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Purchasing the right baby hair oil which has been specifically formulated to use on your baby’s hair can be a great treatment for cradle cap and can even activate hair growth. You can incorporate baby hair oil as part of your massage routine, to treat a dry scalp or to help make brushing their baby hair an easier task. There are many great hair oils on the market for baby hair that can be split into two categories: mineral oils and vegetable oils. Mineral oil is a petroleum derivative used in most cosmetics and hair oils. Vegetable oils, on the other hand, come from plants such as coconut oil, jojoba oil and almond oil; they are all rich in vitamin E and safe to apply on your infant’s skin as well as their hair from birth.
If your newborn has cradle cap then you may wish to trial a specialist mineral hair oil product that has been specifically designed to treat the skin condition, whereas if you’re looking for a hair oil that can be used on your baby’s skin as well as their hair then a vegetable oil would be best for you. This is our guide to the best baby hair oil products available for you to purchase and use on your baby’s hair and scalp.
1. Johnson’s Baby Cottontouch Hair Oil
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The best baby hair oil overall is the Johnson’s Baby Cottontouch hair oil. Johnson’s are a brand you can trust when it comes to getting the best products for your newborn and Johnson’s baby hair oil is no exception. Johnson’s Cottontouch hair and scalp oil has been designed specifically for delicate newborn skin and baby’s scalp and hair. Johnson’s hair oil for baby contains high quality, nourishing ingredients including coconut oil, cotton seed oil – and although it is a mineral oil it is free from dyes and parabens. This hair oil product is great to use when massaging your baby’s scalp; the fast-absorbing formula of the oil helps to loosen dry flakes caused by cradle cap. You can apply Johnson’s scalp and hair oil on your newborn’s hair from the first day. Priced below £3 for 300ml this is a wonderful hair oil for babies and is a great product to have ready for their delicate heads as soon as you wish.
2. Colief Baby Scalp Oil
The Colief baby scalp oil is the best oil to purchase if your infant is currently suffering from cradle cap that you would like to treat. Colief is a mineral oil that helps to soften flaky skin on the scalp using a combination of naturally derived ingredients. Containing Olive Oil, Chamomile and Vitamin E: Colief scalp oil will moisturise and soothe the top of their head where the dry skin appears. This is the best oil for babies suffering from dry and flaky scalps as it will be quickly absorbed into their skin and the natural oils help to soften it. Colief hair oil is free from any harsh ingredients so you can apply Colief products on your newborn’s scalp from birth if you wish to. If you would like to treat your baby’s cradle cap or dry skin on your baby’s scalp then this is the best baby oil for you.
3. Kokoso Baby Coconut Oil
When it comes to using oil on your baby’s hair, scalp and skin – the best baby oil overall has to be coconut oil. Of all of the vegetable hair oils in our list, coconut oil is our top choice to apply on baby hair. Coconut oil moisturisers, soothes and protects when you apply it regularly to your baby’s hair, scalp and skin. Kokoso have created a 100% premium organic coconut oil specifically for your baby; with only the highest quality coconuts selected and free from any additional ingredients. Coconut oil is the most gentle and natural way of caring for your baby’s hair and skin. The natural baby oil works wonderfully on dry skin on an infant’s scalp and can also be used on cradle cap thanks to the vitamin E within the oil. Kokoso Coconut baby oil is available in two sizes 168g and 70g with both being priced under £10 you could purchase both products to use the larger pot at home and keep the smaller pot of coconut oil for your bag. It is an ideal product to have in your bag thanks to the solid consistency meaning leakages are less likely to occur. Coconut oil has many benefits to both you and your baby’s hair and skin so we’d highly recommend having a jar available to use.
4. Naissance Almond Oil
Almond oil is another fantastic natural vegetable oil to use on your baby’s hair, scalp and skin to keep your newborn moisturised and smooth. Where coconut oil is hard and needs to be warmed to reach liquid consistency, almond oil is a liquid consistency straight from the bottle. Almond oil products can benefit hair in many ways, when it comes to your baby’s hair the oil can give their hair a softer texture over time when it’s massaged into baby’s hair follicles. If your baby has particularly curly hair, prone to nots, then you may find almond oil makes your baby’s hair easier to comb through. Additionally, almond oil has been proven effective in increasing hair growth (due to high quantities of vitamin E) which may be a reason why you are searching for the best baby hair oils. This is wonderful for mum’s hair, skin and nails too. The Naissance almond oil is available in 3 different sizes with 1 litre for £9 which is fantastic value for money when compared to either baby hair oil products.
5. Childs Farm Baby Oil Coconut
Childs Farm is the UK’s number 1 sensitive toiletry brand for baby and child and their baby oil with organic coconut is just one of their award-winning products. Although this isn’t specifically a hair oil as such, you can apply the Child’s Farm baby oil coconut in hair as well as on your baby’s scalp and skin. You can use this mineral baby oil on your newborn skin and upwards: it is suitable for sensitive skin and is even safe to use on top of skin with eczema without irritating the skin further. Olive oil features heavily within the Childs Farm option: it is recommended to use on newborn skin and hair as it has many benefits; olive oil can soften frizzy hair, naturally treat a dry scalp and can even strengthen baby’s hair. At £6 for 75ml, this is one of the more expensive baby oils on our list but you know you’re buying a high quality hair oil baby will benefit from.
6. Naissance Jojoba Oil
Naissance Jojoba oil is a non-allergenic, natural vegetable oil which is suitable for baby hair and sensitive skin. This oil has been extracted from the jojoba plant and is rich in vitamins and minerals which makes it a top baby oil product to keep their hair nourished and can thus support baby hair growth. Naissance has created a 100% pure, unrefined jojoba oil free from any added extras and is not tested on animals. This oil is wonderful for dry skin and to apply topically to treat cradle cap too as well as putting the baby oil in hair. Jojoba will keep baby hair soft and shiny and make it easy to comb through whilst also supporting hair growth as the moisture prevents breakages. The smell of this item has been praised throughout the reviews. Priced at £12.99 for 1 litre this is one of the best hair oils to have in your bathroom cabinet for the whole family to benefit from.
7. Naissance Avocado Oil
Avocado Oil is a fantastic oil for hair growth, scalp health and top of the list for strengthening hair after regular use. If you are looking for a baby hair oil for those reasons then avocado oil is a wonderful vegetable oil to try. This oil is rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids and whilst it has all those benefits for baby hair it is also light and easily absorbed onto their skin. Naissance are a brand you can trust when it comes to purchasing vegetable oil: their oil has been certified organic by the SOIL Association, not tested on animals and is vegan whilst also being free from hexane and GMO. Priced at £16 for a litre bottle and as with all vegetable oils on our list, avocado oil has just as many benefits to your hair and skin as they will for your baby so they’re ideal to have in your bathroom cupboard.
8. Shea Moisture Baby Oil Rub
The Shea Moisture raw shea butter, chamomile and argan oil baby oil rub scented with frankincense and myrrh is just as delightful as it sounds. The shea butter deeply moisturises, chamomile holds anti-inflammatory properties and argan oil is high in vitamin E to keep skin and hair soft and smooth. This oil is cruelty free and is free from parabens, sulphates and mineral oil. The Shea Moisture baby oil rub has is safe to use on baby and skin from newborn onwards.
This oil would make the best baby shower gift: throughout history frankincense and myrrh have been given as a gift of beauty, as they are known to repair and rejuvenate skin, making this oil a really special gift for both mum and baby to enjoy. Priced below £13 for 237ml this is a more expensive oil product on our list but it is one of the more luxurious hair oils and makes a lovely gift for mum and her little one.
9. Burt’s Bees Baby Oil
Burt’s Bees is one of the best baby brands in the UK. Their 100% natural, nourishing baby oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. The oil is made with apricot oil and grapeseed oil which help to soothe dry skin and would therefore be best if your baby has any dry skin patches either on their body or head. You can moisturise your baby’s delicate skin and hair whilst protecting them from dryness with this hydrating oil that encourages soft, smooth skin. The beautiful apricot scent has been praised in many of the reviews as one of the best features of this oil. Priced at below £8 for 115ml it is a little expensive compared to other oils on our list but with Burt’s Bees being one of the best baby brands, you know it is a product you can trust.
10. Vatika Naturals Alma Kids Oil
This nourishing hair oil by Vatika is enriched with both alma, almond and olive oil to create a wonderful product for your baby hair. The packaging shows this hair oil is aimed at children; with bright pinks and greens and an image of a princess alongside diagrams of olives, almonds and gooseberries (alma oil is taken from the gooseberry). Despite the packaging indicating an older user, this hair oil is perfectly safe to use on your baby’s hair thanks to the 100% natural ingredients. The hair oils combine to create a product that will promote hair growth within baby hair whilst nourishing their scalp. This is perhaps the best oil if you’re looking for an oil to help keep your baby’s hair soft and strong; if their baby hair is long and prone to tangling then this oil is best. Priced below £7 for 200ml this is a great baby hair oil rich in 3 natural oils to soften, strengthen and shine baby hair.
What oil can I use for my baby’s hair?
Broadly speaking most vegetable oils and hair oils created for little ones will be suitable to use on your baby’s hair. Their hair and scalp conditions will determine which of the hair oils would be best for their hair. If your little one has cradle cap then a specialist product such as Colief would be best. Black and mixed race children can have hair which tends to tangle more easily so natural hair oils rich in almond or olive oil and free from sulphates and parabens would be best, such as the Shea Moisture oil. If your baby’s hair is short but you would like to incorporate it into their overall massage then coconut oil such as Kokoso is best as you can use the coconut oil safely on their body, scalp and hair.
Is coconut oil good for baby’s hair?
Coconut oil is a wonderful oil to use on your baby’s hair. Coconut oil can be applied to baby’s scalp and hair to treat cradle cap or any dry skin patches. Compared to other vegetable oils, coconut oil has high moisture retaining capacity meaning that when it is used on hair, it keeps it soft and moist. Coconut oil is one of the best baby products thanks to its consistency too: when it’s at room temperature it is in a solid state and only becomes liquid when it is warmed up between your hands. The benefit of this solid state is that if the jar is knocked over without the lid on then you have no fear of it pouring all over the nursery or your changing mat etc which is ideal when you have a wiggly child around!
Is olive oil good for baby hair?
There are many benefits to using extra virgin olive oil on your newborn or tot’s hair. Olive oil contains great hydrating qualities that naturally treat and dry skin conditions on your infant’s scalp. If your tot has frizzy or coarse hair then olive oil helps to soften it whilst also strengthening their hair. The benefit of using virgin olive oil over coconut oil is that the liquid consistency can make it quicker to apply but do be careful ensuring the lid is tightly replaced to prevent spillages. We would recommend purchasing extra virgin olive oil as this is made from pure, cold pressed olives free from any additional ingredients whereas olive oil is a blend including processed oils.
How can I make my baby’s hair thicker?
Generally speaking, hair thickness is genetic and is based on hair follicles that cannot be changed no matter which products you use. However, clean follicles that are free of any dirt or build up will allow all hair strands to come through. Using a soft towel to gently rub their head can also prevent any damage to the follicles. Well conditioned hair can appear thicker and moisturised hair is less likely to break which again creates a thicker look. Massage coconut oil into your infant’s hair regularly to keep it soft and hydrated. Embrace their curls, waves or straight hair – this can’t be changed so the more you work with their natural hair style the better condition it will be in.
Summary
Baby hair oil is an item that you may not have considered when initially compiling your newborn shopping list yet it is an excellent addition to have. Whether it is to treat a patch of dry skin on their scalp, to promote and encourage hair growth, to aid with detangling whilst combing or to soften frizzy hair – the perfect oil is out there for you. We hope this guide has helped you to establish which oil is best for both you and your newborn and we look forward to hearing any feedback you have in the comment section below whether it is an item from the list or another that you could recommend.
