The short answer
Argan oil can make hair look shinier and smoother and reduce frizz, especially if your hair is dry, thick or curly. The effect is cosmetic: it coats the hair rather than repairing it, and it won’t make hair grow or stop hair loss. Use a little on the lengths and ends, not the scalp, and don’t rely on it to protect your hair from heat or sun.
What can argan oil do for hair?
- Smooth the surface of the hair, so it reflects more light and looks shinier
- Reduce frizz and flyaways
- Make dry ends feel softer and easier to comb
- Hide split ends for a while, until you wash it out
What argan oil can’t do
| Claim | The facts |
|---|---|
| Argan oil makes hair grow | There’s no good evidence it does. Hair grows from the follicle, and oil on the hair doesn’t change that. |
| It treats hair loss | It won’t. Shedding, thinning or bald patches have a cause that needs finding. Hair loss. |
| It repairs split ends | Split ends can’t be repaired, only trimmed. Oil just holds them together for a while. Split ends. |
| It protects hair from heat | Oil isn’t a heat protector, and hot tools on oiled hair can make damage worse. |
| It’s natural, so it suits everyone | Some people react to natural oils, and they can weigh down fine hair. |
Is argan oil good for your hair type?
Thick, coarse, curly or dry hair usually takes oil well. Fine or oily hair often looks flat and greasy with it. Hair that’s already coated in oils and styling products can feel heavy and dull, so less is usually more.
Should you put argan oil on your scalp?
I don’t advise it. Oil on the scalp can feed the yeast linked to dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis, and it can make an itchy or flaky scalp worse. A scalp that’s itchy, sore or flaking needs the cause finding, not more oil.
Argan oil, sun and heat
Every summer I see dry, brittle hair from oils used on sunny holidays and before straighteners or tongs. Oil doesn’t protect against UV or heat, so on a hot, sunny day a hat does more for your hair than oil. If your hair is breaking, look at heat, colour and handling first. Hair breakage.
If something isn’t right with your hair or scalp, I’ll take your history, examine your hair and scalp closely and give you a written plan. What happens at a consultation.
Questions
Does argan oil help hair grow?
No. There’s no good evidence that argan oil makes hair grow faster or thicker. It improves how the hair you have looks and feels.
Is argan oil good for dry hair?
It can make dry hair look shinier and feel softer, but it doesn’t fix the dryness. A good conditioner and less heat usually help more.
Can argan oil cause hair loss?
No, but used on the scalp it can make dandruff or an itchy scalp worse, which may lead to more scratching and shedding.
Can I leave argan oil in my hair overnight?
On the lengths, a little is fine for most people. Keep it off the scalp and wash it out if your hair feels heavy or greasy.