Why I Decided To Stop Using Moroccan Oil
There always seems to be a new release, hailed as a “hero product,” that is promised to dramatically transform our beauty routines. But after buying and using these “hero products,” our beauty regimens usually remain far from revolutionized.
Launched in 2012, Moroccanoil became a haircare staple, thought of as the miracle cure for damaged hair by salon owners everywhere. After receiving rave reviews in magazines worldwide, the little brown bottles, full of “strengthening proteins and shine-boosting vitamins,” flew off the shelves and into every woman’s medicine cabinet.
There’s just one problem: silicone is a key ingredient in a number of Moroccanoil products – in fact the first 4-6 listed ingredients are silicones. At more than $30 a bottle, the use of silicone, an ingredient which sits on the surface of the hair but doesn’t actually penetrate or truly nourish it, is entirely disappointing. Sure, it makes the hair appear sleeker, but it also clogs pores, leaving the hair greasy at the roots, which eventually leads to overall dry locks.
Upon discovering this, I was pissed… obviously. I’ve spent close to $700 on Moroccanoil since 2012, and for what… dry hair? No thanks! Not all products containing argan oil are bad though. Here’s how to tell if the Moroccanoil you’re using is the real deal or not:
1. The ingredients you find on the bottle must must say either 100% argan oil or 100% argonia spinosa kernal. Anything else is impure, synthetic, over processed or heavily diluted.
2. The container in which it’s held must be dark — if it’s in a clear or plastic package, it’s not real argan oil. Why? Oh, just because real argan oil requires little to no sun exposure as it breaks down the oil’s natural properties.
3. Because of the significant time and labor intensive process it takes to make the product, you should be paying no less then $30 for a 100ml bottle. If you’re paying any less, it’s probably fake.
4. Argan oil has a mild nutty scent. If the oil is either strong smelling or entirely odorless, it’s not argan.
5. Real argan oil will absorb into your skin or hair in less than 5 minutes.
Some of my current favs include Agadir Argan Oil Treatment and Pura D’ Argan Oil. But if you’re over 2012/argan oil all together, Rodin Luxury Hair Oil and pure coconut oil make great alternative hair treatments.
