Addressing Your Mane Concerns: Signature Herbal Scalp Treatment at Luxe Scalp Specialist

Hello everyone!

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Far from being my crowning glory, my hair had been the bane of my existence – it was visibly thin, frizzy and brittle (hence, much to my dismay, most hair tutorials don’t work for me). Sadly, these problems seemed to have gotten worse with age, to the extent that I could never run my fingers through my hair without losing gobs of them (which was why I had stopped brushing and combing my hair as often to prevent more breakage). Every look in the mirror gnawed away at my self-esteem as I noticed my ever-widening bald spot creeping forward from the crown of my head. At the rate my hair was disappearing, it wouldn’t be long before the bald patches could peek through whichever parting I would be wearing. Soon, my search history once filled with queries on acne was now permeated by worrying questions about premature baldness.

In a stroke of luck, an invitation from Luxe Scalp Specialist to try their scalp treatment showed up in my inbox (do I have guardian angels watching over me?!) and boy, never was I so quick in agreeing to a collaboration. Thank you for coming to my rescue 😭

Luxe Scalp Specialist who?

Founded in 2012, Luxe Scalp Specialist provides top-notch yet budget-friendly personalised scalp care treatments using modernised herbal formulation and trichological techniques while observing and practising high standard of professional conduct and ethical behaviour (no hard sell!). Their herbal treatment is 100% pure, contains no parabens and preservatives, and is validated by Mr Riff Lim, a trichologist certified by the International Association of Trichologists (IAT).

Luxe Scalp Specialist (Tampines 1)

Luxe Scalp Specialist (Tampines 1)

Luxe Scalp Specialist (Tampines 1)

Luxe Scalp Specialist (Tampines 1)

The company follows the L.U.X.E. principle, where services are luxurious and of optimal quality; unique with the use of a one-of-a-kind blend of the finest Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs (they are the only company that uses this formulation!) to combat hair problems such as oily scalp, thinning hair, dandruff and greying hair; experiential as every treatment includes their signature acupressure scalp massage that aids in blood circulation, and a reliever neck massage that is meant to relax the neck’s muscle; and effective, as vouched by their customers who had seen improvements in their conditions after just three treatments.

The Treatment: Signature Herbal Mask with Collagen Deep Moisturising Mask

My visit at their Tampines 1 outlet commenced with a scalp analysis for the specialist (quite frankly, she probably didn’t need it to know that my scalp was in a terrible shape) to better understand my scalp condition. The close-up scan revealed that, despite the dry texture of my hair, my scalp was actually oily and weak to boot, which explained the excessive hair fall I had been experiencing. This was further aggravated by the length of my hair which had kinda been adding to the pressure on my already vulnerable-scalp. With scalp as feeble as mine, the solution wouldn’t be as simple as just chopping off my hair – regaining its health would require professional help which Luxe Scalp is certainly equipped to give.

Those white stuff are oil scales, which were literally ALL OVER my scalp 😭

Those white stuff are oil scales, which were literally ALL OVER my scalp 😭

My poor scalp trying to keep my hair intact :(

My poor scalp trying to keep my hair intact 😦

More grease on my scalp

More grease on my scalp

Once the analysis was completed, the specialist ushered me to my seat where I would receive the Signature Herbal Mask treatment. This 2-hour herbal treatment is specially concocted with premium herbs handpicked from the Himalayan hills and then carefully brewed to allow thorough extraction of their essence and nutrients. It aims to reduce hair loss and dandruff, stimulate hair growth, boost blood circulation, prevent premature greying of hair, control oil production and soothe redness and scalp irritation.

My specialist began with a duo comb massage to improve blood circulation to my scalp. The whole brushing process was smooth and painless despite her swift movements – amazingly, the combs never once got stuck on any tangle!

Tea and caramelised biscuits (my favourite munchie!) were already served when I went to my seat

Tea and caramelised biscuits (my favourite munchie!) were already served when I went to my seat

Duo comb massage

Duo comb massage

She then proceeded to spritz some ginger-infused tonic on my scalp to stimulate the pores, and applied herbal mask (which had an awakening scent of Ginseng which lingered on my hair for the next two days) all over the top of my head before covering it with cling wrap. This was followed by a 30-minute micro-steaming session to allow for greater absorption of the herbal essences into the scalp.

GInger-infused tonic application

GInger-infused tonic application

Herbal mask application

Herbal mask application

Herbal mask application

Herbal mask application

Cling-wrapping

Cling-wrapping

30-minute micro-steaming session

30-minute micro-steaming session

After the beeper sounded for the therapist to move the steamer away, I was led to the washing basin for a deep-cleanse hair bath which lasted for no more than 10 minutes. Being the meticulous person she was, the therapist repeatedly ensured that I was comfortable with the water temperature (I could choose between cold or warm) before rinsing my hair. With her trained dainty fingers easing and relaxing every part of my scalp during the wash, I couldn’t help but drift off into a nap!

Rinse away!

Rinse away!

Deep-cleanse hair bath

Deep-cleanse hair bath

Back at my seat with my hair still wet from the wash, the therapist applied the Luxe Scalp Tonic on my scalp to intensify hair growth. My treatment in particular also came with collagen deep moisturising mask (which is actually ideal for dry and aging scalp) to help strengthen and repair my hair structure, moisturise the scalp and relieve itch, improve hair density and vitality, as well as form a protective barrier against external pollution. To ensure freshness and avoid contamination, the treatment masks are packed in individual sachets and they will be further heated up upon customers’ arrival to facilitate the penetration of the herbal essence into the scalp and help stimulate healthier hair roots.

Collagen deep moisturising mask

Collagen deep moisturising mask

Collagen deep moisturising mask application

Collagen deep moisturising mask application

Collagen deep moisturising mask application

Collagen deep moisturising mask application

The treatment at last concluded (*gasp* it’s been two hours already?!) with an invigorating scalp and shoulder acupressure massage that focused on boosting blood circulation for hair growth.

Sifting my hair through my fingers, what felt like dry rough hay-like strands were now noticeably softer and more manageable. Of course, no miracles were achieved in that one session, and my bald spot was still largely visible. But fast forward about a month, those once-barren patches are starting to show signs of growth! WOOHOO! The future of my hair is finally looking optimistic 😭

Adding the finishing touches. Frizz, be gone!

Adding the finishing touches. Frizz, be gone!

Have you tried the treatments offered by Luxe Scalp Specialist? If not, would you entrust your scalp to them? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

S P E C I A L L Y  F O R  M Y  R E A D E R S
Quote “FionaXLuxeScalp” to enjoy Signature Herbal Mask with Collagen Deep Moisturising Mask (worth S$326) at only S$25!

Thanks for reading!

Luxe Scalp Specialist (Tampines Outlet) · Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1 #04-29 Singapore 529536 · Tel: 65551065
Luxe Scalp Specialist (Novena Outlet) · Square 2, Sinaran Dr #02-61 Singapore 307506 · Tel: 67020777
For more information, please visit their website, Facebook page or on Instagram
Treatment was complimentary in exchange for this review but all opinions expressed are my own.

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REVIEW: Coco & Eve Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque

Hello everyone!

Hello everyone!

As temperature rises across the world, beaches become crowded with sunbathers and swimmers armed with sunscreens to protect them against the sun’s harmful rays. While it may be common knowledge that too much sun is bad for the skin, less is known (or rather, not much emphasis is placed) about the adverse effects it and the seawater have on the hair. Since seawater has high salt content, it strips moisture away from the hair, resulting in a brittle and dull texture that causes tangling and split ends.

But that’s not to say that you should stay indoors and not bask in the summer sun. Fortunately for us, we have Coco & Eve to mitigate the rigours of daily life (swimming in chlorinated pools, styling, frequent use of hairdryer, etc.) so even people living in the tropics (me!) will be able to boast luscious locks all day e’er’ day!

Coco & Eve

Coco & Eve

Coco & Eve

Coco & Eve

Manufactured in the U.S., Coco & Eve was founded by a few expats living in Singapore (say what? 🇸🇬 ) who saw the need for a hair masque that not only repairs their parched and damaged hair from prolonged exposure to the sun, but also provide them with the nourishment they deserve to stay healthy. Hence, the product is created using 2 main ingredients – raw virgin coconuts and figs, both of which known for their hair strengthening qualities – to restore the hair to its pure state. They do so by preventing hair breakage and split ends while promoting a healthy scalp and preventing problems such as dandruff. Furthermore, it also contains linseed, shea butter and argan oil to improve the texture and vitality of the hair.

For complete list of ingredients, click here.

Animal lovers and sceptics will be thrilled to know that the hair masque is cruelty-free and 100% vegan (in this respect, nothing carries more credibility than a seal of approval from PETA), and free of gluten, sulfates, phthalates or parabens. Get beautifully shiny locks with a conscience as the brand works with specialists and thoroughly researches their producers and ingredients – which, by the way, originate from Bali (home to the world’s largest producer of coconuts), Hawaii and the U.S. – to ensure that they are ethically and responsibly sourced without ever compromising on their quality. With ingredients so fresh and beneficial, it goes without saying that this product is also suitable for all hair types and ages (yes, children too!).

Product and brush (top view)

Product and brush (top view)

Product and brush (front view)

Product and brush (front view)

The hair masque arrived in a box brimming with tropical leaf motifs, accompanied by a complimentary tangle tamer brush with a 2-tier bristle arrangement to detangle hair and help with application of the masque. Upon unscrewing and lifting the lid of the masque tub, my nose caught the sweet aroma of coconut and then took me back to the time I had coconut ice-cream at Chatuchak Market – the hair masque seriously smells like the dessert! The tub would have been emptied in no time if the product were edible lol 😋

Smells great!

Smells great!

Product description

Product description

Following the instructions printed on the packaging, I washed my hair with my supermarket shampoo (which I just realised contains sulfate 😫 Ideally, you should use one without sulfate) and dried it with my towel before evenly applying a generous amount of product to it and brushing through with the tangle tamer. The whole application process took less than 3 minutes, but it could definitely be shorter if not for the fact I had to pictorially document it.

Let's put it to the test!

Let’s put it to the test!

Tied my hair in a bun because I was working out earlier!

Tied my hair in a bun because I was working out earlier!

So oily, so messy

So oily, so messy

Hair toned down a little after a while.. but still, slightly crazy (As you can see, I have very little hair)

Hair toned down a little after a while.. but still, slightly crazy (As you can see, I have very little hair 😭)

A little frizz here and there..

A little frizz here and there..

Close-up of my hair

Close-up of my hair

Shampooed my hair!

Shampooed my hair!

Towel-drying it..

Towel-drying it..

Let's begin!

Let’s begin!

But first, inhale the wonderful smell of coconuts..

But first, inhale the wonderful smell of coconuts..

Brush with 2-tier bristles technology (purportedly worth US$15!)

Brush with 2-tier bristles technology (purportedly worth US$15!)

Ooh, it even feels like coconut ice-cream :D

Ooh, it even feels like coconut ice-cream 😀

Applying 'em on my hair..

Applying ’em on my hair..

And then brushing them down..

And then brushing them down..

The masque acts in place of normal conditioner so after having the product on for 10 minutes, I rinsed it off with warm water and blew dry my hair while brushing it at the same time. The masque should be left on the hair for 5 to 10 minutes but the longer the better! For optimal results, you can even sleep in it (by covering it with a shower cap) and then wash it off the next day.

After the final wash

After the final wash

♥  For dry hair, use 2-3 times a week;
♥  For normal hair, use 1-2 times a week;
♥  For oily hair, use just once a week and focus the product towards the ends of the hair and avoid the scalp
Towel-drying away the excess water so the floor doesn't get wet :

Towel-drying away the excess water so the floor doesn’t get wet :\

Blow-drying to speed up the process (actually, I was just very eager to see how my hair would turn out LOL)

Blow-drying to speed up the process (actually, I was just very eager to see how my hair would turn out LOL)

SWOOSH. Not disappointed!

SWOOSH. Not disappointed!

Seriously damn smooth now!

Seriously damn smooth now!

Compare this with the one above! My hair looks more revitalised here.

Compare this with the one above! My hair looks more revitalised here.

Although the effects weren’t very noticeable on my hair (it was already rather smooth to begin with because I seldom style it nor engage in activities that put me in direct contact with the sun or harmful chemicals), it still makes a better conditioner than my existing one. Therefore, I plan to use this at least twice a week.

In addition, unlike many treatments that leave a greasy film on the hair (imagine the product transferring to the pillow and onto your face – ew!), Coco & Eve leaves nothing but naturally flowy tresses and a pleasant coconut scent to boot (I lost count the number of times I took a whiff of my hair 🤭). Running my hands through my hair, the softness it promises is also apparent. Ultimately, I think this would benefit swimmers and people with chemically treated hair.

My hair enjoys the attention from the fan

My hair enjoys the attention from the fan

What are your thoughts about Coco & Eve Hair Masque? Take a quick poll or let me know your views in the comments below 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Coco & eve is now available on their website for S$64.90. Besties kits are also available at S$99.90 each with Free shipping (delivery restrictions may applyy) on all orders.
Products were supplied by Coco & Eve in exchange for this review but all opinions expressed are my own.

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TK TrichoKare, Your Trusted Hair & Scalp Experts

SPONSORED

Hey everyone!

tk-trichokare-shop

TK TrichoKare @ orchardgateway (credit: TK TrichoKare)

The hair is every woman’s crowning glory.  Having enviable hair plays an important role in a woman’s self-confidence and self-esteem because it is what defines our appearance. Not only does it speak volumes of our age and style, but also our personality. Therefore, it is not unexpected that millions of dollars would be spent on hair care products and treatments each year by women alone, just to keep their hair in tiptop shape. However, these efforts could actually cause adverse effects to our hair, especially when done too frequently. Hair dyeing, for instance, is one of the top culprits of thinning of hair. This problem is so common, it doesn’t just happen to post-menopausal women anymore as many youth today like myself are similarly affected.

Growing up, I’ve always had fine and sparse hair on my scalp that break off every time I wash my hair or try to detangle them with my fingers. No matter how careful and gentle I am with them, my hairbrush would still end up laden with a chock-full of hair after every brush. It got worse since I had rebonded and coloured my hair (because vain) but I have tried reducing my hair dye use from twice to once a year. Still, the problem persists. It’s so annoying. Sometimes I’d get envious of people who sport intricate hairstyles (e.g. fringe braiding) because I obviously don’t have enough hair to do it! Pfft. I’d probably lose more hair in the process.

Also, if you’ve read my other hair-related posts, you could probably recall my issue with bald spots as well. Although most of them have grown in, there are still visible patches if viewed from the top.

Enjoying my TrichoTea!

Enjoying my TrichoTea (I made that up)! Didn’t take a picture of my scalp pre-treatment that day because my parting was going to be different later on, so no point la. But here you can clearly see my scalp and my receding hairline. It just gets worse with age!

Perhaps this is a hereditary condition because the females in my household lose quite a bit of hair everyday too (though definitely not as substantial and alarming as I). But according to my trichologist, En En, from TK Trichokare, a healthy scalp is essential to having healthy hair. And in my case, my hair woes are largely due to my poor scalp health – not because of bad hygiene, but poor diet (too much spicy and fried food, as always) coupled with the use of unsuitable hair products, leading to clogged hair follicles and low hair density.

What is TK TrichoKare?

TK TrichoKare (pronounced as Try-ko-care) is the first ISO 9001 certified Trichological Centre that provides customized European Herbal Hair Remedies validated by certified Trichologists with products formulated by a professional herbalist.

TrichoKare is founded by a Trichologist. The holistic hair and scalp centre looks into all hair & scalp problems. It has been in 12 years of service since passing the conformity assessment of providing consistent standard of commitment to its product and service quality.

Other outlets are nex, Novena Square and The Clementi Mall.

Getting ready for a hair and scalp analysis (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Getting ready for a hair and scalp analysis. Look at my balding spot in the middle :\ (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Hair and scalp analysis

Hair and scalp analysis

Using a hair scope, she further analysed my scalp while images of it flashed on the computer screen beside me. Don’t know why but it was so fascinating looking at my own scalp and that few strands of hair protruding from beneath it 😆

Images of my scalp

Images of my scalp (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Even without En En telling me about my scalp condition, I was able see how terrible it was just by looking at the screen! My scalp was red (a sign of sensitivity) and flaky (oil flakes apparently, not dandruff) and my abnormally thin hair scantily dispersed all over. Just look at the amount of space between two closest clusters of hair – it’s so bare, ‘think HDB can build a flat there la.

But I was in utter dismay. I knew my scalp was bad, but not that bad 😐

CLOSE UP: oil flakes (those white stuff) settled near the hair follicles. Oil flakes are formed when oil and dead skin cells accumulate under the scalp, causing a little blockage at the pore. The oil, being unable to pass through with ease, then clumps into flakes.

CLOSE UP: oil flakes (those white stuff) settled near the hair follicles. Oil flakes are formed when oil and dead skin cells accumulate under the scalp, causing a little blockage at the pore. The oil, being unable to pass through with ease, then clumps into flakes.

As you can see from above, the thickness of every strand of hair varied greatly. Known as miniaturisation of hair follicles, these hair are crazily thinner than usual and are at risk of falling off (and have most likely fallen by now). I was also told that each pore is capable of supporting more than 1 strand of healthily-thick hair but look at how pathetic mine is. Couldn’t even support 1 well, let alone 2. *sigh*

Hence, I was recommended the Scalp Rebalancing Treatment. There are other treatments available at TrichoKare too (such as the Hair Fall Preventive System which fellow reviewer Xiaxue had) but obviously, I was given the one that best suited my scalp condition. There are actually 3 segments to it – regulating, strengthening and densifying. As this was only a trial, I was only entitled to the first one. But boy oh boy, I still can’t wait to see what TrichoKare has in store for me!

Comfy seats at the treatment corner. Xiaxue was everywhere!

Comfy seats at the treatment corner. Xiaxue was everywhere!

I was then promptly ushered to one of the seats at the treatment area. My trichologist subsequently came over to massage some sort of serum all over scalp. It had a very  memorable scent – citrusy and tropical. She said it would leave a bit of a tingling sensation on my scalp. Fortunately I felt none of that!

Contains citrus essence and ginger oil

Contains citrus essence and ginger oil

1. Scalp treatment

1. Scalp treatment (application/massage + 15 min for it to settle completely)

My eyelids became really heavy. It was so difficult to stay awake…

Following that, I was brought to the wash room to shampoo away the oil. The room was dimly-lit to create a relaxing atmosphere, making it even more challenging for my eyes to stay open (I had to for awhile to take some pictures). Apart from shampooing, my hair was also given some protein treatment!

Wash basins

Wash basins

One more shot before I doze off hahaha

One more shot before I doze off hahaha

If you can still stay awake at this point, I salute you (credit: TK TrichoKare)

If you can still stay awake at this point, I salute you (credit: TK TrichoKare)

The professionalism of every staff who attended to me was impressive! They’d make it a point to keep me in the loop about whatever they were going to do so that I’d know what to expect. Throughout out hair washing session, not a single speck of water or foam landed on my face too! I was glad because my makeup normally wouldn’t survive past the hair wash haha.

Once this step was completed, I was led back to my seat again to get my hair blow-dried!

But wait, another head masssage? Oh yeah!! (credit: TK TrichoKare)

But wait, another head masssage? Oh yeah!! (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Just wish I could stop time D:

Just wish I could stop time D:

Before she went on to dry my hair, she disappeared somewhere briefly to get me what looked like a neck rest! Placing it around the back of neck and then covered it with the blue towel, it felt so warm and comforting in the cold room, and had a very familiar herbal smell. It was the smell of the TrichoTea I had in the consultation room earlier! I was told it contained some essential oil.

Blowdry

Blow-dry

What followed next was something I had never experienced before! The centre assistant proceeded to move a futuristic-looking equipment over my head. What I saw in the mirror reminded me of Doctor Octopus in the Spider-Man 2 movie (hahaha). Called the infrared lamps, they help to improve circulation in the scalp. It was left on above my head for a few minutes and it felt warm but still quite bearable.

Infrared lamp

Infrared lamp

After the electrotherapy, En En took over and applied some tonic and moisturizer onto my hair. Unlike the salons I had been to, the “finishing touches” didn’t reek of a repulsive chemical smell. *thumbs up*

Finally, I was sent back to the consultation room to have a final scalp scan. What I saw totally left me in awe. The results were truly unbelievable!

Don’t believe me? See for yourself!

Post scalp treatment images (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Post scalp treatment images (credit: TK TrichoKare)

CLOSE UP: Post scalp treatment image

CLOSE UP: Post scalp treatment image

My pores were VISIBLY dilated and free of clogged oil! Those disgusting oil flakes had also lessened!

A quick before-and-after comparison

A quick before-and-after comparison

GOSH. I honestly didn’t expect to see much results with just a single session. My trichologist had even advised me beforehand to go for more treatments because it wouldn’t be completely effective if I only did it once. But hey look, it did work! Or at least that was how I felt. Hahaha.

Of course, the treatment that I went underwent only dealt with my scalp. The subsequent treatments will supposedly help tackle my hair loss problem. Nevertheless, I think this scalp treatment did help with my issue in one way or another because my hair REALLY doesn’t fall as much now. On that night of treatment, I counted – only 3 strands fell! What sorcery is this I cannot.

Clean and greasy no more!

Clean and greasy no more!

Full frontal shot! Hair looks so much better and healthier

Full frontal shot! Hair looks so much better and healthier

At last, supple and healthy-looking hair, albeit only temporarily. I am really tempted to get their full scalp treatment package though! (sponsors, anyone? *grins*)

Thanks TrichoKare! (and yes, I'm really tanned!)

Thanks TrichoKare! (and yes, I’m really tanned!)

In need of some professional help for your hair or scalp woes too? Great news! TK TrichoKare has kindly extended a special promotion to all my readers!

** SPECIAL PROMOTION **
for readers of fionaseah.com

Get Hair Fall Preventive Treatment at only $59!

Readers can register/get more info at Trichokare’s microsite by clicking here.

What are your thoughts on TK TrichoKare? Share them with me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

TK TrichoKare @ orchardgateway

277 & 218 Orchard Road, #02-12, Singapore 238858/238851
Nearest MRT: Somerset
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