I loved the Alive:Lab scalp ampoule so much that I decided to try their shampoo too. I bought it expecting it to be good since it's from the same line, rather than having high hopes for scalp exfoliation. I've been using it for about six months now.
Pros:
1. Unexpected cooling effect: It genuinely cools your scalp, but not in the harsh way that mentholated or cooling shampoos do (which I also like). It's more like the refreshing feeling of washing with cold water. This is partly due to the ingredients, but also a benefit of the liquid formula, which is cooler than body temperature. Combined with the cooling effect of the scalp ampoule, it's a really refreshing experience.
2. Incredible lather: Despite being a water-based shampoo, it produces an enormous amount of foam - way more than other brands. Even when I haven't washed my hair for about 4 days (when shampoo usually doesn't lather well), it still creates maximum foam from the first wash. It's amazing!
3. Gentle exfoliation without drying: I usually avoid overly gentle shampoos due to my oily scalp, but this one strikes a perfect balance. It exfoliates while maintaining scalp hydration. There's no residue, and it cleanses easily. Even though I'll use a scalp tonic or ampoule afterwards, it's really impressive on its own.
4. Unbelievably convenient packaging: Unlike most shampoo bottles that require you to open a cap, you just need to twist this one. At first, I tried to pull out the nozzle (which comes out quite easily with a bit of force), but that's not necessary - just twist!
5. Long-lasting: Even though I don't use it daily (it's a scalp shampoo after all), I still haven't finished the bottle. When you first start using it, you might think it'll run out quickly, but surprisingly, there's quite a lot in there!
The price... Even with discounts, it's practically full price. Alive:Lab doesn't often have sales, so you end up paying close to retail price.
While the twist cap is a great feature, I feel like they missed an opportunity in their packaging and marketing. It's so different from traditional shampoo bottles, both in the outer box and the bottle itself. They should have highlighted this more prominently in their advertising - I only realized how unique it was after reading reviews. It would be great if they emphasized this feature more in their marketing.
