I had mentioned that during the pandemic, my sensitive scalp had gotten worse. Be it because of the stress or because I needed to adapt to the new lifestyle, which is staying at home. Maybe because I was also trying to save electrical bills by reducing air conditioner usage, I ended up sweating many times during the day.
Sweat means adding humidity, my scalp felt more itchy than usual and of course, it started to create even more bumps and blemishes. The obsessive scratching caused my scalp to bleed, again, but this time the evil cycle is more vicious.
Coming to the end of 2020, I got introduced to a local brand that had just launched its new sub-brand for the scalp and hair category. I was really excited when I saw the lineup and they ended up being my go-to scalp treatment to this date!
The brand is ERHAIR – a sub-brand from ERHA, nationally well-known in their dermatology and skin clinics around Indonesia and they develop off-the-counter skincare products now under the same name. The products can be used without the need for prescriptions, making them more accessible to consumers.
Anyway, ERHAIR has a category called Scalperfect. Hearing the name alone, it seems full of hope. Here’s the thing, to me, it’s rare to find products that are focused on the sensitive scalp or overall scalp health. Most products are geared towards treating the hair to look shiny, less frizzy, curl-defining, etc. If there’s any, most likely just to treat dandruff or hair loss.
But my problem wasn’t that, hence finding the right products have never been easy. The brand does address this, by having 3 core products before adding a few more in the next 2 years. Scalperfect focuses on not only treating dandruff but also mild seborrheic dermatitis. I have always suspected that my scalp is suffering from something, but I haven’t gotten around to having it properly diagnosed by a dermatologist.
The first product I tried is the Scalp Exfoliating Gel. It’s basically a chemical exfoliator using Salicylic Acid (works deeper into the pores due to the oil solubility), and skin conditioning agents such as Allantoin, Betaine, and Lavender Oil for antimicrobial properties. I have entertained the idea of an exfoliator before this, using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (which I just found to be average for my facial skin). It worked okay, but once I tried this product which is developed for the scalp, I immediately noticed the difference and didn’t look back!
I swear using this alone has improved the scalp significantly! The scalp feels clean and my head just feels “light”. It also helps to balance out the oil production, so I don’t feel greasy on the second day. I apply it pre-shampoo, all over the scalp, massage it and leave for a bit before washing the head off. I tend to leave it longer than usual (up to an hour) just because I like to do other things while waiting so I figure I’ll let the product sink in and do its thing.
The Scalperfect Shampoo is also great for reducing itchiness and provided a deeper cleanse than my other shampoos. It has two actives, Piroctone Olamine and Climbazole to tackle dandruff. I go for this whenever my scalp feels itchy (of course) and whenever the weather has been either very hot and/or very humid. Also, if I accidentally go over the 2-day shampoo period. The only thing that they could make better is to add more conditioner or hair-smoothing ingredients to make the hair less stiff.
The last product, Scalp Soothing Serum is another Godsend. I went through so many bottles during the first few months, possibly a bottle per week. This thing soothes any bumps that could’ve been scratched and bled. I use it on towel-dried hair, just dot it on spots that are itchy and bumpy. It gives an instant soothing effect and often times it deflates the bumps within a day. This means it won’t give me the opportunity to scour around the scalp for some “snack” (and ended up with a bloody tissue).
And by bloody, I mean this.
I’ve probably mentioned this before, when these blemishes dried up (after being scratched), they can still be itchy. And I’m always tempted to peel off the crusty bit. It’s a bad habit that’s hard to shake off. It’s almost automatic, I could start looking for it whenever I have nothing to do. So nowadays, whenever that “itch” shows up, I replace it with dotting the serum.
I’m seriously still waiting for the brand to come out with a larger bottle of this serum!
The brand also comes out with two variants of dry shampoo, for oily and sensitive scalp. The blue bottle definitely absorbs more oil than the green one. I don’t really use dry shampoo, so they’re more of an optional product. Again, the same idea of taking care of the scalp applies. I find that they work in that aspect, helping to reduce greasiness without making my scalp feels itchy. Just remember, dry shampoo is by no means a replacement for an actual shampoo.
However, cosmetically speaking, they’re not as superior as let’s say COLAB who’s able to make the bulk of the hair still feel light. There’s room for improvement on this part.
The Scalperfect Scalp Hydrating Mask is my recent favorite product from the brand. Frankly speaking, if it wasn’t because I love the other products, it’s just unlikely that I will try any hair mask. It’s too much work, you know :p But, once again, the brand proves its formulation and I can’t get enough of this! The cooling effect alone is addictive! I find myself using my Foreo LUNA to massage the scalp to improve circulation and adds to the spa-at-home experience. It really does help to calm down the angry scalp on a very, very hot day.
The tricky part would be applying it evenly on the scalp. Parting wet hair is surely not as easy when it’s dry. But massaging helps to distribute the product. Use it 1-2 times per week, but sometimes I do it 3 times when I need urgent care. It’s so soothing and it helps to take care of the blemishes too.
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I can’t believe it’s more than 2 years since I use ERHAIR. I’m so loyal and become very attached to the products that I don’t easily get swayed by other brands. I just don’t want to ruin the great results I have now. Managing a sensitive scalp has been quite the journey and only now I can confidently say that I can live with this condition more comfortably.
I know there are more options out there, not that many still, but for now, this brand is the one I use the most!
Healthier hair starts with healthier scalp.
Some may not realize that the scalp is also skin. Sometimes, when there are other issues arising, using shampoo alone may not solve them. Hence, you might need other treatments to go along with it. I know that means longer time spent in the bathroom, but it’s necessary. Unfortunately, I don’t believe in an all-in product. Once I get into the routine, it’s easy. Once I see the improvements, I know that it’s worth it.
Because this improves the quality of my life too. I can’t tell you how relieving it feels not to have to see the bloody tissue all the time. To get rid of the nasty habit of picking my scalp – for the most part anyway. This has been a problem for as long as I can remember and it’s the biggest improvement by far!
Actually, I do notice that my hair grows better and has less of a hair fall too. Even my hairdresser mentions this because she’s aware of my condition and she keeps track of my progress too whenever I make a visit.
YAY for a healthier scalp!
