Getty | Khadija Horton
Woof. Okay. Sorry to crush all your hopes and dreams, but...*deep breath*...there's no such thing as a hair-growth oil that'll give you longer, thicker hair overnight (nope, not even that "magical" formula your favorite influencer sweaaaars by). “Hair growth takes time—think: half an inch a month," trichologist Dominic Burg has told Cosmo. Not only that, but even hair-loss products clinically proven to work—like minoxidil—take at least three to four months to see results, according to Burg. So when it comes to that random bottle of oil you see online? Let's just say you need to temper your expectations.
However, that doesn't mean hair-growth oils are totally off the table, though, since most formulas are spiked with hydrating, scalp-friendly ingredients that ~may~ help create a strong and healthy foundation for hair to grow. And because hair loss is complicated and unique to each person, I've consulted a few dermatologists who are experts in hair growth and hair loss—hi, Mona Gohara, MD, Dhaval G. Bhanusal, MD, and Karan Lal, MD—to give me all the inside scoop on where oils come in when it comes to hair growth, what stuff will really get the job done, andddd the best ones on the market.
For now, here's a bb list of our top hair-growth oil picks, but keep scrolling for all the options and input from the derms.
Our top picks for the best hair-growth oils in 2022:
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Best Pre-wash Hair oil
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil
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Best Rosemary Hair Oil
Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
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Best hair-growth serum
Vegamour GRO Hair Serum for Thinning Hair
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Best hair-growth oil blend
African Pride Moisture Miracle
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Best Castor Hair Oil
Briogeo B. Well Organic + Cold-Pressed 100% Castor Oil
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Okay, now onto the fun stuff, here are 15 of the best hair-growth oils handpicked by moi and a few of the pros, below.
Best Pre-wash Hair oil
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil
Best Rosemary Hair Oil
Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
Best hair-growth serum
Vegamour GRO Hair Serum for Thinning Hair
Best hair-growth oil blend
African Pride Moisture Miracle
Best Castor Hair Oil
Briogeo B. Well Organic + Cold-Pressed 100% Castor Oil
Best Hair-Growth Oil Ampules
Leonor Greyl Paris Complex Energisant Hair Loss Leave-In Treatment
Best Hair and Scalp Oil
Cantu Hair & Scalp Oil
Best Argan Hair Oil
Moroccanoil Treatment
Best Oil for Damaged Hair
Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil
Best Hair Oil for Fine Hair
Playa Ritual Hair Oil
Best Hair Oil for Frizz and Flyaways
Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Oil
Best Hair Oil Treatment
Rene Furterer Karite Nutri Intense Nourishing Oil
Best Hair Oil for Fine Curls
Ouidad Bye-Bye Breakage Strengthening + Thickening Serum
Best Body and Hair Oil
Biossance 100% Sugarcane Squalane
Best Oil for Dry Hair
Christophe Robin Regenerating Plant Oil with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil
Do hair-growth oils actually work?
For starters, it depends on what you mean by "works." No, hair oil will not magically regrow hair, despite what you may see on social media, explains Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, adding that it's important to keep in mind that there are plenty of skincare and hair myths out there. As for what hair oils cando, well, certain oils can hydrate the scalp and hair cuticles, possibly creating a better environment for hair growth, especiallyif the hair loss is temporary (yes, we'll get into that).
If you want to see real growth, consult your doctor or dermatologist to assess whether clinically-proven hair growth treatments such as Minoxidil (the active ingredient found in topical products such as Rogaine and Hers), steroids and prescriptions, or an in-office treatment would be a good option for you.
How to choose the best hair-growth oil:
Figure out the cause of your hair loss
"Hair growth patterns are very complex and depend on genetics, environment, age, diet, and so on," says board-certified dermatologist, Karan Lal, MD. Mona Gohara, MD, has explained to Cosmo that stress (hi, Covid-19 related hair loss), dieting or lack of nutrition, hormonal fluctuation, post-pregnancy, and even over-processing hair are all lifestyle changes that can lead to temporary hair thinning and/or loss (aka telogen effluvium).
If you and—most importantly!—your doctor or dermatologist have assessed that it is not one of the above causes, you could be suffering from an inflammatory scalp condition (i.e., dandruff, dryness, psoriasis). This is incredibly important to determine before using hair oil because, as Lal explains, if you have dandruff, certain hair oils can make your condition worse as some oils feed the culprit yeast that causes dandruff. So, yeah, reason #109234 to be evaluated by a professional.
Manage your expectations
Okay, so if you and a dermatologist have determined what may be the culprit of your hair loss, and you want to dabble with a few hair oils, it's important to understand what they can and cannot do.
"Most hair growth oils have vitamins, antioxidants, and various extracts," says Lal. And reminder! Sure, all of this sounds great, but the best these formulations can do is add hydration to dry scalps,
promote cuticle health, or moisturize the actual hair strands, which in turn may create a better environment for hair growth. Sorry, it may not be the answer you were hoping for, but don't fret just yet—science continues to advance, and there are proven hair-growth treatments out there today that you and your doctor can look into.
Meet the experts:
- Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New Jersey.
- Dhaval G. Bhanusal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, and the founder of HairStim, a custom-compounded hair-loss formula that’s created and prescribed by your own dermatologist.
- Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, Connecticut, president of the Women's Dermatologic Society, and associate clinical professor at Yale. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and skin of color. Gohara has talked to Cosmo in the past about shampoos for thinning hair.
- Dominic Burg is a trichologist and chief scientist at Evolis Professional. His expertise includes hair cycles and how they are impacted by inflammation and age-related diseases. Burg has talked to Cosmo in the past about hair loss in young women.
Why trust Cosmo?
Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, and has two years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing hair and skin stories, like best shampoos for thinning hair and the best toners for acne-prone skin, and feels especially knowledgable in hair-growth oils, thanks to her own struggles with—what she believes—was post-Covid-19 related hair loss. She regularly tests and analyzes hair oils and hair products on her own hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists, cosmetic chemists, and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.
Ruby Buddemeyer was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years, and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and celebrity news across print and digital, including the best shampoos for thinning hair and hair loss in young women. Her hair-growth oil picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and dermatologist, cosmetic chemist, and trichologist recommendations.
Siena Gagliano Contributing Editor Siena Gagliano is a contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces.
Ruby Buddemeyer Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital.