It’s no secret that scalp health is a top beauty trend right now. From clarifying shampoos to detox masks and scalp scrubs, there’s no shortage of products to improve the health of your scalp. As someone with seborrheic dermatitis, I couldn’t be happier. I’d try anything to relieve the itchiness and decrease the flakes. Using a clarifying shampoo alone didn’t always get the job done, so I relied on a mix of scalp scrubs and purifying ingredients to thoroughly cleanse my scalp—that is, until I came across The Rootist Clarifying Scalp Treatment with AHA + Apple Cider Vinegar.
The combination of natural curls and an oily scalp can be tricky. Purifying ingredients are ideal for cleansing the scalp, but they can be drying. Given that coiler textures are prone to water loss, it’s important to find products that are also moisturizing. That said, my wash day has become a balancing act to cleanse my scalp of buildup and ensure my curls remain moisturized and hydrated. The Rootist’s Clarifying Scalp Treatment featured a mix of ingredients that promised to do just that.
Having tried a plethora of clarifying agents, I’d learned that mixing actives and natural acids often dried my scalp out, causing it to produce excess oil. Reading the ingredient list for this treatment, I felt assured that this experience would be different. The hero ingredients are two AHAs, glycolic and lactic acid, and apple cider vinegar. Together, they are a potent mix to purify the scalp. But the addition of aloe leaf to soothe irritation and rice seed extract ferment to condition the hair stood out to me. I was also impressed by the nozzle applicator, which is perfect for maneuvering through curls to reach the scalp.
My first experience with the treatment was using it on my dry, straightened hair. It had been several weeks since I’d been to the salon, and my scalp was feeling it. After parting my hair into sections and applying the product, I massaged it into my scalp and let it sit for the recommended 15-minute time frame. I was worried that it wouldn’t completely break down the buildup and that I’d still need to go in with a scalp scrub before washing.
However, after rinsing the product out, I found my scalp felt refreshed enough to continue my washing routine. After one use, I could tell that the scalp treatment would likely stay in my rotation of products. It lifted debris and made my scalp feel squeaky clean but not dehydrated. But as I started to use it more often, I began to notice that my scalp was less flaky and oily, which helped my silk presses last much longer.
I even tried it while wearing knotless braids over the summer. The nozzle tip made it easy to reach in between the braids and didn’t disturb my parts. It’s truly a one-and-done clarifying product. Best of all, it didn’t dry out or irritate my scalp and works well no matter what style my hair is in. That’s a winner in my book and a staple in my wash day routine.
