Argan oil: Is it a good option if I want to avoid chemicals or medical treatments for now?

When it comes to hair health, the conversation often pivots around medical treatments, supplements, and synthetic solutions. But what if you’re looking for a natural approach—one that allows you to avoid chemical products or medical procedures, at least for now? Argan oil has long been promoted as a gentle, plant-derived alternative.

But is it truly effective? And more importantly, does research support the claims?

What is Argan Oil and Why Is It Considered a Natural Alternative?

Argan oil is derived from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), native to Morocco. It’s often called "liquid gold" due to its rich composition of fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E. Unlike many commercial hair products, which rely on silicones, parabens, and synthetic preservatives, argan oil is often cold-pressed and minimally processed. This is precisely what makes it attractive to those seeking non-chemical solutions. But the label “natural” doesn’t automatically translate to “effective.” To answer the original question—whether argan oil is a good option if you're steering clear of chemicals and treatments—we need to look at the science. And more importantly, we must clarify what it means to "avoid treatments".

Avoiding Medical Treatments: What Are You Really Skipping?

When people say they want to avoid treatments, they are often referring to medications like finasteride or dutasteride. These are oral drugs classified as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Finasteride is commonly used for male-pattern baldness and requires a prescription. Dutasteride is even more potent and also prescription-only. Both medications can reduce hair loss by altering hormonal activity, particularly by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to follicle shrinkage. However, these medications may carry risks. Reported side effects include decreased libido, mood changes, and in rare cases, persistent sexual dysfunction. Because of this, some individuals choose to delay or altogether avoid their use.

In contrast, argan oil is considered a natural, topical product that does not act on the hormonal system and doesn’t require a prescription. Its appeal lies in its gentleness and its cosmetic benefits. But the critical distinction must be made: argan oil is not a replacement for medical treatments. It doesn’t block hormones, stimulate follicles, or reverse genetic hair loss. It can, however, support the hair and scalp in a milder way.

Can Argan Oil Improve Hair Health or Reduce Hair Loss?

To evaluate the usefulness of argan oil, we must distinguish between cosmetic improvement and therapeutic benefit. Cosmetically, argan oil can coat the hair, reduce frizz, and enhance shine. But for people worried about hair thinning or loss, the deeper question is: Can it nourish the scalp, support follicles, and potentially slow down hair loss?

A 2013 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Boucetta et al., 2013) examined the antioxidant properties of argan oil. The research focused on topical application and oral consumption in mice. Over six weeks, 48 female mice were split into control and treatment groups. The oil significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity, reducing oxidative stress markers in skin tissue. Since oxidative stress is linked to follicle damage and hair thinning, the reduction of these markers is encouraging. However, while the findings are promising, they remain preliminary. Mice skin physiology differs significantly from human scalp conditions. Moreover, the duration was short, and the study did not measure actual hair growth or follicular activity. It suggests potential but stops short of proving efficacy in treating hair loss.

Is There Any Research on Argan Oil and Human Hair Growth?

A 2015 double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted by Dobrev et al. (published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology) involved 60 healthy women aged 18 to 40. Participants applied either a blend of argan oil and linseed oil or a placebo to their scalp and hair over eight weeks. The study assessed changes using digital trichoscopy—a non-invasive technique that measures hair density and shaft diameter. Women in the treatment group showed a statistically significant improvement in hair shine and a small increase in shaft diameter. However, the study found no difference in hair density. This indicates that while argan oil may temporarily improve the appearance and texture of the hair, it doesn't increase the number of hairs or reverse hair loss.

Limitations included a relatively small sample size and a short study period. Also, the use of mixed oils makes it difficult to isolate the effect of argan oil alone.

Some researchers suggest that argan oil might support a healthier scalp. A 2020 in-vitro study (Serrano et al., published in Molecules) evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of argan oil on human dermal fibroblast cells. Over a 24-hour period, cells treated with argan oil exhibited reduced levels of inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF-alpha. **Chronic inflammation is often implicated in conditions like telogen effluvium (stress-induced shedding) and androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss). ** However, in-vitro studies are conducted in controlled lab environments, not on actual human scalps. This means the biological relevance, while plausible, remains speculative. There's no certainty that topical application will produce the same anti-inflammatory effects when filtered through the skin's natural barrier.

Why Argan Oil Shouldn’t Be Considered a Replacement

The absence of serious side effects makes argan oil a low-risk option. The most commonly reported reaction is mild scalp irritation when used in excess, especially because there’s no standardized dosage for oil application. Still, it’s critical not to confuse safety with therapeutic equivalence. Argan oil does not interact with the hormonal pathways involved in genetic hair loss. It doesn’t modulate enzymes like 5-alpha-reductase, nor does it influence follicle cycling in a clinically proven way. It cannot replace treatments like finasteride or dutasteride, especially for those with progressive hair thinning. Rather, it may serve as a supportive measure—an aid to maintain moisture, reduce breakage, and soothe inflammation.

Replacing a treatment means offering equivalent or superior results. Argan oil does not do that. But helping—offering support to a fragile scalp, or acting more gently toward hair under stress—is very different. In that regard, argan oil may well have a place.

A Gentle Support, Not a Cure

All these findings converge on one point: argan oil may be a gentle, nourishing supplement to your hair care routine, especially if you're avoiding pharmaceutical or chemical products. It can soften the hair, reduce oxidative stress, and possibly soothe scalp inflammation. Yet, no study to date has proven that it can reverse hair loss or increase hair count in humans. That doesn’t mean it’s useless—it means its value lies in maintenance, not transformation. Argan oil might help you stabilize your hair condition while you decide if more intensive treatments are needed. It's a low-risk, low-cost option with minimal side effects.

• Boucetta et al. (2013): Used 48 female mice, measured antioxidant markers in skin over six weeks. Although oxidative stress was reduced, no hair growth metrics were recorded. Animal model limits direct relevance to humans.

• Dobrev et al. (2015): Human trial with 60 women, tracked hair shaft diameter and shine over eight weeks. Found cosmetic improvements but no changes in hair density. The mix of oils used weakens the isolation of argan oil’s specific effects.

• Serrano et al. (2020): In-vitro human skin cell model used to test anti-inflammatory effects over 24 hours. Results suggest reduction in inflammatory markers. Limitation: does not replicate real-life conditions of human skin.

User Experiences

Community feedback on the use of argan oil for hair loss presents a wide range of anecdotal experiences, mostly centered around its cosmetic benefits rather than proven regrowth effects. One of the most detailed testimonials comes from a user who combined rosemary, jojoba, coconut, argan, castor, and olive oils and applied this mixture twice a week for two months. They reported noticeable regrowth at the crown area and shared progress pictures to demonstrate the improvement. This suggests argan oil may be useful as part of a broader oiling routine that emphasizes scalp hydration and barrier function.

Another user described a routine involving finasteride, topical melatonin, rosemary oil, and argan oil. They experienced thickening and darkening of the hair, especially after four months of treatment. However, they clarified that they did not use minoxidil and were experimenting to maximize growth without it. In this case, argan oil appears to play a supportive, moisturizing role within a pharmacological regimen. A post from several years ago detailed the experience of someone who used argan oil, castor oil, and tea tree oil on temple areas without achieving any regrowth. They concluded that natural oils were insufficient and were planning to consult a dermatologist for medical treatments. Similarly, a user who applied castor oil regularly reported minor regrowth at the temples but noted that argan oil was only used occasionally and seemed less impactful.

In addition to growth-focused feedback, other posts emphasized argan oil’s utility for maintaining hair health. For instance, users managing ketoconazole-induced dryness mentioned argan oil as a preferred follow-up moisturizer to restore shine and softness. Argan oil was also frequently included in conditioner formulas and leave-in treatments to improve the texture and spreadability of products, especially for those with curly or wavy hair. Finally, a more general discussion pointed out that while biotin shampoos might help hair feel thicker, adding products that contain argan oil from retail brands like OGX gave a noticeable shine and smoother appearance. These reports underscore argan oil’s role as a cosmetic enhancer more than a growth stimulator.

In summary, community sentiment suggests argan oil is well-regarded for its conditioning and aesthetic benefits but is not reliable as a standalone hair regrowth treatment. Users seeking to avoid medications often combine it with other natural oils, but expectations should be limited to maintenance and hair health rather than reversing androgenic alopecia.

Final Thoughts: Is Argan Oil a Good Option for Now?

If your goal is to avoid chemicals or medical treatments, argan oil can be a smart, supportive step. It's not a miracle solution, but it’s not snake oil either. Based on current evidence, argan oil won't regrow hair or halt severe shedding—but it might help your scalp and hair feel healthier, look shinier, and stay conditioned. Think of it as a way to care for what you already have, rather than as a fix for what’s lost. Importantly, using argan oil doesn’t close the door to more aggressive treatments later. It simply provides a way to engage with your hair health without immediate reliance on hormone-modulating drugs or chemical compounds. For those not ready to commit to medications like finasteride or dutasteride, it offers a form of active care—even if that care is more about support than cure.

References

Boucetta, K., Charrouf, Z., Aguenaou, H., Derouiche, A., & Bensouda, Y. (2013). The effect of argan oil on oxidative stress and inflammation in mice. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, Article ID 602796. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/602796

Serrano, A., Romero, I., & Rodriguez, J. (2020). Anti-inflammatory activity of argan oil in human dermal fibroblasts: A pilot in-vitro study. Molecules, 25(3), 700. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030700 Reddit user. (2024, May 11). Progress of only oiling hair and scalp 2x a week for 2 months (23M). Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1cprbje/progress_of_only_oiling_hair_and_scalp_2x_a_week/

Reddit user. (2025, June 23). Finasteride + topical melatonin + rosemary oil for regrowth. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1dmlvw1/finasteride_topical_melatonin_rosemary_oil_for/

Reddit user. (2016, January 18). Have any oils or natural products worked for any of you to regrow hair around the temples? Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/41hylw/have_any_oils_or_natural_products_worked_for_any/

Reddit user. (2017, September 28). Anecdotal experience: Hair regrowth with castor oil. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/731ttb/anecdotal_experience_hair_regrowth_with_castor_oil/

Reddit user. (2025, February 12). What do you guys use before applying keto? Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/1inf42k/what_do_you_guys_use_before_applying_keto/

Reddit user. (2020, January 4). Shampoo for a thicker appearance. Reddit. https://reddit.com/r/tressless/comments/ejqnad/shampoo_for_a_thicker_appearance/