Argan oil — or “liquid gold,” as many refer to it — is made from the fresh kernels of the fruit of the argan tree in Morocco. Pure argan oil has been used for centuries for cooking and as a home remedy for health and beauty, including hair loss. Today it can be found in a number of hair and skin care products.

Argan oil has been shown to provide several health benefits when applied to the skin and many of those benefits extend to the hair.

Argan oil is full of fatty acids and powerful antioxidants, such as vitamin E, that have been shown to have benefits for your scalp and hair.

Here are some of the benefits of argan oil for hair that may help protect against hair loss.

Moisturizes and conditions

Argan oil is mostly used as a moisturizer for skin and hair because it is full of fatty acids, mainly oleic acid and linoleic acid. These oils have been shown to lubricate the hair shaft and help your hair maintain moisture.

Argan oil is also rich in vitamin E, which provides a fatty layer to your hair and scalp that may help prevent dryness and can help reduce fizziness and boost shine.

Improves scalp health

Argan oil has anti-inflammatoryTrusted Source and antioxidantTrusted Source properties that are good for the skin. This can help prevent or improve skin conditions, including those that can affect the scalp that can cause hair loss, like:

• psoriasis
• seborrheic dermatitis

Little scientific research has been done on argan oil’s antifungal properties, though it may help treat dandruff. Sometimes dandruff is caused by a yeast-like fungus on your scalp.

Prevents styling and coloring damage

The medium-chain fatty acids in argan oil have a protective effect that can help prevent damage from washing and styling.

ResearchTrusted Source shows that other oils that are rich in linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid add a protective layer to the hair that improves combing force and protects the hair from breakage during heat styling. Oil treatment was also shown to reduce the formation of split ends, which can result in thicker, healthier looking hair.

A 2013 study also found that argan oil reduced damage caused by hair dye when applied to Caucasian hair after color processing.

Sun protection

Argan oil has been used by Moroccan women for centuries to protect skin from sun damage. A 2013 studyTrusted Source found that the antioxidant activity in argan oil protected skin against free radical damage from the sun. This benefit may also extend to the hair, helping to prevent drying and other damage from ultraviolet rays.

Argan oil for hair loss

There is no research available on argan oil specifically for hair loss, but its proven benefits for hair and scalp health may prevent hair breakage and hair loss. Vitamin E — which argan oil has in abundance — was shown to improve hair growth in a small 2010 research studyTrusted Source.

The powerful antioxidants and nourishing fatty acids in argan oil help keep your hair moisturized and protects against styling damage and damage caused by free radicals. This can result in less breakage and shedding.