Hair Wars; Fighting the Resistance
I have fought a life-long battle against my hair. In the seventies, I opted for tight, smelly perms and fried ends. The eighties brought more perms, higher bangs, and loads of hairspray and lemon juice for that sun kissed look. The nineties were a continued pursuit for soft tendrils, and shoulder length waves—a dream stopped short by pregnancy hormones and over styling.
Being an eighties-remnant woman meant that I stayed with tight, curly perms and Flashdance bangs for too long, and don’t get me started on the poor fashion choices. I have been fighting my coarse, flat, dry and damaged hair for decades. I have bought and sampled almost every commercially available miracle- promise of hair products. I shudder to think how much money I have spent in a quest that had yet to lead me to the Holy Grail of Julia Roberts Pretty Woman hair.
Until now.
At the prompting of a friend—an experienced hair-care professional, I tested Argan Oil Leave-In Treatment from HSI. Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree that is native to Morocco. Because of the rising popularity, the Moroccan government has had to make plans for increased production. In addition to hair, the oil has other applications for skin and wellness. See full uses: Argan Oil for Hair: What’s the Benefit?
Since I am reviewing this after only one application, some might say that the jury should still be out. But I’m already convinced and will deliver the verdict. With one use, I am enjoying a lightweight, frizz-free third day of smooth, shiny hair. I plan to continue using with each shampoo and style and will report results after a month.
To avoid bias and placebo effects, I purposefully tried the product before reading the reviews and attributes. Upon further investigation, I am happy to report that the proof makes for a delicious pudding.
The Hype:
-
Frizz fighting and shine-promoting--Immediately
-
Ultra-lightweight and non-greasy for no residue buildup—the oil didn’t even leave a residue on
my fingers after application
-
Locks in moisture—I felt safe styling on the highest heat
Field Test Results:
-
Light, clean scent—my husband loved it, too!
-
Smooth and not greasy--some leave-in treatments leave a residue
-
Extended my hair washing by a day—it still felt and smelled clean
-
No flyaway strands—I didn’t have the static craziness that often accompanies very soft hair
-
Great shape for styling—my hair was ultra-soft but didn’t slip off the hot tool
-
My curls held into the next day—less heat = more hair health
- Big things come in small packages – multi-use: conditioning, styling, and finishing all in one product without feeling like an all-in-one product
-
Shortened my drying time—ain’t nobody got time for hours in front of the mirror
-
Transformative properties – Even after one use, I am looking forward to what my hair will be like after a month
- Apply from mid-part to ends before or after styling or both!
-
Color-preserving
-
Sulfate-free, phosphate-free and paraben-free
-
Not tested on animals
-
Proudly made in the USA
-
For natural hair and human hair extensions
A Note About the Author: Michelle Terry is a registered dietitian whose day job involves keeping people healthy through wellness, prevention, and chronic disease management. When she's not working or wrangling a teenager, she is running, boxing, and managing an unruly garden. You can read more about her imperfect life at mamamickterry.com