First off, what is Argan oil? Here's how Wikipedia defines it:
The Argan (Argania spinosa) is a species of tree endemic to the calcareous semi-desert Sous valley of southwestern Morocco and to the Algerian region of Tindouf in the western Mediterranean region. It is the sole species in the genus Argania.
Argan grows to 8-10 metres high, and live to 150–200 years old. They are thorny, with gnarled trunks. The leaves are small, 2–4 cm long, oval with a rounded apex. The flowers are small, with five pale yellow-green petals; flowering is in April. The fruit is 2–4 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, with a thick, bitter peel surrounding a sweet-smelling but unpleasantly flavoured layer of pulpy pericarp. This surrounds the very hard nut, which contains one (occasionally two or three) small, oil-rich seeds. The fruit takes over a year to mature, ripening in June to July of the following year.
And here's what it looks like:
The plant has been used for centuries as a hair and skin treatment as well as used in cooking as a dip and dressing given that it's rich in essential fatty acids. These same fatty acids make the oil fantastic for hair and skin, much like how one finds olive oil treatments and the like. The pure oil can be pricey, so the best thing to look for are good blends.
That's where this product comes in: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil.
Now Organix makes a number of Argan oil products like shampoos and conditioners, but I used the Penetrating Oil. I've been using it for about a month now, and I really like it as long as I don't accidentally use too much. It does have a habit of pouring quickly from the bottle.
It feels rather sticky at first use, but it spreads evenly through the hair, and only a small bit needs to be used. I use it immediately after a shower once my hair has been towel-dried enough to keep it from being drippy, and make sure there's an even coat of it through my hair. I always let my hair air dry as it tends to dry out quickly, so once it was dry, I took a picture.
This is an unedited shot of my hair after it dried:
I haven't combed or picked my hair other than running my fingers through it. There's a little frizz, but no where near the amount I usually have, and the curls and waves are well-defined. It's also quite shiny under the light and the color comes out a bit richer. The photo is just a bit blurry (sorry), so it's hard to see some of the definition, but the ends also look a bit healthier.
Overall, I really like it. The one drawback is that I can't go as long between hair washings as I normally do. Again, because I am prone to very dry hair, I only wash it every three to four days unless I've been working hard at the gym or have been swimming (thinner oilier hair needs washing more often). With the Argan oil, I have to do it every two to three days or it feels dirtier than it is. If I use less of the oil and use it in conjunction with my regular leave-in conditioner, then I can stick to my usual three to four days.
If any of you have tried a different brand or have anything to share on your experiences, please leave a comment below!
J!
