What a Hair Oil Actually Does
Hair oil is one of those product categories where the marketing often outpaces the reality — and where the wrong choice genuinely makes hair worse, not better. Before getting into recommendations, it’s worth being clear about what oils do and don’t do, so you can choose the right one for your hair.
Hair oils work primarily on the cuticle — the outer layer of the hair shaft. They smooth the cuticle’s surface, reduce friction between strands (which is what causes frizz and breakage), seal in moisture that’s already in the hair, and create a barrier that slows moisture loss and UV damage. What they don’t do is penetrate deeply into the cortex or repair structural damage — that’s what bond treatments like Olaplex are for.
The practical implication: oil on its own won’t fix dry, brittle, or damaged hair. But oil combined with a good conditioning routine and, where needed, bond repair is one of the most effective combinations for maintaining healthy, smooth, shiny hair.
Moroccanoil Treatment — Why It’s Our First Recommendation
Moroccanoil Treatment is the product that put argan oil on the haircare map, and it’s still the best version of what it does. The formula has evolved since the original, but the core remains: a lightweight, fast-absorbing argan oil base that’s heat-activated to protect up to 230°C.
What distinguishes it from most oils is that it’s genuinely multi-functional. Apply it to damp hair before blow-drying: it conditions, detangles, protects against heat, and speeds up drying time. Apply a small amount to dry hair as a finish: it smooths frizz and flyaways without greasiness. It also contains UV filters, which matters significantly in Queenstown where the UV index is higher than most clients expect year-round — even in winter.
The original Moroccanoil Treatment suits medium to thick hair. For fine hair, the Moroccanoil Treatment Light is the same formulation in a lower-weight version — same protection, less risk of weighing the hair down.
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil — For Damaged or Bleached Hair
Olaplex No.7 is a different category of oil to Moroccanoil Treatment. Where Moroccanoil primarily works on the cuticle surface, Olaplex No.7 contains Olaplex’s bond-building technology — it works within the hair shaft to repair broken bonds while simultaneously protecting against heat up to 230°C and adding shine.
Our recommendation: if your hair is healthy or only mildly dry, Moroccanoil Treatment is the everyday choice. If your hair is bleached, heavily colour-treated, or structurally compromised — signs include elasticity loss, breakage, and persistent dryness — Olaplex No.7 addresses the underlying issue while still performing as a heat protectant and styling oil. You can also layer both: a small amount of No.7 applied first, then a drop of Moroccanoil Treatment through the ends.
What About Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, and DIY Treatments?
This comes up regularly in the salon. Coconut oil and castor oil are both real oils with genuine benefits for some hair types — but they’re also heavy, difficult to remove completely, and can cause buildup that weighs the hair down and makes colour treatments unpredictable. For thick, very dry, or natural hair with no colour, coconut oil can work well. For fine, colour-treated, or blonde hair, it’s usually the wrong choice.
The advantage of a formulated professional oil like Moroccanoil Treatment is that it’s engineered to be absorbed and rinsed cleanly, to work with heat tools without overheating or burning, and to be compatible with colour-treated hair. It costs more per bottle, but the formulation is the reason it performs consistently where DIY alternatives are hit and miss.
How to Use Hair Oil Correctly
- On damp hair before blow-drying: Apply to towel-dried hair from mid-lengths to ends. Work through with fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Blow-dry as normal. This is the most impactful application — the heat activates the oil and drives it into the cuticle as it dries.
- As a pre-iron treatment: A small amount worked through dry hair before using straighteners or a curling iron adds heat protection and improves the final finish. Less than you’d use on wet hair.
- As a finishing product: One or two drops warmed between the palms and smoothed over the surface of dry hair tames flyaways and adds shine. This is purely aesthetic but effective.
- What to avoid: Applying oil to the scalp or roots (it accelerates oiliness), using too much (starts immediately looking greasy), and applying to completely dry hair as a conditioning treatment (it sits on the surface rather than penetrating).
Both Moroccanoil Treatment and Olaplex No.7 are stocked in-salon at Iron + Ivy, Queenstown Central Shopping Centre. If you’re unsure which one is right for your hair, your stylist can advise at your next appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hair oil in New Zealand?
Moroccanoil Treatment is our top recommendation for most hair types — it’s heat-activated, provides UV protection, and conditions while you style. For damaged or bleached hair, Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil adds bond repair to the protection. For very fine hair, Moroccanoil Treatment Light delivers the same benefits without the weight. The right choice depends on your hair type and what you need the oil to do.
Should you put hair oil on wet or dry hair?
Both — but for different purposes. Applied to damp hair before blow-drying, oil seals in moisture, protects against heat, and creates a smooth finish. Applied to dry hair as a finishing product, a small amount tames flyaways and adds shine. The damp application is more impactful for conditioning; the dry application is mostly aesthetic. Most oils work well for both — the key is using less on dry hair to avoid greasiness.
Does Moroccanoil Treatment work as a heat protectant?
Yes. Moroccanoil Treatment is heat-activated and provides protection up to 230°C when applied to damp hair before styling. The argan oil base conditions and smooths while it protects, which is why hair often feels noticeably softer after blow-drying with it applied. It’s our most-recommended heat protectant for everyday use.
Can I use hair oil if I have fine hair?
Yes, with the right oil and the right amount. Heavy oils (coconut oil, castor oil) can weigh fine hair down. Lightweight argan-based oils like Moroccanoil Treatment Light are specifically formulated to provide the benefits without the weight. Apply a small amount — less than you think you need — to mid-lengths and ends only, avoiding the roots. Fine hair responds well to oil when it’s used sparingly.
Is argan oil good for colour-treated hair?
Argan oil is one of the best oils for colour-treated hair. It’s rich in oleic acid, antioxidants, and vitamin E — all of which condition and protect the hair shaft without stripping pigment. Moroccanoil Treatment, which is built on argan oil, also contains UV filters that protect colour from fading in the sun — which is particularly relevant in Queenstown where UV levels are high year-round.
About Iron + Ivy Hair Studio
Iron + Ivy is Queenstown’s award-winning hair studio, located inside Queenstown Central Shopping Centre on Grant Road. Our team of specialist stylists bring real expertise and a genuine love of hair to every appointment — whether that’s a colour transformation, a lived-in balayage, a precision cut, or bridal hair for a wedding in the mountains. We work with a focused clientele because exceptional hair takes time, skill, and care. You’ll always leave knowing exactly what went into your hair and how to look after it at home.
Ready to experience the difference? Book at Iron + Ivy Studio, Queenstown.
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