I tried the new Evo scalp care range to fix my dry and itchy scalp

Nourish your noggin.

I’ve had a dry and itchy scalp for (not exaggerating) literally my entire life. I have a crystal-clear childhood memory of standing on a chair in front of the kitchen sink while my mum poured a concoction of apple cider vinegar and water over my head, in an attempt to soothe my skin. It didn’t work, but I did get to walk around smelling like a bag of salt-and-vinegar chips for the next two days.

Last year, I mentioned my vinegar-induced woes in passing to my GP, who immediately started examining my scalp. It turns out I’ve had a mild case of scalp psoriasis this whole time, proving once again that oversharing with your doctor is always a good idea. After a round of prescription shampoo, my head became much healthier and much, much happier. Until recently, that is.

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A few weeks ago, I started swimming for fitness. I am absolutely horrible at it, but I love it. There’s been just one problem: The chlorine has completely dried out my scalp and hair. I’ve tried nearly everything to stop it: rinsing my hair with non-chlorinated water before heading to the pool, saturate the ends with argan oil… I even wear one of those silly-looking caps. The state of my ends has improved slightly but my scalp stays dry.

Chlorine strips the skin of its natural oils, but so do a lot of haircare products. Having tried all other avenues, I figured my next best course of action was to try a professional-grade routine that would hydrate my scalp while restoring its natural barrier – and the new scalp care range from Evo seemed to fit the bill. 

The brand’s newest fragrance-free, four-step system features ingredients like peppermint and eucalyptus leaf oils to cool and calm the scalp, plant-based prebiotics to replenish your noggin’s microbiome, and zero harsh sulphates or parabens. This sounds incredible in theory but as a certified owner of freakishly long hair, I had to test it out for myself.

Step one: Exfoliate (weekly)

I hopped in the shower, wet my hair and massaged Evo’s Head Start Scalp Exfoliator through the crown of my head. To be honest, I was a bit worried it would feel like one of those harsh physical face scrubs I used in high school but thankfully, I was so wrong.

Post-exfoliation but pre-shampoo, I could already tell that all the residual buildup from dead skin, chlorine and styling products had disappeared entirely from my scalp, courtesy of the exfoliator’s olive husk particles and active cleansers. But instead of that ‘totally stripped’ sensation I was expecting, the peppermint and eucalyptus oils had left my scalp feeling soothed and refreshed. 

Step two: Prebiotic shampoo

Next up was the Common Ground Scalp Shampoo, which, first of all, smelled incredible. The formulation includes plant-based prebiotics to rebalance the scalp’s microbiome – a benefit that I’m sure will take more than one wash to know exactly what that means. During this road test, the immediate stand-out was panthenol (provitamin B5), a natural humectant that helps lock moisture into your hair and skin, keeping it looking soft and shiny.

In combination with the exfoliator, this shampoo cleansed my scalp and hair beautifully. But I’d say this shampoo really went the extra mile thanks to the panthenol – even the ends of my hair felt less dry and brittle than they had the day before (when I’d used both a deep conditioning treatment and argan oil). 

Step three: Scalp treatment

You may have noticed that this routine doesn’t include a conditioner. I definitely did. After all, without conditioner, how the heck do you detangle your hair? But after double-checking the recommended routine, I pressed on. 

As evidenced by the softness of my hair as I write this, the Evo Ground Control Scalp Treatment is a fantastic alternative to conditioner. While traditional routines have you apply conditioner only to the ends, the new Evo line encourages you to use this treatment on your scalp and throughout your hair. With the addition of grapeseed oil, the formula felt like it hydrated my scalp, while also making my long hair more manageable.

Step four: Finishing serum

After rinsing out the Ground Control Scalp Treatment, I gave my hair a quick brush and let it air-dry for the next 30 minutes. Once it had reached just-barely-damp, I returned to the bathroom for the final step: the Home Base Scalp Serum.

At this point, I should’ve learned to stop asking questions and trust the process, but I was still slightly concerned the serum would weigh my hair down, essentially undoing the last three steps of the routine. Nope! This professional-grade serum absorbed almost immediately, leaving my scalp feeling healthy and happy. Tens across the board!

To shop the new Evo Scalp care range, head here.