The Best Natural Oils For Relaxed Hair (And How To Choose One)

If you've ever gone to your favorite search engine and typed in “best oil to use on relaxed hair”, you've probably noticed there are a lot of opinions.

There are natural oils and mixed oils. Some people swear by coconut oil. Others won't use anything but grapeseed oil or olive oil. Then there are essential oils like tea tree and rosemary that are popular for scalp care.

So how do you know which one is right for your hair?

The truth is, there isn't one "best" natural oil for everyone. Different oils do different things, and the best choice depends on what your relaxed hair needs.

This guide explains the three main categories of natural oils, the benefits of using natural oils, and some tips for deciding which ones deserve a place in your hair routine.

(This post includes affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission.)

Do natural oils moisturize hair?

Let’s start with one of the biggest misconceptions about natural oils. That is that they moisturize your hair. Most oils don't actually add moisture.

Instead, they help reduce moisture loss by sealing in the water or water-based products you've already applied.

That's why I when I use oils on my hair, I moisturize my hair first with a water-based leave-in conditioner or a moisturizer. Then I seal that moisture in with an oil.

Why use natural oils on relaxed hair?

Natural oils can be a great addition to a relaxed hair routine because they can help in multiple ways

• Reduce moisture loss
• Improve shine
• Soften dry hair
• Improve manageability
• Reduce friction during styling
• Support a healthier-looking and feeling scalp
• Add slip during detangling

The key is knowing what each oil can help with and using that understanding to choose the right oil for what your hair needs.

The three types of natural oils

To keep things simple, I like thinking about natural oils in three groups.

1. Penetrating oils

Penetrating oils are able to move past the surface of the hair shaft.

They're often used before shampooing as a pre-poo or in hot oil treatments because they may help reduce protein loss and improve the condition of dry and damaged hair.

Examples include:

• Coconut oil
• Avocado oil
• Olive oil 
• Argan oil

Best for:

• Pre-poo treatments
• Dry hair
• Damaged hair
• Hot oil treatments
• Carrier oil to dilute essential oils

Read more about penetrating natural oils

2. Non-penetrating oils

These oils mainly coat the outside of the hair because they are made up of large molecules, which is why they are called non-penetrating. Sometimes they are called sealing oils.

Now the fact that they don’t penetrate the hair shaft isn't a bad thing. That’s what makes them excellent for sealing in moisture and adding shine after you've already moisturized your hair.

Examples include:

• Grapeseed oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Sunflower oil
• Jamaican Black Castor Oil
• Jojoba oil

Best for:

• Sealing moisture
• Reducing frizz
• Adding shine
• Hot oil treatments
• Carrier oil to dilute essential oils

Read more about non-penentrating/sealing natural oils

3. Essential oils

Essential oils are very different from the first two groups. They're highly concentrated plant extracts and should always be diluted with a carrier oil before being applied to your scalp or hair.

People often use them to support scalp care or add to DIY hair treatments.

Examples include:

• Tea tree oil
• Rosemary oil
• Peppermint oil
• Lavender oil

Best for:

• Scalp massages
• Dry scalp
• Itchy scalp
• Adding to shampoos and conditioners
• Hot oil treatments

Read more about essential oils.

How I use natural oils

I’ve used several natural oils on my relaxed hair over the years. And I don't use every oil the same way. Instead, I choose one based on what my hair needs that week.

For example:

• Before wash day, I might use a penetrating oil like coconut oil as a pre-poo.
• After moisturizing, I usually reach for a lighter oil like grapeseed oil to help seal in moisture.
• If my scalp feels dry, I may mix a few drops of tea tree oil into a carrier oil for a scalp massage.

Keeping a few different oils on hand gives me more flexibility than trying to make one oil do everything.

How to choose the right oil

If you're not sure where to start, here's a helpful guide.

• Reduce moisture loss, try grapeseed oil
• Pre-poo before shampooing, try coconut oil
• Add softness, then try avocado oil
• Help with a dry scalp, try tea tree oil mixed with jojoba oil
• Add shine, try grapeseed or argan oil

What natural oils do you use in your hair regimen?