For the last few years, many hair products containing argan
oil have been among the top sellers here in the U.S. In the salon we get many
questions about what exactly argan oil is and why it is unique, so today we’ll
do our best to answer some of those questions.
Argan oil
comes from the fruit of the argan tree. The tree is exclusive to southwestern
Morocco, where it grows wild. Besides its exclusivity, the process of
extracting the oil is labor intensive. Up to three kernels are contained within
the fruit. These kernels are found inside of a nut in the fruit. To get the
nut, the fruit must be dried and the pulp around the nut must be peeled away. At
this point the nut is cracked, and the kernels are gathered. The kernels are
then pressed, and the oils are left to sit for two weeks, allowing for solids
to settle. Finally, the oil is placed in dark tinted bottles so sunlight cannot
deteriorate its natural properties.
Argan oil
contains many vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids, Tocopherols (vitamin E) and
caffeic acid to name a few, which is essential in moisturizing and protecting
the hair. It is often used in shampoos, conditioners and leave in products to
repair the hair from heat styling and sun damage.
Many
varieties of argan oil are available on the market. The prices vary with the
purity of the oil. 100% pure argan oil may still contain sediment. The value of
argan oil on the global market has made the argan tree a valuable resource.
