15 Best Oils To Nourish & Lock Moisture For 4C Hair – Expert’s Picks (2024)
Moisturize your kinky curls and prevent them from turning too dry and brittle.
Lindsay Loo is a cosmetologist who has spent 10 years behind the chair in a storied salon in Chelsea. She is a certified Wella Master Color Expert and also has experience backstage at New York Fashion Week. She has a private studio and loves to make her clients feel amazing and welcomed.
Read full bio of Lindsay Loo
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Experience: 8 yearsArshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
Read full bio of Arshiya Syeda
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
The 4C hair type is royalty going by visuals but hard to maintain due to its dense structure. There are effective hair oils that can deeply nourish these locks deeply and moisturize them properly. It is easy for such hair to break and dry on the brittle side, so it is crucial to keep it protected using the best oil for 4C hair. Pick your fave out of these 15 best ones.
In This Article
Benefits Of Using Oil On Natural 4C Hair
- Improves hair and scalp health
- Stimulates hair growth
- Reduces hair shedding and balding
- Boosts hair manageability
- Enhances hair shine and softness
- Defines the curls
- Reduces dandruff
- Prevents hair damage from heating tools and sun rays
Now, let’s take a look at the best oils for 4C hair.
15 Best Hair Oils For 4C Hair
1. Best For Frizzy Hair: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Milk
Try the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Milk if you have unruly or frizzy hair. It is formulated with coconut oil, aloe vera, papaya butter, and plumeria extract. This blend keeps the hair hydrated and smooth. It also offers frizz control and improves hair softness and shine. This product also helps detangle your hair and transform it into bouncy curls and waves.
Pros
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
- Prevents frizz
- Detangles the hair
- Softens the hair
- Adds shine
- Pleasant smell
- Hydrates the hair
- Lightweight
Cons
- Might dry out the scalp
Remember
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 5,297 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.
2. Best Petroleum-Free: Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Softening Hair Oil
The Black Vanilla Softening Hair Oil from Carol’s Daughter transforms dry, dull, and brittle hair into hydrated, healthy, and shiny locks. This hair oil improves hair manageability, helps maintain the hair’s natural balance, and is ideal for 1C to 4C hair types. It is formulated with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, calendula, safflower, chamomile, and sweet almond oil. The hair oil adds a layer of moisture to your hair and softens it. It can also be used as a hot oil treatment for deep conditioning and to add extra hydration to your hair.
Pros
- Mineral oil-free
- Paraben-free
- No artificial colors
- Moisture-retaining
- Petroleum-free
- Silicone-free
- Adds shine
- Makes the hair manageable
Cons
- Might cause breakouts
- Strong smell
3. Best For Hair Growth: Wild Growth Hair Oil
The Wild Growth Hair Oil stimulates hair growth and reduces hair breakage. It thickens, softens, detangles, and moisturizes the hair, making it manageable. This hair oil contains olive oil, coconut oil, rice bran, jojoba, chickpea, lentil cocoa, and other nourishing natural ingredients. It also helps induce healthy hair growth in bald spots, reduces frizz, and prevents flyaways.
Pros
- Made of 100% natural ingredients
- Stimulates hair growth
- Softens the hair
- Detangles the hair
- Reduces blow drying time
- Reduces hair breakage
- Prevents frizz
- Improves hair manageability
Cons
- Might cause allergic reactions
- Might dry out hair
| Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Milk Best For Frizzy Hair | Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Softening Hair Oil Best Petroleum-Free | Wild Growth Hair Oil Best For Hair Growth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | Thick, Curly | Dry, Curly, and Dull | Multicultural |
| Dimensions | 8 x 10 x 8 inches | 1.56 x 1.56 x 5.64 inches | 6.3 x 4.5 x 1.8 inches |
| Weight | 0.01 Ounces | 4.16 Ounces | 4 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 5,297 | 2,431 | 7,566 |
| Price | $8.99 | $11.99 | $16.19 |
4. Best For Split Ends: Simply Hair Growth Oil
The Simply Hair Growth oil is hand-made with all-natural oils – castor, coconut, vitamin E, jojoba, and argan oils, and peppermint, lavender, and rosemary essential oils. This hair oil stimulates hair growth by invigorating the scalp. The castor oil contains ricinoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids, which improves blood circulation and enhances hair growth. It also helps moisturize dry, flaky, and itchy skin. Coconut oil penetrates the hair, reduces protein loss, and protects the hair from damage.
Vitamin E oil is loaded with antioxidants that repair damaged hair, prevent tissue corrosion, and promotes capillary growth. Jojoba oil is similar to sebum, soothes the scalp, and helps treat scalp issues like dandruff. Argan oil contains natural vitamins and organic compounds that repair split ends and damaged hair shafts. The essential oils stimulate hair follicles by deeply penetrating and replenishing the hair with nutrients, and fighting infections. This hair oil is best suited for chemically-treated, dry, thinning, damaged, and dandruff-ridden hair.
Pros
- Made of natural ingredients
- Stimulates hair growth
- Improves hair manageability
- Reduces dandruff
- Repairing split ends
- Suitable for chemically-treated, dry, and thinning hair
Cons
- Strong smell
- Might cause hair breakage
5. Best Organic Oil: Toji Essentials Argan Hair Oil Treatment
The Toji Essentials Argan Hair Growth Oil is an organic hair oil formulated with the purest and potent ingredients. It helps induce hair growth, reduce split ends, control frizz, improve hair shine, and maintain scalp and skin balance. This lightweight hair oil contains a special blend of nine oils – virgin argan, jojoba, pumpkin seed, grapeseed, sweet almond, hemp seed, apricot kernel, citrus, and lavender oils. These nourishing ingredients moisturize the scalp and hair, improving hair manageability. This oil also seals in hair moisture within to make it soft and healthy. It is an excellent scalp treatment that helps to strengthen hair follicles, improve blood circulation and block hair fall-causing DHT.
Pros
- Made of natural ingredients
- Blocks DHT
- No harsh chemicals
- No oily residue
- Not tested on animals
- Improves hair manageability
- Stimulates hair growth
- Lightweight
- Reduces split ends
- Controls frizz
- Suitable for men and women
Cons
- Strong smell
Pro Tip6. Best Hexane-Free: Aria Starr Cold Pressed Castor Oil
The Aria Starr Castor Oil is 100% pure cold-pressed and hexane-free. It not only strengthens and nourishes the hair but also improves skin quality and texture. This oil for 4C hair makes the hair thick and soft, and prevents hair breakage while detangling strands. It reduces hair fall, shedding, tangling, thinning, dryness, and dandruff. This hair oil contains the best hand-picked castor seeds that help control frizziness and promote hair growth.
Pros
- 100% pure cold pressed
- High-quality
- Hexane-free
- Stimulates hair growth
- Controls frizziness
- Paraben-free
- Fragrance-free
- Preservative-free
- 1-year guarantee
Cons
- Strong smell
- Might cause flaking
7. Best Hypoallergenic: Fro Butter Emu Oil Hair Growth
The Fro Butter Emu Oil Hair Growth softens dry hair instantly. It restores hair elasticity, body and shine, strengthens the hair, and reduces dullness or brittleness. This hair oil also eliminates itchiness and dandruff, reduces split ends, and thickens thinning hair ends. It is formulated with natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, emu oil, shea butter, lavender oil, carrot oil, and pumpkin seed oil. These ingredients contain nourishing vitamins that help control excess oil production, condition the hair, and soothe the scalp. This oil makes your hair silky, soft, and hydrated and prevents hair loss. This one is a much-loved product with massive positive reviews from its users that claim its overall effectiveness!
Pros
- Restorative properties
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Petrolatum-free
- Hypoallergenic
- Made of natural ingredients
- Stimulates hair growth
- Reduces dryness
- Prevents hair loss
- Treats itchiness and dandruff
- Reduces split ends
Cons
- Might cause allergic reactions
- Strong smell
8. Best Cruelty-Free: Cantu Shea Butter Daily Oil Moisturizer
The Daily Oil Moisturizer from Cantu is ideal for relaxed, texturized, colored and permed hair. It is formulated with pure shea butter, which moisturizes the hair making it strong and healthy. This hair oil also adds a natural shine to the hair. It prevents hair from breakage by transforming brittle and dry hair into healthy locks. It helps detangle the hair, controls frizz, and prevents damage caused by harsh weather or heat styling.
Pros
- Moisturizes the hair
- Detangles the hair
- Smoothens the hair
- Pleasant smell
- Prevents hair breakage
- Frizz-control
- Shine-enhancing
- Repairs split ends
- Cruelty-free
- Suitable for relaxed, texturized, colored and permed hair
Cons
- Greasy
- Contains alcohol
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has received 6,660 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
9. Best For African-American hair: Herbal Nutrition Labs All Natural Hair Growth Oil
The Herbal Nutrition Labs All Natural Hair Growth Oil is best suited for African-American hair. It stimulates hair growth,, thickens the hair,, and reduces thinning. The hair oil contains cow milk, Indian gooseberry, sesame seed oil, and licorice. This non-greasy formula enhances hair length by reducing hair breakage and strengthening hair follicles. It moisturizes the hair and repairs damage caused by heat styling and environmental aggressors.
Pros
- No chemicals
- No added fragrances
- Repairs damaged hair
- Thickens the hair
- Non-greasy formula
- Stimulates hair growth
- Reduces hair breakage
10. Best Non-Greasy: Design Essentials Botanical Oils
The Design Essentials Botanical Oils is formulated with a synergistic blend of natural oils that conditions and strengthens the hair, smoothing and transforming dry, brittle, and damaged hair. It stimulates hair growth, prevents hair breakage, and adds a natural shine to the hair. This formula provides deep hydration and moisturizes the skin on the scalp. It contains black Indian hemp, ginseng, horsetail, and rosemary. This lightweight and non-greasy hair oil can also be used as a hot oil treatment to rejuvenate and condition breaking hair. It is best suited for medium to coarse hair textures that have been relaxed, color-treated or thermally straightened.
Pros
- Stimulates hair growth
- Adds shine
- Mild smell
- Prevents hair breakage
- Non-greasy formula
- Works on relaxed, color-treated and thermally-styled hair
Cons
- Might cause breakouts
- Might feel heavy
11. Best Unscented:Aunt Jackie’s Natural Growth Oil Blends
The Aunt Jackie’s Natural Growth Oil Blends is a vitamin-infused oil that prevents hair breakage and damage. It is strengthened with carrier oils that help treat split ends, restore hair vibrancy, and reduce hair thinning and shedding. This oil improves hair health and appearance by protecting the hair from damage and breakage. It also transforms lusterless hair into strong and stunning locks.
Pros
- Pleasant smell
- Stimulates hair growth
- Softens the hair
- Treats split ends
- Reduces hair thinning
- Prevents hair breakage
Cons
- Might not rinse out easily
- Thick consistency
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 2,499 rave reviews on Amazon.
12.Best For Glossy Effect: Mark Polin Hair Oil
The Mark Polin Hair Oil uses nanotechnology to rebuild the hair. It is fortified with keratin, which is essential for hair growth and strengthening. The hair oil is formulated with Morrocan argan oil, 18 amino acids, macadamia oil, and camellia seed extract with plant-based keratin. It makes the hair healthy and gives it a glossy effect. This special blend of nourishing ingredients contains vitamins E, A, B, and C, which enhance hair shine and texture. The nanomesh technology smoothens the hair and reduces hair breakage by 75%. The hair oil keeps the scalp hydrated which helps maintain scalp health and controls frizz.
Pros
- Reduces frizz
- Prevents split ends
- Pleasant smell
- Works on color-treated hair
- Improves damaged hair
- Smoothens the hair
- Adds shine
- SLS-free
- Paraben-free
- Propyl glycol-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Expensive
- Might weigh the hair down
13. Best For Damaged Hair:Perfect Hair Coconut Oil Hair Serum
The Perfect Hair Coconut Oil Hair Serum is a super smoothing serum that tames frizzy hair, repairs split ends, and prevents hair breakage and damage from heat. It is formulated with coconut oil enriched with fatty acids that stimulate healthy hair growth. This serum makes the hair thick and manageable with a smooth and silky texture. It is made with coconut oil, aloe vera juice, raw virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E oil, and keratin. These ingredients offer a deep conditioning treatment for your hair and smoothen it without weighing it down. This hair oil revives dry and damaged hair by providing deep hydration and also prevents flyaways.
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- No allergens
- No harsh chemicals
- Prevents frizz
- Softens the hair
- Pleasant smell
Cons
- Might not work on all hair types
- Contains dimethicone
14. Best All-Purpose:Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
The Tropic Isle Living Jamaican black castor oil is formulated with original black Jamaican castor oil that strengthens the hair. It adds a natural sheen to the hair by boosting its reflecting properties. This all-purpose oil moisturizes dry, brittle, color, and chemical-treated hair and improves its health. It also forms a protective coating on the skin to seal in moisture and repair scar tissue. Its antifungal properties support nail growth by protecting the nail bed. This black castor oil minimizes hair loss and shaft damage and can be used as a hot oil treatment.
Pros
- Stimulates hair growth
- Strengthens the hair
- Adds natural sheen
- Works on color and chemical-treated hair
Cons
- Thick consistency
- Unpleasant smell
15. Aiqiusha Nourishing Magical Treatment
The Aiqiusha Nourishing Magical Treatment is perfect for dry, sensitive, permed, natural, and kinky hair. It is formulated with natural botanical ingredients and nourishing ingredients like argan oil, coconut oil, and lemon extract. This blend softens the hair and makes it manageable. It uses advanced molecular technology that penetrates deep to strengthen the hair from the roots. It moisturizes and restores the hair and stimulates healthy hair growth with a boosted shine. The oil treatment contains protein that protects hair cuticles, repairs dry and dull hair, and replenishes the hair with nutrients to make it soft and silky.
Pros
- Softens the hair
- Strengthens the hair
- Works on sensitive, permed and color-treated hair
- Stimulates hair growth
- Adds shine
Cons
- Insufficient quantity
Now let’s look at a few factors to help you select the best hair oil.
Factors To Consider When Selecting Natural Hair Oils – Buying Guide
- Consistency: The oil texture has to be light to spread easily through your curls. Some oils are very thick and difficult to reach the scalp. Pick a lightweight oil, and use a comb or massager to spread it.
- Hair Issues: Pick an oil that targets your hair and scalp issues. You can also opt for two oils – one for general hair care, and another for hair issues.
- Hydration: The biggest concern with 4C hair is dryness. Pick an oil that hydrates and nourishes your hair and scalp.
Infographic: Dos And Don’ts Of Using Oils On 4C Hair
Oiling your hair is essential, especially when you have naturally drier strands like the 4C hair type. However, when not done in the proper manner, it may result in unnecessary hair fall. If you are wondering how to oil your beautiful 4C strands without triggering your scalp or causing breakage, the infographic below may certainly help. Check it out and follow the dos and don’ts listed to unleash the full potential of your tresses.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
People with 4C hair have a hard time managing their tresses! For this reason, there are effective hair oils that you can add in your hair care routine because they help in detangling your locks while nourishing them to their very roots. The Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Milk tames frizzy hair, while the Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Softening Hair Oil is ideal for 1C to 4C hair types, i.e., dull, dry, and brittle hair. If you sport colored, permed or chemically-treated hair, Cantu Shea Butter Daily Oil Moisturizer can help you get stronger tresses. These hair oils are enriched with natural ingredients that also hydrate the hair while moisturizing it. If you want your curls and waves to be intact, choose hair oils that can bring out the best in your natural hair texture while softening the locks. It is best recommended to seek inspiration from product reviews to find your ideal pick and invest in professional-grade formulas for the best results. However, steer clear of hair oils that are too greasy and cause unnecessary messes while applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I leave the oil on my hair?
You should leave the oil on your hair for at least an hour. Most people leave the oil overnight, so it works on the hair and scalp without interfering in daily activities.
Can all types of oils suit any hair type?
Some oils work better on some hair types than others. Argan oil and castor oil suit curly hair. Coconut oil suits all hair types. Olive oil and almond oil work for straight and wavy hair.
Should I put oil in my 4C hair every day?
Yes. Oil your 4c hair regularly to keep it healthy and shiny.
How to use oil on 4C hair?
• Apply oil post- or pre-pooing your hair.
• Make sections in your hair.
• Oil each section at a time.
• Massage the oil thoroughly on your scalp and hair length.
How do you keep your 4C hair moisturized?
You can keep your 4C hair moisturized by applying oil regularly, washing it with a hydrating conditioner, and avoiding heating tools.
How long will it take to grow 4C hair?
Naturally, 4C hair grows only 6 inches per year. But you can boost hair growth by oiling and nourishing it with a suitable shampoo and conditioner and maintaining a good diet.
How can I make my 4C hair thicker?
Maintain a balanced diet and follow a proper hair care regime to enhance your 4C hair health. Also, use good oils like coconut, castor, and almond to strengthen your hair and boost volume.
Read full bio of Lindsay Loo
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Read full bio of Arshiya Syeda
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts.