With scalp health, it's not always clear whether a skincare or haircare approach is best. Oils fall somewhere in between—they can do wonders for the skin on your scalp and the hair that grows from it. According to trichologist Kate Holden, applying oils to the scalp has many potential benefits. "Tea tree, peppermint, ginger, and cade oil can help alleviate itchy scalps and reduce inflammation," she tells Byrdie. "Coconut oil is sometimes recommended as an emollient to help with dry skin and dandruff, and there is some evidence that rosemary oil may help with hair growth."
Ready to give your scalp the nourishment it deserves? We tapped an expert for recommendations, read countless reviews, and even tried a few top-rated products ourselves. The result: This list of scalp treatments that actually work to treat concerns like dry, itchy, or thinning scalps.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best for Dandruff:
Best for Damaged Hair:
Carol's Daughter Goddess Strength Hair & Scalp Oil at Amazon$14
Best for Curly Hair:
Best Pre-Shampoo:
What We Like
Boosts hair density
Works for all hair types and textures
Minimalist formula works quickly
What to Consider
Can be a little greasy
Key Ingredients: Caffeine, flower extract | Dosage: A few drops | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re experiencing hair thinning, this multi-peptide treatment is here to help. The Ordinary is known for making beauty straightforward and accessible and that’s why this treatment earns the top spot on our list. Simply apply a few drops to your scalp and massage it in and leave your hair be. If you’re not ready to commit to an expensive treatment and you’re after noticeable results, add this to your cart.
Morgan, tester with curly hair: "This serum made my hair feel so soft—I can't stop touching it! I feel it would make my hair healthier and shiner with continued use."
Best Multiuse
Kiehl's Magic Elixir Scalp and Hair Oil Treatment
What We Like
Multiuse formula
A little goes a long way
Supports healthy growth
What to Consider
Can make hair feel greasy if too much is used
Key Ingredients: Avocado, rosemary, and safflower oils | Dosage: Small amount pre-shampoo | Size: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
We love Kiehl's Magic Elixir, an oil-based formula that can be used on both your scalp and hair. Its hero ingredients include avocado oils and safflower oils, which provide deep moisture and nourishment while minimizing inflammation. You'll also get a dose of rosemary oil, which, as Holden notes, has been shown to support hair growth. Considering you only need a few drops at a time, we appreciate the generously sized bottle. You can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment or an overnight scalp mask, but the brand advises against applying it to wet hair.
Best for Dandruff
Rahua Founder's Blend Scalp & Hair Treatment
What We Like
Targets bacteria-causing dandruff
Calms irritation
Contains organic ingredients
What to Consider
Strong scent
Key Ingredients: Rahua and palo santo oils | Dosage: Small amount left on overnight | Size: 1.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you're battling dandruff, reach for Rahua Founder's Blend. According to the brand, the rare combination of plant-derived oils dissolves the bacteria that causes the condition, then calms irritation and creates a healthy environment for hair growth. The fragrance is a bit strong, so if you're sensitive to smell, this one might not be for you.
Best for Damaged Hair
Carol's Daughter Goddess Strength 7 Oil Blend Hair & Scalp Oil
What We Like
Nourishes brittle hair
Supports new growth
A little goes a long way
What to Consider
May weigh down fine hair
Key Ingredients: Castor and jojoba oil | Dosage: Small amount as needed | Size: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The remedy for damaged hair starts at the scalp. This pick leans on castor oil and jojoba oil to nourish and strengthen brittle hair and support new growth. In the brand's clinical trial, 94% of users reported less breakage.
What We Like
Designed for curls and coils
Adds bounce
Leaves hair shiny
What to Consider
Strong smell
Key Ingredients: Argan, castor, and sunflower oils | Dosage: A few drops to targeted areas | Size: 3.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Tracee Ellis Ross knows a thing or two about good hair. If you have curls like she does, this moisturizing blend is your best bet. It combines the nourishing, anti-inflammatory effects of sunflower, apricot, castor, and argan oils to minimize breakage from root to tip while leaving your hair brilliantly bouncy and full of shine.
Mariah, tester with thick hair: "The oil is nice and lightweight and doesn't feel too sticky. My hair looks noticeably shinier and feels softer."
Best Pre-Shampoo
JVN Complete Pre-Wash Scalp & Hair Treatment Oil
What We Like
Leaves hair shiny
Prevents breakage
Smells amazing
What to Consider
Can be cumbersome to completely wash out
Key Ingredients: Squalane, bisabolol, basil root extract | Dosage: Dropper-full 15 minutes pre-shampoo | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Apply this treatment oil to your scalp, then run it through your hair and let it sit for 15 minutes before hopping in the shower. After shampooing, you can expect shinier, healthier-looking hair. The citrusy-amber scent is pretty incredible too. Since it's so rich, you may have to use some elbow grease to get it completely out of your hair.
What We Like
Dissolves buildup
Balances oil production
Alleviates itchiness
What to Consider
Small bottle
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, salicylic acid | Dosage: 3 to 6 drops per section | Size: 1.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
In addition to Moroccanoil's signature ingredient, argan oil, this scalp treatment contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate, dissolve buildup, keep flakes at bay, and balance oil production. In the brand's clinical trial, 94 percent of users said it minimized itchiness, too.
Best Overnight
Aveda Scalp Solutions Overnight Scalp Renewal Serum
What We Like
Designed to work while you sleep
Skin-loving ingredients
Works to prevent shedding, hair loss, and dryness
What to Consider
Water-based nature might cause curly hair to curl up
Key Ingredients: Adaptogenic centella asiatica, lactobacillus ferment, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: Small amount as needed | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This overnight oil treatment from Aveda helps defend the delicate skin on the scalp from signs of aging (read: shedding, hair loss, and dryness) while you sleep. Loaded with nourishing castor oil, fortifying centella asiatica extract, antimicrobial lactobacillus ferment, hydrating sunflower seed oil, and stimulating ginger root extract, this hair serum targets a wide range of concerns all at once. Apply it directly to the scalp at bedtime to wet or dry hair and massage it in. Something to keep in mind: It's water-based, so those with natural or chemically treated hair might cause hair to curl up.
What We Like
Nourishes scalp and combats dryness
Female-founded brand
Loosens product buildup
What to Consider
Can only use before showering
Key Ingredients: Basil leaf hairy root blend, sunflower oil, baobab oil | Dosage: A few small drops | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The Scalp Detox Oil is a best-selling treatment for Act + Acre for good reason: It helps get people results. If you’re suffering from a dry scalp, what could be better than using a brand created by a certified trichologist? This oil-based treatment is formulated to help support your scalp’s microbiome, delivering a much-needed dose of hydration to relieve that dry, itchy feeling. It also loosens any product buildup, allowing your scalp to breathe. Just remember that it can only be used before showering, otherwise it'll make the hair look greasy.
Bonnie, tester with curly hair: "After two weeks, I experienced less itchiness, less speckled clothing, and fewer white flakes. After one month, I couldn't believe how thick my hair felt. Every time I brushed it out, I visibly noticed how full and voluminous it looked. I also noticed that my hair was easier to comb through and less tangled than usual."
Best Strengthening
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Strengthening Treatment Oil
What We Like
Fortified with repairing ceramides
Increases shine
Works on all hair types and textures
What to Consider
Small bottle
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, macadamia nut derivative, rose flower oil | Dosage: A few drops | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re feeling frustrated from brittle hair and breakage, Don’t Despair, Repair! No really—that’s the name of this product from Briogeo. The treatment oil contains ceramides and rose flower oil to help mend damaged strands without weighing them down. Simply apply a few drops to dry or damp hair, focusing on mid-lengths to ends or other areas with noticeable breakage for smoother, healthier hair.
What We Like
Conceals grays and works on colored hair
Increases hair density around scalp
Fresh scent
What to Consider
Can take time to see results
Key Ingredients: Anti-gray complex, amaranth peptides | Dosage: 2-3 full droppers of product | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
In your hair growth era? Us too—and that’s when we turn to this serum from Living Proof. Not only will it help improve hair growth, but it is made with an anti-gray complex to help conceal those pesky grays. That also means it’s safe to use on color-treated hair. The serum is lightweight and nongreasy and even has a nice fresh scent to it. Consistency will be the key with this one, so be patient and apply as directed.
What to Look for in a Scalp Oil
- Type: If you are already experiencing some itchiness or flaking, you'll want to help treat the area with a scalp oil that has soothing ingredients. (If your skin is inflamed or flaking excessively, see a medical professional.) However, if your scalp is already in tip-top condition, opt for a well-rounded formula containing ingredients designed to keep your scalp balanced and hydrated.
- Your Needs: Just like you would with skincare concerns, base your scalp oil choice on what your scalp needs. What works for one scalp may not be a benefit to another. Thanks to today’s massive offering, you’ll find options specially formulated for oily scalp, dry scalp, curly hair, thinning hair—you name it.
- Ingredients: Do you find yourself to be a fan of a certain ingredient because you love what it does for your skin? Then you’ll most likely love what it could do for your scalp, too. And like skincare, trendy ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, argan oil, biotin, and even niacinamide (vitamin B3) are making their way into many a scalp oil formulation.
FAQ
What is the best scalp oil?
For the majority of us looking to up our skincare game by extending it to our scalp, one of the many one-size-fits-all formulations is sufficient to keep the scalp hydrated, soothed, and protected. However, the best way to choose scalp oil is to approach it as you would skincare, so if there’s a condition you’d like your scalp oil to address, such as oiliness or dryness, it’s best to shop around until you find one with the ideal ingredients.
How often should you apply scalp oil?
That depends on your lifestyle and scalp skincare concerns. Proper usage should keep the scalp moisturized and soothed without any buildup. However, if buildup is a real concern for you, try a formula with more of a water-based, serum-like consistency.
Will scalp oil make hair grow faster?
Many of today’s scalp oil formulations contain a bevy of natural ingredients that some believe can encourage hair growth. While the official science is still out on many of them, certain compounds like biotin can play a role in supplementing hair strength and quality. So, while no scalp oil has been proven to make hair grow faster, its ability to support scalp health is a great start in the battle for great hair.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a beauty writer and content creator. She interviewed a trichologist, Kate Holden, for this story, who offered insight into the best oils for scalp health and product recommendations. When narrowing down the final selections, she combed through reviews and looked at scholarly journals to cross-reference ingredients. Theresa covers skincare, haircare, and wellness products at Byrdie.Austen Tosone is a beauty writer and content creator based in NYC, who is on a healthy hair journey, just like many other girls. After years of color and heat damage, she’s embracing her natural brunette strands and is always looking for ways to promote hair growth and protect her scalp.