Treating your hair can be challenging. Finding the products that will promote healthy hair growth and prevent hair breakage, can seem like a mission impossible.
With all those available shampoos and conditioners on the market, you may be confused. But, nature took care of it! Some natural oils will do the job perfectly. And these include: coconut oil and argan oil.
Coconut oil and argan oil have long been used in skin and hair care. Both argan oil and coconut oil have some extraordinary properties to improve hair health and to help you in the mission of maintaining healthy skin.
While argan oil creates a sleek, moisturized, silky look to your hair, coconut oil offers a heavier dose of nourishment and can treat various hair concerns, strengthening your hair shaft and preventing hair breakage.
Choosing the wrong hair oil can do more harm than good, and you might end up with greasy hair!
Keep on reading to find out what are the differences between these two oils and which one is best for your hair type.
Argan Oil Vs. Coconut Oil – Key Differences
If you’re struggling with choosing the right oil for oiling your hair, here’s a comparison of argan oil and coconut oil that will make your decision easier.
- What it contains?
Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid and oleic acid, and antioxidants (and many other beneficial ingredients), while coconut oil is rich in saturated fatty acids, primarily lauric acid.
Linoleic acid and oleic acid in argan oil can help improve the lipid levels in the hair shaft that, in turn, help increase hair’s barrier function and prevent moisture loss1 – particularly linoleic acid is in charge of it.
Argan oil, besides essential fatty acids, also contains high levels of antioxidants, including vitamin E, which may protect your hair from free radical damage caused by UV rays and environmental pollutants.
Fatty acids in coconut oil, however, as said previously, are saturated, with lauric acid as the most abundant one.
Myristic and capric acids in coconut oil also have antimicrobial properties – that is why coconut oil has antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
Just as argan oil, coconut oil contains antioxidants and vitamin E, having a protective role for your hair.
- Where does it come from?
Argan oil is a plant-based oil that is extracted from the kernels of the argan tree. The argan tree is native to Morocco – that is why the argan oil is also known as Moroccan oil.
On the other hand, coconut oil is derived from the coconut kernels, harvested from the coconut palm tree, native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
- What does it do to your hair?
Both argan oil and coconut oil, undoubtedly, have multiple benefits for your hair hair, and both are excellent add to your hair care routine. Both of these oils can penetrate your hair shaft to provide nutrients.
However, both coconut oil and argan oil have their specific properties and act differently on your hair strands.
Argan oil adds shine and reduces frizz, and protects your hair from daily damage. It has both nourishing and protective properties. According to many experts argan oil helps you fight hair loss, by promoting healthy hair growth (this also applies to eyelashes!).
Coconut oil, on the other hand, provides deep hydration and nourishment and helps reduce protein loss, repairing damaged hair. There are even more effects on your hair, which will be explained later in this article – so keep reading!
- Consistency of hair oil for each hair type
Argan oil is lightweight, non-greasy hair oil, suitable for every hair type. On the other side, coconut oil is a bit greasier – it’s solid at room temperature, while argan oil is a liquid.
Also, argan oil is easier to absorb, but you will probably need to warm up the coconut oil before use.
And, as you can assume from the consistency – coconut oil is great for dry scalp, and dry and damaged hair (but argan oil is a liquid gold, too – continue reading!).
Everything You Need To Know About Argan Oil For Hair
Argan oil is a really magical hair oil, most commonly used as a hair moisturizer.
It provides a fatty layer on your hair, which helps prevent hair dryness and reduces fizziness while boosting shine. Being lightweight in texture, it is very easy to use.
Benefits Of Argan Oil
Moisture
As previously explained, the fatty acids in this oil have moisturizing properties and penetrate deep into your hair shaft to provide deep hydration and moisture.
Anti-inflammatory properties
This oil is also specific for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which can help prevent or improve certain hair conditions (even those causing hair loss), including psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
Preventing hair damage
Thanks to the medium-chain fatty acids, this oil has a protective effect that can help prevent further damage from washing, coloring, and styling. It also prevents the hair from breaking during heat styling.
Sun protection
By preventing UV damage and damp hair, it prevents hair drying out and other hair damage.
Hair loss prevention
The benefits of this oil can prevent hair breakage and – hair loss. In fact, some of its ingredients, including vitamin E, are proven to promote healthy hair growth.
Who Should Use Argan Oil
Anyone can benefit from argan oil – and it’s suitable for all hair types. It is especially recommended for those with dull or dry hair. And yes, it is safe to use every day, as long as your hair is not fine or oily.
Who Should NOT Use Argan Oil For Hair
Generally, argan oil can be used on most hair types. However, you may need to use a different type of argan oil depending on your needs.
For example, full-strength argan oil is ideal on thick, curly, or heavily colored hair, but may be too “heavy” for fine hair.
Therefore, if you have fine hair, you should probably avoid it, or use it with extra care.
How To Use Argan Oil On Hair In A Safe Way
There are several ways to use argan oil in your hair care routine. Firstly, you can use it as a hair mask, where you can combine this oil with other nourishing, natural oils, including coconut and castor oils.
Note, however – if you use argan oil as a mask remember to rinse it off, and don’t leave it overnight, to prevent greasiness.
Otherwise, you can find different products based on argan oil on the market – including shampoos and leave-in conditioners, bought or homemade.
Shampooing your hair with argan oil (mild) shampoo or leave-in conditioner is a very convenient idea! Just add a few drops of argan oil to your regular shampoo – and voila!
Everything You Need To Know About Coconut Oil For Hair
Coconut oil is often said to be the best hair oil to use on your hair to reduce protein loss and keep it looking healthy.
It is a great ingredient to protect your hair from harsh chemicals and environmental stressors, containing essential nutrients to recover your brittle hair, too.
Coconut oil is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft, which makes it more effective than other oils2.
Benefits Of Coconut Oil
- Protein loss prevention
Coconut oil can reduce protein loss in both – damaged and healthy hair when used either as a pre-wash or post-wash treatment.
Coconut oil is mainly made up of a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid, which makes coconut oil more easily absorbed deep into the hair shaft – and has an affinity for hair proteins, preventing its loss – and hair damage.
- Hair growth
Using coconut oil in your daily hair care routine may help you grow longer and healthier hair and help you in the re-growth process of your damaged hair.
This oil works by moisturizing your hair and reducing its breakage, preventing protein loss, and protecting your hair from environmental damage3.
- Dandruff-free and lice-free hair
Thanks to its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, coconut oil can be used in treating various hair conditions, including dandruff. Furthermore, studies have shown it can be used in treating lice infestation4, too!
- Sun protection
UV filters in coconut oil may help protect your hair from sun damage, which prevents any further damage to your hair. Besides protection from UV damage, it may help your hair stay healthy and vibrant even in case of prolonged sun exposure.
- Moisturized, shiny hair
Coconut oil is highly moisturizing and nourishing. These two properties are essential to give your hair that shiny look. Coconut oil delivers nutrients to your hair follicles, allowing them to grow healthy-looking hair.
Additionally, it lubricates your hair shafts and seals the moisture. That is also why massaging the coconut oil onto your hair may help you repair dry, damaged hair cuticles, to restore their shine.
- Controls frizzy hair
Too dry or too humid conditions can make your hair look frizzy. That is where the coconut oil jumps in. It is the perfect conditioner for frizzy or unruly hair.
Plus, it seals the moisture into the hair shaft and forms a protective layer over your hair, preventing frizz.
Who Should Use Coconut Oil
Coconut oil really does make a difference in those with damaged, hair-styled, or colored hair, but also anyone who seeks healthy hair looks and wants to improve scalp health, especially in case of dandruff.
Note, however, that it is a better choice for those with dry skin on the scalp, and dry hair, generally.
Who Should NOT Use Coconut Oil For Hair
Coconut oil is generally considered safe to apply to your hair. However, it is probably not the luckiest option for those of you with fine hair, as its use can make it look greasy and oily.
How To Use Coconut Oil On Hair In A Safe Way
You can use this oil in various ways, either as the pre-washing hair protector, post-washing detangler, as a conditioner, hair mask or as the scalp treatment.
And yes, you can leave coconut oil in for a few hours, and in case of very damaged hair – overnight.
In case you use it as a conditioner, use it from the midsection to the ends of your hair. And, don’t use it every day, as it can lead to its build up – and eventually, the unwanted greasy looks.
Which Is Better: Argan Oil Or Coconut Oil For Hair?
It is difficult to say which of these magical oils is a better choice – as this depends on your expectations.
Argan oil will create a sleek, moisturized look, while the coconut oil will offer a heavier dose of nourishment, but that makes the coconut oil more greasy, too!
These two oils have their unique benefits for your hair – argan is better for hair growth and shine, while coconut oil is ideal for repairing damaged hair and deep moisturizing.
So, make sure you choose (and use) them according to your hair goals for the best results.
Is Coconut Oil Or Argan Oil Better For Curly Hair?
If your hair is curly, you can use both of these oils. However, coconut is better in this case, as its conditioning abilities can help you detangle your locks more easily.
Is Coconut Oil Or Argan Oil Better For Dry Hair?
If you are struggling with dry hair, coconut oil will be a better choice for you. Argan oil is also fine, but not as effective.
Is Coconut Oil Or Argan Oil Better For Dry Scalp Hair?
Both of these oils are fine for dry scalp. However, argan oil, loaded with vitamin E can really do wonders for your dry scalp, by increasing the rate of cell regeneration.
Is Coconut Oil Or Argan Oil Better For Frizzy Hair?
To help you tame your frizz – coconut oil would be a better option, due to the faster and deeper absorption in the hair shaft and protection of your hair from absorbing too much water, which makes the hair more vulnerable.
Is Coconut Oil Or Argan Oil Better For Bleached Hair?
Both of these oils are good to use on bleached hair. In fact, both argan oil or coconut oil can help with restoring protein in hair cuticles which can be damaged by the bleaching process.
However, if there would be just one choice – coconut oil is your best bet for making your bleached hair healthy and soft again.
Which Oil Is Best For Hair?
The best hair oil is the one that meets your needs. These two oils are great options, being the top two hair oil options, both with their unique effects.
But, there are also some other oils with positive properties for your hair like sunflower oil, as well as sweet almond oil.
Which Oil Is Best For Hair Growth And Thickness?
If you want to improve your hair growth and improve its thickness, rosemary oil is a miraculous oil to achieve it, due to its ability to improve cell regeneration. It is very effective in improving your hair thickness and aids in hair growth.
Coconut oil is also highly effective in promoting healthy hair growth, being rich in fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. You can try both of these options.
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority.
Resources:
- https://jddonline.com/
- https://www.researchgate.net/
- https://europepmc.org/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
