For years, I’ve struggled with an itchy, flaky scalp and nice, oily hair. Dandruff shampoos combatted the flaking however left me with flat and lifeless locks. In the meantime, shampoos that gave me voluminous hair irritated my scalp and inspired grease. It felt like a no-win state of affairs.
I’d learn that scalp scrubs might be the answer, so I attempted a number of—however with average success. Though they did assist a bit with itching and flaking, it felt like my hair turned oilier extra rapidly and (regardless of loads of rinsing) it appeared nearly not possible to do away with all of the gritty scrub particles.
Sooner or later, I had a lightbulb second. I’m a complete devotee of Japanese skincare because of the wonders sure J-beauty merchandise have labored on my complexion, so I figured, “Why not give some Japanese hair-care merchandise a strive?” After researching a number of manufacturers on-line, I took a punt and ordered NatureLab Tokyo’s Excellent Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub ($19). Six months on, I can’t imagine I ever lived with out it.
The product
We use merchandise to exfoliate our face and physique, and scalp scrubs are designed to do exactly the identical. “[They] gently exfoliate the scalp and take away buildup of useless pores and skin cells and product,” says board-certified beauty dermatologist Michele Inexperienced, MD, explaining that this course of comes together with a number of advantages. “Exfoliating the scalp helps stimulate pores and skin cell turnover, sustaining scalp well being and releasing the hair follicles of particles,” she provides. Consequently, scrubbing your scalp additionally support in lowering flaking and itching.
Nevertheless (as I beforehand found), not all scalp scrubs are made equal—and one factor that ensures this NatureLab Tokyo product stands out is its elements. First, now we have magnificence specialists’ favourite, hyaluronic acid. This molecule holds as much as 1000 instances its weight in water, and your scalp loves hydration simply as a lot as your face. “Delivering moisture to the scalp helps preserve its pure protecting barrier, defending the scalp and hair follicles from environmental stressors like air pollution,” says Dr. Inexperienced.
Associated Tales
Subsequent up is a conventional Japanese ingredient: sake water. Whereas sake is healthier often known as a tipple, this rice by-product incorporates lots for the scalp to like. “Sake water is an effective antioxidant that protects the scalp from environmental stressors like air pollution and UV rays,” says Dr. Inexperienced. “It additionally has many amino acids that assist hydration and lock in moisture.”
Final however not least is a plethora of pure plant extracts. A key one right here is grapeseed—which, based on Dr. Inexperienced, helps hair well being and energy and encourages a silky shine. There’s additionally mango (“wealthy in fatty acids for hydration and nourishment”), tea tree oil (to “soothe the scalp and cut back dandruff and irritation”), and willow bark (which “helps facilitate exfoliation”).
The overview
Whereas my locks are sadly nonetheless not *fairly* within the Jen Aniston realm, I’m not mendacity once I say this scalp scrub has reworked my hair. I can run my fingers over my scalp with out feeling dry patches, itching and flaking have 99% disappeared, and my nice strands really feel gentle and look thick and flowing (even after being laid on in a single day). Since utilizing the scrub, my hair has additionally develop into a lot much less greasy—and may now final three days between washes, one thing that was beforehand exceptional.
One factor that struck me when utilizing the scrub for the primary time was its texture. The product has a sugar crystal base, that means it feels precisely like that: a thick sugary paste. As I scooped about two greenback cash price of scrub from the bathtub, I believed there was no approach it could lather up (the product additionally doubles as a shampoo) and disperse to cowl my whole scalp. However I used to be improper! I rubbed it between my fingers, then began massaging my scalp in round motions. It started lathering inside a number of seconds, and shortly my head was lined in a light-weight foam. I’ve nice, shoulder-length hair and picture you’d want a bit extra in case your hair is thicker—however a bit of this scrub actually does go a great distance.
Whereas the sugar crystals’ tough texture makes it a fantastic exfoliator, these little granules dissolve after attending to work—that means the scrub is straightforward to clean out, and I don’t encounter stray gritty bits when operating my fingers by means of my hair in a while. I additionally adore the scent: it’s a refined almond scent that offers off extra spa vibes than at-home bathe.
In case you hadn’t guessed, I received’t be ditching my new BFF any time quickly. Its shampooing powers make it a fantastic multitasker (though I do comply with up with my common conditioner), and my scalp and hair are the happiest they’ve been in ages. At beneath $20, a pot of this scrub is greater than worthy of your hard-earned dime.
Our editors independently choose these merchandise. Making a purchase order by means of our hyperlinks might earn Effectively+Good a fee.
