Conventional wisdom dictates that hair and oil go together about as well as water and oil. As in, not at all. Even the words "hair" and "oil" conjure a greasy, un-showered, un-stylable mess, that most of us work very hard to avoid.
What then, is the deal with hair oils, those products that are intended to be deliberately applied to your hair? Who on earth would encourage such a slippery, slimy practice?
The experts, that's who. Pros say that it's high time we ditched our ill-conceived notions about hair oils, because there's a new generation of lighter, multi-faceted products that do anything but render your hair into an oil slick. "Hair oils have come a long way," says Kattia Solano, owner of Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City.
The best hair oils are multitasking miracle products that can do the job of your leave-in conditioner, styling cream, frizz serum, and shine spray in one. "They're styling products more than they are treatment products," she says.
When you're using a hair oil to style your hair, Solano suggests applying it from ends to mid-length to avoid the oily scalp pitfall. She also stresses the importance of starting with a small amount until you know exactly how much your hair needs -- you can always apply more. Once you get the hang of it -- and toss the seven other hair care products that are taking up valuable bathroom real estate — you'll wonder how you ever lived without hair oil in the first place.
While new hair oil products are hitting shelves every day, these are the eight (L'Oreal, Kerastase, Ojon and Moroccanoil, to name a few) best hair oils that caught our eye.
If you find yourself with seriously damaged hair, this hair oil's blend of red algae and a special keratin complex works to strengthen brittle strands by adding a spritz of moisture. It also adds some seriously nice shine to hair.
Thanks to its antioxidant properties, Marula oil, which comes from the Marula tree in Africa, is a rising-star ingredient in the beauty industry — it's positioned to oust argan from the top spot. And this hair oil is loaded with it. The Marula protects hair from damage; plus, there's honey for shine, and chamomile to soothe scalp irritation. Even though Motions products are generally designed "for coarse hair types, a small amount of this one will work even on fine hair."
Best hair oil for: Those who use heat styling daily. Use it before blow drying or flat ironing as a heat protectant that imparts smoothness, shine and a to-die-for flowery scent.
We try not to be swayed by pretty packaging -- waiting, instead, to judge products on how they perform. However, when these beautiful bottles of Mythic Oil hit our desks, we couldn't help but fall in love with the pretty Moroccan designs. Fortunately, you can judge these hair oil bottles by their covers -- they work! There are four versions: Rich (for thick hair), Colour Glow (for colored hair, obviously), Nourishing (light enough for everyone), and Reinforcing Milk (for detangling).
If frizz and static are your main concerns, you'll love this hair oil. It's a blend of argan, Marula, and white grape seed, and it can be used on damp or dry hair. We suggest rubbing a few drops between your palms after you heat style, and smoothing it over flyaways and ends. Your hair will look great even after you pull off your wool hat.
Conventional wisdom dictates that hair and oil go together about as well as water and oil. As in, not at all. Even the words "hair" and "oil" conjure a greasy, un-showered, un-stylable mess, that most of us work very hard to avoid.
What then, is the deal with hair oils, those products that are intended to be deliberately applied to your hair? Who on earth would encourage such a slippery, slimy practice?
The experts, that's who. Pros say that it's high time we ditched our ill-conceived notions about hair oils, because there's a new generation of lighter, multi-faceted products that do anything but render your hair into an oil slick. "Hair oils have come a long way," says Kattia Solano, owner of Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City.
The best hair oils are multitasking miracle products that can do the job of your leave-in conditioner, styling cream, frizz serum, and shine spray in one. "They're styling products more than they are treatment products," she says.
When you're using a hair oil to style your hair, Solano suggests applying it from ends to mid-length to avoid the oily scalp pitfall. She also stresses the importance of starting with a small amount until you know exactly how much your hair needs -- you can always apply more. Once you get the hang of it -- and toss the seven other hair care products that are taking up valuable bathroom real estate — you'll wonder how you ever lived without hair oil in the first place.
While new hair oil products are hitting shelves every day, these are the eight (L'Oreal, Kerastase, Ojon and Moroccanoil, to name a few) best hair oils that caught our eye.
