• The Average Joe

Argan Oil. Liquid Gold For Hair.

Updated: Sep 4

We've all heard of argan oil but why is it so popular and what does it actually do for hair? Let's find out!

BYRDIE wrote a piece "According to Celebrity Hairstylists, Your Hair Needs Argan Oil"

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To find out exactly what it is about argan oil that makes it wildly beneficial for our precious locks, we tapped into two celebrity hairstylists Andrew Fitzsimons and Kevin Hughes. Below, they're breaking down everything there is to know about this miracle oil and all of the things it can do (spoiler alert: there's a lot).

What is Argan Oil?

Derived from the kernels of the argan tree, argan oil can be used in the kitchen (as it typically is in Morocco, where its tree is native to) or for cosmetic reasons. The oil itself can be found in its pure form, and because of its slew of beauty benefits, it can be applied topically to the skin, nails, and hair to hydrate and nourish (more on that later). While it can be easy to treat argan oil like a miracle worker (because let's face it, in some cases, it really is), it shouldn't be used as the primary remedy for conditions of serious hair loss—in cases like these, it's best to visit your doctor.

The Benefits of Argan Oil

Both Hughes and Fitzsimons agree that much of argan oil's magic stems from its composition: It's rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. If you're looking to make hair softer and more manageable (aren't we all?), this can be your go-to oil. "Argan oil is an age-old beauty secret that has many uses, namely helping to hydrate and soften the hair," says Hughes. "With its high content of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E, the benefits of argan oil naturally help to increase hair's elasticity and consistently restore shine to dull, lifeless hair."

Fitzsimons agrees with the power of argan oil, adding that the vitamin E it contains is crucial to the health of our hair, as its rich antioxidant properties help neutralize hair damage from free radicals and other elements. "Whether we realize it or not, we put our hair through a lot of damage with everyday pollution, chemical treatments, and hot tools," he says. "Vitamin E—which argan oil is high in—helps keep your follicles free from damage all while helping to prevent splitting and breakage."

What to Look For in an Argan Oil Product

Argan oil is lauded for being a haircare wonder, but how can you tell if you've landed a quality one? Looking at color, scent, and potency will help you identify real versus fake, quality versus refined.

  • Color: Authentic argan oil should be a golden yellow hue. If it's too pale, it's likely that it's either been mixed with other oils or has been filtered (which won't do much for your hair). Its texture should also be smooth, not watery.

  • Scent: While hand-pressed argan oil will have some differentiators when it comes to smell, pure argan oil will almost always have a nutty scent. Also, argan oil should never not have an aroma—if this is the case, it may be the case that it's been deodorized (and thus, stripped of all of its nourishing benefits).

  • Potency: To reap the full benefits, use argan oil in its purest form (meaning, the product is labeled as being a 100% argan oil). When it comes to using the oil in shampoos, conditioners, and other hairstyling products, you'll know if argan is the star if it's listed as one of the first ingredients on the label.

How to Use Argan Oil

Depending on what your needs are, there are a number of ways to experience the goodness argan oil provides.

  • As a nourishing conditioner: "Argan oil is rich in nutrients and vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E; antioxidants; linoleic acid; and omega-6 fatty acids. Because of this, it's a great ingredient for conditioning. The combination of all these super-nourishing ingredients leaves the hair strands softer, shinier, more manageable, and frizz-free," says Fitzsimons.

  • As a protective spray: "When working on clients, I have to really make sure that their hair is in peak condition, so I look for ingredients like silk proteins to make sure the hair is as protected as possible while I'm using hot tools," he adds. "I like argan oil as an ingredient in heat protection products because it's very nourishing and conditioning for the hair, and it provides great slip that makes styling easier."


  • As a shine-inducing hair oil: "High-quality oil-infused products are essential to maintaining shiny, healthy hair because hair oils are made to penetrate into your strands (as opposed to serums, which usually sit on the surface of the strands)," notes Hughes. Use this if your strands are seriously parched.

  • As an effective styling product: "Argan oil provides excellent shine to the strands and has major anti-frizz benefits," says Fitzsimons. "For those with textured hair, it can be used to help define the curls."

  • As a relieving scalp treatment: "Because argan oil is rich in antioxidants, it's an effective scalp treatment," advises Fitzsimons. "It can help reduce the scalp inflammation that leads to dandruff, itchiness, and other scalp issues."

Come discover our full line of Argan Oil products in the link below!


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