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Does your job description read: hang out in field, scare off crows? No? Then you don't want hair that looks like it’s made of straw. The aim is locks that look soft and shiny. When your hair feels dry and looks damaged, add a hair-smoothing oil to your hair to turn it from straw to silk. One of the trendy new oil ingredients on the market, argan oil is shipped all the way from Morocco and can get your tresses back to their sleek, shiny best.
What Is Argan Oil?
Moroccans have a natural beauty secret: the Argan tree. This tree produces nuts that produce oil that can be added to skin and haircare products. When this oil is broken down, it contains ingredients like vitamin E, an antioxidant that can improve your hair’s condition. The oil also is high in fatty acids, making it one of the few times adding fat to your body can be a good thing.
Softens
Argan oil is chiefly added to conditioners because of its abilities to soften your hair. Like other oils, argan oil can penetrate your hair shaft to restore moisture. Oils also are good at preventing further damage because they’re just like your oil-and-vinegar salad dressing: oil and water-based products don’t mix. That means the oil can repel water that can seep into your hair shaft, which makes the hair shaft swell and ultimately causes dryness.
Shines
Shiny hair not only looks good, it is synonymous with good hair health. Just like the oil gives your skin a sheen, it also makes your hair look shinier. Salma Hayek relies on argan oil to give her hair a glossy appearance, according to “Allure” magazine. Since it’s obviously working out for her, applying a dollop of argan oil conditioner may be just the thing to give you a movie-star mane. Just don’t overdo it on the conditioner -- there’s a fine line between greasy and shiny.
Warning
While argan oil can work wonders for your hair texture, avoid putting it too close to your roots. The oil contains oleic acid, which can clog your pores. That means you definitely don’t want to put it on acne-prone skin or apply it to your scalp where clogged pores equal greasy hair and irritated hair follicles. Since the goal of your argan oil conditioner is making your hair look good, clogged pores really aren’t going to help you. Limit argan oil conditioners to your roots up to the midpoint of your hair shaft instead.
