Naya

Briogeo Scalp Revival Collection, Review

Healthy Scalp = Healthy Mane

Foreword

Once upon a time there was a girl named Naya and she nearly lost half of her hair after an intensive steroid treatment and stress. This story has a very happy ending though, because her hair is great again, but it took a lot of love and care to get back to its healthy state. I am Naya and this is a real life story. Hair health is a topic that I am very passionate about and before you dive into today's review on these beautiful Briogeo products, I highly (highly) encourage you to read my Let's Talk About Hair article, where I share all of my hair knowledge (be it nutrition, best products or even the right mindset).

Curious? Then please keep on scrolling.

My Hair: fine, long virgin hair (aka never been dyed, permed, bleached etc.).

About the Range

I am sure many of you guys are familiar with Briogeo. The brand solely focuses on creating clean, plant-powered haircare products to help you with your needs (be it conditioning, styling, color care, treatments and more). Their products are cruelty-free and formulated without such nasties like silicones, synthetic dyes, gluten and even Diethanolamine (aka DEA - highly hazardous, potentially carcinogenic compound). Phew, thank you hair gods.

Scalp Revival is the brand's award-winning collection of clean products that includes:

Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo (42 USD; Made in USA)
Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment (32 USD; Made in USA)
Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo (24 USD; Made in USA)
Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager (16 USD)
Scalp Revival Charcoal + Peppermint Oil Cooling Jelly Conditioner (36 USD; Made in USA) *not included in this article*

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Shampoo & Massager

Although I keep seeing plenty of ads of various scalp scrubs, they always scare me. This was the first time that I have tried an actual exfoliating shampoo and if you wonder how it went - let's just say that I doubt I will ever stop using mine.

Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo (42 USD; Made in USA) claims to detoxify (Binchotan Charcoal), soothe (Peppermint Oil) and hydrate (Coconut Oil) your scalp all in one go. Suitable for all hair types.

It has a whipped and creamy texture with barely detectable [plant-based] exfoliating micro-beads running through it. Since this is a natural formula, separation may occur; something that can be easily fixed by placing the jar into the refrigerator for two hours and then mixing the product until it gets back to its original texture. The shampoo has a very noticeable fresh peppermint-meets-coconut scent, reminiscent of mint chocolate for some reason.

Being a professional swimmer, I spend many hours with my body dunked in chlorine. Now, add having naturally dry skin to that and you get a complete no-bueno situation: scalp that is easily irritable, itchy and occasionally flaky. Truth is - skin on your scalp should be treated exactly the same as that on your face or body; a fact that, unfortunately, many of us tend to forget about. Harsh weather conditions, heaters/AC, pollution, chemicals in water - all that works against our precious hair follicles. Plus, many of us are guilty of using way too many styling products that weigh down our locks, spraying sickly scented dry shampoos all over roots (to ensure they suffer more). Even worse if you drown your scalp in poorly-processed oils that drive you into what I call a "hair coma" - a sad state where follicles are simply suffocating in oil grease ready to fall out.

Thankfully, a blend of oils used in Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo is plant-derived and moisturizing without ever leaving your hair looking/feeling sticky and greasy. You take a bit product, apply it to wet hair and continuously massage the shampoo into your scalp before rinsing; repeat one more time if needed. I love using the brand's Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager (16 USD) to further distribute my shampoo, adding gentle pressure to increase blood circulation (a zen-sensation that helps reduce tension and strengthen hair - fact!).

As a result - scalp feels cool and refreshed, there are no flakes of skin seen anywhere; locks look luscious and bouncy. Although Briogeo do not really say how often you can use this product, I would recommend washing your hair with it at least once a week (in-between your usual shampoo) to keep dry and itchy sensations at bay.

Scalp Treatment

If you want to elevate your scalp game to a whole new level, you might need to pick up Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment (32 USD; Made in USA). As a wise woman said: "think of it as a daily serum for your scalp". You are looking at a 98% naturally-derived formula that will further help absorb impurities, diminish buildup, calm down itchiness and even heal any potential skin irritation that you might experience as a result of neglecting your scalp. It also contains Biotin to provide very much needed nutrients directly to hair follicles.

I love this blend for one reason: it works. After washing your hair, simply apply one-two drops to each hair partition and massage the product into your scalp (if you have the brand's massager - you can use it instead of your fingertips). Although you do not rinse this product out, you can use it as an overnight pre-shampoo treatment.

The liquid is quite watery, one that fully absorbs in no time, so it will never soil your roots (of course use it sparingly). It won't tingle, but you will feel a very strong cooling sensation afterwards. It normally lasts for about 10-15 minutes; I actually feel it the minute I jump into the pool - as if water reinvigorates this product's super mint powers.

Dry Shampoo

Let's be frank, we all love a good dry shampoo. It is quick, easy and effective. But did you know that most dry shampoos are merely ticking time bombs that are going to cause a major hair havoc over time? I am talking product buildup, dermatitis, fungal infection, breakage and (drumroll) hair loss. Not that exciting anymore, huh?

This is exactly why I - a person who still needs a dry shampoo in my life to refresh my hair in-between washes every other day - am always on a hunt for clean products that give me all of the pros and non of the cons. This is why Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo (24 USD; Made in USA) is one of my favorite haircare discoveries: this formula contains no sulfates, no silicones, no parabens, no talc (no BS ingredients basically). It is scalp-safe and nutrient-rich thanks to a mix of Biotin, Bamboo and Witch Hazel extracts. Think of Binchotan Charcoal used in this product as a vacuum cleaner for your roots - it purifies and absorbs excess oils at no expense for your health.

Now, the only funny thing about this dry shampoo is its packaging. Most formulas typically come in an aerosol form and contain alcohol; this one, however, is dispensed only when you squeeze the bottle. Although the spray dispenser can be opened/closed by a simple twist of the cap, never hold this product upside down (when it is open) as powder will just fly out of the bottle. Keep at a 5 inch (13 cm) distance away from your scalp, spray it gently, leave powder on for a few minutes and then brush your hair (I use my fingertips but comb works just fine) to ensure dry shampoo gets fully absorbed. My hair is pitch black and although this is a white powder, it does disappear completely revealing fresh and healthy roots, while adding a bit of volume as well. The scent is minimal and my hair stays fresh for at least 5-7 hours after using it. No itchiness or dandruff as a side effect.

Verdict

Scalp Revival Collection by Briogeo gets A++ from me. Everything I have tried from this range impressed me a lot and I am so thankful that clean haircare products like this even exist. I could be a poster girl for dry scalp and being a swimmer, who spends many hours in chlorine, can make hair feel quite lackluster and weak. Whether your concerns revolve around dryness, itchiness, dandruff, irritation or even hair loss - you will truly benefit from using this line. As I said: healthy scalp, healthy mane. I test a lot of products on this platform, but this is truly one of the best discoveries of (I guess) 2020 for me as a reviewer and I highly recommend every single thing highlighted in this article.

If you are still unsure where to start, you can go for the brand's Scalp Revival Scalp Soothing Kit (25 USD) that includes all of the products mentioned here (except dry shampoo and massager).