Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo for Dry Scalp & Hair: It's Brilliant

I can't believe I've just washed my hair with an oil based shampoo. And I can't believe it worked!

I have been having terrible trouble with my scalp and lanky locks. Terrible, terrible trouble. More often than not it is a greasy roots, dry ends, flaky scalp and dullness disaster. Bird's nest (after all the chicks have made an awful mess in it) doesn't cut it.

My hair captures residue like nobody's business and I've taken to only washing it every three days or so, so dry shampoo comes into play and then more residue builds. I have tried clarifying shampoos from Mane and Tail, Neutrogena and most recently Vichy (and ahem, washing up liquid) and while they have worked for a go or two they've never given me the result the Shu Uemura shampoo has.

The Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo I tried is specifically for dry scalp and hair and my scalp certainly has become dry from all the faffing around I've been doing with different products and the ends are like straw. But even though I was keen to try it I did hesitate because my hair is traditionally greasy. However, when a skin expert told me that oil cleansing on oily faces works because it restores balance (which is making me want to try oil face stuff for my own oily face) I thought the same thing might happen for hair.

It's easy to explain, you just shampoo your hair with it like you would a normal shampoo. You massage it in - it builds up a nice lather - and there's no need for waiting around like you would with conditioner, even though I did just in case. Then rinse out and go! I didn't bother with conditioner because this was a cleansing and purifying wash, that and I'm afraid of them because they tend to weigh my hair down.

The moment of truth for me comes when I'm drying my hair. I have been dismayed many the time when I wash it and when it's dry it looks like I have skipped the shower for a week. With the Shu Umura, my hair felt gorgeous and looked better than it had in a long time. It was light and soft and looked shinier and somehow it was easier to style; it even felt and looked good the next day which never happens.

Shu Uemura are known for using oils in their products (they stick to their principle that 'oil removes oil') and this one is based around Neroli Essential Oil which helps restore the right moisture and oil balance. I loved it. I thought it was brilliant and I can't wait to use it again. Not that I will regularly. It's not supposed to be an every day shampoo and at €40 I'm glad for that!

It's available from selected salons nationwide, to find your nearest stockist see www.shuuemuraartofhair.com.

Do you have troublesome hair? How to you solve your hair woes?