After years of bleaching, backcombing, heat styling, blow-drying and rough-brushing my hair, it is safe to say that I’ve put my poor locks through their paces. Last week I decided to go back to my natural colour of a dark blonde/light brown from a full head of highlights in the hope that I could restore some of the health and vitality my hair once had. Having my dead ends cut off and my natural colour restored, my hair instantly felt and looked so much better. It’s noticeably softer than it was before but not as soft as I’d like, it looks sleeker but still has frizz and the ends are healthier but fly away without product. So I’ve been looking for something to give me some va-va-voom without making my hair greasy or heavy, and preferably I’d like to not have to wash it out at the end of the day and dry out my hair even more.
Argan Secret Oil
And so I stumbled upon this gem of a find, Argan Oil, when my hairdresser recommended I try it after I asked her if she stocked hot oil treatments which I can’t seem to find anywhere. She advised they no longer have hot oils and suggested Argan instead, advising I apply a pea-sized amount to my hands and work it into my hair from mid-length to tip with my fingers, before plaiting it up and wrapping it in cling-film overnight; it worked a treat and kept my hair looking, feeling and smelling beautiful for a few days until I washed it out and reapplied.
The Argan oil is thicker than regular oil but looser than a gel, and as you rub it between your fingers you realise that just a little goes a very long way. You can finger comb it through towel dried hair to heat protect it before styling, it also seals off the ends, controls frizz and speeds up the drying time, oh, and did I mention it smells absolutely divine!? It instantly transformed my hair from frizzy scarecrow to effortlessly sleek as soon as it was applied, and because it goes such a long way it will take me months to use the whole bottle which is available in shops and online for around £15.99 for 60ml and well worth every penny. My texture has improved, the frizz is no more and I have that natural healthy looking shine back to my hair again.
And from a spot of research online I’ve discovered some more interesting facts behind this wonderful oil. The rare Argan trees found in Morocco produce the nuts which are cracked to extract the pits, and the kernels removed and cold pressed to make oil. The oil is rich in vitamin E and can be used for cooking, hair and skin treatment, benefiting conditions such as eczema, chicken pox, scars, acne and psoriasis. With its unique blend of natural oils, minerals and fatty acids the oil helps to repair damage and maintains healthy skin, protects against free radicals and nurtures hair, nails and lips. As it is rich in ferulic acids, eight essential fatty acids, carotenoids, anti-oxidants, sterols, and saponins it also works wonders as an anti-ageing product too and helps keep skin-cancer at bay with it’s active anti-oxident qualities.
You can add a few drops to your bath water for an all over body and hair treatment, or massage it into your face as a night cream. It can be left in the hair overnight, as I did, for an intensive treatment or added to hair dye and conditioner to boost your natural beauty regime and give you a truer colour. It also helps to improve stretch marks and tastes delicious on food. Well I never! It appears there is nothing that this oil cannot do, and now that I know all of its uses I’ll be switching up my lotions and potions in favour of this natural wonder for all of my hair, facial and skin routines. Bliss.
