This article was co-authored by Courtney Foster. Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Argan oil is a versatile, natural product derived from the Moroccan argan tree, and it is great for improving scalp health and hydrating your hair.[1] Rub a few drops of argan oil over your hair 1 to 3 times a week to use it as a leave-in conditioner, or apply an argan oil hair mask overnight once a week to deeply moisturize your hair. With regular use of argan oil, your hair can look shiny, silky, and healthy.
Steps
Using Argan Oil as a Styling Product
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1Rub 2 to 5 drops of oil in your hands to warm it up. To apply argan oil, start with only a few drops. A little goes a long way, and using too much may weigh down your hair.[2]
- Rub your hands together to spread the oil across both palms and warm it up, which will make the oil easier to distribute and penetrate into your hair.
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2Run your hands through damp, freshly-washed hair. Once both hands are covered in oil, comb your fingers through your hair to distribute the product. Aim to cover your hair starting from the ends and working towards your roots.[3] Since your hair is freshly washed, the argan oil replaces your natural oils, helping your hair look shiny and smooth.[4]
- This is a good idea if you notice frizz or flyaway hairs and want to tame them.[5]
- If you only use a small amount of argan oil, it will help to enhance your hair’s natural waves and volume.
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3Massage the oil into your scalp to eliminate dry skin. If you want to hydrate your scalp, rub your fingers in circular motions across your scalp after you apply the argan oil. Massaging your scalp ensures the argan oil gets deep into your scalp, which is helpful when treating dandruff or an itchy head.[6]
- It may take several weeks or months to notice significant results.
- If you have a very oily scalp, apply the oil about 1 in (2.5 cm) from your roots to prevent excessively greasy hair.
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4Apply argan oil 2 to 3 times a week to keep your hair silky and smooth. The oil usually keeps your hair shiny for at least 2 to 3 days. This is because the highly-concentrated oil deeply penetrates your hair, which helps keep your hair soft.[7]
- If your hair is excessively brittle or damaged, your hair may need more oil. In this case, it’s okay to apply the argan oil every day.
Applying Argan Oil as a Hair Mask
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1Apply 6 to 8 drops of oil to saturate your hair from roots to ends. Using argan oil as a deep-conditioning treatment helps hydrate and restore your hair. Use a liberal amount of oil to saturate your hair. 6 to 8 drops should be enough for most hair types, though you can use more if you have very long or damaged hair.[8]
- For instance, if you have a short, pixie style, you only need 2 to 4 drops of oil.
- If you have long, thick hair, you may need to use 10 or more drops of argan oil.
- If the ends of your hair are split or very dull, apply a bit more oil on the tips of your hair.
- You can comb through your hair to distribute the oil evenly. This way, the oil deeply penetrates every part of your hair.
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2Cover your head with a shower cap to trap in heat. Once your hair is completely covered in oil, stretch a shower cap over your hair to keep it covered up. The shower cap retains heat, which is helpful when deeply conditioning your hair. The heat activates the oil, making it absorb even deeper into the follicle.[9]
- Using a shower cap prevents the oil from getting on your clothing or furniture as your hair sets.
- If you prefer, use a hair bonnet instead.
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3Let the mask sit overnight for best results. For a thorough, deep condition, sleep with the shower cap over your head, and rinse out the product in the morning. At a minimum, you should leave the hair mask on for 30 minutes.[10]
- The longer you leave the oil on, the better the results.
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4Cleanse your hair with shampoo and conditioner. When you are ready to rinse out the oil, hop in the shower and apply a dime-size or quarter-size amount of shampoo from your roots to your ends. The shampoo helps remove excess oil from your hair. Rinse out the shampoo, and apply conditioner as normal. Then, rinse all of the product out of your hair thoroughly.[11]
- To moisturize your hair even more, you can leave the conditioner on for 3 to 5 minutes while in the shower.
- For fine hair, you may want to skip conditioning after shampooing out the mask.
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5Repeat this process once a week or as needed. You can do an argan oil hair mask any time you want to replenish and revitalize your hair. For best results, do this 2 to 4 times a month, based on your hair type and conditioning needs.[12]
- Over time, argan oil can strengthen and soften your hair as well as encourage hair growth.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan argan oil be applied to the scalp?
Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistYes, argan oil can be applied to the scalp and used for scalp massage. It should be washed off after about 15-30 minutes. -
QuestionDoes argan oil cause hair loss?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistArgan oil will not cause hair loss. In fact, it's nourishing properties can help prevent shedding. You can massage it into your scalp for maximum benefits. -
QuestionHow does argan oil help hair growth?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistArgan oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that nourish the scalp and can soothe conditions that impact hair growth. It will not actually boost the rate of growth if your hair and scalp are healthy.
Warnings
- If you apply too much argan oil, your hair may feel greasy or sticky. Start with a few drops and add more gradually.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You’ll Need
Applying Argan Oil as a Styling Product
- Argan oil
- Hands
- Damp hair
Creating a Hair Mask with Argan Oil
- Argan oil
- Shower cap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
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References
- ↑ Courtney Foster. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/sYiOmAAh4pg?t=1m10s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/sYiOmAAh4pg?t=1m2s
- ↑ Courtney Foster. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.
- ↑ Courtney Foster. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/sYiOmAAh4pg?t=1m30s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/xFxEpD1TKHA?t=23s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9KVcGJPx6xQ?t=2m55s
- ↑ https://youtu.be/kGwrf56nakU?t=2m16s
About This Article
To use argan oil as a deep-conditioning treatment, start by saturating your head with 6 to 8 drops of oil. If you have very long, thick, or damaged hair, you might need to use 10 or more drops. To distribute the oil evenly throughout your hair, run a comb through it to make sure every part of your hair gets covered. Once your hair is saturated with the oil, cover your head in a shower cap or hair bonnet to keep in the heat, which will activate the oil and make it easier for it to absorb into the follicle. Let the mask sit for at least 30 minutes, but keep it on overnight for a thorough conditioning. When you’re ready to remove the oil, simply rinse it out with shampoo and conditioner. For more tips from our Cosmetology co-author, like how to style your hair with argan oil. Read on!
