My Hair Was Shedding in Droves Before I Tried This Viral Scalp Oil — The Before & After Photos Are Shocking

Even though my hair is pretty thick and I can’t visually notice less density when I look in the mirror, I’ve recently been ALARMED by the amount of hair that’s falling out in my shower and collecting at the bottom of my drain. In the past, I’ve used growth haircare and tools, but have let my routine go to the wayside this past year. And as a result, I began to suffer the consequences.

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So when I got the chance to test out the ever-viral Rene Furterer Head Spa Complexe 5 Stimulating Plant Concentrate scalp oil, I jumped at the opportunity to get back on a haircare regimen and see if I could revive my mane. Spoiler alert: This stuff really did work.

How Rene Furterer Head Spa Scalp Oil Works: An Ingredient Breakdown

There are three stand-out oils packed into this product: castor, orange, and lavender. We reached out to hair restoration surgeon and overall hair growth expert Ross Kopelman , MD, to find out what these oils actually do when they interact with your scalp.

Castor oil for shinier hair

Castor oil doesn’t necessarily “fix” your hair, but it does fake the look of thicker, healthier hair. “Castor oil is often praised for its benefits to hair, particularly in creating the illusion of thicker, healthier hair,” explains Dr. Kopelman. “While it is rich in ricinoleic acid and known for increasing blood circulation to the scalp, there’s no clinical evidence to suggest it directly promotes hair growth. Instead, its thick, viscous consistency coats the hair shafts, making them appear fuller and more robust. This can give the impression of increased hair growth,” he adds.

Orange oil for an optimal hair growth environment

The key hair and scalp-loving nutrient here? Vitamin C. “Orange oil, derived from the peels of oranges, is loaded with vitamin C and a variety of antioxidants that are beneficial for hair health,” says Dr. Kopelman. “Vitamin C plays a crucial role in the production of collagen, a protein that is essential for maintaining strong and healthy hair strands. The antioxidants in orange oil help protect the hair and scalp from environmental damage and oxidative stress, which can lead to hair thinning and dullness.” Basically, orange oil naturally cleanses the scalp and helps reduce excess oils and dandruff on the scalp’s surface.

Lavender oil for preventing infections

Lavender helps combat and prevent any kind of inflammation that happens at the scalp level. “This essential oil has antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities, which help maintain a healthy scalp by preventing common issues such as dandruff and infections,” says Dr. Kopelman. “Improved scalp health directly contributes to healthier hair growth. Lavender oil also enhances blood circulation in the scalp, ensuring that hair follicles receive adequate nutrients and oxygen,” he adds.

My Honest Review of Head Spa Complexe 5

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Let’s start with the basics. I tried this oil for about one month, using it after washing my hair about twice a week. When reading up on the product, there was a warning that it could cause “a warming sensation,” so I was preparing for that as I applied the product to my scalp. Here’s the shocking amount of hair I was losing before starting this head spa regimen. I know, it’s so gross! Apologies in advance.

The bottle comes with a more pointed attachment, that, in theory, lets you target the product exactly where you want it. But since the bottle itself comes with a cap that keeps the product mostly contained (think small, eyelet opening where you have to shake the product for it to come out of the bottle), I skipped it and just shook out the product to get it onto my scalp.

I shook out a few drops on my middle part hairline, then combed the hair over to hit the sides of my scalp and the back. I didn’t notice any kind of tingling, burning, or stinging whatsoever, which was a relief. Using the oil was pretty easy and fast. Once I had a few drops all over my head, I massaged the product in and waited five minutes. Then, in the shower, I made sure to thoroughly wash the product out.

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After using it for two weeks, I noticed a dramatic decrease in hair shedding. I mean, seriously, the hair in my tub after my shower doesn’t lie.

That handful has like 50 percent less hair than the original photo before I started! I was seriously so impressed. Plus, since I didn’t experience any stinging or tingling, using the oil before a shower felt like an easy, manageable step that I could handle.

How to Use

I followed the instructions to a T from the website. It says to apply product section by section around the entire scalp, and that you should only use once or twice per week. Since I only wash my hair a few times a week anyway, I used it whenever I washed my hair.

It goes on to say you should leave the oil on for just five to 10 minutes, which is what I did. The fact that it didn’t call for a 20 minute sit time made this product much more approachable, in my opinion.

In the shower, Rene Furterer’s website notes that you should wash your hair twice to make sure to get all of the oil out of your hair so it won’t cause your hair to appear greasy once you’re out of the shower. Since I deal with mega grease-overload hair anyway, I’m used to double cleansing. I found that washing my hair twice left no product residue once I was out of the shower. Here’s an important note from the website: “Avoid use for two days before and two days after in-salon chemical services. Not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.”

All in all, I think this oil is a great addition to my scalp care. Hopefully since it only has to sit on the head for five minutes, I won’t fall off the routine the way I usually fall off others. If you’re looking to reduce hair shedding, that’s exactly what the product delivered for me. However! It can also help with growing shinier, stronger hair, which I’ll keep testing for to confirm. So far, I’m really impressed with the initial results after just four weeks — that’s a big win in my book.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Rene Furterer is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.