As we all know, hair in the Summer months can become dry, damaged and unmanageable. Especially if you’re jetting away on holiday and plan on spending pretty much all of your time in the sun. We all know these days to wear sunscreen if we’re heading out into the UV rays, and our hair is often forgotten. So what can we do about protecting our hair and also making sure it looks healthy and shiny? Apparently, hair oil. Particularly the ‘Moroccan’ ones that contain Argan oil.
For some of us, the sun can change the colour of our hair, and give us natural highlights – but in the same way that the sun can give us a tan, there’s always a price to pay. When the sun makes contact with your hair for too long, it can damage the cuticle and the inner structure. It makes your hair brittle and susceptible to split ends. And here’s a fact I didn’t know – if you have chemically bleached or dyed hair, over-exposure to the UV rays from the sun can actually change the colour; for example yellowing your new (and expensive) highlights. Below is are seven hair oils, from the cheap and cheerful to the downright dear.
TRESemmé Smooth glossing spray 75ml:
£4.99 from Boots.
TRESemmé are a well known brand, famous for their: ‘Professional- affordable’ product line. This hair oil claims to be a light spray for your hair, to: ‘Protect from frizz and tames flyaways, so your style stays smooth and shiny, with a frizz free finish.‘
Vo5 Miracle Concentrate Elixir with Argan Oil 50ml:
Vo5 have always been a reliable hair brand, famous for their line in hair wax and sprays. This hair oil is an extension from Vo5’s already existing hair oil line, their ‘hot oil treatment’ tubes, where you leave the tube in hot water for five minutes and then condition your hair with it. This oil treatment here looks to be more like ‘medication for your hair’ rather than a luxury conditioning treatment. It comes with a ‘dropper’ style applicator so it isn’t a spray – you would probably have to use this sparingly to avoid greasiness.
TRESemmé Liquid Gold Argan Oil Infused Perfecting Hair Treatment 75ml:
£6.99 at Boots.
Yet another product from TRESemmé, this time a bit more high-end and luxurious. The fact that it’s named ‘Liquid Gold’ can only make us think that it’s somewhat precious for your hair. Like the Vo5 product, you would probably have to use this sparingly as it’s not a spray for your hair. The oil comes from a pump applicator and is applied from mid lengths to the ends of your hair. (Note: This is advised with all hair oil treatments. You shouldn’t apply them too close to the roots of your hair as this will make your hair appear greasy rather than glossy.)
Lee Stafford Argan Oil from Morocco Miracle Shine Spray 200ml:
The Lee Stafford brand are known for being at the high-end of your budget, but provide quality results for your hair. This ‘Miracle Shine Spray’ also contains Argan oil, and this product claims to be a: ‘ luxurious, light weight, silicone-free, glossing mist with pro-argan™ complex is the perfect finishing touch for your hair.‘ As it’s a spray, it’s less concentrated and less intense. Lee Stafford recommends you spray this product roughly five inches from your hair.
Lee Stafford Argan Oil 50ml:
£11.99 from Boots.
Yet another Lee Stafford product, but this time with a pump applicator. It still claims to be a ‘lightweight’ treatment, for all hair types. This product can be applied to wet or dry hair, however the product does say to use sparingly if used on dry hair, and to rub the product into your hands first to ensure even coverage. It also says: ‘Remember you can always add more but you cannot take away.’ This should be a general rule for all of the hair oils that do not come in spray form.
Argan Oil Hair Treatment 100ml:
£12.99 from Boots. (£11.49 from Superdrug)
This product appears to be the real deal. It’s not a one-off from a brand line like the others, however it really is expensive. It gives us more information about Argan oil and its benefits for your hair: ‘Argan Oil Treatment is a unique formula based on the long known benefits of the oil from the fruit of the Argan Tree. Argan Oil Treatment is enriched with Vitamin E, a natural anti-oxidant. Formulated to nourish and rejuvenate dry and damaged hair. This concentrated oil formula will help smooth frizz, giving protection and shine to all hair types whilst reducing drying time by up to 50%.‘
Argania Organic Moroccan Argan Hair Oil 100ml:
£14.99 from Boots.
And here you have it – the organic option. Not many hair treatments have an organic alternative, but it’s good to know that there is one hair product that does give you the option – at a price, however. It claims to be: ‘Made with certified organic argan oil and natural ingredients.‘ They recommend that after applying from mid-length to the tips of your hair, you wait a minute for the product to be absorbed before styling. This product also mentions that it’s beneficial for de-tangling wet hair, and reduces blow-dry time, as well as extending the life of hair colour. As this product is at the top of the market, it gives you plenty of information about the benefits of Argan oil. It should also be noted that Argania sell this product in a ‘light’ version: ‘Created for use on blonde, highlighted and silver hair.’ – Also priced at £14.99 from Boots.
So there you have it, seven hair oils varying in price, but all claiming to do the same thing. To rejuvenate hair and to make it shine. It seems that this year, Argan oil is the latest in beauty secrets. It’s not just used for hair, but for the aid of stretch marks, scars, wrinkles, acne (even though it’s an oil?) psoriasis, and eczema. The oil was originally used by the Berber women of Morocco, yet has now become the latest in beauty buys commercially.
So if you’re going out into the sun this season, it might be worth investing in one of these products to prolong the life of your hair when the sun could be damaging it. However, it is always a good idea to look for products containing a heat protecting agent or a UV protecting agent.