Scalp TherapyHow to use

The Scalp Therapy routine, in the right order

Serum first, then shampoo, then a mask you leave in. Most people get at least one of those three wrong, and each mistake costs a different part of the result.

Neofollics South Africa · · 4 min read
Close up of Neofollics Scalp Therapy Peeling Serum being applied along a parting
In short
Serum on an unwashed scalp, shampoo it out, leave the mask in. Once a week.
The order at a glance

Once a week. Three products. This order, every time.

Shop the routine
  1. Neofollics Scalp Therapy Peeling Serum 90ml
    Before you wash

    Peeling Serum

    On a dry, unwashed scalp, on the skin rather than the lengths. Loosens what is sitting there.

    Leave at least 5 minutes
  2. Neofollics Scalp Therapy Exfoliating Shampoo 250ml
    To wash it out

    Exfoliating Shampoo

    Removes the serum and everything it has lifted. Work it into the scalp, not the lengths.

    Rinse thoroughly
  3. Neofollics Scalp Therapy Nourishing Mask 175ml
    Then leave it in

    Nourishing Mask

    Onto the scalp after washing, and it stays there. A leave-in, not a rinse-out.

    Best left overnight
Shop the routine

Three products, once a week, in a fixed order. It sounds simple enough that people skim the instructions — and then use the routine backwards for a month and conclude it does not work.

Here is the order, and more usefully, what goes wrong when you change it.

Peeling Serum, before you wash

The Peeling Serum goes onto a scalp you have not washed yet. Part the hair in sections and apply it to the skin, not the lengths. Leave it at least five minutes.

It is a pre-wash treatment. Its job is to loosen the residue sitting on the scalp so that the next step can carry it away.

  • ScalpDry, unwashed
  • WhereSkin, in sections
  • Wait5 minutes, minimum
Applying Neofollics Scalp Therapy Peeling Serum to the scalp
The common mistake
Most frequent error
Shampooing firstSerum on clean hair has nothing to loosen, and gets rinsed straight off.
Serum, then washSerum on an unwashed scalp, five minutes, then the shampoo.

Exfoliating Shampoo, to wash it out

The Exfoliating Shampoo is what removes the serum and everything it has lifted. Work it into the scalp rather than the lengths, and rinse thoroughly.

Think of it as the second half of a weekly reset — the serum loosens, the shampoo removes.

Man holding Neofollics Scalp Therapy Exfoliating Shampoo
The common mistake
Using it every washTreating it as an ordinary shampoo, used on its own, day to day.
Once a week, after the serumIt is the second half of a weekly reset, not a daily cleanser.

Nourishing Mask, and leave it in

The Nourishing Mask goes onto the scalp after washing and stays there.

Applying Neofollics Scalp Therapy Nourishing Mask to the scalp
  • A leave-inApplied to the scalp, after washing
  • Best left overnightEasiest as the last thing you do
  • Not rinsed outUnlike almost every other “mask”
The common mistake
The step most often skipped
Rinsing it outBecause that is what “mask” implies on every other hair product on the shelf.
Leave it on the scalpIt is the step that makes the routine sustainable, week after week.

Rinsing it is why exfoliating routines so often leave a scalp irritated after three or four weeks.

How often

How it fits into your week

Once a week is right for most people. Scalp Therapy replaces one wash in your week; your usual shampoo covers the rest.

Also using the daily Hair Growth routine?
Mon – SatYour usual shampooHair Growth ShampooHair Growth ConditionerHair Growth Lotion
Sun · Scalp Therapy day1 · Peeling Serum2 · Exfoliating Shampoo3 · Nourishing MaskLotion: skip today
Scalp Therapy, in orderHair Growth, dailyAny day works — Sunday is only the example.

The two run alongside each other without conflict. On Scalp Therapy day the weekly routine takes the place of the daily shampoo and conditioner. The Growth Lotion is a leave-in too, so on that day most people apply the mask and skip the lotion rather than layering both on the scalp at once.

More is not better here

A scalp that is exfoliated twice a week without the leave-in step tends to get tight, itchy and reactive — which reads as the routine failing, when it is actually the routine being overdone.

  • Too much: twice a week, mask skipped
  • About right: once a week, all three steps

Common questions

Can I leave the serum on longer than five minutes?

Five minutes is the minimum for it to do anything useful. Follow the direction on the pack rather than extending it indefinitely.

Do I need all three products?

The serum and shampoo work as a pair — one loosens, the other removes. The mask is the step that makes it repeatable. Dropping the mask is the version of this routine most likely to end in an irritated scalp.

What if my scalp is dry rather than congested?

Then you may only need the mask. This guide covers how to tell which one you have.

Neofollics Scalp Therapy Routine — Peeling Serum, Exfoliating Shampoo and Nourishing Mask Scalp Therapy
All three, in one box

The Scalp Therapy Routine

  1. Peeling SerumOn the scalp first.
  2. Exfoliating ShampooTo wash it out.
  3. Nourishing MaskLeft in afterwards.
Shop the Scalp Therapy Routine

Still unsure?

Ask us — we would rather answer a question than have you use the routine backwards. Or book a free walk-in scalp check at one of our two Pretoria salons.

Book a consultationAsk us a question
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This guide is about cosmetic scalp routines, not medical treatment. A scalp that is sore, red, weeping or crusting, or flaking that is heavy, greasy or yellow, should be checked by a doctor or dermatologist first.

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