I had the same problem as many others growing up with curly hair: having no idea what to do with it. As far as I knew, aside from luck or expensive blowouts, there was no way to control the mess atop my head. How it would look each day, good or bad, was in the lap of the gods. I didn’t help myself by committing what I know now to be curly hair crimes, including brushing it while dry and never even bothering to look at the curl-specific styling products available.

The further combination of a dry scalp and aggressive overwashing in my early teens made matters worse. It’s safe to say that for many years, my hair was not a pretty sight.

Given the opportunity to try out three of the plant-based UK haircare brand Syra’s products, which aim to improve scalp health, dry hair and more, I was keen to see whether they could help.

Imane, Syra’s founder, established the company after going through her own struggles with hair loss. Aware of the negative impact the beauty and haircare industry can have on individuals, damaging self-esteem and creating feelings of inadequacy, Imane set out to create her own solutions.

“It’s not about transforming into someone else, it’s about revealing who you already are,” she explained in a recent Instagram video—a welcome ethos in an industry that loves to tell people everything they lack.

Syra’s branding alone is worth appreciating. As much attention is given to the materials around the products as to the products themselves. The scalp balm pot has a real heft to it that feels luxurious, and even the packaging boxes are made of a soft-touch dusky pink cardboard that adds an understated class.

The Aura Scalp Balm can be applied a few hours before showering, and provides an excellent excuse to give yourself a head massage at the end of the day. The blue balm, which melts to an oil as soon as you touch it, has an invigorating tea tree scent that feels as though it’s doing good before it even makes it to your hair. While it can be difficult to actually get the balm onto the scalp at first (hair does get in the way of direct access), after a few rounds it becomes quite a meditative ritual.

Exfoliating my head was not something I had considered in the past, although it makes complete sense. Syra’s Soul Scalp Scrub has an equally appealing scent and a gritty texture that feels both functional and refreshing.

The two products work, too—since I started using them, I’ve noticed a distinct lack of flaky skin, and an extra shine to my hair.

Finally, the Essence Scalp Mist. I have been reluctant to try any product that says it will boost hair growth or thickness, despite being unhappy with just how much of my scalp is on show when my hair is parted. A hefty dose of suspicion assumed that any purchase would be another expense without a payoff.

However, this spray does seem to be doing something. While the results aren’t as immediate as the previous two items, I have noticed a reduction in how much hair I lose while brushing and quite a bit more volume. I know that it will take time to see the impact here, but early signs leave me far more optimistic about being able to see less of my scalp in the near future, well-moisturised though it may be.

Syra’s products are easy to use and encourage you to embrace moments of calm in your daily routine. Beyond any of that, though, they work. It can be hard to know when to believe the claims of beauty brands, but Syra cuts through the noise and is well worth a try.

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Lucy Carter is a London-based writer with a strong interest in the arts, entertainment and culture spaces. She can generally be found spending too much time and money at food markets and coffee shops, or going on long walks around the city. To read more of her work, take a look at her Substack and Muck Rack and follow her on Twitter @lucyllcarter.

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