Hair care with argan oil - the liquid gold from Morocco

You don't have to be an expert to know that argan oil has a magical effect on your hair.The next time you visit the drugstore, take a look in the hair products aisle. There you'll find a variety of shampoos, conditioners and hair masks that contain argan oil as their ingredient.

The popularity of argan oil has grown steadily in recent years. Argan oil is called the beauty secret of Moroccan womenand is rich in nutrients.

If you want your hair to reach the next level of care and smoothness, you should not hesitate to include a vial of this unique oil in your beauty routine.

Since the Phoenicians, argan oil helps revitalize the hair. It is particularly good to moisturize both the hair strands and the scalp.

Argan oil has become one of the most popular ingredients in the cosmetics industry in recent years. It is rich in nutrients, which is why it is used by most cosmetic companies. Because of its value for cosmetics, the argan tree is known by the name"A. cosmetosa," a pun on the name of the argan tree, "A. spinosa."

Origin of argan oil

For generations, Amazigh women in Morocco extracted the oil from argan kernels for culinary and cosmetic purposes. The women used the oil in the household to treat hair and skin diseases.

The Moroccan women extracted the oil from the argan seeds using traditional artisanal methods. This process is very time consuming. It can take up to 24 hours to produce 1 liter of argan oil.The high production costs explain why the oil is the most expensive cooking oil.

Researchers noticed that women who worked to extract the oil had no wrinkles on their hands. This led to research to scientifically prove the benefits of argan oil for skin and hair.

Happily, the local women decided to share their argan oil with the rest of the world. Soon, argan oil became popular around the world.

Argan oil in cosmetics and as a food

Cosmetic Argan Oil

Cosmetic argan oil is produced specifically for use in cosmetic products. It is usually used either as a crude oil or after a transesterification process with polyglycerin-6. Cosmetic argan oil was number one among the top 10 ingredients used in the cosmetics industry in 2009.

Argan oil, in order to preserve all of its important ingredients, should not be roasted or heated and should not be treated with chemicals. Some argan oil producers produce lower quality argan oil. It is usually blended with other oils and chemically altered. This low-quality argan oil should be avoided in cosmetic applications, because the processing does not retain all the beneficial properties of the crude oil.

Pure organic argan oil is cold-pressed and contains no additives.Through cold pressing, all nutrients in the oil are retained. It should come from certified organic farming, as this ensures that it remains free of pesticides and other foreign substances.

Traditionally, Moroccan women used argan oil for external application to fight diseases and skin conditions such as the following:

• Acne
• Wrinkles
• Dry skin
• Dandruff
• Eczema
• Joint pain
• Skin inflammation
• Hair loss
• Dry hair
• Brittle nails

Argan oil as a food

Argan oil is mainly used in Moroccan cuisine. It is also extracted to obtain a pure oil without additives. Ingested with food, argan oil has medicinal value. It can prevent hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, epilepsy, heart disease and diabetes.

Benefits of argan oil for hair

Often you see shampoos, conditioners and hair serums that have the name argan oil in bold letters. This great popularity is due to its proven effect on the hair.

Argan oil is rich in fatty acids (oleic and linoleic), vitamin E, polyphenols, tocopherols, sterols, squalene and triterpene alcohols. This combination of vitamins and nutrients makes the high value of this oil. Argan oil can contribute greatly to the health of your hair:

• Hair growth is stimulated
• Itchy and irritated scalp is soothed and relieved
• The hair is left soft and supple
• The hair becomes shinier
• Reduces damage from heat and hair coloring
• Strengthens hair follicles
• Provides moisture and fullness to the hair
• Hair breakage and split ends are prevented
• Revitalizes the scalp

Cosmetic-grade argan oil is used in shampoos and conditioners to promote a healthy scalp. The antioxidants, including vitamin E, which are contained in argan oil, also play an important role. It minimizes oxidative stress, which can lead to unhealthy hair growth. Packs with argan oil also have the benefit of regulating sebum production in the scalp. This makes argan oil a good remedy for people with oily scalp.

In addition, argan oil has been shown to be beneficial for hair because it is a potential treatment option for hair loss, alopecia. Another advantage is the "saponins", an organic compound found in argan oil. They give the oil a significant effect on the smoothness of the hair.

Argan oil, as a base oil, can also be enriched with essential oils. You can add essential oils to any other carrier oil like Jojoba-, Apricot- and Add almond oil. Some essential oils you can experiment with depending on your problem area are:

• Ylang-ylang essential oil: Good for people with dry scalp, as it is a good moisturizer and stimulates the natural hair oils..
• Lemongrass essential oil:If dandruff is your scalp problem, this oil can speed up your treatment process..
• Tea tree essential oil:If you want to refresh your scalp, you should try tea tree oil. With its antimicrobial properties, it fights many scalp problems..
• Rosemary essential oil: Argan oil alone can stimulate hair growth, but it can also be well complemented with rosemary essential oil. Rosemary is known for its stimulating effect on hair growth..

For a scalp treatment with argan oil and essential oil give a maximum of 2-4 drops of the essential oil of your choice to 100 ml of argan oil. Massage your hair care oil into the scalp for 3-5 minutes for optimal effect.

Various uses to incorporate argan oil into your hair care routine

There are several ways to apply argan oil to your hair, depending on why you want to use it.

• Treatment of the scalp:Whether you use it alone or with other essential oils, massage your scalp thoroughly with the oil(s) for a few minutes. If you want to grow your hair longer, you should do this process with your head down. This will stimulate blood flow to the roots of the hair and stimulate growth.
• Treatment with warm oil: This is the perfect method for people with porous hair.The heat opens the cuticle of the hair and promotes the absorption of nutrients from the oil. Put a few tablespoons of argan oil in a small pot or bowl in a water bath, and heat it gently until it is warm. Make sure it's not too hot to preserve the nutrients and so you don't burn yourself! Apply the oil to clean hair from roots to ends. After 15 minutes of exposure, you can gently wash out the oil..
• Hair mask:If you already have very porous hair, omit the treatment with hot oil and apply the argan oil pure on the hair. Make sure your strands are evenly covered. Leave the oil on for 30 minutes before washing your hair..
• Hair serum: Apply a few drops of argan oil to your hair after styling. Focus on the ends of your hair and the areas that tend to frizz..

Quality of argan oil

When you buy an oil, the first thing you should look for is quality. Many products contain argan oil, but it's quite another thing to buy a pure and preferably organic oil that you apply directly to your skin or hair

The oil you use should be organic and cold-pressed. It should not contain additives. Furthermore, it should in no way be chemically treated or in any way strongly heated or processed.

A good example is the organic argan oilof CRAFT & CARE. It is not only cold pressed, but also comes from controlled organic cultivation and has food quality. Therefore, the oil-rich kernels are not exposed to any pollutants or toxins.

Possible side effects

As with any natural oil, argan oil is unlikely to be unsafe. When used topically, it has no side effects. However, if you have been allergic to nuts in any way in the past, you should patch test at least 48 hours before large-scale application.

When using essential oils, always patch test before applying, as essential oils are highly concentrated and can be irritating.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use argan oil on my nails?

Yes. Traditionally, it is used for brittle and weak nails, among other things. You can also use it as a cuticle oil to promote nail growth and strength

How do I use argan oil on my face?

Give the oil a drop or two on your face and neck, like a face serum. It absorbs quickly, and you'll have a healthy, glowing, moisturized face.

Why is argan oil good for the skin?

Argan oil not only moisturizes your skin and gives it a natural glow, but it can also repair a damaged skin barrier. It can preserve moisture in the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Can argan oil clog my pores?

The special thing about argan oil is that it is classified as non-comedogenic (comedogenicity level of 0), which means you can be sure that it won't clog your pores no matter how often you use it. Therefore, the oil can be safely used even on acne-prone skin.

Can I use argan oil every day?

Your hair and skin won't need a break from argan oil! You can use it once or even twice a day. It can be incorporated into your morning and evening skin and hair care routine.

Does argan oil make hair greasy?

Argan oil is neither a light nor a heavy oil. In terms of consistency, it's in between. If you have thin hair that gets weighed down easily, it's better to use a minimal amount. If you have thick hair, you will be quickly convinced of the nourishing properties.

Can argan oil lighten dark spots?

Argan oil has been used for decades to maintain a uniform, fair complexion because it can affect the melanin in the skin. Because of this propertyargan oil is suitable for treating hyperpigmentation.

CRAFT & CARE products

As the name suggests, the CRAFT & CARE brand places great emphasis on the quality and integrity of its products. We produce mild yet effective cosmetics from high quality and natural raw materials and active ingredients. With our collection of organic oilsyou don't have to double check the labels to make sure there are no preservatives or additives. Due to their high quality, the oils offer numerous benefits that will benefit your hair and skin regardless of their type.

If you want to try other organic oils besides our organic argan oil, you can check out the whole collection. All of these oils are suitable for maintaining healthy hair and scalp.

CRAFT & CARE products with organic argan oil

Can't get enough of argan oil? Take a closer look at our LIPID GLORY skin care line, which includes argan oil as one of its main ingredients. All ingredients used are of course also from organic farming to ensure the quality of the products!

For questions about our individual oils or our specially formulated sets of LIPID GLORY, feel free to contact us via email. We look forward to your message.