Wherever we find ourselves walking around these days, talking with clients, ingesting all the beauty news constantly filtering through the Michaeljohn salon, there’s one buzzword which keeps being reiterated over and over; Argan Oil. So much so, we decided there was something to be said about it and we got writing this blog. And like any product deserving this much attention, there is a good story to tell.
Until awhile ago, Argan Oil was the secret of the Berber community in Northern Africa, who have been using it in their diet for centuries.
Some basic need to know facts:
· The golden, nutty oil comes from the fruit of the argan tree, an ancient and UNESCO protected tree that grows only in South-Western Morocco making it one of the rarest oils in the world.
· It takes approx 15hours and 30kg of fruit to produce just 1 litre of argan oil – a skilled process passed down through generations.
· Late summertime, the argan fruit ripens, falls to the ground and is laid out to dry. To extract oil, the dried outerfruit is removed, then, using traditional artisanal techniques involving stones, the seeds are extracted from the hard inner shell. The seeds are then cold pressed to extract the oil.
· Argan Oil contains twice the amount of tocopherals and Vitamin E than Olive Oil as well as fatty acids, Omega 6 and 9, making it a powerful antioxidant.
FACT:The increasing popularity of argan oil has prompted the Moroccan government to plan for increased production: its aim is to triple annual production from approximately 2,500 - 4,000 tonnes by 2020.
Argan Oil has largely gained popularity for its countless benefits. Argan oil is effective across use on skin, face, body, lips, hair, nails and in the bath. It can be used as a moisturizer for face and body, to help prevent stretch marks and protect the elasticity of your skin, as anti-wrinkle, to alleviate symptoms of eczema and acne, as a massage to strengthen brittle nails and most notably as a nutrient conditioning treatment for damaged hair.
At Michaeljohn, we are a great fan of Argan Oil, and have long encouraged use of it for its nourishing and restorative hair qualities. Products in the salon particularly rich in it include the Moroccan Oil range and the new So Pure products.
Michaeljohn Artistic Director, Adrianne Jones comments on its current resurgent popularity: “I think it has come back in such demand because it’s a natural product, borderline organic, in a time when people are interested in all things ‘natural.’ It is also just so effective in making hair shine and can be left in overnight at home as a quick fix treatment. Moreover it has different uses, such as for face and skin.”

