FACE OFF: HAIR OILS

No one wants to have greasy hair. Ever. So it seems a bit counterintuitive to use oil on your tresses. Here's the thing: Just as face oil actually helps your skin fight shininess, hair products with oil can actually help your locks look shinier, feel smoother, and--yes--even keep strands from looking stringy.

And we're seeing these products everywhere this spring. Since we imagine you're a little doubtful, to say the least, I took to the shower and tested out three very different--but very cool--new treatments to let you in on the results. The bottom line? Being a grease ball never looked so good.

The Product: Ouidad Curl Recovery Ultra Nourishing Cleansing Oil - $25

The Promise: This oil-based shampoo helps remove dirt and build-up without making hair look too shiny.

The Result: This feels like a normal cleanser--it suds and foams like your favorite shampoo--but after hair will feel squeaky clean. But that doesn't come at a cost to hydration; because the formula features Mafura Butter and Kalahari Melon Seen Oil, tresses get ultra-moisturized, too.

Use It: If you've got ultra-dry or damaged hair--and especially if you've got curly, wavy, or kinky hair, since that's Ouidad's specialty.

The Product L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Nourishing Masque - $35

The Promise: Balances out your hair's natural oil levels through intense, targeted moisturizing.

The Result: Your tresses will feel instantly smoother the moment you wash out this ultra-nourishing leave-in mask (it just needs two to three minutes to work its magic, so none of that sitting around in a towel silliness with this one). The oil in question--Argan and Cotton Seed--are both all-natural, making the entire formula paraben-free.

Use It: If you've got some seriously dry hair and need a booster shot for spring.

The Product: Sachauan Intensive Hair Oil - $45

The Promise: Both a leave-in treatment and a styling aid that repairs, strengthens, and enriches hair while also protecting it against the elements (or, you know, blow dryers).

The Result: I was a bit nervous about using an oil-based product (this one features Argan Oil and Buckthorn Oil Complex) once I was out of the shower, but my hair was anything but greasy after; instead, it felt incredible soft and--as a curly-haired bonus--not frizzy at all.

Use It: If your hair is looking dull, stressed from over-styling, or particularly brittle and dry.

Sachauan Intensive Hair Oil - $45

Ouidad Curl Recovery Ultra Nourishing Cleansing Oil - $25

L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Nourishing Masque - $35Ouidad Curl