How to Choose a Hair Oil: A Guide to Single Seed Oils
A hair oil does not need to be complicated. Many of the oils kept in households across the Middle East are a single ingredient: one seed, pressed. Each has its own feel, scent and place in a routine. This guide compares the single oils in our collection, so you can choose the one that suits your hair, or combine two.
First, how you will use it
Most single oils are used in one of two ways:
- Before the wash: a few drops on dry hair and scalp, left for 20 to 30 minutes, then shampooed out. This is the most forgiving way to use a richer oil. Read How to Use a Pre-Wash Hair Oil for the full method.
- As a finish: a single drop smoothed through dry ends. Only the lightest, silkiest oils suit this.
If you are unsure which you need, read Pre-Wash or Finishing Oil?
The oils, side by side
| Oil | Feel | Scent | Best used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Seed | Light, fine | Mild | Before the wash, as a finish, on the body |
| Garden Cress (habb al-rashad) | Medium | Distinctive, earthy | Before the wash |
| Arugula (jarjeer) | Medium | Slightly peppery | Before the wash |
| Pumpkin Seed | Rich | Nutty | Before the wash, nails and hands |
| Argan | Silky | Light | As a finish, face, nails |
| Neem | Thick | Strong, earthy | Only blended, before the wash |
Date seed oil: the everyday choice
Pressed from the seed of the date palm, date seed oil is fine and light, with a mild scent. It works before the wash, as a finishing drop and on the body, which makes it the most versatile oil here and a natural base for blends. Read Date Seed Oil for Hair and Skin.
Garden cress and arugula: two Levantine seeds
Habb al-rashad and jarjeer are both familiar on the Arab table, and both belong to the mustard family. Their oils are medium in feel, with distinctive natural scents that wash out with your shampoo. They are used before the wash, on their own or softened with date seed oil. If you are allergic to mustard, choose another oil. Read Garden Cress and Arugula Seed Oils for Hair.
Pumpkin seed oil: rich and green
Deep green and nutty, pumpkin seed oil is one of the richer oils here. Use it before the wash, and keep the rest of the bottle for nails and hands. It is naturally green, so keep it away from light fabrics until absorbed.
Argan oil: the finishing drop
Argan is silky enough to use on dry hair, a drop at a time, which makes it the natural finishing oil of the group. It also suits the face and nails. Read How to Use Argan Oil on Hair, or compare it with jojoba in Argan Oil vs Jojoba Oil.
Neem oil: always blended
Neem is thick and strongly scented, and it is never used on its own. Mix 1 part neem with 9 parts of a gentler oil, such as date seed, before you apply it. It is not for use on children, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
A single oil or a finished blend?
A single oil is simple and flexible. A finished blend, such as our Botanical Hair Ritual Oil, brings several botanicals together for one specific moment, before the wash. You can keep both: the blend for wash day, a single oil for everything in between.
How to choose, in brief
- Fine hair, or new to oils: date seed oil, used lightly.
- Thicker or drier-feeling hair: pumpkin seed, garden cress or arugula, before the wash.
- A finish for dry ends: argan or date seed, one drop.
- Your own blend: date seed as the base, with a little of a richer oil, or a few drops of neem (see How to Use Neem Oil for Hair).
- A warm, herbal note before the wash: Pure Black Seed Oil, on its own or blended one part to two with jojoba.
Before you begin
- Test any new oil on a small area of skin first.
- If your hair is light or color-treated, try a small strand first.
- Keep oils away from the eyes, and store them tightly closed, away from heat and light. See How to Store Natural Oils.
Browse every single oil in Pure Botanicals, or read our guide to Middle Eastern hair rituals and weekly wash-day routine for the wider picture.