Meet the 15 Best Scalp Scrubs for Healthier, Shinier, and Flake-Free Hair
Spring clean your scalp with these expert-loved products.
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It doesn't matter whether you're dealing with dandruff, oiliness, or gunk from product buildup over time, because a dirty and flaky scalp isn’t ideal. And as a beauty editor who dealt with most of those scalp issues from childhood into adulthood, I totally understand the struggle first-hand. Luckily, when our strands could use a nice detox there are scalp scrubs that provide a nice pick-me-up to ensure our scalps are clarified and are in prime condition for hair growth.
Best Scalp Scrubs
What Are Scalp Scrubs?
According to celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein, scalp scrubs are granular products used to exfoliate the scalp. Like face and body exfoliants, scalp scrubs work by removing dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from our heads. Scalp scrubs have the bonus of eliminating product build-up from styling products, such as dry shampoo, hair serums, and hair sprays.
Fellow celebrity hairstylist Elizabeth Semande agrees, adding, “Healthy hair starts from the scalp. Shampoos can only do so much to all the daily products added to the scalp. At some point, you have to detox and start on a clean surface.”
She also argues detoxing with a scalp scrub is 100% essential for optimal hair health. “Not only does it exfoliate the scalp, remove buildup, excess oil and dead skin cells, it encourages healthy hair growth by stimulating your hair follicles and increasing blood circulation in every wash,” she says.
Who Should Use Scalp Scrubs?
Scalp scrubs are safe for almost anyone. However, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dhaval G. Bhanusali, M.D., says if you’ve got skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis (scaly patches and inflamed skin) or eczema, you might want to shy away from scalp scrubs, which are typically best for people who suffer from general buildup or excess oils.
How Often Should I Use Scalp Scrubs?
Bhanusali generally considers scalp scrubs a good way to cleanse the scalp of any buildup or residual oil. However, you'll want to be careful, as overusing scalp scrubs can lead to more harm than good. “I see a ton of hair loss in our office, so you always want to be careful not to overdo it. I usually tell patients not to use scalp scrubs or treatments more than one to two times per month,” he says.
What to Consider
After chatting with experts, these are a few key factors you must consider before shopping for a scalp scrub.
Ingredients
Our experts say a few common scalp scrub ingredients that you should look for are salt, sugar, charcoal, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs like lactic, glycolic, and mandelic acids), and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs, such as salicylic acid). These ingredients are fantastic for your scalp. For more detailed information on key ingredients, check out our FAQ at the end of the article.
Granule Size
Before incorporating a scalp scrub into your routine, Rubenstein advises looking at the size of the granules. “Finer granules are better for more sensitive scalps," she says. Don’t worry: All of the scalp scrubs on our list contain the smoothest and smallest granules among the products we’ve tested. As for the others, they are hairstylist-approved or earned hundreds of glowing online reviews across your most-trusted digital beauty retailers.
How We Chose
Like all our content, we stand behind every scalp scrub on this list. I’ve been covering haircare and scalp scrubs for six years, and personally tried (and loved) several of these options, including the popular dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub, Oribe Serene Scalp Exfoliating Scrub, and Kiehl's Amino Acid Scalp Scrub Detox Treatment. As mentioned earlier, I combed through Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, and plenty more beauty retailers to ensure the online reviews were also on-point for added reassurance. Prepare to enjoy the cleanest and healthiest scalp of your life in just 10 minutes or less.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.
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