Hair Oils: 5 Brands Worth Trying

Hair Oils: Their Purpose and Who They're For

Whether you're dealing with ends that fray in all directions after washing or you want your hair to look polished all day, hair oil is a step in your care routine that you can manage in a flash. Just a few drops and you'll see the difference immediately – but that's exactly why it's easy to overdo it, leaving your hair looking limp. Before we get into specific brands, it's worth clarifying what oil can actually do in your care routine and what it can't.

Hair oil works primarily on the surface of the hair. It smooths the cuticle scales, which helps the hair reflect light better and appear shinier, while also reducing frizz in humid weather. For longer hair, it helps keep the ends supple between salon visits and makes detangling easier. What oil can't do: it won't replace washing or a deep conditioning mask. If your hair is stressed from coloring or heat styling, oil will soften the appearance, but only a mask or hair treatment will handle the actual regeneration. Oil is the final step, not the foundation of your entire care routine.

Oil, Serum, or Leave-In Treatment?

These three formats meet on the shelf, and the line between them isn't always clear. They can be roughly distinguished as follows:

• Hair Oil – the most concentrated of the trio. Applied drop by drop to damp or dried lengths, it mainly targets shine, smoothing, and end care.
• Hair Serum – tends to be lighter and more often targets a specific need, such as smoothing, volume, or scalp care. The texture is more watery and absorbs quickly.
• Leave-In Treatment – milks, sprays, and creams that spread throughout the length. They help more with detangling and hydration than with final shine.

In practice, the formats are not mutually exclusive. A leave-in spray after washing and oil on dried ends work well together, you just need to watch the overall amount – with fine hair, it's easy for two layers of care to add up and make the hairstyle lose its movement.

Criteria for Comparing Five Brands

To make the comparison meaningful, we look at three consistent criteria for each brand:

1. Type and Density of Hair. Fine, dense, and quickly greasing hair can handle noticeably less product than thick, coarse, or wavy lengths. This also affects the recommended dose and application area – for fine hair, usually just the ends, for coarse hair, the entire length is fine.
2. Weight of the Oil Texture. Lighter oils absorb quickly and are suitable under styling and on colored hair, while richer compositions stay on the surface longer and are appreciated on dry ends and coarser textures.
3. Price Level. In the Hair Oils category, we range from bottles costing a couple of hundred crowns to products over a thousand. A higher price usually means smaller dosing and more sophisticated fragrance, not automatically a better result for your hair type.

Hair cosmetics is an area where it's worth trying small packages before committing to a large one. Our Hair Oils category offers hundreds of items across price levels, so you can choose based on how often you use oil – whether it's a daily final step or occasional pre-wash care. In the following chapters, we'll go through five brands that have long been staples in this category and discuss which oil suits whom.

Wella Professionals SP Luxe Oil: A Classic with Keratin

Wella Professionals is the leading brand in our hair care range in terms of sales volume, and the SP Luxe Oil line plays a significant role in this. It's an oil-based treatment centered around keratin – a protein that makes up a substantial part of the hair fiber. The entire line is designed as a cohesive system: the shampoo, mask, and elixir all work with the same logic, allowing you to mix and match without worrying about compatibility between products.

Reconstructive Elixir: What to Expect

Wella Professionals SP Luxe Oil Reconstructive Elixir 100 ml is a leave-in oil applied to towel-dried or completely dry hair. The texture is slightly denser than the lightest "dry" oils, so it noticeably smooths the hair and visually unifies the ends. This makes it ideal as a final step in your hair care routine, rather than a product you would use for volume.

It's best to start with a modest amount. For medium-length hair, two to three drops rubbed between the palms and applied from lengths to ends are usually sufficient, while thicker and longer hair may require four drops. Avoid the scalp – the oil is meant for the hair, not the roots, where it would unnecessarily weigh it down.

The elixir is priced around 210 CZK for a 100ml bottle. For a professional oil treatment, this is an accessible price point, which, along with the long-standing availability of the line, is a key reason why the elixir remains one of the most sought-after items in the hair oil category.

Who Will Benefit Most from SP Luxe Oil

The line is not universal, and this is clearly evident. It performs best on hair that needs smoothing:

• medium to thick hair, which can "absorb" lighter textures without visible effect,
• colored or highlighted hair, where the fiber surface has become rough and harder to comb,
• hair regularly subjected to straightening or curling, where frizz and unruly ends appear,
• longer styles, where the difference between healthy roots and worn lengths is most noticeable.

Conversely, for very fine hair or hair that becomes greasy quickly, this texture might be too much – in such cases, it makes sense to opt for a lighter oil variant and apply it only to the ends.

How to Combine the Range

If the elixir suits you, it makes sense to complement it with the rest of the line. Wella Professionals SP Luxe Oil Keratin Protect Shampoo 1000 ml is intended for daily washing, which doesn't dry out the hair more than necessary, and the liter bottle is cost-effective per wash. Wella Professionals SP Luxe Oil Keratin Restore Mask 400 ml then acts as a weekly intensive step – you leave it on for a few minutes, and only after that do you apply the oil.

One clarification in conclusion: the elixir is not a substitute for a heat protection product. If you regularly straighten or curl your hair, leave the protection to a product designed for that purpose, and save the oil for finishing your style. This way, your hair looks smoother without unnecessarily weighing it down twice.

Moroccanoil: Argan Oil in a Luxurious Position

When you think of hair oil today, many people immediately think of Moroccanoil. The brand has built its identity around argan oil and has popularized it in professional hair care to the extent that it has become a standard step in length care. The turquoise bottle with the orange cap is a hallmark of salons and home bathrooms alike – and it's worth knowing why the brand offers two variants of its flagship product and how to choose between them.

The foundation of both is argan oil, complemented by silicone ingredients that provide an instant feeling of smoothness and shine. The difference between the classic Treatment oil and the Treatment Light variant is not that one "works more" – they differ in density and how they behave on different hair types.

Moroccanoil Treatment in its classic form has a thicker, richer texture and a darker amber hue. It's suitable for thicker, stronger, or significantly dry hair that literally drinks up the oil – that is, hair where lighter care disappears and the ends remain coarse to the touch. On fine hair, it can be too much, especially when applied closer to the roots.

Moroccanoil Treatment Light is a lighter version of the same concept. It's lighter, thinner, and feels more airy on the hair, so it doesn't weigh down volume. It is primarily aimed at fine hair and blonde, highlighted, or light-colored lengths, where it's also beneficial that the formula doesn't leave a darker tint. In the 200 ml version, it has long been one of the best-selling items in the higher price range of our hair care products – which says a lot about its popularity among those with light hair.

If you're unsure which variant to lean towards, a simple division can help:

• Thick, strong, or dry hair – the classic Treatment, which can handle higher nutritional demands and smooth even coarser textures.
• Fine hair and hair prone to quick weighing down – Treatment Light, which keeps the lengths movable.
• Blonde and highlighted hair – Treatment Light due to the lighter shade of the formula.
• Combination of fine hair and dry ends – Treatment Light along the entire length and classic Treatment only in minimal amounts on the very ends.

The application is the same for both variants, and the result is determined more by the application than the choice of variant. The oil should be applied to damp, towel-dried hair, not wet hair dripping with water – otherwise, it dilutes and spreads unevenly. The amount is crucial: for shoulder-length hair, usually one pump is enough, for longer and thicker hair, two pumps. Rub the oil between your palms and run it through the lengths from about ear level down to the ends, avoiding the roots. On dry hair, it can also be used as a final step against frizz, but only in trace amounts – a common mistake here is to use the same amount as on damp hair.

Moroccanoil is thus a choice for those who expect mainly immediate surface improvement, easy detangling, and shine from a hair oil, and who don't mind a higher price per milliliter. Those looking primarily for reconstructive care for damaged structure will likely opt for oils based on keratin or intensive regeneration. This argan oil proves effective as an everyday finish, not as a treatment for a few weeks.

Milk_Shake: Lightweight Oil Care for Fine and Colored Hair

Not all hair types get along with heavy oils. If you have a finer hair texture, freshly colored lengths, or hair that quickly loses volume, a rich oil texture might be more of a burden – while the ends may look smooth, the hairstyle loses movement and appears tired at the roots. In such cases, it makes sense to switch to a lighter oil treatment that smooths the hair without weighing it down.

Milk_Shake is one of the growing professional brands in hair cosmetics at Brasty, focusing more on light, easily spreadable textures rather than thick balms. It's perfect for those who expect shine, unified ends, and better manageability from an oil, but don't want to sacrifice volume. Additionally, the brand offers a range specifically for colored hair, so the oil doesn't have to be a standalone step.

How to Layer Oil to Keep Hair Manageable

Lighter oil behaves differently than a classic restorative elixir: it's not meant to replace a mask or conditioner but to complete the care and give the hair a final finish. It works best on towel-dried hair, where it spreads evenly, and in combination with a conditioner or leave-in treatment. The method that works well for fine and colored lengths looks like this:

• After washing, apply conditioner only to the lengths and ends, rinse with lukewarm water, and gently towel-dry the hair – don't rub it.
• Massage a small amount of leave-in treatment into the lengths; this will solve manageability, so you don't need to apply a lot of oil.
• Rub one to two drops of oil between your palms and run them through the bottom third of your hair. Avoid the roots completely if you have fine hair.
• Blow-dry and only add half a drop to split ends on the finished hairstyle if needed.

The order is not arbitrary. If you apply oil first, it creates a film on the hair, making it harder for other treatments to absorb; as the last step, it seals in the smoothness created by previous products.

Colored Hair: How to Maintain Volume

For colored hair, a light oil has another practical role: it softens the hair's surface, making the color appear richer and less dull. However, it doesn't replace care aimed at maintaining the shade – that's addressed by products like Milk_Shake Color Care Color Maintainer Shampoo, which the oil complements nicely. If you're mainly concerned about lacking volume, it makes sense to build your care routine around a volumizing line, such as Milk_Shake Volume Solution Volumizing Shampoo, and reserve the oil exclusively for the ends.

Milk_Shake is in the premium price range, so it's wise to use it sparingly: two drops are enough for fine hair, three to four for thicker lengths. If you're unsure, start with a smaller amount and add more based on how your hair reacts after drying – it's harder to fix overly oily lengths than those that still need a bit more oil.

L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert: Oil for Damaged Hair

The Série Expert Absolut Repair line is designed for hair that has been through a lot: repeated coloring, highlighting, straightening, or just years of daily blow-drying. The combination of chemical and mechanical stress disrupts the outer layer of the hair, causing it to lose moisture faster than it can absorb it. The oil in this line doesn't replace care but completes it – it's applied after shampoo and mask, when the hair is clean, nourished, and just needs its surface sealed. L'Oréal Professionnel has been one of the fastest-growing hair care brands with us in the past year, and Absolut Repair plays a big part in that.

What the Oil Can Do for Split Ends

Let's be honest: oil won't fix split ends. Once a hair fiber splits, only scissors can reliably mend it. What the oil can do is something else – temporarily press the lifted cuticles together, reduce friction between hairs, and slow down the rate at which damage spreads up the lengths. Practically, you'll notice that your hair tangles less, is easier to comb, and the ends don't look as dry and white. Between salon visits, this difference is worth a few drops a day.

Application has a few rules that matter more than the product itself:

• On damp hair after towel drying, spread two to three drops in your palms and run them mainly through the lengths and ends; avoid the roots, or the hair will quickly become limp.
• Before blow-drying, the oil acts as a softer layer between the hair and hot air, but it doesn't replace a heat protection product.
• On dry hair during the day, just one drop spread in your palms and lightly run over the ends is enough.
• It's better to underestimate the amount. You can always add a drop, but you can't take it away.

Compared to thicker argan formulas that leave a more noticeable film and are better suited for thicker and coarser hair, Absolut Repair aims for a balance between smoothness and movement. Hair feels unified but not glued into strands – so it can also be used on medium-thick hair with only damaged ends. If your hair is very fine, start with one drop every other day and see how your roots react.

The oil makes the most sense when you build your entire home routine around it. In the Absolut Repair line, each step follows the other: Série Expert Absolut Repair Professional Shampoo cleans the hair without unnecessarily drying it out, Série Expert Absolut Repair Mask nourishes the fiber in just a few minutes in the bathroom, and the oil then seals the care on the surface. Both the shampoo and mask are among the best-selling items of the brand in our range, and in larger packages, they are cheaper per use – for damaged hair, where regularity is key, this matters.

So, who is Absolut Repair for? It's most beneficial for those who regularly color or highlight their hair and also heat style it daily. This type of damage develops gradually and can't be fixed with a single treatment – it requires care that you can repeat every week. If you don't color your hair and just want to smooth the ends a bit, you can probably get by with lighter oil care. Absolut Repair is set for more demanding tasks and behaves accordingly.

Davines: Natural Oil Care and Final Summary

The last brand in our selection approaches oil care from a different angle than the professional classics. Italian brand Davines focuses on plant-based ingredients, minimalistic formulations, and packaging that addresses the long-term issue of plastic use. In hair cosmetics, it belongs to the luxury price range, and its most well-known line is probably OI, based on roucou plant oil.

Davines oil care behaves differently from dense reconstructive elixirs. The texture is more silky than noticeably greasy, and hair remains manageable even in lengths that tend to get oily quickly. It is therefore suitable for normal to slightly dry hair, for wavy lengths that need smoothing, and for finer hair where a heavier oil might easily weigh down the roots.

Investing in the luxury range is worthwhile when you care as much about the formulation and sensory experience as you do about the results. Davines is a choice for those who want a more natural composition and a subtler fragrance and don't mind paying a higher price per milliliter. If you're primarily dealing with extensive damage from bleaching, you'll likely opt for oils focused on reconstruction – Davines maintains condition but does not repair critical states.

Moreover, with this brand, oil is rarely used on its own. The OI line is designed as a comprehensive home routine, usually complemented by shampoo and other products from the same line – for example, Davines OI Shampoo has long been one of the brand's best-selling items. Combining products within the same line makes practical sense: the products complement each other in texture and fragrance, and hair doesn't remain so dry after washing that the oil has to rescue more than it's meant to.

The Five in Brief by Hair Type and Budget

The decisive criterion is hair type, followed by budget:

• Wella Professionals SP Luxe Oil – a keratin-infused classic for medium to thick hair that needs strengthening. The most affordable price range of the five, making it a good first oil if you're just trying out this type of care.
• Moroccanoil – an argan choice in a luxury position. The classic variant for thicker and unruly hair, with a lighter Treatment Light for light and fine hair that the full version would weigh down.
• Milk_Shake – light care for colored and fine hair. Suitable when you mainly want shine and smoothness without a film-like feel on the surface.
• L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Absolut Repair – focused on stressed hair as the final step of an already ongoing reconstructive care. Makes sense especially when you also use the mask from the same line.
• Davines – a more natural composition and a more sustainable approach to packaging for normal to slightly dry hair. A luxury level for a comprehensive routine of one line.

Volume is the second criterion: a hundred milliliters lasts several months when applied to the ends, so the higher purchase price is better distributed than it might seem at first glance.

Whether you're ultimately drawn to keratin classics, argan oil, or natural compositions, start with a smaller package and observe how your hair reacts in the first two weeks. If none of the five brands suit you, you'll find other options for specific needs in the Hair Oils category.