Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub

Ouai is a brand that is so crazy hyped within the beauty community but it’s not a brand I’d ever tried until very recently. I don’t know why I hadn’t as everyone raves about the products, but the Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub is something so many deem to be holy grail status so I decided I needed to try it. I have a really dry scalp which is uncomfortable and itchy, as well as psoriasis so I loved the idea of using a scalp scrub to hopefully refine the surface of my scalp and reduce any discomfort. I’ve tried the Lee Stafford scalp scrub but it didn’t wow me s0 I decided upon the Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub as everyone loves it.

Price wise, it’s £32 for 250ml which is very pricey for a scrub that you’re essentially washing down the drain after a couple of minutes. It’s not like it’s an oil or leave in treatment that stays in your hair to work its magic. The packaging is really sleek with a frosted clear plastic jar, simple branding, a white lid and an inner lid to keep the scrub from spilling out.

The inner lid is a little difficult to remove with wet hands whilst in the shower so I’ve binned my inner lid as it’s not a product I’d travel with, and it’s much easier to use and scoop product out without worrying about water getting into the jar. 

Ouai say;

“This deep-cleansing, foaming scrub is like a trip to rehab for your scalp and skin. A weekly detox powered by gently exfoliating sugar crystals to cleanse and soften skin and a dose of probiotics to leave your skin’s natural defenses on high alert.“

How To Use The Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub?

Scalp: Section wet hair to reveal scalp and massage in circular motions to gently exfoliate. Rinse.

Body: Apply to damp skin and massage in circular motions to gently exfoliate. Rinse.

First things first, the Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub smells divine. It smells very similar to the Stella McCartney Stella fragrance but it doesn’t scent the hair which is such a shame, but Ouai have many other products which would leave a lasting scent like their oil, leave in conditioner or foam.

The consistency of the scrub really surprised me as it doesn’t feel like a typical scrub, and if anything it feels a little sticky and the sugar granules stick together in clumps which is really difficult to massage into the scalp.

I do have very fine hair but I have masses of it, so it could be because of how much hair I have but even with separating my hair before trying to massage the scrub, it wouldn’t spread over the scalp and just fell to the floor of my shower.

I don’t know if it’s because there’s so much oil within the mixture, that it binds the granules so well but I genuinely can’t use it as a scrub scooped straight from the jar on my scalp or my body. The base of the scrub has no viscosity so even when applying to the arms or legs, it stays in a large clump which doesn’t spread even on very wet skin or scalp.

The best way I’ve found to use the Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub, is to mix a tablespoon sized amount with an hair conditioner in the palm of my hand and then apply it to my scalp as it makes it a lot easier to massage.

When mixed with conditioner I’ve found it to be really effective at exfoliating the scalp but I do wonder if my Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub is different formula wise to everyone else, as I’ve never read anyone else mention an issue with how thick the formula was, or any difficulties with application.

I do think it’s perhaps down too much oil as the oil drips down the sides of my face and ear when using the scrub on the sides of my head. It doesn’t foam up like the claims either, which is really strange. Using this scrub has made me want to try and make my own scalp scrub with sugar and hair oil to see if it would be comparable, as I do really like the idea of exfoliating my scalp.

I’ve decided not to use it for the body as I have better body scrubs (like the Sanctuary Body Sc and I feel it’s very pricey when used as a body scrub but that’s just my personal opinion.

The issues with this scrub hasn’t put me off trying more from Ouai as it’s obviously a very high quality product, with a lot of nourishing oil but it just makes it difficult to use without large clumps of scrub falling down the drain. I’d perhaps like to try their hair oil or wave spray next, especially if they smells as amazing as this scrub.

Have you ever tried anything from Ouai before?

You can purchase the whole Ouai Haircare range from Cult Beauty.

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