Oiling your hair with oil may seem like a seriously difficult thing to do in modern times but it does work. Argan oil for tresses seems to be an unnecessary expense but it does work wonders on the texture and smoothness of curls and skin.
What is Argan oil?
Argan oil is a variety of oil that is produced from argan kernels. The tree is native to Morocco and nuts are produced all through the year. The tree is well known for its cosmetic and medicinal properties and it grows wild in the semi-desert soil of the Sahara. According to legend, the nut of the argan tree was so tasty that birds and goats used to climb the tree to eat the fruit. The undigested nuts were excreted in stool and it was collected by local tribesmen. The Berbers of Morocco used to collect the undigested nuts and then cold grind them with water to collect the fresh oil. The oil is now commercially produced by harvesting the fruit and sorting the nut from the pulp. Almost all argan oil use in cosmetics is now produced commercially but individual families create their own oil for internal consumption.
Nutritional Value of argan oil
Argan oil is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols, phenols and carotenes. These compounds are extremely effective in fixing moisture into skin and hair resulting in softer, smoother skin and hair. The oil is also perfect for internal consumption and can be consumed as a paste or an oil dip to encourage the growth of much smoother skin and hair. Traditionally, unroasted nuts are used in a cold extraction process to extract the most nutrients from the oil for cosmetic and skin care products.
How to use Argan oil for hair care
• Argan oil for hair care is available in the form of cold unpressed oils. These oils have to be applied directly to hair and left overnight or at least for two hours. Wash off the oil with warm water. Do not wash off the oil completely as the remnants of the oil tend to make tresses softer and smoother. Do not use conditioner, shine serum or leave-in conditioner after using the oil treatment as it will tend to make tresses much oilier.
• Argan oil for hair care is also available in the form of deep conditioning masks, conditioning creams etc. These products are specifically manufactured for a particular use. Wash your tresses before use and ensure that the argan oil product is used according to manufacturer’s instructions. These products work especially well if you wrap a hot wet towel around your hair after applying the product.
• Argan oil for hair care is also available in the form of mane shine serums. These are the best variety of products for oily curls or tresses that is prone to dandruff. Wash your tresses with an anti dandruff shampoo and then wipe on the argan oil for hair care shine serum. Two drops of this serum are ideal for oily hair.
There are many more products that use argan oil to care for skin and hair. Ensure that you check the ingredients list before purchasing.