The best hair oils for every hair type

When I think about using oil for my hair, I always remember my maternal grandmother slathering her long, grey hair with coconut oil that had been warmed up in a caserola. That was my lola's elixir, her secret to having luscious locks even at her age.

I guess that's how people deep-conditioned their hair back in the day, and it's proven to be effective enough that we continue to use natural oils even now. We have even more types of oils to choose from now, which is great because each oil has unique properties that are better suited to particular hair types and addressing certain hair problems.

Argan oil: the frizz-fighter

Now that summer has made the weather hotter, frizz and flyaways are even more of an issue. You'll want something that would tame the frizz but not make you look like you used half the bottle of your oil in one go. Your best bet is argan oil! It isn't called liquid gold for nothing. It's rich in fatty acids and squalene and has vitamin E. It's perfect for weighing the frizz down a bit without making your hair looking limp.

There are lots of argan oil brands in the market, but they’re all generally quite price. The most pocket-friendly option we’ve tried is Snoe’s Oil For All (P800~). It’s made with pure argan oil imported directly from Morocco, and comes from a proudly home-grown brand.

If you're looking for something even more affordable, try the Moringa-O² Herbal Hair Relaxing Serum++ (P200 for 55ml). This is a good dupe of the Kerastase hair serums at only a fraction of the price.

Avocado oil: the volumizer

If your hair is naturally fine and you want to give it more volume, avocado oil is what you must invest in. Apart from fatty acids, avocado oil has biotin, which strengthens hair. It also has a lot of minerals that promote hair growth, including protein, magnesium, folic acid and iron.

To promote growth, you may simply massage avocado oil on your scalp, or you can make a hair mask for a more luxurious DIY treatment! Simply mix together a cup of beer (really!), some avocado oil, and an egg. Put the concoction on your head and wait for 15 minutes before rinsing off.

Olive oil: the strength-booster

Thick hair and curly manes need a heavy-duty product. Olive oil is best for people with an abundance of head hair. It's very hydrating and packed with omega-3 fatty acids that work well in strengthening the mane, so your tresses look incredibly lush!

You probably already have some olive oil in your kitchen, and you just need a few more ingredients to make a moisturizing mask. Mix together ¼ cup of olive oil, ¼ cup of honey, mashed bananas and a splash of cider vinegar. Apply the mask all over your hair, and leave it on for 15 minutes. After rinsing, you'll find that your hair is easier to manage and incredibly soft.

Macadamia oil: the revitalizer

There's still hope no matter how lifeless you think your locks have become after putting it under a series of DIY hair experiments and curling, straightening and blowdrying it. Save your dry and damaged hair with the help of macadamia oil. It's the richest among nut oils and has palmitoleic acid, which helps in restoring the life of your hair.

Locally, there's a line of macadamia-infused hair products available from salons. Try the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque - it's rich and deeply moisturizing, just what you need to help bring your hair back to life. You can also try the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil (P1,450 in Beauty Bar) which features macadamia seed oil as its main oil component. This doesn't feel greasy, smells great, and does wonders for repairing damage on your hair.

Do you use hair oils? What's the best one you've tried?

Sources: Teen Vogue, Beautylish, Into the Gloss, Cosmo UK, Live Strong