Moroccan Argan Oil - Does It Live Up To The Hype?

I have been dying to get my hands on some Moroccan Argan oil for months now, but I was never able to bring myself to spend the $20 to $40 I've seen it priced at in various drugstores and salons. An old co-worker swore up and down that this stuff was a miracle worker, that it moved mountains and parted the clouds and would give us world peace (well no, it doesn't really do any of that, but apparently it was some pretty good stuff).

I ran out of my one true love (Aussie's 3-Minute Miracle) and while restocking, I noticed that Organix had developed their own Argan Oil product line of shampoos, conditioners, masks, and treatments. I decided to give it a chance and to see if Moroccan Oil lived up to its hype.

So we begin the experiment:

What my hair looks like in its natural state; unstructured curls, frizz, and straw-like texture. Forgive my smudged makeup; it was 9 pm and shower time!

What the product looks like. It is a very odd texture, creamy but thin. It's obviously a water-based formula.

When I applied it to my hair, it felt like it was immediately absorbed into the strands. My hair felt dry and scratchy and I was worried that this product was going to be a massive bust because I didn't feel anything even remotely moisturizing going on. I was far from impressed by what I was experiencing with this stuff. But I kept it on for the recommended five minutes and rinsed it out with cold water.

And this is what I ended up with:

My curls are looser and more wavy, and the frizz is slightly reduced. There's a healthy shine to my hair and though its really soft, the texture is still a bit rough. My hair still feels thirsty and dry.

So I added a small amount and smoothed it through my hair to keep the little frizzies at bay. It makes a pretty good leave in conditioner, more so than an actual conditioner, in my opinion.

So all in all, I wasn't wowed by this product. I did notice a slight difference in my hair, mostly in that my curls are gone and I'm left with easy to control waves. But my texture is still rough, my hair still feels dry, and this was definitely not the miracle-mountain-mover I was hoping for.

Grade: C+

I might still pick up some Moroccan Oil, but I'd most likely go with a different product line. Who knows? Maybe I'll actually shell out the $40 bucks and pick up the real deal.

Do you have any experience with Moroccan Argan Oil? What's your opinion on the stuff? How do you plan to control your hair, especially in the upcoming summer months?