This bestselling, micro-exfoliating shampoo cured my flaky scalp and I’ve sworn by it ever since
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We all have varying hair types, but one thing that's a blanket concern for many — despite hair texture, porosity and length — is scalp care. As someone with a 4B hair type (kinky-coily), I am particularly apprehensive about experimenting with products not particularly formulated for hair types like my own. However, after fighting what seemed to be a far-too-long battle with my unbalanced, flaky scalp during winter 2018, I blindly placed my faith into the hands of the folks at Briogeo and the results were pleasantly transformative, to say the least.
While I purchased the brand's popular Scalp Therapy Essentials Kit — I was desperate, y'all — in hopes that one of the products included would restore my scalp to its optimal health, I learned over time that the bestselling Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo was the team's MVP.
Shop: Briogeo Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo, $42
Specifically formulated with soothing and cleansing ingredients like Binchotan charcoal, the super-vitamin panthenol and coconut oil, this uniquely textured shampoo immediately felt unlike anything I had used on my scalp prior to this initial use.
Described as the ideal product "for those with a dry, flaky, itchy scalp," this shampoo boasts a whipped texture and cooling sensation that immediately soothes the scalp upon contact. Aside from the physically pleasing sensation it provides, the Briogeo Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo works from within to restore the scalp's health.
As explained in the product description, the charcoal draws out any impurities both from the scalp and hair follicles while "vegetable-derived micro-exfoliators remove dead skin cells and product build-up." To further reduce the possibility of any post-wash itchiness, the product includes a trio of cooling oils to remedy any inflammation: peppermint and spearmint to reduce the itchiness and tea tree, a proven anti-septic, to reduce scalp irritation. Coconut oil is also a leading ingredient in this shampoo, providing deep moisture to the scalp to combat and prevent any further dryness and flakiness.
Adding further validity to its claims, the site explains that based on a clinical study, 92 percent of users "indicated the shampoo hydrated their scalp," while 100 percent "said it reduced flakiness."
Also a popular find among retailers like Sephora and Dermstore, thousands of reviewers have attested to this shampoo's benefits.
One Sephora shopper raved that the product "gave my scalp/hair new life," writing, "I have incredibly thick, dry hair. For the past couple of years I have struggled with a dry flaking scalp as well. I have tried so many different products to help fix this issue, from drugstore to super high end and nothing worked... This is truly a miracle for me. I started using this in conjunction with the 'Don't Despair, Repair' hair mask... After two weeks (I only wash two to three times per week) my flakes were gone."
Marked a "bestseller" on the brand's native site, the product boasts over 780 reviews, with tons of shoppers heralding it as the "best product" that addresses the most dire scalp concerns.
"The best product!!! It works wonders for my scalp that gets so dry in the colder months," one reviewer wrote. "The scent is amazing and makes my hair and scalp feel so minty fresh and clean. It helps with scalp irritation and itchiness and leaves my hair very clean so I don't have to wash it much afterwards."
If a flaky, itchy scalp is a concern you have that needs to be addressed, this targeted shampoo is my personal recommendation. From first-hand experience, it's definitely worth the buy. If you'd prefer testing a mini version of the product before committing, the $25 Scalp Soothing Travel Kit containing the product and two others is a suitable option.
