The Benefits of Argan Oil for Your Hair

What happened when I turned 50? It seemed almost overnight that the wrinkles were more evident and my hair was dry and dull. The bodies of women over 50 starts to show the signs of the years of lower hormone production. What seems an overnight phenomenon has been slowly taking place. I need to replenish and reverse the trend with one of nature’s remedies, argan oil.

From our twenties, our body starts to produce less of every hormone that our bodies need. With the lower production levels, our skin starts to lose elasticity and it sags. Our hair has less moisture and oils, leading to drier and more brittle hair. The solution to us keeping our bodies at best where they are is to supplement them with the essential oils and other nutrients.

Wrinkles are a natural part of growing older, and they affect everyone. However, many people dislike the appearance of wrinkles, and, as a result, the anti-aging market in the United States is worth over 50 billion dollars per year.

Skin wrinkling

Wrinkles appear naturally as people get older. Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process. As people get older, their skin becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic, which means it is less able to protect itself from damage. This leads to wrinkles, creases, and lines on the skin. 

To overcome these symptoms of aging we replenish our skin with moisture through various skincare products. The human body is roughly 75 percent water. Water is found inside cells, within blood vessels, and between cells. Some of the products used include the nutrients that our skin needs while others assist our bodies to naturally create moisture and healthier skin.

Dry hair

We all want to look gorgeous in our legging outfits and beautiful hair. Hair thinning and dry hair impacts every woman over 50. There has been a lot of research done in order to overcome these impacts on our bodies. In the same way that we use products rich in moisture for our aging skin, we need to use hair products that overcome the hormone imbalances and drying hair. The products that we use to wash and treat our hair need to add moisture and nutrients to our hair to overcome the impacts of aging.

Argan oil

Argan oil is a natural oil extracted from the kernels of the Argan tree (Argania spinosa) tree native to Morocco. The oil is rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, often used in hair care, and as an anti-aging product. Here are some of the benefits of Argan oil.

Melanin

Argan oil is thought to improve hair quality by preventing damage to the exterior cuticle of the hair shaft. The oil preserves the natural pigments (melanin) that provide hair its color.

Melanin also protects the skin by shielding it from the sun. When the skin is exposed to the sun, melanin production increases, which is what produces a tan. It’s the body’s natural defense mechanism against sunburn.

Fatty oils

Argan oil, a polyunsaturated oil is considered heart-healthy and offers your body similar benefits to olive oil. EPA and DHA are found primarily in certain fish. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), another omega-3 fatty acid found in plant sources such as nuts and seeds. Not only does your body need these fatty acids to function, but they also deliver some big health benefits.

Protecting your hair color

According to a 2013 study from Brazil, argan oil was able to enhance hair quality and dye retention after undergoing multiple hair coloring treatments. Hair coloring is one of the harshest procedures hair can undergo. Argan oil appears to have a protective effect when compared to commercial hair conditioners. 

What to Look For

Big chain stores and specialty stores carry Argan oil and argan-oil-based products. You can also find them online. Consider the percentage of the product that is used is actually 5% or more of argan oil. Ingredients are typically listed in the order of highest to lowest percentage of ingredients used. Reach out to the store or manufacturer of the products and try to get their feedback if it is unclear. Any product containing less than 5% of Argan oil will not be useful in replenishing your hair’s moisture.

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