Carmen Tal, the Co-Founder of Moroccanoil, on How Argan Oil Changed Her Hair and Then Her Life

Carmen Tal, the co-founder of Moroccanoil, is proof that sometimes all it takes is the discovery of one magical beauty ingredient to launch a career. The cult-favorite hair, skin and body-care brand is centered around argan oil, which Tal first experienced after a hair color mishap. Here, we chatted with Tal about the benefits of argan oil, her personal beauty and hair-care routine and her advice for aspiring beauty entrepreneurs.

How did you get started in the beauty industry?

While living in Canada in 2008, I collaborated with my hairdresser and we opened a hair salon. I had no experience except that I was a very savvy consumer with an entrepreneurial spirit. Little did I know that this venture was preparing me for a much bigger experience. After having a terrible color process in my own salon that severely damaged my hair, I went to a salon in Tel Aviv — where I was visiting at the time — and the stylist applied an argan oil-infused treatment to my hair. I saw the results instantly. It was just incredible!

What was the concept behind Moroccanoil?

What does a typical day look like for you?

When I wake up, the first thing I do is meditate and thank the universe that I am alive and healthy. Once out of bed, I will do my morning beauty routine and get ready to head into the office or get ready to work from home. Every day I meet with different department heads — from PR and marketing to sales, product development and more — to touch base and go over projects we have in the works. We are now doing these meetings over Zoom, which makes it harder, but it’s a great way to stay connected with the teams. 

What does your personal hair-care routine look like? Which Moroccanoil products do you use on the daily?

Whenever I wash my hair, I love to use the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner because both hydrate my hair and leave it feeling smooth and strong. I always follow with Moroccanoil Treatment. It’s my go-to product for any hair day.

For my skin, I will add a few drops of Pure Argan Oil into my face creams for additional nourishment. The Pure Argan Oil is rich in fatty acids and antioxidants and glides on like silk.

For my body, I’ve been using Moroccanoil Shower Gel daily, and then twice a week I slough away dullness with the Moroccanoil Body Polishing Scrub. It’s the perfect way to get rid of dry skin. To finish, I use the Moroccanoil Night Body Serum, which strengthens the skin for a more youthful, radiant appearance.

What moment in your career are you most proud of so far?

Throughout this entire experience, I’ve learned that to be truly successful, you must live your brand every day. Moroccanoil is a reflection of the exceptional results I expect from a beauty company as a consumer, and this also reflects the core of our success. At the end of the day, it really comes down to having the right product and the right team for support.