Curlsmith Scalp Recipe Review
Earlier this year, I started using Curlsmith products as my alternative to Devacurl. I wanted a product line that worked and was made of ingredients I could actually pronounce. After a few uses of the Moisture Recipe (which you can read about HERE), I was in love.
Like so many women I know, my dream is to have long, thick hair (think Merida from Brave, but with less frizz), so I was curious about the Curlsmith Scalp Recipe. Our scalp health isn't something we think about, but it's key to having healthy hair.
So how does it work?
Curlsmith Scalp Recipe
There are three products in the Scalp Recipe line: a pre-biotic primer, a pro-biotic scrub, and a post-biotic conditioner. Normally, when you hear "pre & post-biotic" you think of food and a healthy gut. Well, this system is meant to renew the health of your scalp. The three products work best together, and are even labeled steps 1, 2, and 3 so it's impossible for you to get confused and do them out of order (at least I would hope).
Step One: Super Slip Pre-biotic Primer
This is what's known in the curly world as a "pre-poo," which is a way of prepping your hair for shampoo, similar to the way you prep your skin before you put on makeup. It has a very thin, watery consistency and it contains the latest DIY hair treatment ingredient: fermented rice water. I've done rice water treatments and I'm a major fan (read more about it HERE), BUT having it already included in a product is much more convenient.
How to use it: apply to a thoroughly wet scalp, massage in, and work it through the lengths to detangle. You may get a gritty feeling but that's completely normal, and confirmation that there's really rice water in there.
This part is important: DO NOT RINSE IT OUT! You're going to layer the second product on top of this one.
Step Two: Wash & Scrub Detox Pro-biotic
This is a clarifying scrub, and the bottle actually says it's a shampoo. It will slightly lather just like a shampoo would. Now, I know that shampoos are a no-no in the Curly Girl Method, but this is a clarifying scrub, which means you will only use it when you need to get rid of build-up. This product contains another DIY favorite: Apple Cider Vinegar (minus the smell!)
How to use it: Apply onto your wet scalp, after applying the Pre-Biotic primer. The bottle actually says "massage vigorously," which means you want to really get in there with your fingertips. This product has itty-bitty beads to help with exfoliation and build-up removal. If you've used a scalp exfoliator before, you've likely experienced the special hell that is trying to remove those little beads. These are so tiny that you will not have that problem (yay!)
Rinse both products out. Your hair might feel "squeaky clean," and that's a good thing because that's the entire point. You're stripping your hair of build-up and oils, which means your hair might also feel a little dry. That's why it's super important to follow up with the final step.
Step Three: Post-biotic Calming Conditioner
The purpose of the conditioner is to replace any moisture that was stripped during the detox scrub and balance out our scalp so that your hair doesn't feel like straw. This product contains one of my favorite skin care ingredients: hyaluronic acid. If you don't know, hyaluronic acid is basically a moisture bomb, so it's going to leave your hair feeling silky. It also contains peppermint oil and tea tree leaves, so it will smell minty and feel tingly on your scalp.
How to use it: Apply it generously on your wet hair and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. There's nothing that says you can't leave it on longer but the tingles are real so you will be ready to rinse it out after a minute or two.
Rinse it out thoroughly. Your hair will feel and smell amazing!
The Extras
I have to confess that I didn't buy the whole scalp system at first. As you might know, curly hair products are an investment and I wasn't sure I wanted to buy into it (even after Bianca Renee told me to). I started off with the products that boldly claim to boost your hair length and thickness: Full Lengths Density Elixir & Scalp Stimulating Booster.
Full Lengths Density Elixir
This product comes in a cute little bottle with a dropper. It claims to make your hair look "thicker, denser, fuller, and healthier," and has ingredients like castor oil and lavender. You can't read that and not want to buy it!
How to use it: Apply a few drops to dry scalp at night time. I definitely use more than a few drops (*ahem* the entire dropper *ahem*) and I massage it into my scalp during my nighttime routine (you know...those few minutes between waiting for your face serum to fully absorb so you can layer on your moisturizer. Y'all better not be applying things on top of each other with no breaks in between!)
Scalp Stimulating Booster
This one comes in a slightly larger bottle with a twist top. It claims to give your hair "nourishment, energy, vitality," and has ingredients like ginger and dragon fruit (Is it me or does that sound delicious?)
How to use it: Apply directly to dry scalp in the morning. DO NOT WASH your hair immediately after putting this on (I usually skip it on my wash day). Massage it in with your fingertips.
Does it work?
The two extra products claim that you'll see full results after 3 months of consistent use, and you'll get even better results if you use the whole line together.
I started using this at the end of June, so it's now been 3 months...and I can tell you that it definitely works. My hair is doing all the things that the bottles said it would.
All. The. Things.
It's longer, fuller, bouncier, shinier, and I even gave myself a hair cut twice during these last few months.
When will you see a difference?
I noticed a difference after the first month. My hair has major shrinkage and I noticed that it would constantly lay right on top of my shoulders...even on wash day! You don't need to measure it to know that it's growing when it hits your shoulders (my short-haired curlies know what I'm talking about).
How often should you use it?
The detox/clarifying Scalp System should not be used more than once a week. I've used it twice a month since I started. Because my hair is low porosity, it needs buckets of moisture so I mostly use the Moisture Recipe line. This one is only needed when you want to clarify.
The extras are used daily, though. Scalp Booster in the morning and Density Elixir at night.
What’s the cost?
Alright, here's where I might lost some of y'all. Like I said earlier, good products are an investment, and organic, cruelty-free, vegan products are even more so. Here are the exact prices from their website:
-Super Slip Pre-Biotic Primer $28/12 fl.oz
-Wash & Scrub Detox Pro-Biotic $28/8 fl.oz
-Post-Biotic Calming Conditioner $28/12 fl.oz
-Scalp Stimulating Booster $27/4 fl.oz
-Full Lengths Density Elixir $39/2oz
I know those prices seem outrageous. I know. $27 for 2 lil'bitty ounces?? I'm with you, believe me. HowEVER...this stuff works. And as I mentioned, I've been using the system for 3 months now and have yet to replace a single product (yes, even the elixir that I use way-more-than-the-recommended-amount of). Now, that lil' baby bottle will need to be replaced soon (as in perhaps I'll be ordering a new one once I wrap up this post) but the point is that it will last you at least 3 months. Less than $10 a month...and you know you spend more than that on things that don't work!
This seems like a good place to mention that I am not sponsored by this brand, nor do I sell these products out of my garage, so I'm not making any money off of your purchase. I just know how hard it is to find quality stuff that actually works, and I'm personally willing to pay a pretty penny for it if I need to.
If you can't, or you just won't allow yourself to spend $150 on some hair stuff, and you want to know which one of these to buy FIRST, I'd buy the extras. This way you're treating your scalp everyday and you'll still see the benefits of it.
Where can you get it?
Most of the Curlsmith products are available at Ulta.
You can also get them directly from the Curlsmith website.
Have you tried this line before? What did you think?
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