The medium-chain fatty acids in argan oil have a protective effect that can help prevent damage from washing and styling. Argan oil has been used by Moroccan women for centuries to protect skin from sun damage. A 2013 study found that the antioxidant activity in argan oil protected skin against free radical damage from the sun. This benefit may also extend to the hair, helping to prevent drying and other damage from ultraviolet rays. Argan oil for hair loss Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070 Chernane, H., Hafidi, A., El Hadrami, I., et al. (1999). Composition phénolique de la pulpe des fruits d’Arganier ( Argania spinosa L. Skeels) et relation avec leurs caractéristiques morphologiques. Agrochimica, 43, 137–150.

Drissi, A., Girona, J., & Cherki, M. (2003). Evidence of hypolipemiant and antioxidant properties of argan oil derived from the argan tree ( Argania spinosa). Clinical Nutrition, 23, 1159–1166. Chimi, H., Cillard, J., & Cillard, P. (1994). Autoxidation of argan oil Argania spinosa L. from Morocco. Sciences des Aliments, 14, 117–124. Lopez, L. C., Cabrera-Vique, C., Venegas, C., et al. (2013). Argan oil-contained antioxidants for human mitochondria. Natural Product Communications, 8, 47–50. The success of the argan co-operatives has also encouraged other producers of agricultural products to adopt the co-operative model. [20] The establishment of the co-operatives has been aided by support from within Morocco, notably the Foundation Mohamed VI pour la Recherche et la Sauvegarde de l’Arganier (Mohammed VI Foundation for Research and Protection of the Argan Tree), [21] and from international organisations, including Canada's International Development Research Centre and the European Commission. [ citation needed] Use argan oil as a styling product to smooth your hair and tone down frizz. It can also protect your hair from heat styling.Employment in the co-operatives provides women with an income, which many have used to fund education for themselves or their children. It has also provided them with a degree of autonomy in a traditionally male-dominated society and has helped many become more aware of their rights. [ citation needed] Hommoss, A. (2011). Preservative system development for argan oil-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers. Pharmazie, 66, 187–191. Avsar, U., Halici, Z., Akpinar, E., et al. (2016). The effects of argan oil in second-degree burn wound healing in rats. Ostomy Wound Management, 62, 26–34. Lightly apply to your clean, dry hair without massaging it into the scalp — a light coating on your hair’s surface is what you want. As of 2020, [update] there were around 300 small firms, mostly co-operatives, in the area about 25 kilometres (16 mi) inland from Essaouira, on the Atlantic coast. The women who harvest the seeds are mostly of the Berber ethnic group, with traditional skills dating from generations ago. [8]

Charrouf, Z., & Guillaume, D. (2007). Phenols and polyphenols from Argania spinosa. American Journal of Food Technology, 2, 679–683. Afia, L., Salghi, R., Zarrouk, A., et al. (2012). Inhibitive action of argan press cake extract on the corrosion of steel in acidic media. Portugaliae Electrochimica Acta, 30, 267–279. Kartah, B. E., El Monfalouti, H., Harhar, H., et al. (2015). Effect of filtration on virgin argan oil: Quality and stability. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 6, 2871–2877.Lybbert, T. J., Barrett, C. B., & Nar, H. (2002). Market-based conservation and local benefits: The case of argan oil in Morocco. Ecological Economics, 41, 125–144.

Little scientific research has been done on argan oil’s antifungal properties, though it may help treat dandruff. Sometimes dandruff is caused by a yeast-like fungus on your scalp. Prevents styling and coloring damage The argan nut contains one to three oil-rich argan kernels. Extraction yields from 30% to 50% of the oil in the kernels, depending on the method. [11] It takes about 40 kilograms (88 lb) of dried argan fruit to produce only one litre of oil. [8] Through the ages, the Amazigh population, the indigenous inhabitants of North Africa, has inhabited the arganeraie area of Morocco and has developed a lifestyle that depends on the argan tree. In Southwest Morocco, there was a noticeable degradation of argan forest from about 1.5 million ha to only an estimated 800,000 ha by the year 2000 ( 1, 2). The decline is anthropogenic but is also due to drought. As a consequence, Unesco declared the Moroccan argan forest a biosphere reserve in 1998 ( 1, 3). Since then, a comprehensive program aiming at saving the argan tree in a sustainable way has been underway in Morocco ( 4). Among its significant results is the scientific confirmation of traditional medicinal values virtues arising mostly from the main product, which is argan oil. Since then, argan oil is gaining significant value worldwide with increasing demand from year to year. In addition, in 2021, the United Nations Organization (UNO) recognized the importance of the argan tree by adopting May 10 as its international day.

Conflict of Interest

Belgharza, M., El Azzouzi, E. H., Hassanain, I., et al. (2014). Viscosity of rapeseed and argan vegetable oils, and their comparison with the mineral oil. Advances in Environmental Biology, 8, 225–227. You can apply argan oil directly to damp or dry hair to improve moisture, reduce breakage, or reduce frizz. Caporarello, N., Olivieri, M., Cristaldi, M., et al. (2017). Melanogenesis in uveal melanoma cells: Effect of argan oil. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 40, 1277–1284. Dobrev, H. (2007). Clinical and instrumental study of the efficacy of a new sebum control cream. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 6, 113–118. Cataldo, D. A., & Wildung, R. E. (1978). Soil nd plant factors influencing the accumulation of heavy metals in plants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 27, 149–159.

Charrouf, Z., & Guillaume, D. (1999). Ethnoeconomical, ethnomedical, and phytochemical study of Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 67, 7–14.Mendonça CR, Noll M, Castro MCR, Silveira EA. Effects of Nutritional Interventions in the Control of Musculoskeletal Pain: An Integrative Review. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3075. Published 2020 Oct 9. doi:10.3390/nu12103075 Burnett, C. L., Fiume, M. M., Bergfeld, W. F., et al. (2017). Safety assessment of plant-derived fatty acid oils. International Journal of Toxicology, 36, 51S–129S. Other compounds present in argan oil, such as CoQ10, melatonin and plant sterols, also play a role in its antioxidant capacity ( 3, 4, 5). Matthäus, B. (2013). Quality parameters for cold pressed edible argan oils. Natural Product Communications, 8, 37–41.