This easy DIY Hair oil recipe is a simple combination of two natural ingredients that can be customized to fit your specific hair type. Whether you are looking to promote hair growth or moisturize dry, brittle ends, there’s a combination for you.

I will start by saying that I have never thought much about hair care… at least until my daughter came home from college and loving told me my hair looked dry and damaged… Thanks? She had me doing a full treatment to try and restore some moisture to my hair. When she headed back to college, I started wondering if I should be doing more to care for my hair, so I am starting with this DIY hair oil. The recipe is incredibly easy to make and the application process is simple enough for those of us that haven’t paid much attention to our hair over the years.
What You Need to Make Homemade Hair Oil

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Ingredients Needed to Make Your Own Hair Oil
- Carrier Oil– There are a variety of carrier oils you can choose from based on your hair type. We’ll discuss the best carrier oils (by hair type) below. For reference, I used Jojoba Oil and Almond Oil.
- Essential Oil– Essential oils aid in a variety of ways, depending on what you hope to achieve: hair growth, moisture for brittle hair, or frizz control. I went with a combination of lavender and rosemary.
Supplies Needed for DIY Hair Oil
- Dropper Bottle– I recommend a glass dropper bottle that is dark in color.
- Small Funnel– A funnel helps in pouring the oil into the dropper bottle. Some dropper bottles include a funnel with purchase, including those linked above.
- Shower Cap– A shower cap works to keep the oil off your clothes while it sits on your hair.
How to Make DIY Hair Oil
The following recipe is for a 2 oz bottle. Feel free to adjust the recipe for the size dropper bottle you are using.
Homemade hair oil is a simple combination of carrier oil and essential oils. Which carrier oils and essentials oils you use will depend on your hair type and what you are hoping to achieve.
Start by adding 3 1/2 Tablespoons of carrier oil to your dropper bottle. This is where having a small funnel helps.

You can certainly mix carrier oils if you would like, just make sure not to add more than your dropper bottle will allow. For reference, a 2 oz. dropper bottle will hold 4 total tablespoons. I added 3 1/2 tablespoons to allow room for the essential oils: 2 Tablespoons of Jojoba Oil + 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Almond Oil.

Carrier Oils that Work for All Hair Types: Almond Oil, Argan Oil, Coconut Oil (make sure to use fractionated coconut oil so it stays liquid at room temperature), & Jojoba
Best Carrier Oils by Specific Hair Types: See Below
Once the carrier oil has been added to the dropper bottle, add 10 total drops of essential oil. Feel free to create a mix of essential oils; just make sure the total drops added are not more than 10.
I decided to add 7 drops of lavender essential oil along with 3 drops of rosemary. Both of these essential oils are great for (almost) all hair types.

Essential Oil that Work for All Hair Types: Rosemary
Best Essential Oils by Specific Hair Types: See Below
With both the carrier oil and essential oils added, put the top on the dropper bottle and give it a gentle shake to combine the oils.

How to Use Hair Oil
Prior to trying any skin care product, it is strongly recommended that you test the product on a small patch of skin to make sure there is no reaction. Please see our disclaimer statement for more details.
When ready to use the DIY Hair Oil, start by brushing out your hair to remove any tangles. With the hair brushed out, squirt a dropper full of hair oil into your hand and massage it into dry hair, concentrating on the middle and bottom portions of the hair.

In order to reduce the likelihood of getting oil on your clothing, it is recommended that you put your hair in a shower cap and allow the oil to work for about an hour.
When the time is up, wash your hair using the shampoo of your choosing, followed by conditioner.
Repeat the hair oil treatment once per week.
Best Carrier & Essential Oils By Hair Type
Carrier Oils by Hair Type

Best Carrier Oils for…
Hair Growth: Almond | Argan | Castor | Coconut | Grapeseed | Jojoba
Dry Hair: Almond | Argan | Avocado | Coconut | Jojoba | Olive
Curly Hair: Almond | Argan | Castor | Coconut | Grapeseed | Jojoba | Olive
Fine Hair: Hair oil might end up being too heavy for fine hair, but you can certainly give it a try if you’d like. Try lightweight oils like Jojoba or Grapeseed.
Dandruff: According to the Cleveland Clinic, adding carrier oil to the scalp or hair of one dealing with dandruff is not recommended. Instead, there are several essential oils Healthline suggests adding to your shampoo instead. (See below)
Essential Oils By Hair Type
If you are not sure where to buy essential oils, check out my guide on how to choose an essential oil brand that works for you. I do not sell essential oils, so the information is not meant to encourage you to choose one brand over another.

Best Essential Oils for…
Hair Growth: Cedarwood | Chamomile | Clary Sage | Geranium | Lavender | Lemongrass | Peppermint | Rosemary | Tea Tree | Thyme | Ylang Ylang
Dry Hair: Clary Sage | Geranium | Lavender | Rosemary | Sandalwood | Thyme
Curly Hair: Geranium | Lavender | Rosemary | Ylang Ylang
Fine Hair: Peppermint | Rosemary
Dandruff: Lemongrass | Peppermint | Rosemary | Tea Tree | Thyme | Ylang Ylang
Sources: WebMD | Healthline | Medical News Today | Verywell Health
Common Questions About Hair Oiling
What Are the Benefits of Using Hair Oil?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, adding hair oil to your hair care routine can help to moisturize your hair, improve split ends, and provide protection from the sun.
Are There Any Hair Types that Should Not Use Hair Oil?
As mentioned above, those suffering from dandruff are advised not to use hair oil, but can try adding essential oils to their shampoo instead. Also, those with fine hair may find hair oil to be too heavy, weighing their hair down. If you have fine hair and want to try using a hair oil, it’s best to use lightweight oils. Some suggestions are jojoba or grapeseed oil.
Should I Apply Hair Oil to My Scalp?
Hair oil should not be put directly on the scalp, but instead applied to the hair itself, concentrating on the middle and bottom portions of hair.
Does Homemade Hair Oil Expire?
DIY Hair Oil will eventually expire. The best way to know the shelf life is to look at the expiration on your bottle of carrier oil. When your carrier oil expires, so does the hair oil made with it. If you notice a change in color or smell, it may also be reason to toss it and make a new batch.

DIY Hair Oil
Ingredients
- 3½ Tablespoons Carrier Oil of Choosing See Post for Best Carrier Oils by Hair Type
- 10 Drops Essential Oil of Choosing See Post for Best Essential Oils by Hair Type
Supplies
- 2 oz. Dropper Bottle Recommend dark glass bottle
- Small Funnel
- Shower Cap Recommended when using to avoid oil getting on clothing
Instructions
- Add 3 ½ Tablespoons of carrier oil to a dark glass dropper bottle using a small funnel to avoid spilling
- Add 10 total drops of essential oil into the the dropper bottle
- Place the dropper into the bottle and secure. Give the bottle a gentle shake to combine all the oils.
- To use: Add one dropper of hair oil into your palm, rub hands together and apply to hair, concentrating on the middle and lower portions of hair.
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