Few things are worse than using a hair oil on a fresh blowout, only to feel like you need to hop right back in the shower. That was the MO of first-generation hair oils, but now we’re in the 2.0 era. We want the glass-hair sheen without the weight and the split end repair without the greasy residue. “Today’s hair oils are better than ever and offer many benefits, such as shine and hydration, without weighing hair down or making it look greasy,” says Jacob Schmidt, senior colorist at Ollin NYC Salon by Johnny Ramirez, noting that most of his clients don’t fear them anymore.
Celebrity hairstylist Michael Dueñas, founder of AROVE, believes hair oils are trending because they are finally being used properly. “It’s taken a while to educate consumers that hair oils can be used on wet or dry hair,” he says. “Also, extremely shiny, healthy hair is in—not the distressed beach texture of years past. It’s all about shine and health now.”
Another reason for their resurgence, Dueñas says, is that consumers “have wised up to ingredients, which has finally caught up with manufacturers. Previous hair oils were very silicone-heavy with cheap fillers that gave the illusion of smoothness. That brought the negative effect of a heavier oil that didn’t absorb.” Today’s formulas actually sink into strands, creating that “glass hair” look everyone is after.
Did You Know?
In Spate’s 2025 Hair Trends Report: Care & Styling Products, hair oil was one of the top three hair trends across Google and TikTok—ranked by increase in popularity year-over-year.
How to Use Them
Most modern hair oils offer versatility, from sealing split ends to repairing breakage. “I recommend applying hair oil to wet hair before blow-drying, as a ‘styling oil.’ Or, if you have curls, apply it before you let them air-dry,” says Dueñas. “Once your style is dry, add a little more to your mid- lengths and ends to smooth, polish and tame any flyaways.”
Best Non-Greasy Hair Oils
