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If you have extremely fine hair, you’ve probably been completely put off ever letting hair oils anywhere near your locks. But, I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to completely banish hair oils from your hair care routine just because you have thinner hair.
Despite avoiding heavy products that weigh down my hair (like heavy styling products), hair oils have become a staple in my haircare routine.
You may ask, should you use oil if you have fine hair? — The answer is yes!
Today I’ll be talking through some of my tips and tricks and sharing some of the best lightweight oils for fine hair.
It may seem counter-intuitive to use hair oils if you have thin hair. Especially if your main concern is your hair being greasy, you’d think that oil is the last thing you’d want to be using to keep the natural oils at bay.
Wrong!
I will say that I use hair oils pretty differently from most of my other haircare products for this reason, you have to be careful with them but trust me, your hair will love them.
If you want smooth and frizz-free hair, oils are the products that you need to be using.
Benefits of hair oils
In my opinion, everyone should be using hair oils in their daily routine. Whether you have thick hair, curly hair, or coarse hair, finding the right oil for your hair is going to be a game-changer to your overall hair health.
We could really do a whole essay on the best benefits of oil for your hair follicles, but here are just some of the most important that we think should sway you to your nearest Ulta or Sephora to find the best oil for you:
- Strengthens your hair
- Locks in moisture for deep hydration that encourages healthy hair growth
- Protects your luscious locks by forming a layer of heat protection that minimizes heat damage
- Makes your hair look extra healthy and shiny, helping to reduce split ends and rescue color-treated hair
- Reduces frizzy hair by smoothing everything out and looking after natural hair textures
Basically, hair oils are a great option for anyone who wants to have healthier hair, get rid of dry ends, reduce environmental damage, or improve hair density. If you’re not already using oils as a hair treatment, we definitely recommend adding one to your beauty routine.
Can you use hair oil on fine hair?
A lot of people think you can’t use them, but you totally can.
I only started to use hair oil fairly recently because I thought it wouldn’t work in my fine hair. I used to see people applying oil all over their heads and I just knew that wouldn’t work for me as I already had quite oily hair and thought that adding any more oil would just leave a greasy residue behind.
But the key to using hair oils with thinner hair is to not use too much and don’t use a thicker oil if you’re worried about things looking greasy. As long as you apply the right products in the right way you’ll get to see all of the benefits that I mentioned above, without looking oily and greasy — something we really want to avoid!
If you’re worried about using hair oil, don’t worry — I’ve compiled a list of my favorite products from a range of prices, all of which are finer hair-approved.
My favorite hair oils
I have relied on hair oils for years now, ever since a hair stylist told me that my hair was super dehydrated. I now make it a point to oil my hair every couple of weeks, and add a few drops for daily use too. I’ve noticed such a big difference in how strong my hair strands are and how healthy my hair looks. Any of the hair oils that I mention below will be an excellent choice if you’re looking to give your hair a bit of extra love. All the different oils are great for sensitive scalps and thin hair, so I hope you enjoy them all as much as I do.
The Best Affordable Hair Oils
We love a budget beauty product here on Volumes of Beauty and, although some of my favorite oils are on the pricier side, there are also some fantastic products that are a little easier on the bank account.
Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair™ Seven Oil Hair Elixir
If you want high-quality formulas at a fraction of the price, Beauty Pie is the obvious choice. This Super Healthy Hair oil contains a blend of key ingredients including Macadamia, Jojoba, Peach Kernel, Rosehip, Wheat Germ, Olive, and Rice Oils. All of these together make the hair feel incredible. When it comes to the best scalp oil in the beauty industry for the price, look no further.
NatureLab TOKYO Perfect Smooth Hair Oil
As far as scalp oils go, this is a good option for oil-based serums that nourish the hair and keep everything looking smooth and frizz-free. The NatureLab TOKYO Perfect Smooth Hair Oil is lightweight, feels great on the hair, and gives that nice hit of hydration we love.
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Growth Hair Oil
The Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Growth Hair Oil is primarily used to help your hair grow, but it also does a great job of nourishing your hair. The active ingredient is rosemary which is supposed to help with hair growth and volume, which is great for people with fine hair. I like to use this as a treatment overnight and then wash it out in the morning. But you could also just as easily use it just like you would any of the other oils mentioned.
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil: Everyday Gloss
The Bread Beauty Supply products are made for people with curly, coarse hair, but they also work surprisingly well on fine hair. You only need a little bit of product for the best results, but just apply it to damp hair and you’ll get your desired results in no time.
High-end oils that are worth the money
If you do want to invest in a good quality hair oil, these are the ones that you should try. All of these oils are trialed and tested on my fine hair, so you don’t need to worry about wasting your money on their higher price tags.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Strengthening Treatment Hair Oil
For people with damaged or color-treated hair, the Briogeo Oil really helps to strengthen your hair and leave it super shiny and bouncy. This is one where you really only need the tiniest bit, a little goes a long way.
Olaplex No7 Bonding Oil
Olaplex is one of the most popular hair brands, for good reason. If you have damaged hair that you really want to whip into shape, this is the oil for you. It’s incredible and made such a big difference to my hair when I used to bleach it.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil
Bumble and Bumble is a brand that is hard to go wrong with, but their Hairdresser’s range is on another level. All of the products in this line give you salon-worthy hair in an instant, but the oil is by far my favorite — it makes my hair so smooth and helps it to blow dry out like a dream.
How I use hair oils in my routine
Similar to how you would use a face oil in your skincare routine, I like to use hair oils as the very last step of my post-shower haircare routine. I personally like to apply oil to wet hair so that it dries along with my hair, rather than just coating my already-dry hair.
I basically use the oil as the last step to lock in the other products I’ve used and keep the moisture in my hair.
If you have normal or dry hair you will most probably use a generous amount of oil all over your head but avoid the roots. I also try to avoid heavier oils that can weigh down my type of hair, these products are normally designed for thicker hair types that really benefit from a heavy oil to provide lots of hydration.
With fine hair, you have to be a lot more careful about how much you use and where you use it.
I find that it’s best to concentrate the product around the mid-lengths and ends of my hair, it’s important to keep as far as you can away from the roots to avoid your hair looking greasy.
You only need a few drops in the palm of your hand to work through your hair. Start a little by little, adding more products if you think you need them.
I usually avoid putting oil in my hair once it’s dry as it can tend to look a bit greasy, but if my hair is looking especially frizzy I will take a few drops into my hand, rub them together, and then with a flat palm smooth out the ends of my hair where needed.
The best hair oils for your hair
There are several oils that are commonly recommended for promoting healthy hair. Keep in mind that individual responses to oils can vary, so it’s a good idea to test a small amount on a patch of skin before applying it to your scalp or hair. Here are some popular oils for hair:
Coconut Oil: Known for its ability to penetrate the hair shaft, coconut oil helps reduce protein loss and strengthens hair.
Argan Oil: Derived from the kernels of the argan tree, argan oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It helps moisturize and adds shine to hair.
Jojoba Oil: Similar to the natural oils produced by the scalp, jojoba oil can help regulate oil production, moisturize the scalp, and prevent dandruff.
Olive Oil: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, olive oil can help moisturize and add shine to the hair. It is also known for its softening properties.
Almond Oil: Almond oil is lightweight and rich in vitamins, making it a good choice for nourishing and strengthening hair.
Castor Oil: Known for its thick consistency, castor oil is believed to promote hair growth, reduce split ends, and moisturize the scalp.
Avocado Oil: Packed with nutrients, avocado oil is beneficial for moisturizing and strengthening hair, as well as soothing a dry scalp.
Grapeseed Oil: This lightweight oil is rich in linoleic acid and can help moisturize the hair without leaving it greasy.
Sweet Almond Oil: Similar to almond oil, sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins and can help nourish and condition the hair.
Rosemary Oil: While not a carrier oil, rosemary essential oil is often added to carrier oils for its potential to stimulate hair growth and improve scalp health.
Remember to use these oils in moderation, as using excessive amounts may lead to greasy hair. Additionally, different hair types may respond differently to various oils, so it’s a good idea to experiment and find the one that works best for you.
Different Ways to Use Hair Oils
Hair oil can be a versatile product with various uses, providing nourishment, and moisture, and promoting overall hair health. Here are different ways you can use hair oil:
- Deep conditioning treatment to provide extra nourishment to your hair. Just apply the oil generously to your hair and scalp, wrap everything up in a warm towel or shower cap, leave it on for a few hours or overnight, and then shampoo and condition as usual
- You can use hair oils to help with a scalp massage to help blood circulation and nourish the hair follicles.
- Apply oil to your hair before shampooing as a pre-wash treatment to protect it from the drying effects of shampoo
- Apply a tiny amount of oil to the ends of your hair to prevent and minimize split ends
- Use lightweight hair oils as a leave-in conditioner to keep your hair hydrated and healthy
- Apply oil to your hair and leave it on overnight for an intensive conditioning treatment
- Mix a few drops of oil into your hair masks for added nourishment
- Apply to your hair overnight as an overnight treatment and pre-shampoo treatment
- Use a finishing oil to smooth your hair ready for a slicked-back ponytail, reduce frizz, and give a shiny finish to your locks
Your Ticket To Healthier, Smoother Hair
If you’ve never used a hair oil on your hair before, you probably have no idea just how much it can make a difference to your hair’s health. By incorporating a hair oil into my haircare routine, I’ve noticed such a big difference. My hair is stronger, smoother, shinier, and overall more healthy than it was before I started using hair oils.
Whether you choose one of the affordable options, or like the sound of the more expensive ones, all of them will work wonders for your hair.
Let us know if you want us to do more posts on hair oils, perhaps on the best for hair growth, or the best natural hair oils that you can use.
