[unpaid/sample] It’s funny which products suddenly spark a flame – I’ve really struggled to ‘get’ Athletia, the Japanese eco-friendly brand that has sustainability at its core (and properly – it’s not just a nod at recycling). I love Japanese skin care generally but it’s the new Athletia Scalp Care Shampoo & Conditioner that has caught my attention well over and above their skin offerings.

Bearing in mind that London water is so hard, the shampoo did well to produce a complete clean in one go. Lemon, ginger and eucalyptus is a bit of a treat for the senses – ever so freshening – and my hair was left so soft I couldn’t stop touching it. In terms of formula, it’s sulphate free and silicone free, and uses the Athletia ferment complex as a key ingredient. I’m always a bit divided in my mind about ‘scalp care’ – we did okay before and I only know one person with a chronically sore and tight scalp so I think you have to be the sort of person who is a believer in the correct foundations rather than the quick fix if you don’t have an immediate problem with your scalp. That said, I’ve tested a lot of scalp products to deal with intermittent dryness and they’ve worked extremely well – I bought more of The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo long after I’d finished the sponsored content and would do so again.

If you’re not bothered about scalp care the reasons you’d fall for this duo are the amino-acid cleansing that’s so thorough and the wonderful aroma that stays lightly in the hair for hours after washing. Taking time to massage the Scalp & Hair Treatment into both your hair and your scalp you’ll find it’s a little zingy and feels therapeutic in as much as a conditioner can. The green credentials are strong – sustainable, chemical free ingredient farming, natural botanical essences and recycling forward packaging. It’s not cheap to be good – the shampoo is £32 and the conditioner is £35. They’re both HERE.