The 4-Step Evo Routine That Provides Instant Relief To Stressed-Out Scalps
Erin Cook is a beauty and lifestyle journalist who has been slinging words for magazines, such as marie claire, ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan and Body+Soul, for the better part of a decade. As part of this role, she's had the pleasure of interviewing countless experts, such as dermatologists, trichologists, makeup artists and brand founders, to get their two cents on the latest beauty trends or to answer consumer questions. She loves a good hyaluronic serum, tinted moisturiser or glossy lipstick almost as much as she loves her cats. Almost.
In Partnership With Evo
This might be TMI but my scalp is not in the best shape.
It’s not a dandruff issue per se but more of a tendency to be itchy and dry.
Could it be something to do with the fact that I prefer piping hot showers? Maybe. Or the fact that I don’t wash my hair as often as I should and slick it back instead? Perhaps.
But I’m not going to change so let’s not get bogged down in the cause of the issue and throw a product at the problem instead.
Enter: the new scalp care range by Australian haircare brand evo.
Based in Adelaide, this locally-owned upstart doesn’t release products often so when they do, I’m always interested.
The brand’s new scalp range features four products: Head Start Scalp Exfoliator, Common Ground Scalp Shampoo, Ground Control Scalp Treatment and Home Base Scalp Serum.
Ahead, my review of the new evo range.
Evo Scalp Range Australia
First Things First: The Scent
There’s a lot to love about each individual product (more on that in a moment) but one of the biggest sensorial elements of evo’s scalp range is how it smells.
Technically, the range is fragrance-free – meaning no fragrance, perfume or artificial scent has been added to the formula to make it smell a certain way.
That said, each and every product smells great.
Peppermint and eucalyptus oils used throughout serve a functional purpose, helping to soothe and cool the scalp while also creating a fresh, natural, botanical scent.
For me, scent forms a big part of the sensorial experience of a product and can make it feel more luxurious, helping to justify the price tag. (At $46-$54 each product in the evo scalp range is an investment.)
So the fact that each product smells like an expensive day spa while still remaining fragrance-free is a big tick for me.
Evo Scalp Range Review
evo head start scalp exfoliator, $53.90
What it promises: A gentle yet effective pre-shampoo treatment that clears away product build-up, excess oil and dead skin cells for a cleaner, healthier scalp. It’s like a facial for your scalp.
My evo head start scalp exfoliator review:
I like this scalp exfoliator for a few reasons.
First of all, it does what it says on the label. The evo Head Start Exfoliator contains micro olive husks that physically buff away gross stuff like dead skin cells, flaky skin and product build up.
The texture is only lightly grainy but the formula foams up like nobody’s business when combined with water, which makes it easy to distribute amongst your hair.
Coupled with the fact that the packaging comes with a nozzle to help you get straight to the root of the problem, I think this is a really effective product.
evo common ground scalp shampoo, $46
What it promises: This gentle, balancing cleanser removes build-up, excess oil and impurities while keeping your scalp hydrated, soothed and comfortable.
My evo common ground scalp shampoo review:
On first impressions, this product smells fresh and slightly botanical, thanks to soothing eucalyptus and peppermint oils, and lathers up like a dream.
Importantly, it helps to remove excess product from the scalp (trust me, my hair was pretty dirty beforehand) without creating that squeaky-clean feeling, which means your hair has been stripped of all its natural oils.
I love a microbiome (like y’know, your scalp, gut, skin microbiome - they’re all important) and fortunately, this formula contains biome-friendly plant-based prebiotics to help support your scalp's natural balance.
Supporting your scalp microbiome will improve the health of your scalp over time, so that you can break free of the cycle that led you to purchase this shampoo in the first place.
evo ground control scalp treatment, $52
What it promises: A soothing, rinse-out treatment that balances, refreshes and revitalises the scalp for healthier hair from the roots up.
My evo ground control scalp treatment review: I was a little confused about this product at first, but once I realised it was evo’s answer to a conditioner or mask, it all made sense.
The instructions specify to apply to scalp and hair, so I applied this stuff all-over my strands from root to tip. evo’s The Great Hydrator Moisture Mask is one of my favourite conditioning masks of all time, so I trust them with this stuff. And Ground Control Scalp Treatment did not disappoint.
Being more on the conditioning side, this formula contains pantolactone and panthenol to add shine and softness to the hair. Plus, it also contains the same scalp-friendly eucalyptus and peppermint oils that run through the rest of the range.
While the scalp benefits might not be as obvious as the other products in the evo scalp range, all I know is that my hair felt softer, more hydrated and less frizzy than it has in a long time after using this product.
evo home base serum
What: evo home base serum 30ml
What it promises: A lightweight, leave-in serum that gently hydrates, calms and balances. Suitable for all hair types but especially ideal for anyone with a dry, flaky or itchy scalp.
evo home base serum review:
I’ve tried a lot of scalp serums in my time and I’m pretty fussy about them.
There are plenty of scalp serums out there that help treat flakes and irritation, but they can also make your freshly-washed strands feel greasy. I’m happy to report that evo Home Base Scalp Serum is lightweight and sinks right in, so you can avoid that heavy, greasy feeling.
I’ve been using this product straight out of the shower and whenever my hair feels a bit irritated or itchy.
For me, I’ve found that the product’s soothing and hydrating benefits are noticeable straight away.
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