Pure Moroccan Argan Oil for Hair, Skin & Frizz

Argan is the one oil on this list that is genuinely expensive, and the reason is simple arithmetic: it takes around 30kg of fruit, hand-cracked, to produce one litre of oil.

That cost is also why most of what sells as "argan oil" is a few percent argan in something cheaper.

What It Is

Cold pressed from the kernels of Argania spinosa, a tree that grows in southwestern Morocco and essentially nowhere else. The kernels are cracked by hand — the shells are too hard for machines to handle without damaging the kernel.

It is high in oleic and linoleic acid, vitamin E and sterols.

What It Is Used For

Frizz and flyaways

Argan's signature use. A few drops on damp or dry hair smooths the cuticle without weight, which is why it became the salon standard for finishing.

Shine

It is unusually good at this, and the effect is immediate rather than cumulative.

Dry and damaged ends

Absorbs quickly and softens without leaving hair greasy, which heavier oils cannot manage.

Face and skin

Light, fast-absorbing and non-greasy. One of the few oils that suits combination skin.

Nails and cuticles

A drop massaged in nightly.

How to Use It — Use Less Than You Think

Argan is light but concentrated. Two or three drops is a full application for shoulder-length hair. More than that and it stops looking shiny and starts looking greasy.

As a leave-in for frizz

1. 2-3 drops into your palm
2. Rub your hands together to warm it
3. Smooth over damp mid-lengths and ends
4. Do not touch the scalp

As a finishing oil on dry hair

1-2 drops, on the ends only, to tame flyaways.

As a pre-wash treatment

1 tablespoon through the lengths, left 1 hour, then washed. Once a week for dry hair.

On the face

2-3 drops pressed into damp skin at night. It absorbs in under a minute.

Heat protection

A drop before blow-drying adds a small amount of protection and a lot of shine.

How to Tell Real Argan Oil

This is the most commonly adulterated oil we sell, so it is worth being able to judge it.

• Pale golden yellow. Deep gold or orange means roasted argan, which is the culinary grade and not for skin. Colourless means it has been cut with something
• Faint, slightly nutty smell that fades within minutes of application. Strongly nutty means culinary grade; no smell at all means refined or blended
• Absorbs in under a minute leaving no film. If it sits greasy on the skin, it is mostly something else
• Dark glass bottle, never plastic or clear
• One ingredient: Argania spinosa kernel oil. If there is a carrier oil listed first, you are buying the carrier
• Price. Real argan cannot be cheap. Hand-cracked kernels and a tree that grows in one region do not produce a budget oil

Cosmetic or Culinary?

Both exist and they are not interchangeable. Culinary argan is made from roasted kernels — deeper gold, strongly nutty, used on Moroccan food. Cosmetic argan is unroasted, paler and far milder.

If your "argan oil for hair" smells strongly of toasted nuts, you have the food grade.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I use?
Two or three drops. Almost everyone uses too much the first time.

Damp or dry hair?
Damp for frizz control, which is when it works best. Dry for a quick finish on flyaways.

Can I use it on my scalp?
You can, but it is wasted there — argan's value is on the lengths and ends. Use a cheaper oil on the scalp.

Will it make my face oily?
It is one of the lighter facial oils and absorbs quickly. It suits combination skin better than most.

Why is it so expensive?
Around 30kg of hand-cracked fruit per litre, from a tree that grows in one region of one country.

Can I use it every day?
Yes, on hair and skin. A few drops.

Product Information

How to use: Warm 2-3 drops between the palms. Smooth over damp mid-lengths and ends. For skin, press into damp skin at night.
Suitable for: All hair types, especially frizzy and dry; all skin types
For external use only. Patch test before first use.
Storage: Cool, dark place. Keep tightly closed.

Use it as a finishing oil after washing out our Bhringraj Oil, or alongside Kumkumadi Oil in a night routine.