Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editor and MoroccanoilSave this storySave this story
The original Moroccanoil Treatment oil, which we all know and love, debuted in 2008. Seventeen years later, a lighter iteration called the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist landed on my desk—and the timing couldn’t have been better.
Why? A few weeks ago, a tiny voice in my head whispered, “Go get bangs.”
As someone who decamped from New York City to the suburbs—and still hasn’t found a local hairstylist I trust—I now make a once- or twice-yearly pilgrimage back to the city for a $267 haircut from the only person I trust with my hair (hi, Tom). I arrived caffeinated, optimistic, and ready for change. Bangs were cut. Layers were shaped. Thanks to my stylist’s expert touch, my hair looked incredible: bouncy, glossy, and very much like the hair of a mom-of-two who (kind of) has her life together.
And then I went home.
The next morning, armed with nothing but my own devices, reality hit. My new layers, so chic under salon lights, were amplified by every flyaway. My bangs stuck straight up, as if actively trying to escape my face. I love to air-dry, even in winter, but shorter pieces dry faster than longer lengths, meaning my hair now dries in chaotic stages. The result? A halo of frizz I did not request. That's when I knew it was time to switch up my winter hair routine.
A few spritzes of the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist later, I started to suspect my haircut wasn’t the disaster I’d made it out to be. Styling products are usually instant-gratification territory—but what surprised me here was that the benefits didn’t stop once my hair dried. Here’s what happened when I put it to the test.
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Moroccanoil
Treatment Mist
Moroccanoil
My Hair Goals
I have medium-to-thick hair—and a lot of it. Before kids, I had the time (and patience) to blow it out, style it properly, and try new techniques just for fun. After kids, I need something fast and low-effort that still makes me look pulled together for school drop-offs and Zoom calls. With shorter layers and bangs, styling isn’t optional anymore, but it can’t be a 45-minute production either.
Winter air hasn’t helped. Between freezing air outside and bone-dry heat indoors, moisture gets zapped fast, leaving behind frizz, static, and ends that feel crunchy. What I’ve needed is something nourishing enough to smooth and soften, without weighing down my roots or leaving a greasy feel. In other words: hydration, but make it light. But that’s easier said than done.
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee before applying the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
Christa Joanna Lee
First Impressions
I first encountered the original Moroccanoil Treatment in 2008, when I was a beauty intern at a magazine, and every hairstylist I interviewed seemed to be using it. It was everywhere backstage at Fashion Week, and celebrities couldn’t stop recommending it. With its luxe feel and instant absorption, the argan oil-based formula quickly became a classic.
Lee applying the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
Christa Joanna Lee
But here’s my confession: I have never been great with traditional hair oils. Pump bottles—or anything that requires pouring oil into your hands—always felt like a gamble. I’d inevitably apply too much in one spot and not enough in another, leaving parts of my hair greasy instead of glossy.
This is where the Treatment Mist really won me over. The formula is noticeably lighter than the original Moroccanoil Treatment, and the ultra-fine spray disperses it evenly through my hair—eliminating the guesswork and preventing that all-too-familiar problem of weighed-down roots when I’m just trying to smooth my ends.
Lee applying the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
Christa Joanna Lee
As far as the scent, I usually gravitate towards fruity or floral when it comes to hair products, so Moroccanoil’s signature fragrance—warm, earthy, and a little musky—wasn’t an immediate love at first sniff. But I do love how it starts bold, then mellows into something softer and cozier that sticks around without competing with your perfume. The addition of eucalyptus, lavender, and spearmint oils gives the mist a fresher, lighter feel than the original treatment.
What Makes the Formula Shine
Argan oil is the star of all of Moroccanoil’s formulas. Extracted from the kernels of the argan tree native to Morocco, argan oil “has found a use as a skin and hair moisturizer because it is rich in oleic and linoleic acids,” Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Birmingham, Alabama, previously told Allure. Argan oil also helps protect and smooth the cuticle. “It preserves melanin while preventing damage to the exterior cuticle of the hair shaft,” Stacy Chimento, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, previously told Allure. She also noted that pure argan oil “mixes well with most ingredients and especially with other oils for the purpose of increasing shine.”
The Moroccanoil Treatment Mist in Lee’s bathroom
Christa Joanna Lee
However, argan’s not working alone. The formula also includes linseed (a.k.a. flaxseed) extract to help with elasticity and definition, plus rice bran and sunflower extracts to add shine and antioxidants, while keeping it lighter than the original. Vitamin E steps in for extra protection, and a few lightweight silicones help smooth the cuticle and add slip, which is the secret to fighting frizz without making hair feel heavy or coated. The overall effect feels conditioning and polishing, not like the product is just sitting on top of your hair. Translation: It leaves hair shinier, softer, and less prone to the tangles that turn into frizz.
How I Use It
One of my favorite things about the Treatment Mist is its flexibility. You can use it on damp or dry hair, which makes it easy to work into real life.
Most days, I still air-dry. I’ll apply a few spritzes to damp hair, comb through, and let it do its thing. When I need my hair to look a little more polished, I’ll air-dry about 80% of the way, then finish with a blow-dryer brush, adding a light mist at the end to seal the cuticle and banish winter static. On mornings when I simply don’t have time, I spray it from mid-lengths to ends and slick my hair back into a low ponytail or bun. The anti-frizz and shine-boosting effects are immediate—you’ll know right away if it’s working for you.
And for off-label use, I’ve been applying it as a pre-shower hair mask, letting it sit for 5-10 minutes before washing. It’s an easy way to give my ends a little extra love without adding another step after the shower.
The back of Lee’s hair before applying the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
Christa Joanna Lee
The back of Lee’s hair after applying the Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
Christa Joanna Lee
The Verdict
After three weeks of consistent use, my hair feels noticeably softer, and my ends are far less crunchy. I no longer brace myself when I look at my bangs in the morning. Instead, I have a lightweight, reliable go-to that smooths frizz, adds shine, and makes my shorter layers feel not just manageable, but actually fun to style.
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Moroccanoil
Treatment Mist
Moroccanoil
