Moroccanoil: Total “Hair” Love – a review

Moroccanoil – all one word – has basically become a catchphrase amongst celebrities, beauty insiders and anyone longing for a vibrantly luxurious mane. Not knowing what to expect, and leery of adding any type of “oil” to my hair, I began to very cautiously test out this range, but with my very first forays, I wasn’t only hooked…I became OBSESSED! With claims that these products not only nourish your hair from the inside out, but that they can also cut dry time as well, I welcomed any opportunity to shave a few minutes off my hair routine. All the following products were personally tested on my hair, over a four week period.

Added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1999, and a relic of earth’s Tertiary Period which ended 1.6 million years ago, the gnarled and bark-twisted Argan Tree, looks steeped in history and time. Found only in the southwest part of Morocco and able to live up to 150-200 years, it’s roots go deep in the ground in search of water, thus also helping to prevent soil erosion in that arid clime, thereby making this tree not only the rarest in the world, but a valuable part of the eco-system there. Historically, the Argan seeds were collected from the undigested waste of goats, who love to climb up the Argan Tree’s branches to graze on its nuts & leaves.

For centuries, it has been the role of traditional Berber women (indigenous people of Morocco) to create Argan oil, which is done by harvesting the nuts this tree produces, cracking them open to extract the seeds, which are then hand-ground into a paste-oil. It takes between 10-12 hours to produce 1 litre of the precious oil in this manner, although as demand for Argan oil increases, the process is fast becoming more modernized. All Argan oil production is controlled by the women’s cooperatives, thereby affording them financial independence, which then leads to better health care and education.

Allow me to give you some background info first, in all humility: my hair is long, relatively thick, grows exceptionally fast, can withstand a barrage of abuse and up until about 16 years ago, was never dyed. It is now coloured a very pale blond which has had the unexpected effect of adding a dryness factor to what is also hair that tends to run oily. So, my needs as far as shampoo/conditioner goes are that it must be cleansing, without stripping my colour, add moisture without weighing it down and be conditioning enough to leave me with manageable, shiny hair.

Enter Moroccanoil’s ‘Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner’ (US $21.00 250 ml/8.5 oz each). Both products have a milky, crème-like consistency, thick enough to coat hair without being runny and have a unique fragrance, at once fresh and incredibly addictive. The lather created was not excessive, but just enough to thoroughly coat my hair and easily rinsed out. Sulphate, phosphate and paraben free, their infusion of Argan oil left my hair feeling thoroughly clean but completely moisturized, while the conditioner, which I left on for the entire duration of my shower and rinsed out right before finishing, left me with sleek, tangle-free hair. The best test of these products, however, was during my vacation, where days spent at the beach took their toll on my tresses: everything Mother Nature took away, my Moroccanoil ‘Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner’ returned to me…in abundance! Love, love, love!!

Specially formulated for blond or fine hair, Moroccanoil ‘Light Oil Treatment’ (US $40.00 100 ml/3.4 oz) is the younger sister to the original ‘Oil Treatment’, bearing a slightly less viscous consistency and paler colour as well. This treatment claims to “revive, strengthen and condition hair, and can reduce drying time” – all pluses in my book, so pouring a nickel sized amount in my hands and rubbing them together to spread it out, I applied it evenly throughout my hair, beginning with the ends and finally moving up to the roots. Yes, you heard correctly: the roots. When done correctly, you should have no oil left on your hands at all. Surprisingly, not only did this treatment oil NOT slick me down and flatten me out, but my hair felt almost slippery cool to the touch when dry, which in fact did take less time. I also noticed significantly less flyaways and a truly amazing shine. Another thing I loved was that the same scent is consistent throughout all the products, with everything harmonizing so beautifully, and no discordantly competing fragrances.

On the days that I skip using the ‘Light Oil Treatment’, I exchange that by applying a touch of the ‘Hydrating Styling Cream’ (US $31.00 300 ml/10.2 oz), that I personally use as a type of leave-in conditioner. My usual routine consists of a simple blow-dry followed by a quick run of the flat iron, and on the rare occasion I style my hair with a bit of wave/curl, this product not only helps to hold the style (which is notoriously difficult with my hair, as it’s heavy and has a tendency to want to go straight again), but also manages to feel natural, smooth and never stiff. Apart from the shampoo/conditioner, this was the other Moroccanoil product I took with me on vacation which can be used on either damp or dry hair, and I relied heavily on its ability to re-infuse my hair with much needed moisture after being parched by the sun. Dry, brittle hair is a distant memory, after using this!

I wasn’t sure at first as to the proper uses of this spray, and the word “glimmer” threw me; half expecting it to wind up looking like 80’s era sparkle afro sprays (remember those? Shudder!!), I first tried misting ‘Glimmer Shine Spray’ (US $25.00 100 ml/3.4 oz) over my dried & styled hair, but finally realized that a more effective method is to shoot one spritz into my hands, rub them lightly over my hair beginning at mid-shaft, concentrating on the ends, and using the last bit to lightly smooth any strays on top. Light-weight and bearing the same tantalizing scent as the rest of the range, this spray not only felt like my hair had such movement, but I was stunned by the incredible high shine result.

While this last product is not for those looking for firm control, I am still impressed with everything else it can do. As a general rule, I don’t usually use hairspray except on those occasions when something more formal is required, so when an event came up recently, I sprayed my hair liberally with Moroccanoil’s ‘Luminous Hairspray’ (US $21.00 330 ml/10 oz) and was surprised that the resulting hold was…natural! I had enough subtle hold to keep my “do” in place, but I also had movement and a less stiff-looking appearance than conventional hairsprays. Another great use for this product is that by lightly spraying it above your head, you can then run your hands lightly over your hair to instantly tame flyaways….and end up with more of that fabulous shine. Did I mention how divine this smells?!

I could not resist adding this last photo; yes, those are indeed goats perched up in that venerable Argan Tree! The gnarled limbs of this tree make perfect toe-holds for these scampering creatures, who love to climb up and nibble on the tasty nuts. Thanks to modern conservation efforts, more and more land has been made available for the planting and growing of these incredible trees, which had come perilously close to being wiped out due to land expansion and over grazing….by goats!

Final thoughts: Not wanting to buy into the hype surrounding this line of products, I confess to entering into this experiment with a high degree of skepticism. I couldn’t be happier to have been wrong, and what’s more, I am so completely won over by this line, that I’m already well into my second bottle of shampoo. The ‘Glimmer Shine Spray’ and the ‘Light Oil Treatment’ come in amber glass bottles (to prevent UV light from degrading the ingredients) which give them an “old-world” feel and a little truly does go a long way; I have been using the oil treatment several times a week, and have yet to make a serious dent volume-wise. Being an aerosol, the ‘Luminous Hairspray’ is in an aluminum canister with a fine-mist nozzle, while the ‘Hydrating Styling Cream’ as well as the ‘Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner’ are in plastic containers, making them not only safe in the bathroom, but easy to travel with as well. These Argan oil enriched products carry that oil’s power to protect from UV damage, free radicals, and environmental stress while providing your hair with vitamins, restored strength & shine and improved elasticity. The fact that they are free from all harmful detergents and smell like a slice of heaven, is simply the icing on the cake. Beautifully shiny, incredibly healthy-looking hair can now be yours….the fountain of youth for your locks! For more information, please feel free to visit the Moroccanoil website.