Sometimes when I fall in love with an expensive product, I use it and love it while staying on the hunt for something a little less expensive. I do love the Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy, but that doesn’t mean I love paying $34 for 1.5 oz, even if it does last a long time and you don’t need a lot to see results.
I’ll do it because it’s a fabulous product, but that doesn’t mean I won’t stray every now and then to see if there’s something on par at the drugstore. That’s where Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment comes in. It’s almost—almost—as good, and it’s about $6 for 3.75 oz. You don’t even have to pull out a calculator for that one.
It’s designed for all hair types that tend to get a little frizzy, or for damaged hair, and it can be used on wet, damp, or dry hair. I’ve used it as a leave-in product after getting out of the shower and as a finishing product after straightening my hair.
My hair is wavy and frizz-prone. It’s thick but fine. When I use it on damp hair, it does seem to frizz less as it air dries and my hair is softer when it’s dry than when I don’t use it. I get similar results when I use Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil.
When I use it on dry, flat-ironed hair, it works magic and my hair becomes so sleek and shiny, I almost can’t believe it’s mine. I’ve never tried mixing it in with my conditioner, which is another recommended use.
It would take a lot of the product to make your hair look oily and limp unless you applied it straight to the roots. I use less than a quarter-sized amount for my damp mid-length hair, so the bottle will last a while.
When my hair is damp, I apply from about ear-level down, then run whatever is left on my hands over the area just below the roots. When I use it on dry hair, I use about a dime-sized amount and run it through the ends first, then rub the residue over the area around ear-level, keeping it far from the roots. The bottle design makes it easy to get just the amount you want. Press down the top of the lid to open a small spout and then squeeze it into the palm of your hand.
I still get slightly better results from the Ojon product and almost identical results from Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, which can also be used on skin but costs $48 for 1.7 oz. I think it’s a fantastic product for when my budget won’t allow me to purchase a bottle of either of the other oils.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you’re not getting 100% argan oil in the Garnier bottle—it’s made with argan oil. The ingredients list reads: cyclopentasiloxane, dimethiconol, parfum/fragrance, argania spinosa oil/argania spinosa kernel oil, prunus armeniaca kernel oil/apricot kernel oil,  linalool, hexyl cinnamal, citronellol, limonene, benzyl alcohol, geraniol, carrot oil/beta-carotene.
By playing up the Moroccan argan oil angle, I feel like the label is a little misleading. However, as long as you’re aware of the ingredients, you can make a decision as to whether the product is right for your hair and lifestyle.
Photo credit: Garnier
