My scalp was a winter storm. Every black shirt, a casualty.
The real problem? Itchy, angry patches right at my crown — not cute.
This is Briogeo‘s charcoal serum. $42. They promised a “revival” for dry, flaky scalps. I needed a miracle.
Charcoal
Supposedly draws out impurities like a magnet.
Tea Tree Oil
The classic tingly, anti-itch ingredient.
Micro-exfoliation
Has binchotan charcoal to slough off dead skin.
Photo: Tamara Bellis / Unsplash
It’s not magic, it’s chemistry. The hero is tea tree oil for its antifungal properties. The charcoal is for the “deep clean” feeling.
- Tea Tree Oil: Fights the microbes that cause itch
- Binchotan Charcoal: A physical exfoliant
- Coconut Oil: To (theoretically) balance moisture
- Peppermint Oil: For that instant cooling shock
Photo: Erick Larregui / Unsplash
Texture is weird — a thin, gritty oil. Absorbs in 20 seconds, leaves zero grease. Smells like a spa, feels like a menthol cough drop on your head.
Surprise: By week two, the itch was gone. But the flakes? They just… migrated. Less on my scalp, more tiny ones in my hair.
Photo: Erick Larregui / Unsplash
Measurable win: Zero itch. Major win. The flakes reduced by about 70% — not a cure, but a solid manager. Hair didn’t feel drier, which I feared.
Photo: Adam Winger / Unsplash
It’s a brilliant symptom manager, not a cure. My drama is now a manageable sitcom.