After having a baby last year, I lost gobs of hair, giving me new perspective on the emotional toll of hair loss. The best natural oils for hair growth aren’t a cure-all, but they can still be effective in regrowing your strands—and confidence. That makes them an option worth considering, especially for folks wanting healthier hair, sans pharmaceuticals.
When applied to the scalp, certain natural oils can calm irritation, fight off unwanted bacteria, deliver fatty nutrients directly to the hair root, and stimulate blood flow, says William Gaunitz, WTS, a certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology Products. These healing properties can help soothe several dermatological conditions that can hinder growth such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, cicatricial [scarring] alopecia, and overall hair loss, he says.
Our favorite overall product is The Ordinary’s Multipeptide Serum, which combines castor oil (which helps increase hair thickness, is anti-inflammatory, and cleans the scalp) with a variety of peptides that can deliver results in as few as two weeks. But there are many other oil-based hair care products worth trying for different hair types.
The best natural oils for hair growth, at a glance
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How we tested
We tested natural oils for hair growth by incorporating them into our hair routines as directed for each product. We sought out expert-recommended and clinically tested ingredients such as rosemary, jojoba, and castor oils, and more. When it came to application, we tested sprays, pumps, and droppers and evaluated which worked best for our personal preferences, accounting for various types of hair and textures. The best ones left our hair feeling soft and our scalp soothed, set the stage for healthy hair growth, and proved effective after multiple uses.
Best Overall: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
- Courtesy of brand
- Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
- Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
- Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
Best for: Thicker roots, scalp health
This highly concentrated serum is packed with not just castor oil, but a variety of hair-density-boosting ingredients. “This serum combines peptides, caffeine, Redensyl [a natural, plant-based hair growth ingredient], and other actives that target multiple pathways of hair loss—from improving circulation to supporting follicle density,” says Ross Kopelman, MD, a hair transplant surgeon and hair loss expert with Kopelman Hair Restoration. “I like that it’s lightweight, easy to apply, and backed by solid ingredient science.” The formulation increases blood flow to the scalp, an essential part of healthy hair growth, as it allows for better nourishment and thicker growth. Plus, as with the brand’s other products, they’re all budget-friendly as well as clinically tested.
Some users have experienced new growth in as little as two weeks.
“As someone with very flat hair, I was excited to give this peptide serum a whirl to see if it added bounce and thickness,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “The good news: My hair actually did look thicker post-application, so much so that I put on a headband to keep it from falling toward my face. This serum also did wonders for my typically knotty hair in the winter and hydrated my roots even after just one application and blow-dry. I’ll definitely continue to use this one throughout the colder months to keep my hair looking resilient, strong, and velvety.”
How to use: Indicated as a leave-in treatment, this is meant to be applied to a clean, dry scalp and left on. The brand recommends using before bed, but it can be used any time of day. Apply a few drops daily followed by a massage for best results.
Best Rosemary Oil: Mielle Rosemary Mint Light Scalp & Hair Oil
Best for: New hair growth on fine hair
Rosemary oil is a popular option because it boosts blood flow when massaged onto the scalp, which can lead to faster hair growth. Studies suggest that it can be as effective as minoxidil (a common hair-loss treatment) in triggering growth. Mielle’s top-rated version also contains biotin, an essential nutrient in the hair-growth cycle.
How to use: Gaunitzrecommends diluting rosemary oil with a carrier oil (like jojoba or coconut oil) before applying because it is highly concentrated and will irritate the scalp if applied directly. Massage the concoction gently onto your scalp, focusing on areas with hair loss or thinning. For a deeper treatment leave it on for longer than 30 minutes. Otherwise, rinse it out after about a half hour, shampoo thoroughly using a sulfate-free shampoo, then condition as you normally would.
Best Jojoba Oil: Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil Blend
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Best for: Hydration; works great on braids, locs, and curly hair
Ideal for those with coily or curly hair, jojoba oil is high in essential fatty acids, which “helps soften and add sheen to hair that tends to run dry,” Kay says. This specific blend helps maintain moisture and thickens thinning hair. “I love the way it smells; it has a faint, spa-like aroma. It also has more of a serum-like dispenser and a thicker texture than a water-light oil, making it feel a bit more substantial and less runny than some others,” says Glamour contributor Lisa DeSantis.
Glamour visuals director Lauren Brown reaches for Pattern's Argan Hair & Scalp Oil when she needs a little nourishment. “I’ve had my braids in for five weeks and my scalp gets dry and my hair starts to become brittle at this point in the process,” she says. “This oil brought a little life back. The oil itself is extremely lightweight, with a pleasant smell, and it left my roots feeling silky.”
How to use: Jojoba oil can be used on wet or dry hair as a leave-in conditioner for added moisture. Start by applying a few drops to the palm of your hand. (Remember, a little goes a long way.) Then lightly dab it onto the most parched areas of your hair. If you want to use it as a scalp treatment, apply a few drops to targeted areas around your head and massage the oil into the scalp. Pro tip: Opt for cold-pressed jojoba oil because it preserves the oil’s natural vitamins.
Best Avocado Oil: Kiehl’s Magic Elixir Scalp and Hair Oil Treatment
Best for: Dry hair and scalp, split ends
Use this lightweight treatment as a pre-shampoo. It’s infused with avocado oil, a rich source of vitamin E, which prevents hair loss, seals the hair cuticle, dials up your natural shine, and makes your tresses extra smooth.
How to use: Choose a cold-pressed avocado oil that is enriched with nutrients. We suggest warming it up by placing the container in a bowl of warm water. It’ll help the product penetrate the hair better. When applying, lightly coat your fingertips and target the areas that you need the most. If you have an itchy scalp, rub the oil onto your head. For split ends, rub it onto the tips of your hair, as well as the driest parts. Lightly work your way up the hair as needed. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, then wash it out using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
Best Grapeseed Oil: Pure Grapeseed Oil for Skin, Hair, and Scalp
Best for: Fine hair and dry scalps
Grapeseed oil is on the lighter side, so it’s a great match for hydrating fine hair. Kay recommends routinely rubbing a small amount of this cold-pressed oil onto a dry scalp to keep it moisturized, soothe dandruff, and amp up hair growth. She also says, “It’s filled with antioxidants, which help it masterfully treat and prevent split ends.”
How to use: If your strands tend to get dry or frizzy, add a few drops of this oil to your palms and lightly coat the lengths of your hair after showering. Whether you blow- or air-dry, it will help reduce frizz and improve hydration without weighing it down.
Best Tea Tree Oil: Briogeo Scalp Revival Organic + Australian 100% Tea Tree Oil
Best for: Scalp health; calming dryness and itchiness
A healthy scalp is essential for hair growth, and tea tree oil contains potent nutrients that calm and soothe a dry, itchy, oily, or flaky head. This 100% organic version works for all hair types and textures without leaving oily residue behind. This formula is also a multitasker as it can be used on the skin, specifically for blemishes and irritation. And because it’s a smaller size, it could be a good product to bring with you on the go.
“I have a pretty content scalp in that I rarely experience irritation or dandruff, but when I used this, it did feel refreshing and clean, like a facial for my scalp,” says DeSantis.“Plus it rinsed out easily and left my strands feeling supersoft. Just be mindful that it is an oil and can make for a mess—while I didn’t have trouble with the bottle leaking per se, the oil does sit around the neck of the bottle and on the cap, so when I placed it on the counter, it left a ring of residue.”
How to use: For a refreshed scalp, Kay recommends mixing a few drops of this organic tea tree oil with coconut oil or water. Then massage it onto a clean scalp before bedtime and rinse it out the next morning. If you have a really flaky scalp, repeat two or three times weekly.
Best Sweet Almond Oil: Pure Body Naturals 100% Cold Pressed Sweet Almond Oil
Best for: Shiny and silky hair; thick hair
Rich in vitamins E and D, sweet almond oil stimulates the scalp and protects against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can lead to dryness, brittleness, and limp strands. Nearly 12,000 Amazon reviewers love this version because it’s nongreasy, smells great, and calms the scalp.
How to use: You have the option to add this oil to wet or dry hair, though adding it to dry hair will improve its manageability, shine, and softness. This is probably the better option for those with very thick or brittle hair. Simply pour a nickel-size amount into your hands and distribute throughout your hair, focusing more on the middle to the ends of the hair. Avoid adding too much to the root so your mane won’t look greasy.
Best Argan Oil: Andalou Naturals Argan Stem Cell Age Defying Scalp Intensive
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Best for: Hair roots, hairline
Formulated as a daily treatment to address hair thinning, this scalp serum is chock-full of hair-health boosters, including argan sprout stem cells, biotin, rice protein, and aloe vera. Míriam Freixa Villena, a chemist and the R&D manager for hair brand Tara Formula, counts argan among the lighter oils that “absorb easily and help retain moisture with less risk of residue,” which is essential when talking about a product that’s meant to be left on the scalp. Shelly Aguirre, a hair stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, adds that this formula is especially good for thinning hair because it “has a vitamin B complex for essential nutrients and it restores thinning hair by fortifying, amplifying, and strengthening.” “I found the tapered tip super helpful for applying the oil directly to my scalp, and it had a nice, cooling feeling on my skin. Bonus: It didn’t leave too greasy of a residue or look on my scalp or hair,” says DeSantis.
How to use: Meant to be used every day, the brand recommends parting your dry or towel-dried hair into sections before using the targeted applicator to dispense a few drops directly to your scalp. Massage thoroughly with your fingers or a scalp massager to ensure the product is fully absorbed. Massaging is also a good way to boost circulation, which will help encourage hair growth. For best results, you can apply again before bed, then follow the same routine each day.
Best Coconut Oil Treatment: Shea Moisture 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Leave-In Treatment
Best for: Conditioning
Great for all hair types, coconut oil “coats the hair shaft to increase its strength, decrease brittleness, and reduce hair breakage during styling,” says Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas. This particular leave-in treatment softens, detangles, and defrizzes tresses while leaving your mane with a tropical coconut aroma for days.
How to use: Generously spray this leave-in conditioner on clean damp hair. Or make your own DIY mixture by melting down one or two tablespoons of coconut oil, three drops of lavender oil, and one cup of water. When spraying either one, focus on mid-lengths to ends of the hair. To finish, blow-dry or air-dry.
Best for Hair Ends: Davines Mini OI Hair Oil for Softness and Shine
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Best for: Split ends and overall breakage
Crafted with antioxidants and designed for all hair types, this oil is “super soothing to the hair follicle” and actually helps close it, says Nicolas Malabett-Pineda, a NYC-based hairstylist. That makes it a winning pick for anyone dealing with split ends as well as breakage throughout their stands.
“I’m always a little bit weary of putting oil in my hair because it tends to get greasy really quick. I was interested in testing this pick, though, because my mid-shaft to ends have been quite dry and flyway-prone as of late. I was immediately impressed with how much I actually liked this lightweight oil after trying it for a couple of weeks. It’s nongreasy, sinks into the skin without being heavy and made my hair feel super smooth and velvety. I’m also proud to report that it didn’t make me reach for my typical shampoo for oily hair!” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
How to use: This oil is meant to be applied to your hair strands themselves and not the scalp. Use just one pump if you have fine hair, or two to three pumps if you have normal hair. (From there, add more product as needed.) After washing your hair and toweling it off, apply the oil to the length and ends of your hair. Let your strands air dry, or blow dry it, then add more product as a final touch if desired.
Best for Hair Loss: The Rootist Densifying & Thickening Serum for Thinning Hair
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Best for: Hair growth; volumizing thin hair
Glamour’s Kilkeary tested this hair growth oil for a week and found that her strands sopped it right up. “It’s ultra moisturizing and gave my hair a ton of body and volume without weighing it down in the slightest,” she says. To boot, Kilkeary found the oil wasn’t greasy upon application and instead melted effortlessly onto the scalp, mid-shaft, or roots, acting like a scalp serum–hair oil hybrid.
How to use: Apply about two full droppers to a dry scalp. Spread it around evenly, placing extra emphasis on any problem areas around the crown, part, and hairline. Give your scalp a thorough massage and leave the oil in.
Best for Breakage: Attitude Super Leaves Hair Oil
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Best for: Sealing strands, adding shine and combatting frizz
Sophia Emmanuel, a NYC-based trichologist and hairstylist, says this product effectively seals and coats hair, making it a smart pick for anyone looking to combat breakage. She also recommends it to clients seeking smooth, healthy-looking locks. “It adds a lot of shine,” she says.
“My hair definitely faces a good amount of breakage throughout the year, especially after a long summer out in the sun. This nourishing hair oil did just the trick in rehydrating my strands and making them look and feel stronger without weighing down my hair. My hair looks a lot less frizzy when I use it—so you best bet I’ll be reaching for this when I’m looking to create a slicked back style too,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
How to use: Spray two to three pumps into your hands and apply to the lengths and ends of hair that’s dried (or towel dried). Leave in.
Best Pumpkin Seed Oil: Pura D’or Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil
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Best for: People dealing with pattern hair loss
Pumpkin seed oil is one of the natural oils that Kopelman recommends for hair growth. That’s because research supports the notion that it may help block DHT, a key hormone that contributes to pattern hair loss. This specific pumpkin seed oil product is a favorite of Dr. Kopelman because it’s organic and cold-pressed.
How to use: Place a small amount in your hand and apply it directly to your scalp. Massage for several minutes, then shampoo it out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between carrier and essential hair oils?
There are two different types of natural oils: carrier oils and essential oils. Carrier oils are extracted from the fatty parts of plants, like seeds and nuts (think olives for olive oil or coconuts for coconut oil). They tend to be thicker and odorless, and are especially helpful with hydrating the scalp.
On the other hand, essential oils are extracted from flowers, leaves, and stems (like rosemary and castor oil). They are highly fragrant and require dilution with carrier oils before topical application. (“If you use [essential oils] solely themselves, they can be very irritating to the scalp,” Dr. Kopelman warns.) When massaged onto the scalp, these oils increase blood flow and stimulate the hair follicles, which can help hair grow. Plus, they have antifungal and antimicrobial properties that can help prevent dandruff and are rich in fatty acids to promote growth.
Why are natural oils used for hair growth?
“The best hair oils offer a holistic approach for faster hair regrowth without any side effects,” says Kay. In addition to helping alleviate a number of scalp conditions, “oils penetrate the hair shaft to help lock in hydration to leave them softer and more resilient.” They can also be used as a leave-in conditioner to make hair more manageable and easier to detangle. All these factors create an environment that fosters growth and strengthens hair to retain length over time. Gaunitz says essential oils can be helpful with preventing seborrheic dermatitis (a scalp rash condition), psoriasis, dandruff, itchy scalps, and hair loss.
Just keep in mind the research on natural oils for hair growth is limited. “Unfortunately, these hair oils haven't gone through rigorous FDA clinical trials,” Dr. Kopelman says. And the research that does exist shows that while some of them can be legit helpful, they are not more effective than traditional pharmaceuticals taken for hair growth including oral minoxidil, finasteride, or dutasteride, he says. Still, they may be worth a shot. “I do believe that hair oils can be effective, and sometimes my philosophy is, throw the kitchen sink at your hair,” Dr. Kopelman says. Basically, in some cases, the best approach is to incorporate multiple strategies for combatting hair loss, including pharmaceuticals and natural hair oils.
How do natural oils improve hair and scalp health?
When applied to the scalp, certain natural oils can calm irritation, fight off unwanted bacteria that cause scalp issues, deliver important fatty nutrients directly to the hair root, and stimulate blood flow, says Gaunitz. These healing properties can treat several dermatological conditions that can hinder hair growth such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, cicatricial alopecia, and overall hair loss, he says. Essential oils, including tea tree, lavender, and clove oils, can also zap fungi, which eliminates excess sebum and oily hair. When it comes to your strands, “almost all natural oils will provide a degree of protection to the hair shaft (the part of the hair that sticks out of the surface of the skin), thereby protecting it from breakage caused by heat, color, and pollution,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce.
Beyond that, hair oils that are natural DHT blockers–including pumpkin seed oil, rosemary oil, and saw palmetto–help block dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that is a major contributor to hair loss, Dr. Kopelman explains.
Villena adds that what the oils are formulated with is super important too: “To get the maximum benefits of these extracts, it is best to combine them with modern ingredients, such as peptides.” The reason: peptides can act as chemical messengers to the body, and in the case of hair, can directly target the follicle to stimulate growth, while oil alone works to promote a healthy environment for hair growth. Pair the two together, and you get more comprehensive results.
What is the best way to apply natural oils for hair growth?
When integrating oils into your hair-care routine, Kay suggests starting slow to see the effect on your hair health. Apply too much oil or too frequently and you risk weighing down your hair or causing buildup on the scalp that can worsen dandruff and itch, Emmanuel says. Dr. Kopelman suggests starting with a patch test to make sure you’re not allergic to the oil, and then start by applying it once a week. Massage the product into your scalp for about five to 10 minutes and leave it there for no longer than 30 minutes. Afterwards, wash it out. If you tolerate it well, gradually increase your usage.
And most importantly, remember that consistency is key. “Consistency in routine matters more than overnight miracles; scalp care is a long game,” Villena says. “If you're using hair oils to grow your hair and keep your hair healthy, it’s like a lifelong commitment,” Dr. Kopelman says. It’s like brushing your teeth.” And be sure to keep the scalp clean along the way. While it’s helpful for hair growth to apply these scalp treatments and oils, you also want to avoid build-up, which will do the opposite of encouraging healthy hair growth. So keep up with thorough hair washing and maintain a clear scalp in between oil treatments.
Meet the experts
- William Gaunitz, WTS, is a certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology Products.
- Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas.
- Leah Kay is a lead stylist at Hair Lounge NYC.
- Shelly Aguirre is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
- Míriam Freixa Villena is a chemist and the R&D manager for hair brand Tara Formula.
- Ross Kopelman, MD, is a hair transplant surgeon and hair loss expert with Kopelman Hair Restoration
- Nicolas Malabett-Pineda is an NYC-based hairstylist
- Sophia Emmanuel is an NYC-based trichologist and hairstylist
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