Hair oils do different jobs: finishing oils for frizz and shine, styling oils with heat protection, and scalp oils. This page compares eight oils on Amazon Australia by what each listing says, how many ratings stand behind it and the bottle size, which runs from 45 ml to 150 ml.
Start with the section that matches your hair, or jump to the how to choose guide at the end.
Best hair oil overall: OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil
Best hair oil overall: the OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil, because it has the most ratings of any hair oil we checked and holds a 4.6 star average for dry, coarse and frizz prone hair.
The listing describes an extra strength penetrating oil designed for dry and coarse hair, with a blend infused with argan oil and a replenishing formula that works to lock in moisture. It is described as absorbing fast to avoid a greasy, sticky residue, and as made for hair prone to becoming coarse, dry and frizzy. The bottle is 100 ml, and the title says it is for damaged hair. It holds 4.6 stars from 39,639 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants one well rated oil for dry or frizzy hair without choosing between styling jobs. The honest catch: the listing gives no heat protection figure, so people who style with hot tools may prefer the Elvive or the Amika oil.
Best for dry and heat styled hair: OGX Penetrating Oil
Best for dry and heat styled hair: the OGX Penetrating Oil, because the listing words it for dry and heat styled hair and it has close to 19,000 ratings at 4.6.
The listing describes an Argan Oil of Morocco penetrating oil for dry and heat styled hair, in a 100 ml bottle, and says it is suitable for all hair types. It holds 4.6 stars from 18,938 ratings.
It suits people who blow dry or use hot tools often and want an argan oil worded for that. The honest catch: it is the same brand and argan oil range as the top pick, so it suits the same buyer rather than offering a different style of oil, and the listing does not name a heat protection level.
Best value: Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil Elixir
Best value: the Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Marvelous Oil Hair Elixir, because it is a leave in treatment for dry, damaged hair with avocado, olive and shea oils in the largest bottle on this page, 150 ml.
The listing describes a leave in treatment for dry, damaged hair, infused with avocado, olive and shea oils, that restores shine, softness and manageability. The bullets call it a multi use oil with almond, olive and avocado oils to smooth away frizz, strengthen and add shine, and list a vegan, paraben free, non greasy formula. It holds 4.5 stars from 13,296 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants a big bottle of everyday oil for dry or damaged hair. The honest catch: it is an elixir written for dry, damaged hair rather than a styling oil, and the listing names no heat protection.
Best for frizz: Kérastase Gloss Absolu Hair Oil
Best for frizz: the Kérastase Gloss Absolu Hydrating Hair Oil, because the listing is written for frizz prone hair and it holds 4.6 stars across more than 3,400 ratings.
The listing describes a lightweight hair oil for frizz prone hair that helps reduce frizz while enhancing shine with a glossy finish. It names hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and wild rose oil, and a non greasy formula that helps smooth the hair surface without weighing hair down. The listing says to apply a few drops to the mid lengths and ends of damp or dry hair. The bottle is 45 ml, and it holds 4.6 stars from 3,423 ratings.
It suits someone with frizz prone hair who wants a glossy finish from a few drops. The honest catch: it is the smallest bottle on this page and the dearest per ml, well above the OGX and Garnier oils.
Best Korean hair serum oil: Mise En Scene Perfect Serum Original
Best Korean hair serum oil: the Mise En Scene Perfect Serum Original, because it is a hair oil serum for frizzy and dry hair with 6,095 ratings at 4.6.
The listing describes a Korean hair serum, a hair oil for frizzy and dry hair with hydration and nutrition for damage care. It names seven oils: argan, olive, coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba and camellia. The bullets add a faster dry time, a layer to put on before styling with a dryer or iron, and an anti breakage leave in serum for all hair types. The size is about 80 ml. It holds 4.6 stars from 6,095 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants the Korean hair serum style, with a seven oil blend, before blow drying. The honest catch: the listing is a parent listing for several Mise En Scene Perfect Serum versions, so the rating count may combine variants and sizes.
Best for shine and heat protection: L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Extra Rich
Best for shine and heat protection: the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Extra Rich, because the listing words it for heat protection and increased shine and softness.
The listing describes a hair oil for all hair types, especially very dry hair, made with 6 flower oil extracts and a non greasy formula for shine and no flyaways. It gives heat protection from up to 230°C and says to rub 2 to 4 pumps on the lengths and ends of wet or dry hair, before shampoo, before styling or as a finishing touch. The bottle is 100 ml. It holds 4.4 stars from 223 ratings.
It suits people who want one oil for shine, softness and a heat protection claim. The honest catch: it has only 223 ratings so far, a thin count next to the OGX and Garnier oils.
Best for styling and anti frizz: Amika Superfruit Star Styling Oil
Best for styling and anti frizz: the Amika Superfruit Star Styling Oil, because it is a heat protectant and smoothing oil with an anti frizz formula and the highest rating on this page at 4.8.
The listing describes a lightweight hair oil with sea buckthorn that tames flyaways and smooths strands, and shields hair from heat up to 230°C. It says to use 1 to 2 pumps on damp hair before styling or on dry ends, and lists a vegan, sulphate free, paraben free and cruelty free formula for all hair types. The bottle is 50 ml. It holds 4.8 stars from 855 ratings.
It suits people who style with heat and want a smoothing oil in the routine. The honest catch: it is the second dearest per ml here after the Kérastase oil and has under 1,000 ratings.
Best rosemary scalp and hair oil: Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Oil
Best rosemary scalp and hair oil: the Mielle Rosemary Mint Light Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil, because it is a biotin infused scalp and hair oil with 3,499 ratings.
The listing describes rosemary and mint oils to nourish and revitalise both scalp and hair strands, a lightweight formula ideal for low porosity hair types, and biotin to help support stronger, healthier looking hair growth and maintenance. It works as both a scalp treatment and a hair strengthening oil in one 59 ml bottle, with a dropper applicator. It holds 4.4 stars from 3,499 ratings.
It suits anyone shopping for a rosemary oil and a scalp treatment in one. The honest catch: it is a scalp oil rather than a frizz or shine finishing oil, so it does not replace the other picks here.
How to choose a hair oil
Start with what you want it to do
Frizz, dryness, shine, heat styling and scalp are different jobs, and the listings word them differently. The Kérastase and Amika oils are written for frizz, the OGX oils for dry hair, the Elvive for shine and softness, and the Mielle for scalp and hair strands. Pick the job first, then the brand.
Finishing oil, styling oil or scalp oil
A finishing oil like the Kérastase goes on the mid lengths and ends of damp or dry hair, per its listing. A styling oil like the Amika goes on before a dryer or iron. A scalp oil like the Mielle has a dropper for the scalp. They are not interchangeable, and our hair mask guide covers rinse out treatments to pair with them.
Heat protection: what the listings say
Only two listings give a temperature: the Elvive and the Amika both say up to 230°C. The Mise En Scene listing says heat protection and a layer before a dryer or iron, but gives no figure. The OGX and Garnier listings give none. If you use hot tools, our hair straightener guide compares them.
Bottle size
Sizes here run from 45 ml for the Kérastase to 150 ml for the Garnier, with the Amika at 50 ml, the Mielle at 59 ml, the Mise En Scene at about 80 ml and the OGX and Elvive oils at 100 ml. A small bottle with a premium oil and a large bottle with an everyday oil suit different habits, so compare ml as well as brand.
Ratings and how many there are
Every pick here is 4.4 stars or higher. The count is what separates them: 39,639 for the top OGX, 855 for the Amika and 223 for the Elvive. A high rating on a few hundred ratings is a promising sign, while a 4.6 on tens of thousands is a firmer one.
Which oils the listing names
Argan is named in the two OGX oils and the Mise En Scene. The Garnier names avocado, olive and shea, the Mise En Scene adds coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba and camellia, the Amika uses sea buckthorn, and the Mielle uses rosemary and mint. Use the oil name as a filter if you like one ingredient. Our hair brush guide helps with the finish.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hair oil in Australia?
The best hair oil for most people is the OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil. The listing describes it as made for dry, coarse and frizz prone hair, with fast absorption and no greasy residue, and it holds 4.6 stars from 39,639 ratings. For a different job, the Garnier Fructis elixir and Kérastase Gloss Absolu are the main alternatives here.
What is the best hair oil for dry and damaged hair?
The OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil is our pick, with a title written for damaged hair and 39,639 ratings at 4.6. The Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Marvelous Oil Hair Elixir is the leave in treatment for dry, damaged hair here, in a 150 ml bottle, and holds 4.5 stars from 13,296 ratings.
What is the best hair oil for frizzy hair?
The Kérastase Gloss Absolu Hydrating Hair Oil is worded for frizz prone hair, helping reduce frizz while adding shine, and holds 4.6 stars from 3,423 ratings. The Mise En Scene Perfect Serum and Amika Superfruit Star Styling Oil are also written for frizz, and the OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil has the most ratings.
What is the best hair oil for shine?
The L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Extra Rich is worded for increased shine and softness, with heat protection from up to 230°C, though it has only 223 ratings so far. The Kérastase Gloss Absolu lists a glossy finish and holds 4.6 stars from 3,423 ratings, which is a firmer base to buy on.
What is the best rosemary oil for hair growth?
The Mielle Rosemary Mint Light Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil is the rosemary pick here. The listing describes rosemary and mint oils, biotin to help support stronger, healthier looking hair growth, and a dropper for scalp use. It holds 4.4 stars from 3,499 ratings. It is the only scalp oil on this page, so no other pick makes growth claims.
What is the best argan oil for hair?
The OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil and the OGX Penetrating Oil are the two argan oil picks, with 39,639 and 18,938 ratings, both at 4.6 stars. The Mise En Scene Perfect Serum also lists argan among seven oils, with olive, coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba and camellia, and holds 4.6 stars from 6,095 ratings.
What is the best drugstore hair oil?
The Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Marvelous Oil Hair Elixir is our best value pick: the largest bottle here at 150 ml, listed as vegan, paraben free and non greasy, with 4.5 stars from 13,296 ratings. The two OGX oils and the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil, all 100 ml, are the other everyday brands on this page.
Is castor, coconut or olive oil better than a bottled hair oil?
This page compares bottled hair oils, not single kitchen oils such as castor, coconut or olive, so no pick here is a plain castor or coconut oil. The Garnier Fructis elixir names avocado, olive and shea oils in its title, and the Mise En Scene Perfect Serum lists olive and coconut among seven oils.
Is the Kérastase Elixir Ultime on this list?
No. The Kérastase oil on this page is the Gloss Absolu Hydrating Hair Oil, a 45 ml oil worded for frizz prone hair with a glossy finish, rated 4.6 stars from 3,423 ratings. The Elixir Ultime was not among the oils we compared. For a lower cost argan oil, the OGX Extra Penetrating Hair Oil is the top pick.
