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Home » Hair Care Products » The 10 Best Oil for 4C Hair

The 10 Best Oil for 4C Hair

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aida turner

Published by Aida Turner

Fact checked by Annie

You will thank us for introducing the best oil for 4C hair. 4C hair has very tight or even zig-zag curls with kinky tips. This hair type is dry and hard to comb; thus, you will need a lot of conditioner and oil to hydrate it.

To make up for such an inconvenient maintenance effort, a healthy 4C hair looks stunning. You know Gabrielle Union, Nicole Ari Parker, or Lalah Hathaway, don’t you? They all look gorgeous in their natural 4C hair.

Best Overall

Amazon best-selling product B0019LTGOU

Our rating

Now Solutions, Organic Jojoba Oil

  • Rich in minerals and vitamins
  • 100% organic jojoba seed oil
  • Can be combined with other hair care products
RUNNER-UP

Amazon best-selling product B07XSBNCF

Our rating

Ethereal Nature Hair Oil Peppermint

  • Increases blood flow into hair follicles
  • Works amazing with flaky scalps and dandruff
  • Fresh smell and feel on the hair
Best Value

Amazon best-selling product B086SBD3Z3

Our rating

Cliganic USDA Organic Lavender Essential Oil

  • Sweet lavender aroma
  • Removes fatigue and has a positive impact on stress
  • 100% pure lavender essential oil

What Is The Best Oil Types for 4C Hair?

There is not one but many natural oils that are good for your hair. What is the best is based on the hair type, damaged condition, and your preference to use it.

If you are in a hurry to check all reviews, the following summary will help.

Jojoba Oil – Best Overall

Jojoba oil is applicable for all hair types, including 4C hair, thanks to its rich vitamin and mineral content. You can expect to remove the signs of breakouts, fungal infections, or premature ageing on your hair.

“Use of the oil topically (especially for hair) is deemed quite safe. Use of the oil topically for hair care is also considered safe if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.” recommended by Adrian White of Healthline.

Pros:

  • As similar as our natural sebum
  • Able to soothe eczema and psoriasis
  • Boost health of hair and scalp
  • Good for skin and nails as well

Cons:

  • Unsafe when intaken by mouth
  • Almost no scent

Read more: Now Solutions, Organic Jojoba Oil review

Peppermint Oil – Best for Flaky Scalp

Peppermint oil is the savior for flaky scalps because it helps promote blood flow into the follicles.

Pros:

  • Cooling effect for summer hair care
  • Protein load for hair growth
  • Effective in fighting against dandruff
  • Easy to add in shampoo and conditioner

Cons:

  • Too tingling when overused
  • Might cause sickness when digested

Good oil to know: Ethereal Nature Hair Oil Peppermint review

Lavender Oil – Best for Hair Loss

Linalyl acetate, geraniol, and linalool in lavender oil help moisturize and recover fatigue for hair growth, which was proved in a 2016 study.

The antimicrobial properties even help kill bacteria and head lice. Moreover, its sweet aroma will soothe your stress.

Pros:

  • Stimulate the hair growth
  • Easy to apply on hair
  • Relaxing smell to reduce stress
  • Able to mix with other products

Cons:

  • Not usable with sedatives or depressants
  • Possibly cause allergies

Not take those medications? Then check: Cliganic USDA Organic Lavender Oil review.

Tea Tree Oil – Best for Hair Breakage

Tea tree oil is ideal for protecting the scalp from fungal infections that cause hair damages.

Pros:

  • Good at preventing fungal infections
  • Easy to put on 4C hair
  • A natural herbal smell
  • Well-mixed with other oils

Cons:

  • Still able to cause rashes
  • Never ingest the oil

Check now: OGX Extra Strength Treatment Bottle review

Castor Oil – Good for Oily Hair

Castor oil is highly recommended for oily 4C hair to restore the balance of moisture effectively.

Pros:

  • Rich in long-chain fatty acid
  • Balance the oil on hair
  • Promote blood circulation
  • Able to use infrequently

Cons:

  • Not good at growing hair
  • Sometimes leave a white residue

Don’t believe that the castor oil works? Read to understand: African Pride Black Castor Miracle review

Argan Oil – Good for Damaged Hair

Argan oil is loaded with ferulic acid and 80% unsaturated fatty acids to repair damaged cells.

Pros:

  • Effective anti-aging agent
  • Treat dandruff and condition scalps
  • Restore the shine to damaged hair
  • Smelly and soft to touch

Cons:

  • Not for wet hair
  • Often required to mix with other oils

How does actual argan oil work for hair? Check: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Treatment review

Coconut Oil – Best for Dry Hair

Coconut oil adds extra shine, luster, and moisture to your 4C curls.

Pros:

  • Widely available on market
  • Tame your curls immediately
  • High-moisturized content
  • Work will almost all oils

Cons:

  • Never use too much
  • Problems of white residue

Get the best-seller coconut oil for hair: Maui Moisture Curl Milk review

Avocado Oil – Best for Faded Hair

Avocado oil features a high load of monounsaturated fats to make your hair shiny again.

Pros:

  • A natural moisturizer for hair
  • Able to use as conditioner
  • Surprisingly quick penetration
  • Possibly ingest on body

Cons:

  • Several allergies reported
  • Light application on hair

Our favorite avocado oil for 4C hair is: Primal Kitchen Whole30 Approved review

Olive Oil – Best for Thick Hair

Olive oil is well-known for being rich in fatty acids and vitamins that will repair all hair types.

Pros:

  • Light and comfortable to apply
  • Packed with monounsaturated fat
  • Also rich in antioxidants and vitamins
  • Able to use on other body parts

Cons:

  • Might clog scalp pores
  • Not overused

Try out an olive oil here: Originals Ultimate X-virgin Olive Oil review

Sweet Almond Oil – Best for All 4C Hair

Sweet almond oil is loaded with vitamin A, vitamin E, and Omega-3 fatty acids to enable length retention.

Pros:

  • Soften 4C hair from the tips
  • Repair damaged and split ends
  • Many ways to apply on hair
  • Sweet and gorgeous smell

Cons:

  • Some allergies to nuts
  • Not recommended for heat styling

Last-but-not-least oil: Radha Beauty Sweet Almond Oil review

In-depth Reviews of Top 10 Best Oil Products for 4C Hair

Now, let’s get into each best oil for 4C hair and see how they can fix and take care of your hair.

1. Now Solutions, Organic Jojoba Oil – Best Overall

Best for all hair conditions:

When your 4C hair is seriously damaged, and you do not know which oil to apply yet, get started with the Now Solutions, Organic Jojoba Oil.

This product is derived from 100% organic jojoba seed, which provides unsaturated sebum to seal in moisture deeply in the scalp so that your hair is always hydrated.

Not to mention, Now Solutions is rich in minerals (silicon, zinc, copper, etc.) and vitamins (B and C). Together, they will nourish and promote your 4C hair growth.

General information:

  • 100% organic jojoba seed oil
  • Packed with zinc, copper and silicon
  • Has lots of vitamin B and C
  • Deep nourishing effect

Even better, this jojoba oil applies to your skin to significantly improve its elasticity without worrying about rashes or allergies since all ingredients are Non-GMO and human-friendly.

Buying one get two is a bargain the manufacturer gladly offers consumers.

How to use the oil:

You can apply the oil directly on the hair, following these steps:

  • Warm the oil up by putting it on a stovetop or in a microwave.
  • Apply the oil above the scalp and down to hair tips.
  • Avoid using it on the scalp in order not to clog scalp pores.
  • Leave the jojoba oil to sit for about 30 minutes.
  • Wash it with shampoo and conditioner.

Otherwise, you can add this jojoba oil to your favorite hair products. The New Solution is almost scent-free, so it will not affect the smell of other products.

Nonetheless, you want to control the drops of oil without turning the mix into a very slick and hard-to-apply combination.

Pros

  • Enhances natural hair growth
  • Doesn’t use sulfates and parabens
  • Provides moisture and improves hair health

The Cons

  • Can get your scalp itchy

2. Ethereal Nature Hair Oil Peppermint – Best for Flaky Scalp

Best for the flaky scalp:

Flaky and dry scalps are a common concern of 4C hair when dead cells are shed faster than usual and turn white before they rub off your head.

Ethereal Nature Hair Oil Peppermint is a recommended home remedy. Accordingly, it promotes hair growth in the dead cells by increasing blood flow into the follicles.

We prefer this oil in summer rather than in cold weather since the menthol can cause a tingling feeling to its application.

General information:

  • Infused with biotin and canola oil
  • Natural peppermin oil
  • Works perfectly with flaky scalps
  • Nice, pleasant smell

Thus, you want to avoid getting it in your eyes or, even worse, consume the oil. Instead, you might dilute oils with a carrier one.

You also should use a little Ethereal Nature Hair Oil Peppermint at a time since this oil is more oily than some other hair oils.

How to use the oil:

The easiest way is to massage the scalp directly:

  • If possible, combine a couple of drops of peppermint oil with coconut or jojoba oil.
  • Leave the mixture on hair for 15 minutes and shampoo it off.
  • Or, wash the oil immediately if you feel that the menthol is too intense.

Sometimes, you can add peppermint oil to your favorite conditioner or shampoo. Five drops are enough for one ounce of other hair products.

Plus, keep the mixture inside the bottle to effectively prevent water penetration.

Pros

  • Increases blood flow into the follicles
  • Exfoliates and moisturizes skin pores
  • Repairs existing hair follicles

The Cons

  • Can be too tingling

3. Cliganic USDA Organic Lavender Essential Oil – Best for Hair Loss

Best for hair loss:

Although the 4C curls look dense, and others might not figure out that your hair loses recently, you may notice and worry that your hair gets thinner every day due to stress, medication, breakage, etc.

Cliganic Lavender Essential Oil is an effective solution, then. As said, lavender provides linalyl acetate, geraniol, and linalool to moisturize and recover fatigue, thus promoting hair growth.

Not to mention, the sweet aroma helps reduce stress – the common cause for hair loss.

General information:

  • Pure lavender oil
  • Has linalyl acetate, geraniol and linalool
  • Helps with stress
  • Sweet lavender aroma

How to use the oil:

We like that this Lavender oil comes with a capped dropper so that you can better control the amount of oil used.

For hair growth, you should:

  • Massage several drops into your scalp.
  • Let the oil sit for 10 minutes before you rinse the hair.
  • Otherwise, leave it wrapped in a towel overnight.
  • Based on the hair loss condition and your time, you can massage the lavender weekly or daily.

Moreover, you can mix the oil with other hair products like conditioners or shampoo. Just take notes that you never want to digest this lavender product; it is only intended for external uses.

Thus, make sure you keep it out of your children’s reach.

Pros

  • Softens and conditions your hair
  • Repairs damaged hair

The Cons

  • Small size

Advice from experts:

“Many essential oil proponents recommend using a combination of lavender, lemon, and peppermint oil to relieve allergy symptoms, and claim that lavender is a natural antihistamine,” suggested Cathy Wong of Very Well Mind.

4. OGX Extra Strength Treatment Bottle – Best for Hair Breakage

Best for hair breakage:

Besides hair loss, breakage is a common issue facing 4C hair since its structure loses moisture more quickly than others. Upon such a lack of humidity, the strands become dry and brittle, ending up in breakage.

Tea tree oil is ideal for fixing the situation. It has many natural antibacterial and antifungal properties to protect the scalp from fungal infections that cause hair damages.

Meanwhile, it moisturizes your hair quickly. The peppermint ingredient will boost such a hair growth process thanks to its benefits mentioned above.

General information:

  • Tea tree oil usage
  • Infused with peppermint and witch hazel
  • Natural antibacterial and antifungal agents
  • Helps with hair loss

As far as we can check from the users’ feedback, this hair care product is a bit oily, and you won’t want to leave it sitting on your head all day. Rather than that, you can take a shower to shampoo and rinse the oil out.

How to use the oil:

Ensure you do not have allergies to tea trees, peppermint, or witch hazel because these ingredients can cause skin rash.

A recent study even linked the exposure to tea tree oil to the growth of breasts in young boys. For your sake, you can:

  • Apply several drops of the oil on your skin and wait for 24 hours to check any signs of irritation.
  • If everything is ok, mix the oil with a carrier like coconut oil, jojoba oil, apple cider vinegar, or regular shampoo.
  • Then, apply it to your hair. It’s better to be aware that this OGX Extra Strength Treatment Bottle can be very watery and not ideal if your hair is naturally oily.

Pros

  • Reduces hair damage
  • Nourishes the scalp
  • Provides all the vitamins and minerals needed

The Cons

  • May cause skin rashes

5. African Pride Black Castor Miracle – Good for Oily Hair

Best for oily hair:

During the summer, your hair is commonly more oily than average. However, it does not mean that you should avoid adding oil.

In contrast, an appropriate amount of African Pride Black Castor Miracle oil can help deal with dandruff and flakes of 4C hair. Overall, it is a light oil with Richy antibacterial components to balance your scalp.

The oil includes all harmless ingredients such as black castor oil, coconut oil, and peppermint.

General information:

  • Has olive and peppermint oils
  • Infused with coconut oil
  • Great source of fatty acids and vitamin E
  • Contains sunflower seed oil

The black castor component is extracted from the Palma Christi seeds loaded with minerals, vitamin E, and fatty acids – enough to nourish the scalp without drying up rapidly.

At the same time, coconut oil is famous for its ability to moisturize and repair damaged coils. Peppermint, despite its small amount, also boosts hair growth effectively.

How to use the oil:

Good as it is, too much oil can cause an effect of hair felting.

Instead, please follow:

  • Only apply a little gel to the root and hairline once per week.
  • Each time, section your hair and apply the oil to your scalp with a brush or finger.
  • Massage the oil into your scalp to get a better result.
  • Put on a shower cap and let the oil sit for two hours.

Note: You want to be cautious with the safety seal. Some bottles miss that part, and even if it does have the seal, it is easily broken. Not to mention, the cap hole is big, potentially causing you to overuse the oil.

Pros

  • Boosts hair growth
  • Deeply moisturizes and nourishes
  • Loaded with minerals and other nutrients

The Cons

  • Able to leave white residue

6. Creme of Nature Argan Oil Treatment – Good for Damaged Hair

Best for damaged hair:

4C hair is prone to damage, particularly after styling or chemical treatment. It ends up being frizzy, dull, and vulnerable deep inside.

That time, use the Creme of Nature Argan Oil Treatment to provide additional nutrients.

Argan oil from Morocco is loaded with ferulic acid and 80% unsaturated fatty acids supposed to protect cells from breakages.

General information:

  • Infused with pure argan oil
  • Has vitamin E and linoleic acid
  • Contains unsaturated fatty acids
  • Repairs and prevents damage

Not to mention, the Vitamin E and linoleic acid inside the oil will repair coloring damage and scalp issues.

The more frequently you apply the oil, the less dandruff and irritated scalp you suffer from.

Users confirm that the Creme of Nature oil is pretty vicious, so you want to improve the consistency by adding some honey. It helps prevent overdoing the oil.

How to use the oil:

A wet treatment would provide the best result.

  • Drop some oil between your palms to prevent too heavy application.
  • Continue to massage the scalp for 10 to 15 minutes so that the oil will penetrate from roots to ends.
  • If possible, wrap your entire hair with a towel and let it sit overnight before you wash it in the morning.
  • Then, Style the 4C hair without worrying about damaging it.

Allergies are a possible side effect, though. Because argan is a nut, there are several anaphylaxis cases reported by users. And when being digested, the oil can cause low appetite and harshest.

Pros

  • Provides healthier and thicker hair
  • Deeply hydrates
  • Restores natural volume and thickness

The Cons

  • Might get spilled

7. Maui Moisture Curl Milk – Best for Dry Hair

Best for dry 4C hair:

4C hair is often fragile and dry. However, some users have dry-like-straw hair strands. With such a situation, you will find coconut oil a lifesaver.

It penetrates faster and more intensely than other oils, thanks to a molecular structure. Coconut oil also adds shine and luster.

Besides coconut, the Maui Moisture Silicone Detangle Definition has Aloe juice as its first ingredient. It uses proteolytic enzymes effectively to treat dandruff and repair itchy scalp caused by the high dryness.

General information:

  • Infused with aloe vera extracts
  • Coconut and papaya oils
  • Has plumeria extracts

Creamy papaya butter and plumeria extract are also found in the bottle to enhance softness and define curls.

How to use the oil:

We recommend using this coconut oil in your daily moisture routine:

  • Apply some oil and rub it between your palm.
  • Put it evenly on the damp’s surface to the ends.
  • Neither use the oil for wet hair nor rinse it. Other than that,  apply a glycerin-based product to seal the coconut oil on hair.

Pros

  • Treats dadruff, itchy and flaky scalps
  • Restores and provides needed nutrients
  • Provides deep nourishment for the follicles

The Cons

  • Hard to get out of the bottle

8. Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Whole30 Approved – Best for Faded Hair

Best for faded hair:

Recently, your hair looks faded in colors and shiness. It might indicate your hair health crying for help, meaning you should add protein, moisture, and more nutrients.

Those essential components are available in Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil.

In general, avocado oil – the main ingredient of the Primal Kitchen, features a high load of monounsaturated fats. When it penetrates your hair, it will add a coat to strands and make every strand shiner from the inside.

General information:

  • Rich in monosaturated fats
  • Has olive oil and aloe vera
  • Infused with shea butter
  • Packed with vitamins and nutrients

Furthermore, the presence of olive oil, aloe vera, and shea butter will add more moisture and balance PH levels to keep your 4C hair soft shine.

How to use the oil:

There are many ways to apply the oil to your shaded hair and bring its color back. For example:

  • Massage a nickel-size oil onto your scalp for 10 minutes. Avocado will absorb into your hair cells easily.
  • Or, create a mixture of avocado oil, coconut oil, and peppermint oil to stimulate blood flow and hair growth.

Caution: Just be careful not to use this conditioner if you are pregnant or prone to allergic reactions. The avocado sometimes leads to allergies and rashes.

Pros

  • Repairs damaged hairs
  • Stimulates blood flow and hair growth
  • QProvides nutrients and vitamins

The Cons

  • Almost no smell

9. Originals Ultimate X-virgin Olive Oil – Best for Thick Hair

Best for thick 4C hair:

The naturally 4C hair takes more effort to take care of, thinking it is dry and vulnerable. If you have a thick 4C, you might be even more stressed. Thankfully, the Originals Ultimate X-virgin Olive Oil can help.

Olive oil is well-known for being rich in fatty acids and vitamins that will repair all hair types by moisturizing and nourishing the shaft from the inside out.

Even better, the acids are tiny, and they would penetrate more quickly than other oils. The scent is also very relaxing.

General information:

  • Rich in fatty acids and vitamins
  • Infused with olive oil
  • Provides natural coating for hair follicles

It is even possible to use the oil on your skin and nails!

However, you want to avoid overusing the Originals Ultimate X-virgin Olive Oil since it is more oily than many others.

Moreover, the oil lasts for a very long time before you need to apply another coat, meaning that treating with the olive oil is only required once every week.

How to use the oil:

We have some tips for you to take notes of:

  • Heat the oil in the microwave before applying it to your hair.
  • Use your palm and hairbrush to massage the oil into your thick coils slowly.
  • Leave the oil on hair overnight to get an extra-effective result in the end.

However, be careful not to apply lots of olive oil and on scratching areas. Otherwise, you can feel itchy.

Pros

  • Makes your hair silky smooth
  • Increases thickness and strength
  • Stimulates hair growth with nutrients and essential oils

The Cons

  • The shampoo might not work for all types of hair

10. Radha Beauty Sweet Almond Oil – Best for All 4C Hair

Best for all 4C hair:

It can be said that sweet almonds work for all hair types thanks to their lightness and non-greasy texture. Thus, whichever your 4C hair condition is, you cannot go wrong with Radha Beauty Sweet Almond Oil.

The sweet almond oil is loaded with vitamin A, vitamin E, and Omega-3 fatty acids. All in all, these components will enable length retention to your hair.

Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found on fishy dishes, can provide proteins to hair follicles and prevent inflammation.

General information:

  • Sweet almond packed with nutrients
  • Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins
  • Deep conditioninf abilities
  • Provides proteins and prevents inflammation

You will find your 4C hair softer and longer after a while of using this sweet almond oil.

Using almond oil on 4C hair is a low-risk home remedy for most people to promote hair strength and shine. However, people having a severe nut allergy want to avoid using this oil by any chance.

How to use the oil:

Before you buy this sweet almond oil, make sure you have no allergies to nuts. Then, the oil can be used out of the box:

  • Rub some drops between your palms.
  • Apply it directly to your hair.
  • Massage the oil to the ends and leave the oil there even after styling your hair.
  • Otherwise, use the oil with a creamy agent – like avocado oil to create a conditioning mask for hair.
  • Remember to clean and dry your hair before using the mask for 40 minutes to one hour.

Pros

  • Prevents hair thinning
  • Helps repairing damaged hairs and split ends
  • Deeply cleanses

The Cons

  • Hard to lather shampoo

FAQs

If you want to understand more about your 4C hair type and the best way to take care of it, you might find helpful information in the most frequently asked questions by consumers.

What Is 4C Hair?

It would be helpful when choosing hair products if you are aware of hair typing systems and your natural hair type. Here we mention the 4C hair.

Simply put, 4C is coiled and ziggy hair. It has all features of 4-type moisturized hair: thinness, clumps, and a dense package. Even worse, 4C hair is more shrinkage and delicate than other 4s.

You want to look at the hair when it is dry to exactly figure out its clumps into coils and the amount of shrinkage.

You might also like: How to Define 4C Hair?

How to Take Care of 4C Hair?

4C hair is the most fragile texture of all since there are very few cuticle layers to protect your hair from dryness. Thus, you often have to fight off tangles, shrinkage, or lack of moisture.

You want to:

  • Try to keep your hair moisturized as much as possible.
  • Spritz hair with water before styling it.
  • Not bogged down to use many hair products at a time.
  • Only wash your hair once or twice a week and in sections.

Also read: How often should you wash 4c hair?

How Do You Keep Your 4C Hair Moisturized?

  • Moisture is the key to a healthy 4C hair and the following best practices will help.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking water and more water.
  • Use a good moisturizer and apply LOC method (Liquid – Oil – Cream)
  • Minimize exposure to heat as much as possible.
  • Do not touch your hair too frequently.
  • Put on protective hairstyles when going outsides.

In this post, we focus on reviewing the oil for your 4C hair.

How Often Should I Put Oil in My 4C Hair?

It depends on your hair conditions and the oil you are using.

For example, if you have naturally oily hair, you might only need to oil the ends weekly. Otherwise, you want to lubricate your hair ends and roots with a lower sebum condition once every two days.

In related types of oil, some might be more penetrative and heavier than others. Take castor oil, for instance. It is cumbersome and suitable for cold months when you only need to apply oil once a week.

Conclusion

We hope you can already pick up the best oil for 4C hair out of the ten options above.

Whatever you choose in the end, please make sure that you know your hair conditions, the causes, and possible allergies to choose a suitable remedy.

From our experience, the Now Solutions, Organic Jojoba Oil is the best overall thanks to its multiple-beneficial formula for hair, skin, and nails.

Otherwise, we would recommend OGX Extra Strength Treatment Bottle for its ability to repair breakages and damages.

Best Choice

Amazon best-selling product B0019LTGOU

Our rating

Now Solutions, Organic Jojoba Oil

Rich in minerals and vitamins
100% organic jojoba seed oil
Can be combined with other hair care products

aida turner

Aida

Founder & Hair Beauty Specialist

I’m Aida and this is my blog where I write mostly about beauty and make up related stuff, but I like to spice it up a bit with lifestyle and photography posts. Or with whatever that comes to my mind. Hope you will enjoy the reading enough that we will ‘see’ each other more often!