There's a lot of confusion surrounding the use of natural oils to manage dandruff. Some believe oiling does nothing for dandruff and ends up making it worse. Others believe that oiling is an effective remedy against dandruff. The third is the most balanced view that claims oiling can help dandruff in some cases and do nothing or make it worse in others.

In this article, our goal is to explore the balanced view in the context of argan oil and dandruff. We'll look at the uses of argan oil and when it can and cannot help manage dandruff.

Table of Contents:

• What Is Argan Oil?
• What Are the Benefits of Argan Oil?
• Moisturization
• Heals scalp
• Prevents damage
• Can Argan Oil Make Dandruff Worse?
• Can Argan Oil Help Control Dandruff?
• Vitamin E
• Scalp healing properties
• How to Know if Argan Oil is Right for You?

What Is Argan Oil?

Argan oil is nicknamed liquid gold for its color and healing properties. Traditionally, it was seen as a multipurpose oil that can be used for everything from cooking to skincare.

Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of argan fruit found in Moroccan argan trees. Since the argan tree only grows in a narrow desert strip in Morocco, it's also called Moroccan argan oil.

What Are the Benefits of Argan Oil?

There is a plethora of benefits of argan oil. You can use it on your face, body, and scalp. However, today we'll stick to the benefits of argan oil for hair only:

• Moisturization

Argan oil is rich in fatty acids. It's primarily made of oleic acid and linoleic acid. Due to the high fatty acid content of argan oil, it's an excellent moisturizer for your hair and scalp. Using argan oil can help you overcome issues of dry and itchy scalp.

• Heals scalp

A healthy scalp is the biggest sign of healthy hair. However, our scalps can take a lot of damage from hair products, sunlight, pollution, etc. If you have scalp infections, redness, itchiness, or sensitivity, argan oil can be helpful.

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, argan oil can heal scalp redness and minor infections. It's also rich in antioxidants, which accelerate healing. Though there isn't much scientific study on the antifungal properties of argan oil, it's believed to have at least minor antifungal properties.

• Prevents damage

As we already mentioned, argan oil is rich in fatty acids. It's specifically rich in medium-chain fatty acids that create a protective layer around hair strands. As a result, your hair stays protected from external damage.

Can Argan Oil Make Dandruff Worse?

There's no science that outright blames argan oil for making dandruff worse. However, there's very little science stating otherwise as well. We must look deeper into the properties of argan oil to understand whether it's helping or harming dandruff.

Dandruff is typically associated with dry scalp. But it's not uncommon for people with oily hair to also experience dandruff. This is because the dandruff-causing fungus feeds on oil and dead skin cells. When you have oily scalp and hair, applying argan oil can make your scalp even oilier, making dandruff worse in the process.

It's also important to note that argan oil may not suit everyone. If you get an allergic reaction from applying argan oil, it's best to stop using it.

Can Argan Oil Help Control Dandruff?

Yes, argan oil can help control dandruff in many people. There would always be exceptions, but argan oil works against dandruff in most cases. There are a few main reasons behind it:

• Vitamin E

Argan oil is rich in vitamin E. Vitamin E also happens to be very important for scalp and hair health. That's because vitamin E helps keep our hair follicles clean. Dandruff, on the other hand, can block hair follicles leading to breakage. The antioxidants in vitamin E also make it good for the scalp and hair.

• Scalp healing properties

We have already discussed the scalp healing properties of argan oil under the benefits of argan oil. However, it's also the most compelling argument for using argan oil for dandruff. Since dandruff is a scalp issue (and not a hair issue), anything that helps the scalp should also be effective against dandruff.

Argan oil can heal scalp infections due to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. A high concentration of antioxidants is another reason behind argan oil being good for the scalp.

Many factors point towards argan oil's efficacy against dandruff. If we also consider anecdotal evidence, it's safe to say argan oil effectively controls dandruff.

How to Know if Argan Oil is Right for You?

You must try using argan oil to find out if it works for you. That's the only way you'll find out if it works for you and your dandruff. We recommend starting with an oil massage at least once a week. Use cold-pressed Moroccan argan oil without any mineral oil or parabens to ensure that you're not putting anything harmful on your scalp.

Argan oil is a good place to start if you've never used natural oils before. Go for an argan oil hair mask along with cold-pressed argan oil once you see positive results.

You shouldn't expect dandruff to disappear after oiling your hair with argan oil a couple of times. Give it at least a month before you come to any conclusion.

Argan oil has been a game changer for thousands of people. It helps treat dandruff, dryness, split ends, breakage, and many more hair problems. Let us know your thoughts about this magical ingredient!