ALPHA-H DOES SCALP CARE

 

- Advertisement information: this post discusses items gifted to me with no obligation to share them (marked *). In addition I have / have had a brand relationship with Cult Beauty (gifting). My blog has Skimlinks and RewardStyle installed to automatically monetise purchases of products I link on my blog, therefore this post may contain affiliate links. All opinions remain my own and please refer to my Disclosure Page  for further detail -  

Today we're talking scalp care by the Aussie skincare brand Alpha-H who are famed for their liquid exfoliant, so let's see how these formulas work for my dry, sensitive and irritation-prone scalp...

First up, a formula I reviewed here as a skincare product that apparently can be used as a scalp treatment: the Golden Haze Face Oil* | £42.99. Not every facial oil is going to work as a scalp treatment, as some of them are a little heavy and don't wash out easily or have ingredients that are going to directly contribute towards scalp health. However, of course the scalp is skin so it makes sense for a product that's good for the face to be a candidate for your scalp care routine. I remembered this having a nicely light texture and it's formulated with plenty of  plant oils and other ingredients that are rich in replenishing omega fatty acids like squalane, jojoba, rosehip, linoleic acid, oleic acid and Vitamin E. I've been using this as a pre-wash scalp and hair oil, so I just part my hair in a few areas and dispense a couple of drops to the areas where my scalp tends to get the most angry and irritated and then massage it in. I then take pretty much a dropper full of the oil and spread it on the lengths and ends of my hair. I do this before bed usually and just let all of that good stuff marinate overnight before washing my hair the next day. I've used this both in conjunction with my normal routine and alongside the new scalp treatment, and I find this is really great for adding nourishment to my dry scalp and it washes out the next day without leaving any residue. What this is really great for is just keeping the flakiness and itch at bay for that bit longer, plus it makes my hair feel softer too!

 

The 'main event' is, of course, the new launch: the Healthy Scalp Exfoliating Treatment* | £34. This is a kind of gel-serum treatment; you apply it to dry hair prior to washing (it has a handy nozzle to directly apply the product to your scalp), leave it for up to 10 minutes and then wash as normal. This treatment is formulated with glycerin (a humectant that draws hydration into the scalp), Australian Desert Lime (this is really prominent in the marketing of this product - it's an antioxidant, protecting the skin from free radical damage, but probably not the most important thing when it comes to scalp health) and - most importantly - lactic and salicylic acids. Lactic Acid is an AHA, meaning it's a water-soluble chemical exfoliant. Lactic acid has a larger molecular structure, making it less irritating than something like glycolic acid, and it has hydrating properties. Salicylic Acid is a BHA, meaning it's an oil-soluble chemical exfoliant. This means (in the context of scalp care) it has to power to really penetrate into the oily surface of the scalp and clarify everything, clearing out any debris or product build-up that's causing irritation. I did really like using this treatment; it's effective but not at all harsh. My scalp hasn't been flaky and I'm getting 3-4 days out of my hair between washes, which is really all I can ask for! Honestly, my only negative is the price; it's double the cost of the one I've been using for years (reviewed here) and honestly, this works pretty much the same for my scalp. It's a more complex formula, which is why it's more expensive (it contains many more ingredients) but in terms of results, I don't find it to be better than my current go-to, so I couldn't justify buying the Alpha-H again over it when this bottle runs out.

So, this is a solid scalp duo but for my personal preferences and scalp issues; I don't think the treatment itself is solid enough for me to pick it up again at £34. The oil is really lovely as a facial and hair / scalp treatment, though, so I'll keep using and loving it. And I'm glad to have discovered that it's a multi-functional formula!

Do you use any dedicated scalp treatments?

Don't forget to follow me on:

Bloglovin | Instagram

Read more posts from this series here!