Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum

I rarely use hair styling products nowadays. It's the result of using the most moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and hair masks I can find (L'Occitane and Kiehl's). But occasionally I still need some extra help in the fight against frizz, especially when the weather is not cooperating. That's what hair serums and leave-in treatments come into play.

I'm ambivalent about Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum but not because it doesn't perform. It does: a few drops and my hair looks slicker and shinier, the curls and waves are open and stay in place, tangles are smoothed- what else can one ask?

The answer? Honesty about what makes it work. Yes, we all know that argan oil is great, as are the other co-stars of the ingredient list: camellia, jojoba, avocado and grape seed oils. However, the truly effective and active agents in Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum? various silicones. Here's the ingredient list:

Cyclomethicone (and) Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Geranium Maculatum (Geranium) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol (and) Phenoxyethanol (and) Hexylene Glycol.

I'm not anti-silicone in any way. They're effective, feel nice on skin and hair and are an important part of many favorite cosmetics. My scalp is sensitive to them (go figure. I can cover my face with the stuff but one drop on my head and it's the Itchy & Scratchy Show) but other than that my hair responds wonderfully to dimethicone and friends. Just don't tell me it's the argan oil that does the magic, OK?

Bottom Line: Good products as long as I keep the serum from touching my scalp.

Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum ($30, 2oz) is available from Sephora online and in-store.

Art: The Toilette by John William Godward, 1900

Kiehl's Superbly Smoothing Argan Hair Pak

I have very simple requirement from my hair care products: they should thoroughly moisturize, shine, detangle without making me use excessive force and not make my scalp itch. You'd be surprised how few conditioners and hair treatments actually hit the spot. One that does and even exceeds expectations is Kiehl's Superbly Smoothing Argan Hair Pak. This is a rich and creamy hair mask, to be used after shampoo (I alternate between Tela, L'Occitane and the occasional deep cleansing with Head'N'Shoulders. Seriously).

Kiehl's directions are to leave the Argan Hair Pak in for at least 3 minutes. I recommend a minimum of 5 minutes and even longer if you can swing it. The longer it's in, the more buttery soft it makes my hair- the results are absolutely amazing. I end up with shiny and silky hair, the waves are open and stay in place without frizzing, there's no hint of dryness even when I spend all day inside, blasting the heating. The mask is also a superb detangler- pesky knots just melt away after five minutes of treatment. And the best thing: all that is done with a silicone-free formula, which means my scalp remains itch free (actually, it's in the best shape I've seen my scalp in forever).

Bottom Line: It's so good I don't mind the unpleasant pharmacy-like smell.

Kiehl's Superbly Smoothing Argan Hair Pak ($25, 8.4oz) is available from select department stores (Saks, Bloomie's, Nordstrom) and kiehls.com.

Photo of Jean Shrimpton and her amazing hair from myvintagevogue.com