Oils are the workhorses of natural and clean hair care. Their presence is nearly ubiquitous in the market: You can use them in their pure form, but you can also find them infused in practically every product out there—from conditioners to styling creams. One oil in particular stands out for its hair-helping properties: vitamin E oil.  

Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble antioxidant, or a molecule that is able to neutralize free radicals in the skin, hair, and body. That said, it has the ability to manage oxidative stress and photoaging for skin and hair. Vitamin E is also revered in the dermatology community for its hydrating abilities, with anecdotal accounts of happy, moisturized skin.

In fact, research backs up many of these benefits: 

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Vitamin E is incredibly versatile in use, from products to supplements. "It’s relatively easy to weave into your routine in a way that’s best suited for you," says Branch. Here are some ways to incorporate the oil into your hair care regimen:

As mentioned, vitamin E may be able to promote scalp circulation, so applying the oil directly on your scalp (assuming you don't face irritation) can help you reap those healthy hair growth benefits. Simply apply the oil onto thinning areas post-rinse. Bonus points if you throw in a scalp massage, while you're at it.

You can also just use a pure vitamin E oil directly on the strands. "An easy and simple way to use it is to apply it to your hair and scalp, distributing evenly, and allowing it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before you shampoo and condition as normal," Stenson says.

If you want to take it via supplementation, you can take vitamin E oil capsules or a hair and beauty supplement that has vitamin E already in it. Although, the NIH recommends you shouldn't exceed a dose of 1,000 IUs per day4 when ingesting it orally.

You can also use vitamin E oil on dry styles to eliminate pesky flyaways: Simply warm up the oil in your hands before slicking back the hairs. Just make sure not to overdo it on the roots, as they can read greasy. (Unless that's the look you're going for, then by all means.)

If you are interested in incorporating vitamin E into your routine, you can find plenty of products that formulate the antioxidant into it. Below, our favorite picks:

Vitamin E is a hair care mainstay, beloved for its moisturizing and balancing properties. Plus, it's a super versatile ingredient, used in a smattering of hair care products and supplements, so there's plenty of room to discover how to work it into your arsenal.