The benefits of hair oil
The practice of hair oiling began more than 5,000 years ago in South Asia, and has, without a doubt, stood the test of time.
To this day, people are smothering their hair and scalp with various different natural oils and serums in a bid to increase strength, add shine, and improve softness. And for many, the results are pretty impressive.
“Oil helps in scalp health. When you gently massage the scalp it helps in exfoliation and sometimes that helps in reducing hair fall,” trichologist Dr. Khushboo Garodia told Healthline. “Lipids play a very important role in making the hair look and feel healthy. They help maintain the shine and gloss of hair.”
And for many South Asian families, hair oiling is about more than just healthy hair, it's also a treasured tradition.
"Growing up in India, most of my Sunday evenings as a schoolgirl were spent putting oil in my hair," notes Healthline writer Shirin Mehrotra. "My mother would bring out the blue bottle of Parachute coconut hair oil, a fixture in most Indian homes. She would then proceed to give head massages to each of my sisters and me, one by one."
As more consumers realize the benefits of hair oil, the market is filling up with many different options. Not all of them are free from animal testing, however. Elvive Extraordinary Hair Oil from L'Oréal Paris, for example, is not cruelty-free, because L'Oréal itself is not certified cruelty-free.
That said, there are plenty of ethical options out there on the shelves. Here are some of the best.
The best cruelty-free hair oils
Fable & Mane
HoliRoots Hair Oil

$36
Key ingredients | Ashwagandha, dashmool |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | Yes |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
Designed for use once a week, before you wash your hair, this nourishing hair oil from Fable & Mane will help to strengthen and smooth your strands, while also promoting scalp circulation at the same time.
This is because it contains ashwagandha, which may help to reduce hair loss and promote healthy growth, as well as dashmool. The latter, which is a mix of Ayurvedic herbs, will add moisture to your hair, as well as promote hair growth and relieve dryness.
Best overnight treatment:
Key ingredients | Sunflower oil, jasmine oil, amla extract |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | Yes |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
For stronger, shinier, healthier hair, with less frizz, try Ranavat's Mighty Majesty Fortifying Hair Serum.
Formulated with organic sunflower oil, jasmine oil, and amla extract, it will help to heal any broken, damaged strands, as well as protect against future damage from heated styling tools and the sun.
You can use a small amount to smooth down flyaways, but if your hair is in major need of some TLC, you can also apply it as an overnight hair mask and wash it out the next day.
Ouai
Hair Oil

$30
Key ingredients | African galanga, ama, and Asian borage oils |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | Yes - Procter & Gamble |
For sleek, glossy hair, try Ouai's hair oil, which is infused with a blend of three different natural oils: African galanga, ama, and Asian borage.
Together, these three ingredients work together to tame frizz, repair damage, and keep your hair looking and feeling smooth, soft, and nourished.
As an added bonus, the packaging is recyclable (excluding the pump).
Verb
Ghost Weightless Hair Oil

$20
Key ingredients | Moringa oil |
Vegan product? | Not specified |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
The key ingredient in Ghost's Weightless Hair Oil is moringa oil, which is renowned for its ability to strengthen hair.
The oil, which comes from Moringa oleifera trees, is also known for its ability to nourish and moisturize dry strands, which have been damaged through the heat of styling tools or from the sun.
It will also help to reduce frizz, smooth down stubborn flyaways, and leave you with glossier, softer hair.
Key ingredients | Multi-peptide formula with caffeine |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | Yes - Estée Lauder |
If you're feeling frustrated with thin, lackluster hair, this concentrated formula from The Ordinary is all about giving you fuller, thicker, healthier-looking locks.
This is because it contains several different peptide complexes, including Baicapil, which contains Scutellaria baicalensis, a root extract known for its role in promoting hair growth, and Redensyl, which contains the anti-hair loss ingredient Larix europaea wood extract.
It also contains caffeine, which, research suggests, may have a positive impact on the production of protein and keratin.
Best for color-treated hair:
Key ingredients | Blackberry and coconut oil |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
If you've been through a color journey with your hair, you might find that it's now in need of a little TLC. And that's where this hair oil serum from Giovanni Cosmetics comes in.
The formula is specifically designed for over-processed hair, which has been put through the wringer by repetitive color treatments.
Among other natural ingredients, it contains a blend of coconut and blackberry oils, both of which are associated with improving the general health and condition of damaged strands.
LolaVie
Lightweight Hair Oil

$32
Key ingredients | Vegan keratin, bamboo, chia, coconut |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | Yes |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
Jennifer Aniston is known for her bouncy, healthy, shiny head of hair, and that's why she started her own haircare brand: LolaVie.
One of the brand's standout products is this nourishing hair oil, which is made with 97 percent natural ingredients and formulated specifically to transform dry, damaged strands into a moisturized, soft, and shiny mane.
Rahua
Legendary Amazon Oil

$44
Key ingredients | Rahua, sacha inchi, morete oils |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | Yes |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
Rahua is dedicated to "rainforest-grown beauty," which is why this formula contains plant oils harvested from the Amazon.
Its signature ingredient (and namesake) rahua oil is packed with antioxidants and may help to nourish and strengthen damaged, weak locks.
It also contains sacha inchi oil, which can help to lock in moisture, as well as morete oil, which, due to its vitamin and fatty acid content, may help to protect hair from the sun's UV rays.
Key ingredients | Seaweed extract, jasmine, carrot seed oil, calendula flower, jojoba seed oil, coconut oil |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | Yes |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
With a powerful cocktail of natural ingredients, Earth Harbor's Hair Revive Elixier is designed to revitalize, nourish, and moisturize your hair.
Seaweed extract is one of the key ingredients, and according to the brand, this "potent aqueous superfood stimulates the production of keratin." The latter is the key protein in hair, and it helps to keep our strands strong and healthy.
The formula also contains a blend of oils, including carrot seed and jojoba, which are packed with vitamins and may help to improve scalp health and protect hair from dreaded heat damage.
JVN Hair
Nourishing Shine Drops

$24
Key ingredients | Hibiscus extract, hemisqualane |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | Yes |
Parent company tests on animals? | No |
These nourishing frizz-reducing hair drops from JVN (Jonathan Van Ness' own haircare brand) contain a potent blend of hibiscus extract and its signature lightweight oil: hemisqualane.
According to the brand, hemisqualane is created through bio-fermentation with sustainable sugarcane, and it's an effective, innovative "hair health food" that will leave your locks looking healthier than ever.
"[It’s a] superior product to silicone in haircare that adds softness, slip, shine, and bounce to hair without compromising long-term hair health," notes the brand.
Key ingredients | Proprietary rice-protein complex, rosehip oil, macadamia nut derivatives |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | No - Wella |
Many daily factors contribute to hair stress. Think: the sun, pollution, coloring, and so on. But it is possible to bring some life back to your locks, and this treatment oil from Briogeo can help it get there.
It's formulated with the brand's proprietary rice-protein complex, which helps to rejuvenate and restore strands by helping to heal damage and simultaneously prevent future damage.
Plus, the addition of rosehip oil also helps to strengthen hair and improve scalp health, which may lead to more overall growth.
Key ingredients | Coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, tiare extract, argan oil, macadamia seed oil |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | Yes - Estée Lauder |
For a transformative yet lightweight formula, look no further than Bumble and Bumble's Hairdresser's Invisible Oil.
Six oils, including coconut, sweet almond, and grape, work together to detangle, strengthen, protect, and soften hair, leaving you with a much healthier mane after regular use.
Note: a little goes a very long way with this product, but it feels barely there, so don't be tempted to overdo it!
Best for damaged hair:
Key ingredients | Brazilian patauá oil and pequi oil |
Vegan product? | Yes |
Vegan brand? | No |
Parent company tests on animals? | Yes - L'Occitane |
Split ends and frizz are incredibly frustrating. But there are solutions, and this hair oil from Sol De Janeiro is one of them.
It relies on two key ingredients, both of which are sourced from Brazil.
Brazilian patauá oil is incredibly restorative and will help to replenish, nourish, and strengthen your damaged strands, while pequi oil works as an incredibly effective moisturizer (and it may help with growth, too).
The verdict
Hair oils are great for hair health, and they can give you stronger, smoother locks, too. While some options aren't cruelty-free, there are many ethical options on the market. To recap, here are some of our top picks:
Best overnight treatment: RANAVAT Mighty Majesty Fortifying Hair Serum
Best for color-treated hair: Giovanni 2chic Repairing Super Potion Hair Oil Serum
Best for damaged hair: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Glossy Nourishing Hair Oil
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