When it comes to hair care, argan oil is an all-star ingredient you’ll see popping up on the labels of everything from shampoo and conditioner to hair treatments, but do you know where argan oil comes from and what it can really do for your hair? We’re here to help crack the code when it comes to this intriguing ingredient. Let’s dive into some questions you might have about it, including:

• What is argan oil?

• Is argan oil good for hair?

• What are argan oil’s benefits for hair?

• How can I use argan oil for hair?

What is argan oil?

Argan oil is extracted from the kernels grown on Argania spinosa trees. Called argan for short, these ancient desert trees are native to North Africa. Golden in color and nutty in flavor, argan oil has been used in traditional Moroccan medicine and cooking as well.

Is argan oil good for hair?

People often choose to use argan oil for hair treatments due to its nutrient-rich nature. Because it is made up of smaller molecules than other oils such as coconut or olive oils, argan oil is more easily absorbed into the hair cuticle. It contains fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants, all which contribute to argan oil’s benefits for hair. Here are some of its most beneficial qualities:

• Hydrating: Argan oil can help improve moisture levels in your scalp, hydrate your hair follicles, and improve your hair’s elasticity.

• Detangling: Argan oil acts as an effective detangler, giving hair strands some much-needed slip, so they can be easily combed out after washing.

• Boosts shine: Argan oil contains fatty acids that can help restore shine to your tresses.

• Taming frizz and flyaways: Argan oil helps minimize frizz without weighing your hair down because it has a lightweight texture.

• Provides antioxidant protection: Argan oil contains antioxidants that can help protect your hair from free radicals generated from environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays. These free radicals can cause oxidative damage to your hair, which shows in the form of rough texture, dullness and frizz. One 2022 study found that using argan oil as a pretreatment protected hair from oxidative damage.

4 ways to use argan oil for hair

Are you ready to enjoy the bevy of benefits that argan oil has to offer? Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate products with argan oil into your regular hair care routine.

1) Wash with an argan oil shampoo and conditioner

Refresh your wash day routine with an argan oil-infused shampoo-and-conditioner pair. ColorProof Moisture Shampoo and ColorProof Moisture Conditioner have sulfate-free formulas and argan oil to help replenish hydration and enhance shine. (Plus, the minty mojito-inspired fragrance is a refreshing bonus.)

For dry, damaged hair, OLAPLEX No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and OLAPLEX No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner help strengthen your strands as they cleanse and condition with proprietary ingredient Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, which helps rebuild broken disulfide bonds. Argan oil as well as apricot kernel oil and sunflower seed oil help leave your hair looking soft and shiny.

2) Try a leave-in treatment

Created to help revive hair that’s looking worse for wear as a result of heat styling, chemical treatments or just everyday stress, Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-in Treatment relies on the hydrating qualities of argan oil and hyaluronic acid to leave hair looking soft, smooth and frizz-free. Using this product to damp hair after washing will also help make detangling a cinch as well as provide heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

3) Apply a hair oil

A hair oil such as the cult-favorite Moroccanoil Treatment is a versatile product to have in your hair care arsenal. With a minimalist formula that allows argan oil to be the starring ingredient, Moroccanoil’s signature product can be applied to damp hair before blow-drying or air-drying, or you can work it into dry hair to help tame flyaways and smooth frizz. Either way you use it, this argan oil treatment will help boost radiance, smoothness and manageability.

Another favorite is Surface Bassu Gold Hydrating Oil, which you can apply to damp hair to enhance the vibrancy of your color while hydrating and conditioning. Augustinus Bader The Hair Oil is yet another option that you can apply to damp hair after washing to help reduce brittleness and breakage and decrease frizz. In addition to argan oil, this formula also features rose and geranium oils, which lend a delicate floral scent.

4) Finish with an argan oil styler

Using a styling product with argan oil is a great way to incorporate this beneficial ingredient into your hair care routine. For short hair styles, Verb Sculpting Clay adds texture and shape with a blend of waxes and oils, including argan, avocado and sunflower seed oils.

For curly and coily hair, Ouidad Coil Infusion Good Shape Defining Gel provides hold and definition while enhancing moisture with argan oil and locking out humidity with sericin, a silk-derived protein.

If you have color-treated hair, taking care of it with the right products and practices is well worth the effort. You can read about how to make hair color last longer on the LovelySkin Blog.