Abstract
Inclusion complexes of argan oil with β-CD were prepared by two different methods—evaporation and coprecipitation—to improve the stability and usability of hydrophobic oils in aqueous hair-treatment formulations. The complexes were characterized using SEM, XRD, DSC, TGA, and DTG to confirm structural changes accompanying encapsulation. The encapsulation efficiencies (EE%) were 68.4% for the evaporation method and 51.2% for the coprecipitation method. A hair treatment formulation containing the β-CD complexes was then prepared and evaluated. The formulation exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and provided uniform coating behavior on hair fibers. Texture profile analysis showed hardness (456.424 g), fracturability (428.26 g), adhesiveness (−4021.403 g·s), springiness (0.974), and cohesiveness (0.868), indicating that the complexes contributed positively to mechanical performance. OM and SEM confirmed smoother surface morphology after treatment, and tensile measurements demonstrated improved structural durability of bleached hair. These results suggest that β-CD-based inclusion complexes of argan oil can serve as effective and stable functional ingredients for cosmetic applications.