The 16 Best Hair Growth Oils of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Mielle Organics Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

This potent formula is rich in biotin and rosemary as the name suggests — which is said to balance and regulate scalp health, according to celebrity hairstylist Davey Matthew. Not only does this oil work hard to strengthen your strands and smooth your split ends, but it also soothes itchy and flaky scalps due to rosemary’s studied effects as an anti-inflammatory herb.

Though the brand specifically calls out type 3A to 4C hair as the main benefactors of this oil, all hair types can use this product on their hair growth journey — all for $10.

Size: 4.23 oz. | Key ingredients: Rosemary oil, mint, biotin

Best Value

Wild Growth Hair Oil

If you’re looking for a product that will lengthen and strengthen your hair without putting a dent in your wallet, then you might consider trying this blend. The Wild Growth Hair Oil is a multi-use product that not only encourages the growth of new hair, but also reduces blow-drying time, detangles, and works in small amounts (a little truly does go a long way). What’s more, you can snag this 4-ounce bottle for just $13 at full price, whereas several other options on the market will offer half the amount of product for significantly more. 

Hair oiling can be a very peaceful ritual, but if you’re looking for an oil that you can implement into your everyday routine, this won’t be the one for you (the instructions recommend using this product once a week for a month before graduating to three times a week). However, for the amount of oil you get at this price, we think it’s entirely worth trying.

Size: 4 oz. | Key ingredients: Coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil

Best for Thinning Hair

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum

You may know The Ordinary for their award-winning formulas and budget-friendly prices, but did you know that they have also ventured into haircare? Enter: the Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density, a formula that works hard to battle hair loss and give the appearance of thicker, healthier hair.

It features Redensyl™, a mix of plant-based extracts to invigorate dormant hair follicles; Procapil™ which helps to stimulate scalp circulation and address follicle aging; and Baicapil™, a blend of botanical actives that help stimulate hair growth and density.

It’s recommended to place a few drops onto a clean, dry scalp at bedtime. One customer even found that it “works better than minoxidil,” with many others noting a stark difference in the density of the hair on their scalps.

Size: 2.03 | Key ingredients: Caffeine, European larch extract, Pisum sativum extract, etc

Best Investment

Vegamour GRO Hair Serum

There’s no overnight solution to hair thinning — but there is Vegamour’s Gro Serum, which has been shown to improve the look, feel, and texture of users’ hair after 90 days of consistent use. This daily serum is color-safe and packed with plant-based ingredients such as turmeric, N. benthamiana, and red clover, which are clinically proven to recharge your dermal hair cells, stimulate the hair growth cycle, and prevent future hair loss, according to the brand. Since this bottle is so small, it’s best for spot treatments rather than all-over use.

This serum is suitable for all hair types and curl patterns and is especially proficient when it comes to volumizing and increasing the density of your hair. Our only warning is that this stuff is expensive — you can buy a 1-oz. bottle for $64 (which will get you through 30 days of consistent use before having to buy another), or you can buy the value pack with three bottles inside to get to the recommended 90 days of use. Depending on how much you’re willing to invest in your hair growth journey, this product may be the solution you’ve been searching for.

Size: 1 oz. | Key ingredients: Turmeric, N. benthamiana, red clover/mung bean

Best for Curly Hair

Maui Moisture Nourish and Moisture Plus Coconut Milk Weightless Oil Mist

Naturally curly hair requires a certain level of care — and one of these requirements is an extra dose of moisturization. “As a hairstylist who works with natural hair, I can confidently say that [this] oil mist is great for curly hair,” says Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, psychologist and founder of PsychoHairapy. Dr. Mbilishaka applauds this product for being vegan plus silicone- and paraben-free, putting natural ingredients on the forefront of this formula. “The use of natural ingredients such as coconut milk helps to nourish the hair and keep it healthy, while also providing a weightless finish that doesn’t leave any residue or buildup,” she adds.

Another perk of this product is its compatibility with wet and dry hair as a leave-in treatment. “This makes it a versatile product that can be used to refresh and revitalize curls throughout the day without having to wash and restyle the hair,” says Dr. Mbilishaka. If you want something a little stronger than a mist (like an oil in a dropper, à la Ouai’s Scalp Serum), then this may feel a bit too light for you. But if a quick refresh or a light treatment is best for your curls, then we recommend this as your new go-to.

Size: 4.2 oz. | Key ingredients: Aloe vera, coconut milk, guava oil, mango butter

Best for Low Porosity Hair

Pattern Jojoba Oil Hair Serum

Pattern Beauty is known for making curl-loving products, but their Jojoba Oil Hair Serum expands their reach even further. Though anyone can use this product for an extra dose of moisture, the high content of jojoba oil in this formula makes this nourishing oil best suited for low porosity hair — usually straighter or wavy (but still textured) styles, according to a 2020 study. Low porosity hair is typically prone to scalp buildup, is difficult to wet completely, and takes a long time to dry, which requires a very lightweight product to do the trick.

This formula is boosted with safflower, rosehip, olive, and lavender oils to help repair broken or damaged hair while sealing moisture into your scalp and strands. Its hero ingredient, jojoba oil, is particularly great for reducing scalp inflammation and itchiness, working against flakiness and dandruff. Plus, it’s a pretty big bottle for just $28.

Size: 3.9 oz. | Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, safflower oil, rosehip oil, olive oil, lavender oil

Best Strengthening

Kérastase Scalp & Hair Serum

We’re no strangers to the wonders of Kerastase hair products, but the Initialiste Scalp and Hair Serum was one of the very best we tried in our PEOPLE Tested lab. Not only did our tester notice her hair grow in length (about two inches in six weeks), but she also noticed her strands feeling thicker and stronger over time. In fact, she realized that she was due for a trim sooner than her routine visits were scheduled — a marker of this serum’s success.

Helmed with gluco peptide, wheat protein derivative, and native plant cells, this water-weight product penetrates the dermis to strengthen, repair, and hydrate the hair cuticles at the root. Our at-home tester used a dropper-full almost every day for six weeks, dispersing the liquid onto her scalp and throughout her wet hair after showering. Afterward, she’d dry and style her hair as usual, going about her routine. Because of its lightweight texture, the serum never made our tester’s hair feel greasy or weighed down — in fact, it provided a mildly floral scent and softened her hair over time, almost acting like an extra step of conditioning.

So far, our experience with Kerastase has been absolutely “mane”-changing — and this strengthening serum is no exception. 

Size: 2.02 oz. | Key ingredients: Gluco peptide, wheat protein derivative, native plant cells

Best Strengthening, Less Expensive

Sephora Collection Strengthening Hair Serum with Biotin and Phytoprotiens

If you can’t tell from this list, hair serums and oils are expensive — but this Sephora Collection strengthening serum defies the odds with its attractive $18 price. We tested it for six weeks and found that it was lightweight, conditioning, and fast-absorbing. While our hair didn’t grow noticeably longer than where it was at beginning of the testing period, we did notice that our strands began to take on a wavier and more voluminous texture around our scalps, which is where we applied the serum. 

It took about three to four droppers-full to distribute the oil thoroughly, but once we did so, it absorbed quickly into our scalps due to its lightweight body. However, it did start to make our hair look and feel greasy after a few days, which meant that we needed more hair-wash showers than before. 

The best part was that our hair started to look healthier and thicker after just four weeks of use, making those of us with naturally frizzy strands have hair that lays nicer and styles easier without as much product as before. 

Its biotin-infused formula would leave our scalps with a slight tingle after initial application, but this just added to the soothing experience. While we wouldn’t say this made us gain inches, it did help our hair to look and feel sleeker while giving our volume an extra oomph.

Size: 1.69 oz. | Key ingredients: Biotin, plant-based proteins

Best for Breakage

Bumble and Bumble Full Potential Booster Spray

Sometimes hair growth doesn’t mean encouraging new strands to sprout, but instead strengthening weak hair so that it can grow long without breaking. According to Matthew, breakage can be sorted into two categories — chemical breakage (think bleaching, coloring, and texturizing services, like a perm), or mechanical breakage (heat, teasing, and tension, like those trendy, slicked-back buns). “If we’re dealing with breakage, it’s not necessarily that your hair isn’t growing, but rather it’s not retaining length,” says Matthew.

Bumble and Bumble’s Hair Preserve Blend works to strengthen each strand and promote more elasticity with each use. The brand refers to this formula as a “liquid bandage” and says that it’s free from mineral oils, parabens, phthalates, and more — allowing your hair to put on extra armor and flourish into shiny tresses. 

Size: 4.2 oz. | Key ingredients: Algae extract, caffeine, rosemary extract

Best with Hyaluronic Acid

Ouai Scalp Serum

Who said skincare was just for your face? Think of the Ouai Scalp Serum as hyaluronic acid for your hair, because this product is ideal for hydrating the skin barrier of your scalp — just like a serum for your complexion. All you need is to massage a few drops into your natural part and hairline daily, which not only feels amazing, but will result in the appearance of more voluminous, healthy hair over time. Its healing hero ingredient is flanked by arctic root, Siberian ginseng, and chaga mushroom for a well-rounded skincare product made specifically for your hair.

What’s even better is that you can apply this serum day or night to wet or dry hair — just be sure to leave it on your strands (whenever you apply) so that your scalp is getting the full effects of this nourishing serum.

Just keep in mind that this product isn’t going to immediately incite a ton of growth, but instead replenish your hair from the scalp to make sure that your strands grow extra healthy and strong.

Size: 2 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, arctic root, Siberian ginseng, chaga mushroom

Best for Hair Loss Prevention

Philip Kingsley Density Preserving Scalp Drops

If you’re more concerned with keeping the hair on your head (a.k.a. less constant shedding), the Philip Kingsley Density Drops were one of our favorite serums that we tested, significantly improving the preservation of our tester’s existing hair rather than new growth. We found that over the testing period, our tester lost less hair than usual to her hair brushes, and one of our testers’ hairdressers pointed out how much thicker their hair felt than usual (mind you, they’ve been going to the same person for seven years). 

The lightweight serum is made with caffeine, saw palmetto extract, and a biomimetic peptide blend, which is the main anti-hair loss active ingredient in the formula (though the ingredients list goes on and on). Because of how thin these drops are, it is easy to add a few onto the scalp before bed and wake up in the morning without oily-looking hair. If you’re in the camp of not washing your hair every day, then this is a favorable formula for you.

We even noticed a few baby hairs starting to sprout at hairlines with continuous use, which means that our tester’s hair got the chance to preserve its natural density, thus delivering a thicker mane, while also encouraging the growth of new hair. Our only con is its steep price, but if your goal is to keep your hair luscious and thick rather than stimulating new growth, then we think it’s well worth the investment.

Size: 2.87 oz. | Key ingredients: Biomimetic peptide blend, azelaic acid, saw palmetto, caffeine

Best Volumizing

Augustinus Bader Hair Oil

If you often wish that your hair could have a little extra oomph, then this is the oil for you. This product from Augustinus Bader was instrumental in the thickening and fullness of our tester’s hair over a six-week testing period, turning her previously thin and scraggly strands into soft, shiny tresses that felt and looked noticeably thicker. As per the product’s instructions, she used this oil on her hair two to three times a week after washing and towel-drying. Because the formula is so light, it only took about two to three drops to evenly coat medium-length strands. It also never made our tester’s hair look or feel greasy, which was a huge perk.

Because this oil is meant for your strands and not your scalp, it was easier to see a pretty instant difference when using this oil. It make her hair look sleeker but also had reparative and nourishing long-term effects that made our tester’s hair look more voluminous, too. We can attribute this success to the formula’s key ingredients: Vitamin E, argan oil, squalane, and a bevy of other natural oils that came together to love on her hair. 

All we know is that she’s so happy to leave the house without much heat styling because her hair lays so nice — and now that she’s used to this life, she’s using this oil forever.

Size: 1 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin E, argan oil, castor seed oil, pomegranate oil, baobab oil, sunflower seed oil, squalane

Best for Scalp Stimulation

Ranavat Fortifiying Hair Serum

All you need are a few drops of this skin- and hair-loving concoction once a week to see gradual growth. The hero ingredient of this product is Amla (also known as Indian gooseberry), which is an antioxidant-rich superfood that has been known to help treat baldness and hair thinning.

“Think of it as your hair’s best anti-aging ingredient,” says Michelle Ravanat, the brand’s founder. “Amla has been used in South Asian hair care for centuries, as this potent ingredient helps to stimulate scalp circulation and hair growth.” She adds that the inclusion of this powerful extract can even slow graying.

Ravanat recommends taking a few drops and massaging it into your scalp before coating the rest of your hair, from roots to ends, for all-over nourishment. “Not only is this incredibly relaxing, but it stimulates fresh oxygenated blood to my scalp, balances oil production, and encourages hair growth,” she adds. Depending on your wash cycle, you can leave this oil on your scalp anywhere from an hour before your shower to 24 hours — just be sure to shampoo twice to make sure you’re removing all of the residue. Thankfully, this process only needs to be done once a week to see some results, because this product is certainly not cheap. But for the longer tresses you’ll be brushing through in a few months, we’d say the splurge is worth it.

Size: 1.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Organic sunflower oil, organic jasmine oil, organic amla extract

Best with Massager

Ceremonia Hair Oil & Scalp Massager Set

One of the necessary steps in the hair growth process is stimulating your scalp with a scalp massager — which is usually a handheld, pointy-tipped (but never sharp) scrubber that you can use before or after applying oil. This two-in-one product comes with both the Aceite de Moska, which is a nourishing scalp remedy oil, and the Scalp Masajeador, which is the accompanying massager. You can choose to rub the massager in small, circular motions all over your scalp before oiling to stimulate the scalp and better absorb the product or apply your oil first and use the massager after to distribute the oil throughout your head in a relaxing, luxurious way.

This oil is fortified with aloe vera, which conditions and softens the hair while hydrating babassu oil and soothing castor oil fuse the formula together to encourage sleeker and stronger strands. If you already have a massager and aren’t looking to own another one, you can always just buy the Aciete de Moska by itself — but if you’re a hair growth newbie and need to start from scratch, this is a solid place to start.

Size: 2 oz. | Key ingredients: Aloe vera, babassu oil, castor oil, meadowfoam seed oil

Best Pre-Wash

JVN Pre-Wash Scalp & Hair Treatment Oil

If you’re in the anti-oil/pro-dry shampoo camp of consumers (but still want to attain the nourishment of a hair oil), then you’ll find favor with the JVN Pre-Wash Scalp Oil.

The champion of healthy hair, founder and celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness understands the want for oil-free hair while still reaping the benefits that strand-strengthening oils have to offer. What makes this specific oil different from the others on this list is its utility as a pre-shampoo product, as opposed to other products that are meant to be kept on the scalp for up to 24 hours before washing.

The Pre-Wash Scalp Oil is infused with rosemary and neem seed extract, which work together to stimulate circulation in the scalp and calm dry or inflamed skin. Adding to this potion is hemisqualane, a silicone alternative and turmeric extract for a hint of color. You may experience sediment in your hair as a result of using this product, but the JVN brand ensures that this dust-like substance is completely harmless — just a result of the oil’s natural ingredients.

After letting two to three droppers full of product sit in your hair for about 15 minutes, you can lather up in the shower as normal. Implementing this process into your routine twice a week adds 30 minutes in total to your shower routine, but results in silkier and stronger hair down the line.

Size: 1.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Rosemary extract, turmeric extract, hemisqualane, neem seed extract