Best Baby Hair Oil

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If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best baby hair oil is, I’d recommend the Nourishing Baby Oil with Almond and Avocado for Babies and Kids.

If you’re looking for the best baby hair oil, there are some critical questions to ask when choosing a new product. What are the benefits of baby oil and baby hair oil? What is the best treatment for cradle cap? And which product helps to activate my baby’s hair growth? 

We have scanned different products on the market to help you find the best baby hair oil.

Here are the baby hair oils I will be reviewing:

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Baby Hair Oil for You

The most important questions you have to ask yourself are: Does the new product contain any ingredients that could harm my baby or me? Do I know of allergies, intolerances, or former skin reactions my baby showed with other products?

Have a look at the packaging of the oil. When handling your baby and a slippery oil bottle, you might appreciate a product that’s easy to use. Surely you have preferences when it comes to different types of containers, lids, and ways of application, e.g., a nozzle that makes the oil easy to pour.

Furthermore, you might have preferences on the baby oil’s ingredients. Maybe you place importance on the fact that a product is fragrance-free, or without artificial fragrances. You may also consider baby oil using organic or non-organic ingredients, or perhaps cruelty-free and fair-traded manufacturing.

Most Commonly Used Ingredients in Baby Oil

Organic Carrier Oil

If you choose organic baby oil, you might find these ingredients: Olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, raw shea butter, or coconut oil are used as a base oil. Each has several positive health benefits. 

Olive oil and coconut oil have antibacterial qualities and are the top ingredients for long-lasting moisturized skin. Sweet almond oil is rich in fatty acids and minerals. It helps to prevent hair loss, strengthens hair and activates hair growth. 

Jojoba oil is made from the seeds of the jojoba plant and contains up to 50 percent oil. It helps to heal wounds, cuts, and irritated skin by forming a protective shield around the skin cells. Like olive oil and coconut oil, jojoba oil is quickly absorbed into the skin, as it reaches deeper skin layers and heals damaged cells. 

Argan oil is one of the rarest and most expensive oils in the world. It’s rich in vitamin E and fatty acids and boosts the healing of irritated, sore skin. Like argan oil, shea butter is made from the nut fruits of its tree. If used unprocessed, it’s called raw shea butter. The rich fatty acids moisturize the skin and reach deeper layers to keep the skin hydrated. 

Essential Oil

Essential oils are the fragrant components of plants. They’re used to enrich a carrier oil with their specific effects. Calendula has anti-inflammatory effects and is often used in baby oil to help soothe nappy rash. 

Lavender and chamomile are two essential oils that are also frequently used in baby oil, and both have a calming effect. Calendula and chamomile are also easily absorbed into baby’s skin and provide a soothing sensation to eliminate any irritation or burning. Essential oils in baby oil also improve the overall fragrance to make the product soothing and comforting.

Benefits of Baby Oil

No matter if you choose a general baby oil for multiple purposes or one specifically for hair, there are benefits to both:

Baby Oil

  • An affordable everyday massage
  • Moisturizing skin after a bath
  • Helps with nappy rash
  • Suitable for the whole family
  • Can also be used for hair and scalp
  • Treats cradle cap and dry scalps

Baby Hair Oil

  • Specifically made for treatment of baby’s scalp
  • Treatment for cradle cap
  • Can activate hair growth 

How to Use Baby Oil on Hair

You can use baby oil on your baby’s scalp for a soothing massage or activate hair growth. Take a small amount of oil into your hands and apply on wet or dry hair. Gently massage the scalp, so the oil reaches the hair roots. Don’t use too much pressure since the cranial bones of your baby are still soft and flexible.

If your baby shows signs of cradle cap, you might want to remove the dry and/or oily skin scales. Therefore, start by gently massaging your baby’s head with the oil. Continue with washing your baby’s scalp and hair with a gentle baby shampoo

You can use a soft brush to detangle your baby’s hair after washing. Be careful when the brush touches the soft skin of your baby’s scalp. You can remove loose skin scales with the brush.

Baby Oil as a Multipurpose Product

There are several uses for baby oil in your daily life too, including:

  • Moisturizing skin before and while shaving
  • Eye make-up remover
  • Fading stretch marks
  • Household cleaner for wooden countertops

Precautions When Using Baby Hair Oil

Always check the list of ingredients to ensure no substance could cause an allergic reaction to your child or yourself. We suggest performing an allergy test when trying a new product. Do so by applying a small amount of oil to your baby’s elbow and leave for 24 hours. Check for signs of irritation or redness.

Furthermore, be careful with the amount of product you use on your baby’s head. If you use too much, some oil could get into your baby’s eyes, which can cause irritation.

My Top Baby Hair Oil Reviews

I looked all over to find the best products for you and your baby. Using my own knowledge, parent’s opinions and science, here are our top 10 reviews:

Nourishing Baby Hair Oil with Almond & Avocado for Babies and Kids

The best baby hair oil on the market right now is the Nourishing Baby Oil with Almond and Avocado for Babies and Kids, made by MamaEarth. Sold as a double pack, this makes it an affordable option for everyone who loves this product.

This oil is made specifically for your baby’s scalp and hair. It’s made in the Indian Himalayas and packed in practical pump bottles. These help to prevent using too much oil at once, compared to most baby oil bottles. The cute sheep printed on the hair oil’s label can help your baby to connect positive feelings when seeing it. 

The product contains many different oils, such as almond oil and avocado oil. Avocado oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, which helps to activate the growth of cells, protects the skin against infections, and reduces inflammatory problems. In combination, the ingredients gently help to nourish sensitive skin. 

Other ingredients include jojoba oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, and lavender oil. Massaging this hair oil onto your baby’s scalp can help to stimulate hair growth. 

The product also contains lavender, which is recognized for its calming effect and ability to reduce itchiness on scalps. If you use the hair oil before bedtime, it can improve your baby’s sleep.

It can also help treat cradle cap, which is typical for newborns to develop in the first year. This hair oil has been clinically tested in Europe and declared hypoallergenic. It’s free from mineral oil and consists of natural ingredients, some of which are organic.

Pros

  • Uses natural ingredients
  • Lavender oil can help with sleeping
  • Clinically tested in Europe
  • Suitable for newborn babies

Cons

  • Not all ingredients are organic
  • Some customers reported it doesn’t have an aromatic smell

Coconut Baby Oil Organic Moisturizer

The Coconut Baby Organic Moisturizer is a multipurpose body oil suitable to use on the whole family, not only your baby. It contains natural, organic ingredients, such as virgin coconut oil, sunflower oil, and grape seed oil.

Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E, an important ingredient in cosmetics to maintain healthy skin. Grape seed oil has antioxidant properties and helps to lock in moisture. These natural oils can help to moisturize all parts of your and your baby’s body when combined into one product. 

Apart from using this oil to treat cradle cap, it can help with diaper rash, too. This baby oil is also effective at supporting easy breathing and sleeping once rubbed onto baby’s chest. 

The body oil can even treat stretch marks left from your pregnancy—bonus! The extra vitamin E can help with hair growth issues and even eczema. Also, adults with dry skin problems on their scalp might find relief with this body oil. 

The Coconut Baby Organic Moisturizer comes in a simple 4-ounce plastic container, making it easy to apply the product. This feature is quite practical since the oil becomes solid if stored in a cool place. The oil will melt as soon as you apply it onto your baby’s skin.

Pros

  • Uses organic, natural ingredients, without any chemicals
  • Specifically made for hair and cradle cap treatment
  • Suitable for the whole family
  • Suitable for the whole body

Cons

  • A bit pricey compared to similar products
  • Non eco-friendly plastic packaging

Pure Fractionated Coconut Oil, Baby Oil, Skin Moisturizer By Pure Original

This oil by Pure Original is a coconut-oil based product to help with your baby’s dry skin, diaper rash, and cradle cap. The multipurpose oil comes in a practical 16 ounces pump bottle.

The manufacturer includes an extra closing cap to use instead of the pump. This prevents the oil from being spilled in your bag, in case you take it with you traveling. The pump function helps to easily get the right amount of oil into your hands to limit any waste. 

Apart from using this oil for your baby’s skin, it’s also practical to use as a hair or body oil for adults. Furthermore, it functions as a bath additive. The Pure Fractionated Coconut Oil is fragrance-free and, therefore, free of any added scents. It consists of 100 percent coconut oil. 

While conventional coconut oil would change its texture depending on the temperature, this product doesn’t. The reason is that this coconut oil has been fractionated and consists of the medium-chain fatty acids caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10). This makes it much easier to apply.

Please be aware that fractionated coconut oil doesn’t contain any lauric acid and, therefore, fewer health-beneficial components than regular coconut oil.

Pros

  • Practical pump bottle
  • 100 percent coconut oil—only one ingredient
  • Comes with an extra travel closing cap
  • Suitable for the whole body at all ages
  • Liquid coconut oil at all temperatures

Cons

  • Fewer health benefits compared to regular coconut oil due to the process of fractionation
  • Some customers reported that the lid doesn’t fit the product

Fractionated Coconut Oil Massage Oil – Baby Oil for Face Hair & Body

The Fractionated Coconut Oil by Premium Nature is another coconut oil that went through the process of fractionation. It consists of 100 percent cold-pressed coconut oil, is fragrance-free, and features medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which contain between six and 12 carbon chains.

Compared to most other baby hair oils, which contain more than 12 carbon chains, this oil is absorbed more effectively by your skin. This helps the skin to stay moisturized without leaving an oily feeling behind. 

The oil is a multipurpose product you can use for yourself and your baby. It doesn’t contain any chemicals or other added substances. Consequently, it’s gentle enough for a baby’s skin and can help with nappy rash and cradle cap. 

Furthermore, you might use this fractionated coconut oil as a bath additive. Mixed carefully with other essential oils, it can serve as a massaging oil for you and your baby. The oil comes in a plastic bottle of 16 ounces, which has a normal lid. 

The lid could be a bit impractical since fractionated coconut oil has a more runny texture than regular coconut oil. You might consider refilling the oil in a pump bottle if you plan to use it regularly—especially when using this oil for your baby’s head, you’ll need it to be extra handy.

Pros

  • Uses chemical-free, 100 percent coconut oil
  • Multipurpose oil for babies and adults
  • Coconut oil which is liquid at all temperatures
  • Fragrance-free

Cons

  • Fewer health benefits compared to regular coconut oil
  • Impractical bottle

Nature’s Baby Organics Baby Oil

The massage and baby oil by Nature’s Baby Organics is a vegan multipurpose oil used to moisturize your baby’s skin. The 4-ounce travel-size bottle is a handy item for your diaper bag.

The product is made in the USA and contains at least 70 percent certified organic ingredients. Among them, you’ll find aloe vera leaf juice, cucumber fruit extract, chamomile, and calendula flower extract.

The two latter ones can have a calming effect on your baby. Aloe vera leaf juice improves the hydration of dry skin and can help to restore damaged skin. Cucumber fruit extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Both of these are ideal since they don’t leave a greasy layer behind.

This product isn’t a specific baby hair oil; you can use it all over your baby’s body, including the scalp. It’s mineral-oil free and has a soothing scent of mandarin and coconut. 

Nature’s Baby Organics donates a portion of its profits to a US-based NGO, which helps babies in need. As such, this oil can be a great option if you care for a positive, social, and environmental impact and organic ingredients.

Pros

  • Company guarantees at least 70 percent USDA certified organic ingredients
  • Includes many natural, organic fruit and flower extracts
  • No harsh chemicals used
  • Not tested on animals
  • The company donates to babies in need
  • Multipurpose oil for the whole family

Cons

  • Costly for small size
  • Inconvenient packaging without a pump or other easy-to-use dispense system

Cocobelle Baby Pure & Gentle Premium 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil for Babies

This organic baby oil by Cocobelle Baby is a chemical-free product. It contains only one ingredient: organic virgin coconut oil. This ingredient can treat nappy rash, cradle cap, and dry skin, and you can be sure there are no harmful ingredients.

This product is a multipurpose oil, and it’s a great way to moisturize your baby’s skin after a bath. Furthermore, you can use it to massage your baby’s body and head. Massaging your baby’s scalp can help to activate hair growth.

As a one-ingredient product, it’s easy to determine the compatibility of your baby’s skin. Virgin coconut oil has many positive health benefits: it can help with fungal skin problems and it’s antiseptic as well as fragrance and taste-free. 

The Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil comes in a BPA-free, recyclable 8.5-ounce container with a simple lid. The wide opening simplifies access to the product when it’s solid. Though, when the room temperature is warmer, coconut oil becomes fluid. 

Be careful when opening the container on hot days, as the oil could spill out of the container. The manufacturer claims that each jar contains four ethically-sourced and organically farmed coconuts. 

This product suits the whole family, such as fighting eczema as well as dry and itchy skin. You can also use the oil as a rich, nourishing treatment for your hair. The possible cosmetic applications are practically endless.

Pros

  • Natural, organic product
  • Unprocessed
  • Only one ingredient
  • Ethically sourced
  • Fragrance-free

Cons

  • Simple container
  • Costlier than competing products

OKAY 100% Pure Coconut Oil

The Okay 100% Pure coconut oil comes in a container of 6 ounces, and unlike the Cocobelle coconut oil, it isn’t organic. The smaller size, which can be handy when traveling, and the non-organic character of this coconut oil reflects clearly on the price. It’s a much more affordable option when it comes to coconut oil.

The product is made in the USA and is suitable for your baby and the whole family. Like other natural coconut oils, it has antifungal and antibacterial properties and can, therefore, help with irritated skin. It’s suitable as a moisturizer for your baby’s skin, hair, and scalp.

If your baby shows signs of nappy rash or cradle cap, you can use this coconut oil for treatment and soothe any irritation. Furthermore, you can apply this coconut oil to your skin and hair before or after a bath.  

This oil helps to maintain the hair’s natural moisture and will prevent protein loss from combing and styling damage. After using this product, both you and your little one can leave the house with soft, flowing locks. 

Since this product only contains coconut oil, it is naturally free from parabens, sulfates, and silicons. Therefore, it’s a hypoallergenic product. As such, this one-ingredient product is well-suited for skin that’s easily irritated. If you’re looking for an affordable, multipurpose skin moisturizer for you and your family, this might be the right product for you.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Made in the USA
  • One-Ingredient, hypoallergenic product
  • Multipurpose product for the whole family
  • No chemical additives
  • Natural source of vitamin E

Cons

  • Not organic
  • Not available in a larger size

Mom & World Baby Hair Oil – With Organic & Cold Pressed Natural Oil for Kids

The Baby Hair Oil by Mom & World comes in a practical 6.8-ounce colorfully-designed pump bottle. This product is specifically made for baby hair and contains several naturals oils, some of which are organic.

The cold-pressed oils can keep your baby’s hair moisturized and healthy. You’ll find extra virgin olive oil, organic virgin coconut oil, sweet almond oil and avocado oil in the list of ingredients. 

Furthermore, this baby hair oil is enriched with jojoba oil and vitamin E and is suitable for use on wet or dry hair. While applying the oil, gently massage your baby’s scalp with it. As a result, your baby’s scalp stays moisturized as the oil reaches the hair roots. 

The vitamins A, B, D, and E in this product can help to stimulate the blood flow to the hair follicles. This process can help to activate hair growth and strengthen your baby’s hair. The Baby Hair Oil by Mom & World is suitable to continue using as your baby reaches toddlerhood.

Although the producer says the product is hypoallergenic, it’s not fully organic. However, the Mom & World Baby Hair Oil is free of mineral oil and artificial fragrances.

Pros

  • Specifically made for baby’s hair and scalp
  • Natural ingredients, some of which are organic
  • Free from mineral oil, parabens, phthalates and artificial fragrances
  • Enriched with vitamin E
  • Practical pump bottle
  • Uses cold-pressed oils such as virgin olive oil, organic virgin coconut oil and sweet almond oil

Cons

  • A bit costly
  • Not fully organic

Johnson’s Baby Hair Oil, Clear

Johnson’s is probably the most famous baby cosmetic manufacturer that regularly tests its products. The main ingredient is mineral oil, and it contains artificial fragrances.

The baby oil is enriched with avocado oil, olive oil, and vitamin B5 specifically made for baby’s hair. Among the top benefits of olive oil for hair are prevention of dandruff and improvement of shine and hair growth. 

The vitamin B5 is vital for healthy hair growth and acts as an antioxidant. Furthermore, vitamin B5 protects you and your baby’s hair follicles against damage caused by free radicals.

Unlike most other products in this review, though, this oil contains mineral oil, which isn’t natural. It’s thought that mineral oil can actually clog the pores, preventing impurities from leaving. Several more ingredients on the list of this product are chemically processed. 

If you or your baby suffer from sensitive or easily irritated skin, try this product first on a little patch. Compared with other products, Johnson’s Baby Hair Oil is one of the most affordable, competing for products on the market.

Pros

  • Specifically made for baby hair
  • Trusted, experienced company
  • Contains avocado oil
  • Contains olive oil

Cons

  • Contains mineral oil
  • Not organic
  • Few natural ingredients

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Baby Oil Rub by SHEA MOISTURE

The Raw Shea Butter Baby oil by Shea Moisture is a multipurpose baby oil. Among its ingredients, include certified organic raw shea butter, argan oil and chamomile. One of the most important characteristics of raw shea butter is its anti-inflammatory properties.

It can also help to reduce redness and swelling. Furthermore, it’s a suitable ingredient for calming massages to your baby’s body and scalp during or after bathing. 

Argan oil is famous for its rich hydrating effect on irritated and dry skin, with a high concentration of fatty acids and vitamin E. Natural chamomile oil in this baby oil can help to calm your baby and make it easier to prepare for bedtime.

Further ingredients include coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, and sweet almond oil, as well as several natural fragrances. The use of Myrrh and Honeysuckle creates a soothing effect that will calm your baby.

The product comes in a clear plastic bottle of 8 ounces with a plain lid. Considering the natural and organic ingredients, it’s an affordable option to moisturize your baby’s skin and scalp. The family-owned company supports ethically fair trading and uses ingredients from organic farms in West Africa.

Although this baby oil is not fully organic, the list of ingredients combine together to soothe and moisturize your baby’s hair and skin. If you care for fair-traded, organic products that are free from mineral oil, this might be a viable option for you.

Pros

  • Free from mineral oil
  • With certified, organic raw shea butter
  • Fairtrade ingredients
  • With calming essential oils

Cons

  • Not fully organic
  • The product is prone to leaking

Which is the Best Baby Hair Oil for You?

We have a clear winner among all our best baby hair oil products that we reviewed: Nourishing Baby Oil with Almond and Avocado for Babies and Kids, made by MamaEarth

It contains natural ingredients, some of which are organic. It’s made without chemicals and specifically made for baby hair and the treatment of cradle cap. Furthermore, it’s a multipurpose body oil that can be used by the whole family.

Ryan is a co-founder of Smart Parent Advice. When he isn't spending time with his wife, Cristin, or his two children, he can often be found running around on the tennis court.