Walk into any beauty store and you'll find shelf after shelf of hair oils, each one claiming that it'll change your hair. Most product comparisons aren't worth your time. Moringa oil and argan oil are actually worth looking at because the two of them work well - they just serve different purposes for your hair. Argan oil has been the go-to in high-end hair care for years now, with tons of research behind it and celebrity hairstylists who swear by it. Moringa oil is newer to the market and has a different molecular structure that sets it apart. On top of that, it costs a whole lot less.
Get this wrong and you'll face consequences for your hair and for your wallet. Pick an oil that doesn't match your hair type, and you'll waste money on a product that just doesn't work. Fine hair does best with lightweight oils that absorb fast and won't weigh down your strands. Thick, porous hair calls for the exact opposite - heavier oils that can coat every strand and lock moisture in where it needs to be. An oil that works beautifully as an intensive treatment for damaged hair will turn fine hair into a greasy, limp mess if you use it every day!
Neither oil is better than the other across the board - it just depends on what you're trying to accomplish. The molecular structure matters, and the nutrient content matters, and your hair type is usually the biggest factor. Price and how well it fits into your day-to-day will also play a part in which one ends up working best.
Let's compare these two popular hair oils to see which one works for you!
How Oils Get Into Your Hair
How well an oil works with your hair depends quite a bit on the size and shape of the molecules inside it. Moringa oil has pretty small molecules, and it lets them slip past the outer layers of each hair strand and get deep inside, where they can help out. Moringa is able to pull this off because it has a high concentration of behenic acid - between 38% and 42% of the oil's total makeup.
Behenic acid is a type of fatty acid, and its molecular structure makes it great at slipping through the hair cuticle - much better than most other fatty acids can manage. Once it penetrates deep into the hair shaft itself, it delivers moisture from the inside out instead of just coating the surface. Hydration at this level is what strengthens each strand, and with regular use, you should see much less breakage over time.
Argan oil works differently because the molecules are actually much bigger. They can't penetrate into your hair shaft like other oils can, so the oil sits on the surface and forms a protective coating around each strand. This coating seals in whatever moisture is already inside your hair and also creates that immediate glossy look you'll see right after you apply it.
Each oil has its own set of benefits, and the one that's better for you mostly depends on what your hair actually needs. If your hair feels dry and fragile from the inside out, you'll want an oil that can penetrate deep and repair the damage at the core - moringa is great at this. But if your hair is in decent shape already and you just want to shield it from heat, pollution or other environmental stressors (or maybe you just want that extra glossy finish), a surface-level coating is going to be your best bet, and argan does a great job at that.
The main difference between these two oils is the molecular size and shape. And when you know how each one works, it gets way easier to choose the right oil for your hair type and goals.
The Nutrients Your Hair Needs
The chemical makeup of these two oils is actually quite different side by side. Moringa oil has something in it called behenic acid, and it's a big deal for anyone who cares about their hair. Behenic acid is a fatty acid that can seal and smooth out the hair shaft better than just about any other oil out there. It forms almost like a protective coating on each strand and fills in the little gaps and rough patches along the way. Argan oil takes a different strategy - it's loaded with vitamin E, and it's one of the best nutrients your hair can get. The main job of vitamin E is protection from oxidative damage, and this damage happens when free radicals attack and break down the proteins in your hair.
Vitamin E works like a shield against the environmental damage that wants to break down your hair over time. Moringa's fatty acids will actually work their way into each strand and reinforce the structure from the outside in. Argan oil also brings plenty of antioxidants to the table, and they work right alongside the vitamin E, so your hair can stay healthier for way longer.
Argan oil has much more research behind it than moringa oil does. We're talking years and years of peer-reviewed studies that show what argan oil can do for your hair. Moringa oil is another story altogether. Most of what we know about its benefits for hair comes from looking at its nutritional content and profile - not from direct clinical studies that test it on the hair itself. I do see plenty of promise in moringa oil. But we're mostly just connecting the dots based on what these nutrients should be capable of doing, instead of being able to point to stacks of published research that already exists.
These two oils bring benefits to your hair care, and each one delivers different nutrients. Which one you pick depends on what your hair actually needs the most - moringa's sealing and smoothing effects, or argan's protective antioxidant benefits.
Which Oil Works Best for Your Hair Type
Hair type is one of the main factors to keep in mind when you're picking between these two oils. Fine hair can be a challenge with most oils because they just sit on top of each strand and leave everything looking greasy after just a few hours. Moringa oil has a much lighter consistency, so it absorbs into your hair instead of coating the surface. For anyone with thin or fine hair that tends to get oily, moringa is almost certainly going to be the better option.
Thick or coarse hair works differently. Hair with more texture and thicker strands can take heavier products without that weighed-down feeling. Argan oil has more weight to it and leaves a thicker coating on each strand, and it's helpful for hair like this because it seals in the moisture that thick hair tends to lose pretty fast. Hair with high porosity (that just means that the cuticle stays more open) benefits quite a bit from having that extra protective layer on it.
Curly hair deserves its own section because it has a different set of needs. Curls need much more moisture than straight hair, and it's all because of the shape of each strand. Natural oils from your scalp have a hard time traveling down a curly hair shaft the way they do on straight hair. Moringa and argan each work well for curls. But the right choice depends on how tight your curl pattern is and how much product weight your hair can take before your curls start to lose their shape.
Damaged hair responds to these two oils in pretty different ways. Chemical treatments and hot tools rough up your hair over time, and they leave all sorts of small gaps and rough patches along the outer layer of each strand. Argan oil tends to work better at filling in those damaged areas, mostly because of its thicker, heavier consistency. Moringa oil can help to repair damage, too, don't get me wrong. But it may just not give enough coverage for hair that's been through quite a bit - like multiple bleach sessions or years of constant flat iron use.
Hair that's already in decent shape gives you much more flexibility to choose between the two. Healthy hair just needs basic maintenance to stay looking nice - and you don't need anything heavy-duty or particularly restorative.
Pick the Daily or Weekly Approach
For your hair care, moringa and argan oil work very well. But which one usually makes more sense for you depends on how much you'll use it. Moringa is a great pick if you want to use it every day because it absorbs fast and feels much lighter on your hair than most of the alternatives. You can apply it before you shampoo or just add a few drops each morning without any concern about that greasy, heavy feeling that some oils are known to leave behind.
Argan oil works differently, though. It's better to treat it like a weekly intensive treatment instead of something you use every day. Most users get the best results when they apply it as a deep conditioner or right before they use heat styling tools. The texture is heavier and thicker than other oils, which means you won't need as much to cover everything.
The amount you need depends on the part of your hair you focus on. Moringa is pretty forgiving - you can work a few drops through the mid-lengths and ends every day without any problems. Many customers will massage a small amount into their scalp as well, and it works great for that. Use a lighter touch with argan, though. Just put it on your ends and on any damaged areas with one or two drops at most.
Your wash schedule matters when you choose between these two. Daily washing makes moringa a better fit because you can apply it fresh after each wash without any heavy, weighted-down feeling. If you wash once or twice a week, argan is usually the better choice for deeper conditioning between wash days.
Timing is as important as which product you pick. Moringa works best on damp hair right after you get out of the shower. Argan is better when it sits on dry hair for at least 30 minutes before you rinse it out. Another way to use argan is to smooth a small amount over your dry ends whenever you need some extra protection before you grab your flat iron or curling iron.
What the Cost Differences Really Mean
Moringa oil is going to cost way less than argan oil in most situations - it can be 2 to 3 times cheaper, and it matters when you shop around for hair care products. The exact price changes quite a bit based on where each oil comes from and the extraction process used.
Moringa trees grow very fast and can do well in just about any climate around the world. That makes the production much easier and far cheaper. Argan trees are a different story. Argan trees only grow in Morocco (nowhere else on earth), and the trees need decades to mature before they're ready to harvest. On top of that, it takes quite a bit of manual labor to extract the oil and get it right. Since argan oil is limited to one small region and needs so much time to produce, the higher price tag makes much more sense.
The production sustainability matters with these two oils. Moringa grows just fine in lots of different regions around the world, and it doesn't strain local ecosystems too much. Argan oil faces more production pressure since the trees only grow in one geographic region. Argan oil is still a quality oil for what it does - just know that the supply will always be more limited.
Whether argan oil is worth the extra money for your hair depends on what you need and what you can spend. A higher price doesn't automatically mean better results for your hair type. What you are paying for is a product that takes more time and effort to produce. If argan oil works great for your hair and the cost fits your budget, maybe it's worth every penny. Moringa oil could have the same results and help you save a fair amount of money at the same time.
Pick the Best Oil for Your Hair
Moringa oil is probably going to be the better option for everyday use when you have fine or thin hair that tends to get weighed down in no time. It absorbs into your hair quickly and puts moisture into each strand, and it doesn't make everything feel heavy or greasy. The lightweight formula is one of the best parts - you can use it as much as you need to, and buildup won't become a problem over time like it does with heavier oils.
Argan oil is ideal when you have coarse hair or damaged hair that needs some extra help. Use it as a weekly treatment when your hair needs something richer than what you'd normally use day-to-day. Argan oil has a thicker, denser texture that gets deeper into the damaged areas and takes care of the tougher dryness that lighter oils just can't manage to fix.
What you're trying to accomplish with your hair also plays a large role. Moringa oil does both well, and it's easy to work with when you want to control general frizz and add a soft, healthy shine. Argan oil is going to be better for heat protection when you grab your flat iron or blow dryer, or for split ends that always come back.
You can also use these two oils in your hair care. Plenty of women will use moringa oil as an everyday leave-in product, and then they switch over to argan oil when they want a pre-wash treatment or an overnight hair mask. These oils have different strengths, and they work well together.
Match it to what each oil does best, and you'll know which one is your best bet.
Keep It All Natural
Moringa and argan oil are great options. But which one will work for you depends on what your hair actually needs. Fine, oily hair will respond very differently compared to thick, dry curls, and something that works wonders for one person's hair might barely help another person. Your best bet is to match each oil's properties to whatever your particular hair type is missing.
Your main hair concern will tell you which one makes the most sense. Moringa is lightweight, affordable, and gentle enough for regular use, making it perfect if your hair gets oily fast or feels weighed down by heavier products. Argan has decades of research behind it, and it's better for serious repair work, so if your hair is damaged and needs intensive care, maybe it's worth spending a bit more.
Once you learn what these oils actually do (and get past marketing claims), you can make much better decisions about what to buy. That knowledge gives you control over your choices.
All our products are designed to support your whole body with ingredients straight from nature. Our Skinny Iced Coffees give your metabolism a gentle lift, our Detox Kit helps to cleanse your system from the inside out, and our Constipation Relief Kit supports better digestive health. We make everything with natural ingredients because your health matters to us. Visit Bella All Natural and see just how easy it can be to feel better and much more confident!
