what they do.
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil ($56) is literally like liquid gold for your mane. With hyper-moisturizing maize, pracaxi, camellia and argan oils, it’s wonderful especially if you suffer from dry hair and are a slave to weekly deep conditioning treatments. Run some through the lengths of your hair before heat styling, then apply a small amount after styling to leave hair in amazing shape all day. Bonus: It smells like a not-too-overpowering perfume.
Visions of matted-down manes will be a thing of the past after you try L’Oreal Total Repair 5 Multi-Restorative Dry Oil ($6.99). The spray bottle is especially convenient, but be wary of over-applying the product. Instead, spritz once or twice into the cup of your hand, rub palms together, and run through hair, especially the ends. Your shiny, lively hair will thank you.
Consider L’occitane Shea Butter Fabulous Oil ($36) the overachiever of the group. Not only is the non-greasy formula ideal for softening hair, it can also be used to moisturize the body. It’s especially wonderful for calming irritated skin, thanks to protective baobab and desert date palm oils.
If you’re no stranger to heat styling and are pretty much married to your flat iron, consider the new Aveda Dry Remedy Daily Moisturizing Oil ($27) your BFF. The silicone-free formula instantly softens hair, diminishes frizziness, and actually works overtime to improve the condition of your hair. Used on wet or dry strands, it makes an instant difference that lasts.
Women with coarse hair know how frustrating it can be to find the right product regimen. To the recuse comes Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Pure Treatment Oil ($25). The dropper bottle alone is just plain elegant, but it’s the shine-enhancing, color-protecting, and frizz-fighting cocktail within that will really delight your hair—and hopefully make your morning a little easier, too.
There’s nothing like walking out of the salon with a gorgeous, check-me-out hair color. (And there literally is nothing like it, because we all know how tough it is to replicate that magic at home.) But you can certainly make your fresh hue last with Nexxus Color Assure Glossing Tonic ($17.99). It’s enriched with white orchid extract and is formulated to maintain vibrant color up to two times longer.
After all that Mother Nature bestowed upon most of the country this past winter, it’s safe to say many of us are still dealing with the aftermath in the form of lingering dry skin and strands. The new John Frieda Repairing Oil Elixir ($9.99) could be just the fix-it you need if your hair is damaged. The weightless formula delivers immediate moisture via Inca Inchi oil, a potent ingredient rich in nourishing omega-3 fatty acids. With regular use, you’ll enjoy newly replenished, rehydrated hair.
Repeat after us: lack-lus-ter. If you say it often enough, it turns into a mantra—one you really don’t want to hear used to describe your own hair. Turn the tide with Kiehl’s Deeply Restorative Smoothing Hair Oil Concentrate ($25), which contains five oils that can reduce frizz in even the most intense humidity. And with safflower seed oil added, you can count on more touchable hair after just a single use.
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