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Prepare To Level Up Your Hair Care Routine With These Nourishing Scalp Oils

There’s something for every hair and skin type.

by Catherine Santino

Updated: Feb. 20, 2024

Originally Published: November 6, 2022

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All too often, the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality is applied when it comes to beauty routines. Because the scalp is sometimes hidden by hair, it can be easily overlooked, which might not be getting the nourishment it needs like the rest of your skin. Of course, the skin on your scalp isn’t exactly the same as your face and body and therefore, requires different products — such as scalp oils, targeted treatments, and serums. The best scalp oils and treatments can not only nourish and hydrate the scalp, but actually help to encourage healthy hair growth.

Whether you use them as a leave-in treatment or pre-shampoo ritual, scalp oils can be a hugely beneficial part of your hair care routine. If you have oily hair or are dealing with product buildup, certain scalp oils can help cleanse and purify the scalp. If your hair and scalp tend to be dry, flaky, or even irritated and itchy, scalp oils with soothing ingredients like tea tree oil can provide relief. There are also plenty of options for curly hair types or protective hairstyles.

“Scalp oils moisturize the skin on the scalp quite nicely,” Dr. Anthony Rossi Jr., dermatologist and founder of Dr. Rossi Derm MD tells TZR. “This is different than just moisturizing the hair strand which is what conditioner does. By moisturizing the scalp, it helps with dry skin that causes dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis (a more inflamed state compared to dandruff) which can often be itchy.”

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When it comes to choosing a scalp oil, Dr. Rossi recommends seeking out ingredients like jojoba oil or argon oil, as they absorb well and tend to have a pleasant scent. If hair thinning is a concern, he suggests looking for rosemary oil, which has been shown to help with hair growth.

Ahead, get the scoop on the best hair and scalp oils out there no matter what hair type, skin type, or goals you may have.

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Best For Hair Strengthening

Mielle scalp oil

Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

Formulated with more than 30 essential oils and nutrients, this strengthening oil helps encourage hair growth as well as nourishes both the hair and scalp. It can be used daily on the scalp as a leave-in treatment, washed out, or used on the ends to treat split ends. | Notable ingredients: Biotin, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil |

The Ordinary hair serum

Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

This lightweight, leave-in serum is formulated to support scalp health and result in thicker, denser hair. | Notable ingredients: Caffeine, peptides |

Ranavat hair serum

Fortifying Hair Serum

With a nourishing blend of amla extract, jasmine oil, and sunflower oil, this serum helps to restore scalp health while protecting against heat damage and leaving hair soft and shiny. | Notable ingredients: Amla extract, jasmine oil, sunflower oil|

Best For A Pre-Wash Treatment

JVN scalp oil

Complete Pre-Wash Scalp & Hair Treatment Oil

This scalp and hair oil clarifies and hydrates the scalp while promoting hair health and reducing fallout. JVN’s hero ingredient, sugarcane-derived hemisqualane, nourishes the hair, while rosemary extract supports hair growth. Simply massage into the scalp 15 minutes before washing. | Notable ingredients: Squalane, hemisqualane, rosemary extract, basil root extract |

Fable & Mane hair oil

HoliRoots Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil

This pre-wash and root treatment oil contains strengthening ashwagandha for healthier-looking hair. | Notable ingredients: Dashmool, ashwagandha, castor oil |

Aesop scalp treatment

Sage & Cedar Scalp Treatment

This treatment serves as a nourishing scalp refresh. Formulated with botanical oils known for their purifying properties, it’s recommended to be used three times weekly before your shampoo routine. | Notable ingredients: Rosemary leaf, cedar atlas, sage leaf |

Best For Dry/Itchy Scalps

Briogio scalp oil

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal Tea Tree Scalp Treatment

Dry, itchy scalp? Find relief with this soothing, hydrating treatment that helps balance the scalp. Binchotan charcoal draws impurities while peppermint, spearmint, and tea tree oils reduce scalp itchiness, irritation, and inflammation. | Notable ingredients: Biotin, witch hazel, binchotan charcoal, peppermint, spearmint, and tea tree oil complex |

Derma E scalp treatment

Tea Tree Oil Scalp Relief Treatment

This soothing scalp oil can be applied after washing and before styling or overnight as a pre-shampoo treatment. It features ingredients like tea tree oil and blue algae to soothe and hydrate itchiness on the scalp. | Notable ingredients: Tea tree oil, sea kelp extract, blue algae, amla oil |

Gisou scalp serum

Honey Infused Scalp Treatment Serum

This hydrating serum balances the scalp to relieve dry, flaky, and irritated skin. The star ingredient, Mirsalehi honey, provides long-lasting hydration. | Notable ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, ectoine, prebiotic complex |

Best For Thinning Hair

Ouai scalp serum

Perfect for dry and flaky scalps, this skin care-inspired serum helps balance and hydrate the scalp to support hair regrowth. | Notable ingredients: Artic root, Siberian ginseng, Chaga mushroom, red clover extract, peptides |

Act + Acre scalp serum

Stem Cell Scalp Serum

This innovative scalp serum utilizes Swiss apple stem cells to protect the hair follicle against premature hair thinning and shedding. Free of synthetic fragrance, it also soothes and refreshes irritated scalps. | Notable ingredients: Apple stem cells, aloe vera, bamboo and pea extract |

Best For Oily Scalps

Moroccanoil scalp oil

Oily Scalp Treatment

Yes, oily scalps *can* benefit from hair oil. This treatment helps remove impurities and revitalize the scalp with ingredients like ginger root, biotin peptides, lavender, and argan oil. | Notable ingredients: Argan oil, ginger root oil, biotin peptide complex |

Best For Curly Hair

Pattern scalp serum

Scalp Serum for Dry Hair & Scalp

This serum is designed to give your scalp relief from tight styles. Boosted with nourishing oils, it also helps to hydrate and strengthen the hair. | Notable ingredients: Peppermint oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil |

Best Fragrance-Free Options

Nécessaire scalp serum

The Scalp Serum

Nécessaire’s latest product is all about scalp and hair health. The lightweight, daily treatment contains 5% biomimetic peptide blend to support hair growth and visibly minimize thinning, 1% hyaluronic acid for scalp hydration, and 1% green tea extract to address itchiness and flaking. | Notable ingredients: Biomimetic peptide blend, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract |

Best For Heat Protection

Crown Affair hair oil

This nourishing hair oil hydrates hair and scalp, and reduces frizz while protecting from heat and exposure. | Notable ingredients: Tsubaki seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil |

Olaplex hair oil

No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil

This reparative styling oil works to boost shine and softness while minimizing flyaways and protecting hair and scalps against heat damage and irritation. | Notable ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grape seed oil, fermented green tea oil |

This article was originally published on November 6, 2022