You've seen the blue boxes at Sally Beauty. Maybe you've even grabbed a tube because the price point—usually under ten bucks—is hard to argue with when a salon visit costs upwards of $150. But here is the thing about One 'n Only Argan Oil Hair Color: it is a bit of a polarizing beast in the DIY beauty world. People either swear it’s the only thing that keeps their hair from snapping off like dry twigs, or they end up with a sink full of stained towels and a shade that’s two steps darker than the swatch promised.
It’s messy. It’s effective. Honestly, it’s one of the most pigmented permanent creams on the consumer market.
Most people think "Argan Oil" is just a marketing buzzword slapped on the box to make you feel better about dousing your head in chemicals. It isn't. While the ammonia is definitely still in there (unless you opt for their specific ammonia-free line), the inclusion of Argania Spinosa kernel oil actually serves a mechanical purpose during the oxidation process. It buffers the cuticle. Instead of the hair shaft blowing wide open and staying jagged—which is why your hair feels like straw after using cheap boxed dye—the oil helps the scales lay back down.
Why One 'n Only Argan Oil Hair Color Hits Different
The consistency is the first thing you'll notice. It’s thick. If you are used to the runny, liquid-to-gel formulas of drugstore brands like L'Oreal Preference, this is going to feel like mixing toothpaste. You have to use a bowl and brush. Trying to shake this up in a bottle is a recipe for a forearm workout you didn't ask for and a patchy dye job.
Professional stylists often look down on "box" color, but One 'n Only is technically a "pro-sumer" hybrid. You buy the color and the developer separately. This is crucial. It gives you control. If you have stubborn greys, you can kick it up to a 20-volume developer. If you're just refreshing your ends, you can use a 10-volume to minimize damage. That flexibility is why it stays a best-seller despite the flood of new "clean" beauty brands hitting the shelves.
Most DIYers mess up the ratio. The brand typically calls for a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio depending on the specific line, but if you eye-ball it, you're asking for trouble. Get a scale. Seriously.
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The Pigment Overload Problem
Here is a secret: One 'n Only runs dark. If you are looking at the 4N (Medium Brown) and your hair is currently a light brown, you are probably going to end up looking nearly black. The "N" series is incredibly dense. It's designed to cover grey hair, which is notoriously "glassy" and resistant to pigment. Because the formula is so packed with dye molecules to penetrate those tough greys, it can over-saturate healthy, porous hair.
Always go one shade lighter than you think you need. If you want a rich chocolate brown, grab the 5 or even the 6.
The "Argan" part of the name isn't just for show. Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids. When you're lifting the hair cuticle with ammonia to deposit color, those lipids fill in the gaps. It’s why the hair often feels better immediately after coloring than it did before. It’s a temporary "band-aid" effect, sure, but it’s a high-quality one.
Understanding the Developer Choice
You can't talk about One 'n Only Argan Oil Hair Color without talking about the developer. The brand makes its own Argan Oil Cream Developer, and while you can use a generic brand, using theirs actually maintains the consistency the chemists intended.
- 10 Volume: Use this if you are going darker or staying at the same level. It offers zero lift. It’s the gentlest way to use this color.
- 20 Volume: The standard. It lifts the hair 1–2 levels and is the "gold standard" for 100% grey coverage.
- 30/40 Volume: Just don't. Unless you are a trained pro or trying to achieve a high-lift blonde, using 30 or 40 volume with permanent color at home is the fastest way to "chemical cut" territory.
The Gray Coverage Reality Check
Let’s be real: most people buy this because they have those wiry, stubborn silver strands around the temple that refuse to take color. This is where this brand shines. The permanent cream formula uses a micro-pigment technology. Basically, the dye molecules are small enough to get deep inside the cortex before they swell up and get trapped.
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If you have "money piece" greys (that stubborn patch right at the forehead), try "pre-softening." Apply a little bit of the developer alone to those strands for 5 minutes before you put the color on. It opens the cuticle just enough so that when the One 'n Only Argan Oil Hair Color hits it, the pigment dives right in.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The biggest gripe people have is staining. Because this stuff is loaded with oil and heavy pigment, it sticks to skin like crazy. If you get the 1N (Black) on your forehead, you’re going to be scrubbing for three days. Use a barrier cream—even just plain Vaseline or a thick conditioner—around your hairline.
Don't skip the "Processing Cap." Since this is a cream, it needs moisture to stay active. If the dye dries out on your head, it stops working. Trapping the heat from your scalp under a cheap plastic cap (or even a grocery bag, we've all been there) ensures the color develops evenly from roots to ends.
Mixing and Matching Tones
One 'n Only offers "Natural," "Ash," "Gold," and "Chocolate" tones.
If you find your hair always turns a weird orange color after dyeing, you need to be looking at the "A" (Ash) or "CH" (Chrome/Cool) series. The "Natural" (N) series has a balanced base, but on most people, it still pulls warm.
I've seen people try to mix the Argan Oil line with other brands like Wella or Ion. Don't do it. Different brands use different chemical bases—some are soy-based, some are synthetic, and One 'n Only is oil-heavy. Mixing them can result in a "chemical soup" that might not develop at all or, worse, result in an unpredictable swamp-green tint.
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Maintenance: Keeping the Shine
The Argan oil in the dye provides that initial "wow" shine, but it’s not permanent. To keep the One 'n Only Argan Oil Hair Color looking fresh, you have to treat the hair as "sensitized." This means no sulfates. Sulfates are basically dish soap for your hair; they will strip those expensive oil-infused pigments out in three washes.
Use a dedicated color-protecting conditioner. If you can find one with added Argan oil, even better. It helps replenish the lipid barrier that the dyeing process inevitably thins out.
Actionable Steps for Your Best Color Yet
If you're ready to dive into a DIY session, follow this workflow to avoid the "oops" moments that lead to emergency salon visits:
- The Strand Test is Non-Negotiable: Take a small snip of hair from your brush or a hidden section behind your ear. Test the color. If it turns out too dark (which this brand is prone to), you'll be glad you didn't do your whole head.
- Buy Two Boxes: If your hair is past your shoulders, one tube will not be enough. The cream is thick and doesn't spread as easily as liquid dyes. Starving the hair of product leads to patchiness.
- Cleanse, Don't Condition: Wash your hair 24 hours before coloring to remove product buildup, but don't use a heavy mask. The oils in the hair should be natural, not from a bottle, to allow the dye to penetrate.
- The "Cool Down" Rinse: When you rinse the color out, use the coolest water you can stand. It helps "lock" the cuticle back down immediately, trapping the argan oil and pigment inside.
- Post-Color Care: Wait at least 48 to 72 hours before your first real shampoo. This gives the color molecules time to fully oxidize and settle into the hair shaft.
One 'n Only Argan Oil Hair Color isn't just another box on the shelf; it's a tool that, when used with a bit of respect for the chemistry involved, delivers results that look way more expensive than they actually are. Just remember: go a shade lighter, use a scale, and keep the sulfates away from your shower.