As we head into a new season, there’s no better time than now to introduce hair and scalp care services into the salon.
Tom Smith, evo’s international creative colour director and owner of AEVUM salon in London, has been integrating scalp services into his client work and says the launch of the new evo scalp care range is perfect timing. “The scalp is, ultimately, skin,” he says. “It responds to seasonal changes, routine, and product choice in exactly the same way as the skin on your face, yet most people give it far less consideration.”
The dedicated evo scalp care range gives salons a focused toolkit for addressing one of the most misunderstood areas of hair health. The range, which includes the head start scalp exfoliator, common ground scalp shampoo, ground control scalp treatment and home base leave-in scalp serum, is designed to support a balanced scalp microbiome.
Tom shares his tips for scalp services in the salon, and how to help clients build better habits at home.
- Rethink how often hair is washed. The biggest misconception clients have is around how often they should wash their hair. Many believe daily washing is damaging, but the scalp benefits from regular cleansing. It’s the hair itself that may not need washing every day, particularly if it’s highlighted, colour-treated, or requires a lot of styling. The key is to find a balance that serves both; what the scalp needs and what the hair can handle.
- If the scalp is causing problems, start with exfoliation. If a client is experiencing scalp issues and it’s been more than three days since their last shampoo, I’d always recommend starting with the head start scalp exfoliator before moving to common ground scalp shampoo. head start provides a thorough but gentle mechanical exfoliation, it clears build-up without the harshness of chemical exfoliants, which makes it a strong starting point for the in-salon treatment. Introducing this as a regular pre-shampoo step in the salon is also a great way to set clients up for better results.
- Most scalp concerns aren’t medical. The majority of scalp concerns I see in the salon aren’t clinical issues, they’re the result of an impaired barrier function. The Inger Albar bark extract and prebiotic complex in the evo range works to support a healthy microbiome, which means it’s perfect for scalps that overproduce oil just as much as those that are dry or flaky.
- Seasonal change is a good trigger for scalp conversations. In the colder months, scalps are exposed to greater extremes - cold outside, central heating inside. As we move into warmer weather, that intensity eases, but the damage from winter is still there. It’s a great time to introduce clients to a leave-in scalp step and explain why barrier support matters year-round, not just when something goes wrong.
- A leave-in step is the simplest habit to build. Most people wouldn’t leave the house without applying protection to their face. The scalp is no different; left unprotected, it will lose moisture and become unbalanced. home base leave-in scalp serum is a lightweight, quick step that doesn’t weigh the hair down and can be reapplied as needed throughout the day. It’s easy to recommend at the backwash and easy for clients to fit into their routine. Post-colour it provides reassurance that the microbiome is supported during the recovery period.
- The range works with colour, not against it. Clients with colour-treated don’t have to worry about compromising their colour. evo’s hue-verse colour system is ammonia and PPD free, and the scalp range is fully compatible with it so you’re not managing two competing concerns. That gives your client reassurance that scalp health isn’t separate from colour performance.