12 Great Scalp Exfoliants, According to the Pros (2024)

Looking for bouncy, voluminous hair? Consider adding ascalp exfoliant to yourhair care routine, especially if you’ve got product buildup, sweat a lot, or your scalp feels a little itchy. Similar to the exfoliants you’d use on your face, “scalp exfoliants aim to remove a buildup of dead skin cells, which are a result of normal cellular turnover and hair care products,”Ivy Lee-Keltner, MD, board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Direct Dermatology in California, tells SELF. Below, hair care experts explain all the nitty-gritty (pun intended) details aboutscalp exfoliation, and share the best products tomake your shower feel more luxurious.

Why is it important to exfoliate your scalp?

Good hair starts with a healthy scalp. “There are so many factors, including sweat, pollution, oil, and product buildup, that can cause bacteria to fester, leading to discomfort, dryness, and itchiness throughout the scalp,”Helen Reavey, celebrity hairstylist and founder of hair and scalp care brandAct+Acre, tells SELF. “I always try to tie scalp care back to skin care. Can you imagine layering on makeup and leaving it on your skin for three or more days without washing it off?”

And, just like the skin on your face, your scalp is home to lots of oil-producing sebaceous glands. A little bit of oil (a.k.a. sebum) is a good thing—it keeps your hair looking hydrated, shiny, and healthy. But too much oil can lead to buildup, which feeds the malassezia yeast that naturally lives on your scalp (and skin in general). When this yeast thrives, you may developdandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, a skin condition that can lead to inflamed, greasy patches, itching or burning skin, and flaking, asSELF previously reported. Gently exfoliating your scalp can potentially help keep excessive flaking at bay.

From a styling standpoint, you might notice your hair feels weighed down andoily if your scalp needs a (very gentle) scrub. “If you don’t wash your hair that often and you’re [using]dry shampoos or texture sprays and other styling products, that sticks around in your scalp, so an exfoliant gives a nice refresh every once in a while,”Nikki Ferrera, hairstylist and owner of Nikki Ferrera Hair Color, tells SELF. An exfoliant is generally a good idea for all hair types, according to the experts we spoke with, but the one that suits your needs best depends on your hair density and scalp’s oil production.

What’s the difference between a physical and chemical scalp exfoliant?

There are two different kinds of exfoliants: chemical and physical.Physical exfoliants include things likescrubs that physically remove dead skin cells, dirt, and other impurities; chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, dissolve the bonds between skin cells, helping to reveal newer, smoother skin cells underneath, asSELF previously reported.

Many scalp exfoliation products are physical scrubs formulated with ingredients like sea salt, sugar, or dissolving rice beads. They tend to be a bit abrasive for some people, but physical exfoliants have their benefits, especially for folks who have a hefty amount of buildup on their scalps, prefer fewer wash days, or have coarse, thick, or curly hair. You just have to be gentle as you massage them into your hair,Mariel Materek, a New York City–based hairstylist atSpoke and Weal, tells SELF.

Chemical exfoliants are typically formulated with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs like glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs like salicylic acid), says Dr. Lee. “Chemical exfoliants are no joke—they will break through all the product buildup, sebum, and dead skin,” Materek says. Chemical exfoliants might also be better for folks with sensitive skin, as a physical scrub tends to feel harsh and drying on a finicky scalp.

How do you exfoliate your scalp safely?

All of our experts generally agreed that exfoliating once per week is a good place to start, especially if you have an oily scalp or dense hair. “The more hair you have, the easier it is for products to build up,”Mia Santiago, a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City, tells SELF. There are, of course, plenty of factors to consider. “If your scalp tends to be on the drier side, it is possible to over-exfoliate, causing additional dryness or irritation, in which I’d recommend exfoliating on a biweekly basis,” says Reavey.

For people with fine or thin hair who might prefer to shampoo more often, Materek recommends an exfoliating scalp treatment every two weeks or once per month—finding the right cadence for you might take a bit of trial and error. If you have a chronic skin condition like seborrheic dermatitis,eczema, orpsoriasis, or suspect that something else is up, Dr. Lee says you should reach out to a primary care doctor or a dermatologist, if you have access to one, before adding anything new to your hair or scalp care regimen.

After you exfoliate your scalp and follow with a thorough shampoo, Ferrera suggests using a moisturizing treatment, especially if you havedry hair. If you have a go-tohair mask or deepconditioner, use it a little more intentionally, working it up the hair shafts a little more than you would sans exfoliant.

What should you look for when shopping for a scalp exfoliant?

In addition to exfoliating acids and physical scrubs like sugar and salt, there are a few other things to consider on the label. Ferrera appreciates the addition of clarifying tea tree oil, plus nourishing oils, like camellia and argan, which counteract the sometimes drying effect of scalp scrubs. Dr. Lee echoes that recommendation: “Because scalp exfoliants are removing buildup on the scalp’s surface, you should also look for moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and oils to hydrate the newly exfoliated skin barrier,” she says. (Just note that essential oils like tea tree can be irritating for some people, so patch testingany new product on your skin—say, on your arm or neck—a day before you use it on your scalp isn’t a bad idea. Of course, if an exfoliant makes your skin angry, stop using it ASAP.)

Phew! Got all that? Good, because we gathered the best scalp exfoliants to add to your hair care routine below. You’ll see options from top brands like Drunk Elephant, Amika, R+Co, and more, with picks for every hair type and price point. Fresher, happier hair awaits.