Happy February, fans!  

Today I’m going to introduce an oil that could literally transform your hair, called argan oil. It’s rare, but packs a good punch: this vitamin-rich oil is considered even healthier than olive oil, and has been used for centuries to improve skin and hair damage.

First, let’s talk about why this oil is so rare.

The Story Behind Argan Oil

First, let’s go over this oil’s origins.

Considered a medicinal plant in ancient times, argan oil hails from the argan tree, a prized tree of Morocco. In centuries past, the argan tree blanketed North Africa, but now is considered endangered–a consequence of high demand for the oil it produces.

In fact, argan oil is now considered one of the rarest oils in the world.  Trust me–it’s not easy to get your hands on this miracle tree ointment. People have attempted to grow the native tree elsewhere in the world, but the argan tree only truly thrives in its homeland.

Interestingly enough, argan oil isn’t harvested from the tree–it’s harvested from the fruit it bears. Harvesting the fruit is a difficult process, and days are spent harvesting the nut from the fruit, the source of this prized oil. From there, they use manual extraction methods–usually mashing the nuts into paste–to extract the oil.

Because of the labor involved in harvesting this oil, this oil is rare and expensive–bottles of argan oil sell for no less than $40 in native Morocco.

But it’s worth the price, if you knew the benefits argan oil contains.

Benefits of Argan Oil

Not sold on argan oil? Here’s what will: It’s even healthier than olive oil, one of the healthiest oils in the world. As it stands, argan oil contains numerous antioxidants and fatty acids that can prevent hair damage, including stearic, oleic and linoleic acid.

Its high fatty acid content is important for hair health. Here’s why: Some of these fatty acids are able to penetrate the hair’s cortex, which many commercial conditioners cannot do. Most conditioners simply coat the hair with moisture, whereas argan oil actually penetrates the cortex, where it heals the hair from the inside out. That’s not something you can find in a conditioner or shampoo.

As it heals the hair, the fatty acids in argan oil also help soften the hair and prevent hair damage on the outside. It may even help give you hair a soft, silky sheen. The result: Your hair becomes strong and silky, and the results are long-lasting.

Where to Buy Argan Oil

As it stands, you’d probably have to travel to Morocco to get your hands on argan oil. If you’re willing to travel, you can purchase a vial for around $40 at a specialty store. A little oil goes a long way, so you won’t run out of oil immediately.

However, more and more companies are beginning to import argan oil to use in their hair care products. Not all of them are using the purest forms of argan oil, however.

Unfortunately, as this oil becomes more and more popular, people have resorted to using mechanical methods to obtain this miracle conditioner. SILKtage is one of the few hair care products that actually contain pure, certified organic argan oil, as well as the full spectrum of beneficial hair oils from around the world.

Questions, comments? Leave a comment below. Next week we’ll cover jojoba oil, and why it’s better than any conditioner on the market.