Argan Oil Vs Olive Oil: Which Is Best For Menopausal Skin And Thinning Hair?

If you're a woman in your 40s or older and noticing drier skin, deeper lines, or thinning edges from those hormone shifts – you're not alone. Menopause and perimenopause can make our skin lose bounce and our hair shed more, leaving us searching for answers. 

Two heroes – argan oil from Moroccan trees and olive oil from the Mediterranean – promise hydration, strength, and glow. But which one fights aging skin and hair loss better for African women of colour?  Because radiant skin and lush hair are your right at any age!

Why Our Skin and Hair Change After 35

After about 35, many women notice their skin and hair start behaving differently — not because you suddenly “aged overnight,” but because your hormones begin shifting often long before full menopause. As estrogen declines, your body produces less collagen and elastin, which are basically the scaffolding that keeps skin firm and springy. Research often cites up to ~30% collagen loss in the first five years after menopause, which helps explain why skin can feel thinner, drier, and quicker to crease than it used to.

Hair feels it too. Lower estrogen can shorten the hair growth phase, so strands shed more easily, grow back finer, and your edges may look less dense over time. At the same time, oil (sebum) production tends to drop, so both scalp and lengths can feel drier, making breakage more likely.

That’s why oils can suddenly feel like life support rather than an optional extra. Argan and olive oil both bring fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidant compounds that help soften rough texture, reduce water loss, and keep the scalp comfortable while your barrier is more fragile.

Argan Oil for Menopausal Skin

Daily argan oil (eaten and applied) has stronger evidence for menopausal skin than olive oil. In one study of 60 postmenopausal women (ages 49–61), the group that ate 25 g/day of argan oil and applied it to their skin saw bigger improvements in skin hydration and elasticity (firmer, smoother skin) after 60 days compared with the olive oil group.

Olive oil still helps — just in a different way. It’s an effective softening, barrier-supporting oil, and extra virgin olive oil also brings vitamin E and polyphenols that help protect skin from oxidative stress linked to visible ageing. 

Related reading: Plant-Based Body-Identical Hormones: 13 Natural Solutions for Women’s Menopause and Testosterone Balance

Olive Oil for Solid Everyday Moisture

It’s rich in oleic acid (a major monounsaturated fatty acid in olive oil) which gives it that soft, cushiony feel on skin — especially when menopause shifts leave your face and body feeling like they’re losing moisture faster than before.

Olive oil also contains squalene, a naturally occurring skin lipid that helps reduce that papery, dull feeling and makes skin feel smoother and more flexible. That matters because when hot flashes and night sweats are in the picture, it’s not just “dry skin” — it can turn into itchy skin, tight patches, and irritation that makes you want to scratch in your sleep.

Where olive oil really shines is daily practicality: it’s accessible, affordable, and versatile. It can soften the look of fine lines mainly because well-moisturised skin reflects light better and creases don’t look as sharp. But it’s important to point out that olive oil isn’t famous for directly “boosting collagen” in the same way argan is often marketed. It’s more of a comfort + softness + barrier support oil than a “firming” oil.

Hair Benefits: Stopping Thinning and Breakage

When hormones start dipping, hair thinning and breakage often show up together: the growth phase shortens, strands come in finer, and the scalp produces less oil, so hair becomes drier and snaps more easily. The goal with oils isn’t to “force growth overnight” — it’s to reduce breakage, calm scalp dryness, and protect fragile edges so you actually keep more of the hair you’re already growing.

Argan oil is a favourite for thinning hair because it’s lightweight and can coat the hair shaft without that heavy, greasy feel. Its vitamin E and fatty acids help improve the hair’s flexibility (less “snap” when you comb or style). It’s especially helpful when dryness is making your edges feel brittle. 

A simple routine: warm 2–3 drops between your fingers and smooth onto edges and sparse areas at night, then gently massage for 30–60 seconds. If you wear a scarf/bonnet, even better — it keeps moisture in and friction down.

Olive oil is richer and can be amazing for thicker hair textures that love heavier moisture. It tends to soften buildup and condition the scalp and lengths, which can reduce that “tight scalp → scratching → shedding” cycle.

Try a weekly mask: apply olive oil to the scalp and hair, add a little honey (for slip and softness), cover with a shower cap for 20–30 minutes, then shampoo thoroughly . Follow with conditioner so hair doesn’t feel stripped.

The trade-off: olive oil can weigh down fine, thinning hair and make it look greasy. If your hair is fine or your edges are already sparse, use olive oil mainly as an occasional pre-shampoo treatment, and keep daily edge care to argan. And whichever oil you choose, pair it with the real “growth hack”: low-tension styling and gentle detangling — because edges don’t just need oil, they need peace. 😜

Simple Ways to Use Them 

• Argan (pure, cold-pressed): 1 tsp in morning smoothie for skin glow; 2 drops serum on face/neck PM; fingertips on edges/scalp.

• Olive (extra virgin): Warm 2 tbsp for 20 min hair mask weekly; mix with shea for body butter; facial oil if skin loves heaviness.

• Combo hack: Argan AM, olive PM – or blend for custom balm.

Remember to buy food-grade for eating (100% pure, no fillers), start small and do allergy tests.

Top 5 African Oil Alternatives

If argan and olive oils feel like a stretch on the budget, our African continent has incredible alternatives right at home – often cheaper, easier to source, and just as effective for hormone-dry skin, thinning hair, and those stubborn lines.

1. Baobab Seed Oil (Adansonia digitata) — The Collagen Queen

Baobab has the kind of oil that feels like it was made for hormone-dry skin. It’s rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and it supports softness and elasticity.

Skin win: helps menopausal skin look more supple and less “tight.”
Hair win: calms dry scalp and helps strands feel stronger.

Why it stands out: baobab is often praised for supporting elasticity—a big deal when estrogen drops.

2. Marula Oil (Sclerocarya birrea) — The Lightweight Argan Twin

Marula oil is a beautiful option for women who want glow without grease. It’s fast-absorbing, nourishing, and tends to suit mature skin well.

Skin win: smooths and seals moisture without clogging.
Hair win: reduces frizz and adds softness to coils.

Why it stands out: absorbs quickly and feels “dry” on the skin in a good way.

3. Unrefined Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) — Olive Oil’s Rich Cousin

Shea isn’t just moisturising—it’s protective. It’s especially good when your skin barrier feels compromised.

Skin win: deep comfort for eczema-prone or very dry skin.
Hair win: sealing ends, protecting edges, supporting protective styles.

Why it stands out: barrier repair—exactly what menopausal skin often needs.

4. Moringa Seed Oil (Moringa oleifera) — Anti-Aging Multi-Tasker

Moringa seed oil is underrated for mature skin. It’s nourishing, supportive for texture, and works well when you’re oily-but-dry (which happens to many women in perimenopause).

Skin win: softens texture, supports glow, helps skin feel stronger.
Hair win: helps breakage-prone hair feel more resilient.

Why it stands out: strong antioxidant profile + scalp-friendly feel.

5. Mafura Oil (Trichilia emetica) — The Southern Star

Mafura is thick, soothing, and particularly loved for irritated skin and scalp.

Skin win: comfort for dryness + irritation
Hair win: seals cuticles and helps with dryness-related breakage

Why it stands out: soothing for itchy, reactive scalps.

Image taken from www.fromnaturewithlove.com