The best oil for gray hair lends a little luster where Mother Nature has lost her touch. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, “Gray hair may feel more coarse compared to pigmented hair because of less sebum or oil production.” But there’s hope. While natural oil production tapers off over time, the best oils for gray hair never stop delivering smoothing, shine-inducing, strength-restoring benefits. The trick? Finding a hair oil that delivers heavyweight anti-aging benefits, but is lightweight enough to keep gray hair looking vibrant, bouncy, and decidedly ungreasy. Ahead, hair stylists, dermatologists, and a trichologist share how to incorporate the best oils for gray hair into a weekly regime, plus the oils they most recommend for bringing a gleam back to silvery styles.
Our Top Picks
In This Article:
Rōz Willow Glen Treatment Oil
- Why we love it: “Regularly using a hydrating shampoo and a weekly deeply reparative treatment mask like Rōz Willow Glen Pre-Wash Treatment Oil is imperative when it comes to keeping gray hair healthy,” says Roszak. “I recommend adding Willow Glen to dry hair and scalp, saturating mid-lengths and ends, and combing it through. Leave it in for at least 10 minutes or wear it as an overnight sleep mask.” The formula contains six active botanical oils—including hydrating jojoba oil and frizz-reducing macadamia seed oil— that hydrate the scalp while repairing and conditioning the hair. It also contains kukui nut oil. “It’s a natural UV protectant, which maintains the integrity of the hair and, most importantly, protects the color and enhances shine, which is needed for graying hair,” Roszak says of the nut-based ingredient.
- Key ingredients: Kukui nut oil, sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil, macadamia seed oil, sesame seed oil, coconut oil
- Size: 2 fl oz
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil
- Why we love it: A go-to recommendation for Dr. Camp, Oribe’s luxe formulation has also been a longtime favorite of Vogue editors. (When it launched in 2013, our beauty editors hailed the product as a “miracle oil”—and we’ve been reaping its smoothing rewards ever since.) “A signature blend of jasmine, edelweiss flower, lychee, sandalwood, cassis, and argan extracts in this product penetrates the hair shaft to restore, strengthen, and condition damaged hair,” says Dr. Camp. Formulated with Oribe’s Signature Complex, which protects the hair from oxidative stress, the oil doesn’t only offer benefits to silvery manes. The cult classic has also made its way into model Yumi Nu’s makeup bag; another dark-haired beauty, the K-pop star, JIHYO is another Gold Lust loyalist.
- Key ingredients: Argan and jasmine oils, sandalwood extract, Oribe Signature Complex
- Size: 3.4 oz
Augustinus Bader The Hair Oil
- Why we love it: Augustinus Bader’s face oil is legendary among those looking to take skin hydration to the next level; luckily, the German doctor has a similar concoction for the hair. “Vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, argan oil, and castor seed oil are featured in this lightweight, fast-absorbing oil that promises to boost thickness and volume while reducing breakage and split ends,” Dr. Camp says. The oil also harnesses the brand’s signature TFC8 complex. The hallowed blend of amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules supports cellular renewal and growth in the hair.
- Key ingredients: TFC8, squalane, vitamin E, pomegranate oil, argan oil, baobab oil
Size: 3.4 fl oz
Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil
- Why we love it: A verified hair oil to the stars, Olaplex’s No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil has a gorgeously coiffed cult following that includes Charlize Theron. Formulated without parabens or sulfates, the oil is infused with bond-repairing technology that reduces frizz and flyaways while providing UV and heat protection. It’s also formulated with grapeseed and green tea oils to elevate shine, softness, and color vibrancy in gray hair.
- Key ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grapeseed oil, green tea oil
- Size: 1 fl oz
MoroccanOil Treatment Purple
- Why we love it: MoroccanOil’s detangling, shine-boosting treatment also keeps gray hair looking cool—not just metaphorically. “Formulated for gray and blonde hair to neutralize brassiness, this tone-correcting, lightweight oil is made with argan oil and linseed extract to protect the hair from damage and make it look and feel healthier,” Dr. Camp says. Because argan oil is a natural heat protectant for the hair, the treatment can also stave off thermal damage from heat styling.
- Key ingredients: Linseed extract, argan oil, violet pigments
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
Aavrani Hair & Scalp Recovery Oil
- Why we love it: “When using an oil on the scalp I recommend using it as a pre-cleanser prior to shampooing, which will aid in detoxing the scalp and adding moisture to the hair cuticle,” says Hallajian—but a good hair oil can be used after washing, too. “I love Aavrani Hair & Scalp Recovery Oil because it’s a multi-benefit oil,” she continues. “It can be used on the scalp and hair prior to washing to aid in cleansing and as a finishing oil for smoothness and shine.” The formulation blends ayurvedic ingredients—such as rosemary to stimulate hair growth and the superfood alma to nourish the scalp—with a proprietary bond complex. The latter ingredient repairs hair damage while preventing split ends, which commonly plague dry, graying hair.
- Key ingredients: Alma, bond complex, rosemary
- Size: 1.69 fl oz
How can you keep gray hair moisturized?
“To keep gray hair moisturized, I recommend using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, deep conditioning weekly, and applying natural oils like argan oil,” says New Jersey hairstylist Jennifer Korab. “Avoid over-washing, use heat protectants, and choose sulfate-free products.”
Dr. Candace Spann, a board-certified dermatologist in Las Vegas, also recommends steering clear of sulfates or fragrances when hair starts to gray. “Shampoos that use harsh ingredients can lead to stripping of the hair and promote further dryness of gray hair,” she says. Korab also advises getting regular trims, sticking to a balanced diet to maintain overall hair health, and using a humidifier in dry environments to help gray hair maintain moisture.
What to look for in an oil for gray hair
“Because gray hair tends to be dry or more coarse, it is often a bit frizzy as well,” says Mara Roszak, the celebrity hairstylist behind Rōz Hair Care. “It’s important to choose a daily styling oil that will maintain the gorgeous gray color and not yellow the hair, smooth the hair, and protect the hair from heat styling without weighing it down.” Some hair oils, like MoroccanOil Treatment Purple, contain ingredients that tone out brassiness in gray hair—MoroccanOil’s formulation, for example, is rich in violet pigments.
Sara Hallajian, a Santa Monica, California-based trichologist, reiterates the importance of finding a lightweight formulation. “Not all oils are going to be suitable for the hair,” she says. You want to look for an oil that will be lightweight enough to be absorbed by the hair cuticle to avoid making your hair look heavy and greasy.”
Which specific types of oils are best for gray hair?
Which oils in particular are lightweight enough for gray hair? Below, Hallajian breaks down her picks.