Does Argan Oil Affect Hair Growth?

Argan oil is a multipurpose beauty wonder found in many cosmetics and beauty products. It's well-known that argan oil has benefits for skin and hair, but does it actually help stimulate hair growth or help combat hair loss? Unfortunately, it doesn't seem so.

Read on to discover more about what this pride of Morocco can and can't do for your hair — plus, find out what products you really should be using to encourage thicker looking hair.

 

What Is Argan Oil?

Argan oil comes from the argan tree, Argania spinosa, which grows almost exclusively in the Mediterranean climate of the Sous Valley in Morocco. Considered a luxury item in Morocco, argan oil has become more of a staple beauty and cosmetics ingredient in America and some European countries.

Argan trees are angiosperms, meaning they produce seeds within a carpel. The tree's oval-shaped fruits look a lot like olives, only larger. It's through a process called mechanical cold-pressing that the hard seeds from the fruits yield their oils.

These extracted oils are then sold as pure argan oil or used in argan oil shampoo, hair conditioner, color cosmetics or body care products.

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Argan Oil for Your Hair

Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids and also antioxidants, such as tocopherols and polyphenols. In short, it's full of nourishing treats for your hair!

Dr. Nadim A. Shaath stated in his article, "Argan Oil: Miracle Ingredient?" that applying argan oil to hair can help seal in moisture, promote elasticity and protect the hair cuticle against damage caused by harsh products and heat-styling tools. "The molecules in Moroccan argan oil are small enough to penetrate the cortex of the hair," Shaath said. "So while the oil gives hair the appearance of shine, it is also repairing, rejuvenating and moisturizing from inside the hair shaft."

 

Benefits of Argan Oil

Although research on argan oil and its effects on hair and scalp health is available, it's largely focused on its protective and rejuvenating effects on human hair. Research on argan oil for hair growth or to prevent hair loss is even more limited and, at best, unsupportive of any such claims.

Benefits of argan oil for the hair and scalp can include the following:

• Improved hair elasticity and strength. Might protect hair from protein loss from hair coloring services or hair dye.
• Hair and scalp hydration and scalp soothing, possibly due to vitamin E content.
• Hair protective effects; aid in hair breakage prevention and the prevention of split ends.

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Where Argan Oil Falls Short

Much can be said about the benefits of argan oil for the health of your skin and hair, but what about argan oil and hair loss? Argan oil for hair can be compared to using coconut oil — it can help hydrate and rejuvenate hair, but research on increasing follicular productivity or increasing the fullness of the hair is not conclusive.

The cons of argan oil include the following:

• Argan oil alone cannot provide all that hair needs for optimal growth.
• Argan oil can be heavy on the hair.
• Argan oil is a limited resource and may have environmental impacts when oversourced.

Read: The Ultimate Guide to Hair Growth Cycles

Adding Argan Oils to Your Hair Care Routine

If you decide to add argan oils to your hair care routine, be sure the argan oil you use is labeled for cosmetic use. Choose pure argan oil, organic argan oil or "clean" argan oil to eliminate the addition of unwanted chemicals or preservatives. Argan oil, especially pure argan oil, should be housed in a dark-colored glass bottle to protect the precious argan oil from degrading.

Here are a couple of ways to incorporate argan oil into your routine.

Use As a Leave-In Protectant

Apply argan oil to the ends of the hair before you blow-dry your hair to offer more protection for the ends of your hair. This may help protect against split ends (which can develop over time and with heat styling), as well as moisturize hair, temper frizzy hair and prevent loss of natural oils. Use sparingly, though, because argan oil is heavy on the hair and can make it appear soiled if overapplied.

Use As Part of a Hair Mask Treatment

Create your own at-home treatment for dry hair or damaged hair. Add argan oil drops to your favorite leave-in conditioner. Argan oil, specifically organic argan oil, as a pure treatment could get costly to use more than a few drops on the hair strands as a protectant or moisturizing agent. Therefore, add it to a carrier cream or oil (like a leave-in conditioner, mashed avocado, organic coconut oil or olive oil) and use as a hair mask treatment. Make sure to shampoo the hair afterward and use your regular conditioner.

A Better Solution for Hair Woes

Many botanical wonders are helpful to the hair, but they do not offer complete solutions. However, VEGAMOUR products are carefully formulated from a variety of beneficial, non-toxic ingredients that can help hair appear fuller, thicker and more healthy. This offers a more complete hair health program for your thinning hair rather than relying on argan oil for hair growth.

Options Other Than Argan Oil

Instead of using argan oil for your thinning hair, take a multifaceted approach targeted to your hair and scalp's needs. When you are experiencing hair loss, the following two steps need to occur:

• Switching from harsh hair care products, eating well and reducing stress are all things that can help create a less stressful environment for your hair.
• The key to thicker, fuller looking hair is not just one thing. Instead, it's a combination of efforts both in terms of hair care and lifestyle. Create the most beneficial follicular environment, stimulate blood flow to the scalp, keep hair moisturized and protect that valuable new growth with nourishing phyto-actives. VEGAMOUR haircare products can be a great addition to your daily routine.

GRO Hair Serum is VEGAMOUR's no. 1 bestselling product. This lightweight, non-greasy serum is packed with the following amazing ingredients, which make it a great alternative to argan oil:

• Curcumin: Curcuminoids are natural polyphenol compounds that come from turmeric. Their rich antioxidant properties help conquer free radicals that can damage hair.
• Red Clover: Red clover contains hair isoflavones, known to have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Mung Bean: These sprouts are packed with hair-healthy minerals such as zinc, selenium, silica, iron and vitamins A, B, C, B7 and K.

Apply the serum daily for optimal results. In clinical trials, participants saw reduced shedding and visibly thicker, fuller hair in as little as three months!

And if you're worried about dry, damaged hair, we have a solution for that too! A great alternative to an at-home argan oil treatments is using a deep conditioning hair mask. Powered by vegan protein Karmatin™, this deeply nourishing treatment hydrates, reduces frizz, enhances color and shine, and helps protect color-treated or heat-damaged hair, restoring hair's healthy appearance. Use once a week or more, depending on your hair's needs.

A Holistic Approach to Hair Care Is the Way to Go

Working argan oil into your hair care routine might provide some benefit to your hair and scalp, but it's not a solution for hair growth. Instead, if you have thinning hair or hair loss, it's important to take a holistic approach. Eat well, hydrate, reduce stress, exercise and consistently use targeted hair wellness products designed to address your hair's specific needs. With this type of approach, your hair will become fuller, stronger and more beautiful than ever!

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