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Argan oil mask is one of the most effective hair care products that has many beneficial properties. Argan oil is an expensive product, it is extracted from the argan fruit. This “tree of life”, as the Moroccan Berbers call it, has a very limited distribution area, which explains the high cost of oil from its fruits. Argan occurs only in the northern regions of Africa.
However, if a woman decides to use an argan oil hair mask, she will not have to regret the money spent. The oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, contains tocopherols and carotene. Cosmetic oil is different from the product used in cooking. Argan oil for hair and body care has a light color and a slight almond scent.
Benefits of argan oil for hair
The benefits of argan oil for hair are undeniable.
The use of this product for scalp and hair care allows you to achieve the following effects:
Eliminate dandruff and seborrhea, as the oil has pronounced antifungal and antiseptic properties. Natural fungicides fight the fungus, and plant antibiotics have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Give hair shine, smoothness and silkiness, which is possible due to the polyphenols that make up the oil. The product acts as an antioxidant of natural origin. Therefore, it perfectly protects the hair from the effects of negative factors of external and internal origin.
Thanks to sterols from argan oil, the nutrition of hair follicles improves, metabolic processes are accelerated. As a result, the hair acquires a more well-groomed appearance, is actively renewed, and begins to grow faster.
Vitamin E, present in argan oil, stimulates the processes of self-healing of scalp cells. Hair receives more nutrients and oxygen, which makes them strong, elastic and smooth.
It will not be possible to get rid of gray hair with the help of argan oil, but the product is quite capable of preventing its early appearance.
The oil allows new hair to grow healthy and strong, and already regrown strands take on a more well-groomed appearance. In addition, the course use of argan oil makes it possible to regulate the work of the sebaceous glands, which prevents the appearance of oily sheen on the hair and dandruff. The scalp will be well hydrated.
Masks with argan oil create an invisible protective film on the hair, which prevents the sun’s rays and hot air from damaging the structure of the hairline. Hair becomes smooth, shiny, stop bristling and electrifying.
Argan oil is so useful that it is actively used to treat various skin diseases, which, among other things, can capture the scalp. With it, it is recommended to make applications for eczema and atopic dermatitis.
How to use argan oil hair mask correctly?
The oil, which is sold in pharmacies, has a high concentration of nutrients. It should be used in minimal quantities, enriching various mask recipes. Thus, a bottle bought at a tangible price will last for a long time.
Since argan oil is a foreign product for a European person, an allergy test must be carried out before the first use. To do this, a small amount of oil should be applied to the skin of the wrist and left for 15 minutes. After this time, it is necessary to assess the condition of the skin. If there is no negative reaction, then the product can be safely used to care for the scalp and hair.
The oil can be applied to any type of hair. It is suitable for oily, dry and normal hair.
Before applying the composition to the hair, it needs to be slightly warmed up. However, the oil must not be heated above 50 °C. This will lead to the fact that the product will lose its useful qualities. In addition, hot oil can damage the delicate scalp.
As for the purity of the hair, the mask with argan oil can be applied to both washed and unwashed strands. In this case, the components of the mask must be rubbed into the hair roots. In order to process the surface of the head as efficiently as possible, it is better to use a comb, with which it is convenient to divide the hair into partings.
After the therapeutic composition is applied to the head, it must be additionally insulated. To do this, you should prepare in advance a plastic cap and a terry towel, which is wrapped around your hair.
The duration of the effect of the mask on the scalp and hair is always indicated in the recipe. The specific time depends on what components are included in the mask in addition to argan oil. If it does not contain products that irritate the skin, then the average exposure time of the mask is 1 hour.
As for removing the mask from the hair, it will not be difficult to do this. The fact is that argan oil is well absorbed into the scalp and hair shaft. Hair will not be covered with a greasy oil film, unless other oils are included in the mask. Therefore, to wash off the mask, it is enough to use a regular shampoo.
To get the maximum benefit, you need to use argan oil hair masks in courses. In each course there should be at least 10-12 procedures with breaks of 4-6 days. The mask can be applied to the hair roots, ends or rubbed into the scalp.
Recipes for hair masks with argan oil
There are many recipes for hair masks with argan oil. You can find recommendations for using the oil in its pure form. However, it has a high concentration of useful, but potent substances, which can provoke an allergic reaction. Therefore, you should not experiment on your own hair, it is better to use the above recipes. Using various components in masks, you can choose the perfect composition for your hair.
If the hair grows too slowly, then you can take two tablespoons of burdock oil and add half a teaspoon of argan oil to it. This mixture is slightly heated and applied to the roots, rubbing it into the hair follicles. You can safely leave the product on your head for 2 hours under a plastic cap.
If it was noticed that the hair has lost its former attractiveness, looks tired and lifeless, then a mask with argan oil, egg and sage essential oil will help restore it. To prepare a remedy, you will need 3 drops of sage aromatic oil, the yolk of one egg and a teaspoon of argan oil. It is not necessary to preheat the mask, its components must be at room temperature. The restorative agent is left on the hair for 40 minutes. You need to keep your head warm.
If the hair shafts are severely damaged, and even frequent visits to the hairdresser only solve the problem of split ends for a short time, then they need to be treated with a potent composition. To prepare it, you will need honey (1 tbsp), an ampoule of vitamin A, an ampoule of vitamin E and argan oil (1 tsp). All components must be mixed and applied not only to the skin and hair roots, but also to distribute the mask along the entire length of the hairline. Then the strands must be collected in a braid and insulated. The product is kept on the head for at least an hour. If we are talking about severely damaged hair, then the number of procedures in the course can reach 15.
Often the hair and scalp are very dry. This leads to dandruff and itching. To cope with this problem, you can use a mask consisting exclusively of oils. To prepare it, you will need to mix 1 teaspoon of argan oil and add the same amount of olive and castor oils to it. To enhance the effect, 2 drops of grapefruit and lavender essential oils are added to the product. The mixture is heated, after which it is carefully rubbed into the scalp and applied to the hair roots. The exposure time of such a mask is 60 minutes. The head must be insulated.
If the hair becomes dirty very quickly and becomes greasy, then it is necessary to regulate the work of the sebaceous glands. Argan oil (a teaspoon) with the addition of egg white and lemon juice (2 teaspoons) does an excellent job with this task. After all the components are mixed, they are applied to the hair roots and scalp, leaving for 30 minutes. Such a mask does not require additional insulation.
If the hair is prone not only to oily sheen, but also to hair loss, then argan oil (a teaspoon) with the addition of mustard (2 teaspoons of powder + 2 teaspoons of boiled water) will help to cope with this problem. You can dilute the mask with fat-free kefir. The resulting composition is applied to the hair roots and scalp, leaving for 20 minutes. It is not recommended to keep the product longer, as mustard powder can severely irritate the skin. You don’t even need to warm your head.
You can get rid of oily seborrhea with a mask of argan oil (22 drops) with the addition of aloe juice (10 ml) and linden blossom decoction (20 ml). All components must be mixed and applied to the scalp for 40-60 minutes. You don’t need to warm your hair. After washing off the mask, it is recommended to rinse them with water and lemon juice (you will need to take the juice of one lemon per liter of water).
Where and how to buy quality argan oil?
You can buy argan oil in almost any pharmacy. This product is obtained only by cold pressing in order to be able to retain all the beneficial substances in it. For a bottle of 30 ml, on average, you will have to pay about 400 rubles. Therefore, it is worth giving preference to the product that has a dispenser in the kit. Thanks to the nozzle, you will be able to spend the product as economically as possible.
It is not surprising that such an expensive product can be counterfeited. Real argan oil has a faint but perceptible herbal and nutty scent that is constantly changing. After applying the oil to the skin, this smell disappears completely. If the oil does not smell of anything, then it has lost its beneficial properties.
Unlike other oils, argan oil has a very light structure and absorbs into the skin and hair in a few minutes without leaving a greasy film or sticky feeling. Argan oil has a golden hue and can be slightly cloudy. Of course, you should not buy and use an expired product.
It is worth noting that there are ready-made masks and hair conditioners with argan oil on sale. However, a guaranteed effect can only be obtained when using a natural product of natural origin without any chemical additives. This is exactly what the mask with argan oil is.
Author of the article: Herman Olga Leonidovna, trichologist, specially for the site ayzdorov.ru