How This Customised Scalp Treatment Helped To Address My Oily Scalp
An oily scalp can lead to concerns like irritation, itchiness, dandruff and its worse – hair loss
by Farisia Thang /
June 1, 2021
Oily scalp is one of the most common hair concerns, and it’s what happens when our sebaceous glands produce excess oil. While sebum can help protect our skin and scalp from damage and improve the barrier of our skin, there can be too much of a good thing. An oily scalp can lead to concerns like irritation, itchiness, dandruff and worst – hair loss. It’s no wonder this is one of the most common hair problems in Southeast Asia, especially when you factor in the humidity and heat here.
Stress, diet, sleep, and hormonal changes are all factors that can affect our scalp and hair. And while we can make those changes and use products that target our concerns, sometimes a little bit of help from experts can go a long way.
With more than 45 years of experience, Beijing 101 Hair Consultants has been dedicated to helping customers with hair and scalp issues since 1974. From concerns like hair loss and hair thinning to dandruff and oily scalp. Their signature hair treatments are formulated with premium-grade Chinese herbs, rooted in the philosophy and expertise of Certified Hair Consultants and TCM physicians.
Oily scalp is one of the most consistent hair concerns that I personally have. While hair loss and hair thinning have been issues for me in the last couple of years (no doubt thanks to all the bleaching and dyeing), I’ve always struggled with an oily scalp. The two are only made more pronounced with my fine hair, and I’m always looking for treatments and products to strengthen and bring my hair back to a healthy state.
I went down to try Beijing 101’s customised herbal treatment at their Funan Mall outlet, and was recommended with a hair and scalp treatment to help detox my scalp, boost blood circulation, nourish my hair from within, and encourage hair growth in the long run.
My treatment began with a one-on-one consultation with one of Beijing 101’s hair consultants, giving me a thorough consultation on my lifestyle habits and an examination of my hair and scalp condition.
We went over a list of questions she had about my lifestyle habits, from diet, exercise, sleep, and how these factors can affect cell vitality and scalp health. She explained to me that eating oily food can actually trigger an increase of sebum production in the scalp. And while I was always aware of the connection between how our diet can affect our body, it didn’t fully click in place until she explained it. Another realisation was the importance of brushing my hair. I mentioned that I never brush my hair, seeing that it’s naturally straight and fine I didn’t see the need to untangle it. But she explained that beyond untangling, brushing the hair can help promote blood circulation in the scalp and I should brush it with a wooden brush at least 30-50 times a day as it’ll help promote hair growth in the long run.
After the questions, we moved on to the scalp analysis. Though I always knew that I had an oily scalp, I learned about oil clogs and how that was actually prohibiting hair growth. She also explained that I had a lot of newborn hair but they’re quite thin in comparison to my other hair strands, so they’re not getting the nutrients they need.
With that, she recommended me with the PuriScalp Mask treatment to detox the scalp and get rid of the oil clogs. This was followed by a Herbal Hair Wash to cleanse the scalp, the Oxy Herbal Fusion Scalp Treatment to supply nutrients to the scalp, and their Signature Meridian Herbal Treatment that targets the eight main acupressure points on the scalp.
PuriScalp Mask
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Before hair can receive the nutrients it needs, the consultant explained that healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, and this is where detox comes in. The cooling hair mask is spread generously over my scalp then left on for 20 minutes. The consultant shared that this step effectively helps to eliminate sebum clogs and toxins in the scalp. That way, the deep cleansing scalp mask can penetrate into the scalp pores and follicles to remove accumulated sebum while balancing oil secretion in my scalp.
Herbal Hair Wash
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After the 20 minutes, I’m brought to the washing area for a deep cleanse. The hair mask was washed off thoroughly, and I was treated to an enriching Herbal Hair Wash that smelled calming thanks to its botanical scents. This was followed with a soothing head massage, which the consultant explains will help prepare my scalp and hair for the Signature Meridian Herbal Scalp Treatment to come.
Oxy3 Herbal Fusion Scalp Treatment
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While my hair was still damp from the wash, we continued with the Oxy3 Herbal Fusion Scalp Treatment. As my hair was wrapped with a towel and a cap, the consultant explained that it might get very warm, but it honestly felt very cosy and comforting. There was also a slight herbal smell but it went away within minutes of the treatment. This treatment lasted 10 minutes and she explained that this process helps to supply nutrients to the scalp, inject oxygen into the follicles to help improve hair growth and repair damaged hair follicles. This was the most relaxing part of the process and the warmth felt really soothing and relaxing on my scalp.
Signature Meridian Herbal Scalp Treatment
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The final step of this treatment is their Signature Meridian Herbal Scalp Treatment, which ends with a 20-minute TCM-based scalp massage that targets eight of the main acupressure points on the scalp. While you can choose a treatment tailored for your concerns: tension, stress, or sleeping order, I opted for the overall well-being treatment. The consultant began by lining parts of my scalp with herbal tonic and there was a slight warming sensation that went away after a couple of minutes.
Massaging the tonic in, she explained that this would help to replenish the nutrients that my scalp needs. As she moved through the different acupressure points, she shared that this process can actually help open up the pores so they better absorb the nutrients and it also promotes hair growth for fuller and stronger hair.
Another detail I really appreciated was how comprehensive this final step of the treatment was. When massaging my neck and shoulders, the consultant mentioned how it was too tight and that poor circulation can affect my sleep and my scalp as well.
Post-Treatment Scalp Analysis
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After the treatment was completed, I went back to the consultation room for her to perform the final analysis of my scalp. The most noticeable difference was the oil clogs around the sides and back of my scalp. While previously the clogs were obviously blocking my hair strands at the scalp, they’d been dramatically minimised in size. However, there were a few oil clogs left around the top of my scalp and she mentioned that those will take a couple more sessions before they disappear. She also went on to share that anyone new to hair and scalp treatments should be visiting once every week for a month to see consistent improvements in their scalp.
Here’s how my scalp looked before and after (before scans on the left and after scans on the right):
Beijing 101 has seven outlets at Bedok Mall, Causeway Point, Century Square, Funan Mall, JCUBE, NEX, and Northpoint City.
Exclusively For The Weekly's Readers
If you’re looking to give your hair some TLC and need an expert’s help to solve your hair concerns, Beijing 101 is offering a 4-Step Advanced Hair & Scalp Revival Treatment at $40 nett (UP: $502) for The Weekly’s readers. This treatment includes a one on one hair and scalp analysis and consultation, a customised mask, herbal hair wash, an Oxy3 scalp treatment, their Signature Meridian Herbal Scalp Treatment, and $10 FairPrice Vouchers to top it all off. Make your appointment here.