argan oil for hair and skin

What is argan oil?

Argan oil has been popular for centuries and you hear increasingly more about it. The popularity to use argan oil for your hair or skin has increased a lot again in the past 20 years or so. But what is argan oil exactly and why do people like it so much?

Argan oil comes from the kernels of the argan tree. This tree has a very specific growing area, mainly the southwest of Morocco. In that country the oil of the argan tree (argania spinosa) has been used for centuries in hair and skin products, but also for culinary reasons.

What are the benefits of argan oil?

Argan oil has been great properties and that is why you can find this ingredient often in modern cosmetic products, like hair oil, shampoo and also day creams or anti-aging products. Below I will mention a few primary benefits of argan oil for your hair and skin

It contains healthy nutrients

Argan oil is rich in many healthy nutrients, like tocopherol (vitamin E) and numerous oils. That is why argan oil contains many antioxidants and those protect your hair and skin against pollutants and free radicals. So, argan oil has particularly suitable properties to protect your hair and skin.

Argan oil provides hydration

Because of the many healthy fatty acids that argan oil contains, it is an immensely popular ingredient in hair oils. Especially when you frequently have to deal with dry hair, a hair oil with argan oil helps to revitalize your hair and add a healthy shine. Your hair will look stronger and healthier again when used for a few weeks.

Because of these same qualities, argan oil is also often added to premium shampoos and conditioners. Argan oil can withstand pretty high temperatures, so it provides protection against the heat of a blow-dryer or sunlight. That is why you can find argan oil sometimes in pre-styling sprays that provide heat protection.

Great anti-aging benefits

As said before, argan oil contains vitamin E and many nourishing oils. That is why you can also find argan oil in anti-aging products. Fine lines and wrinkles are the effect of reduced elasticity of your skin. Argan oil will hydrate and nourish your skin to keep your skin supple and smooth.

Argan oil also has anti-inflammatory properties and protects your skin against free radicals and other pollutants that can accelerate the aging of your skin.

When to use products enriched with argan oil?

I mentioned some reasons why argan oil is added so frequently to all kinds of cosmetic products, but when are these products something for you? Generally speaking, you have three categories of products that contains argan oil: hair products, skin products and culinary products.

Considering the Moquer blog is about hair, skin and grooming for men, I will skip the culinary part for now. Plenty of other blogs where you can find info about argan oil and cooking.

How to use argan oil for hair?

When it comes to hair care and hair styling, argan oil is primarily used to hydrate and nourish your hair with healthy fatty acids and oils. Especially when you have (very) curly hair, dry hair or frizzy hair, frequent use of argan oil can help to make your hair softer, smoother, and easier to manage and style.

Argan oil helps your hair to retain moisture better and that helps to reduce the chance of damage and breakage. Your hair will become stronger, shinier, and softer. It also helps to reduce split ends.

In most cases argan oil is not used pure in your hair, but it is added to hair oils that also contain other oils, like jojoba oil or castor oil. You can also find argan oil in shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in conditioners.

The density of argan oil has the benefit that it helps to withstand higher temperatures, so argan oil provides protection against heat and harmful UV-radiation.

Never use too much, especially not when you first start to use argan oil, because you do not want to make your hair greasy or oily. When you are a man with oily hair, argan oil is probably not something for you or you have to use it sparingly or just less often compared to men with hair that is more dry or frizzy.

Popular hair care products with argan oil

Not only hair care products can contain argan oil, but also many hair styling products are enriched with this oil. A styling product is in your hair an entire day, so it is a great benefit when it can hydrate and nourish your hair during that time. Some hair styling products can make your hair a bit drier when used frequently, but products with argan oil are combating this effect and help your hair to retain moisture.

Hair styling products with argan oil

Is argan oil good for skin?

When you want to improve your skincare routine and start to use higher quality products, you sometimes see that they are enriched with argan oil. You can find argan oil primarily in creams.

In the case of skincare or anti-aging products, you also see that argan oil primarily is added for more hydration. Lotions, moisturizers, day creams and night creams are examples that contain argan oil. Hyaluronic acid is also an exceedingly popular ingredient for hydration and retaining moisture.

After cleansing your skin, it is important to hydrate and repair your skin again. A face cream with argan oil can help with to restore moisture and add protection. It will also improve the elasticity of your skin and that helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. And the anti-inflammatory properties of argan oil help to reduce the chance of impurities.

You can also use argan oil pure on your skin, usually as a serum, but it is the same as with hair care, start with just a little bit and see how your skin reacts. When you have oily skin, then your skin does not need too much extra oil. Too much oil can cause impurities and acne because your pores get clogged and get inflamed.

Generally speaking, skincare products enriched with argan oil work best for men that have dry or sensitive skin.

Conclusion

Everybody has heard of argan oil, and you see if often in the ingredient list of all kinds of hair and skincare products, but what is the benefit of argan oil? Hopefully, this blog post answered that question for you, by explaining the hydrating, protecting and anti-inflammatory benefits of argan oil for your hair and skin.

For almost everybody argan oil can prove to be a useful ingredient for your hair and skincare products. You can spot this ingredient by looking for Argania spinosa kernel argan oil in the ingredient list of the products you are thinking of purchasing.

When you have oily hair because your scalp produces too much sebum or when your skin is oily, argan oil might not be the ingredient for you. Too much oil can cause dandruff, acne, impurities, or other issues.

It is always best to test products with argan oil by applying a small amount and see how your hair or skin reacts over a period of time. Then you know exactly if argan oil is something for you!

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