3 Deep Cleaning DIY Scalp Scrubs

Have you ever ever been tempted to forgo shampoo? I will be trustworthy: the no-shampoo adjustment interval, which is alleged to final weeks, has me completely petrified. Who can endure a 2-week-long dangerous hair day? For those who’re additionally not prepared for “no poo,” as some name it, there’s excellent news: a deep-cleansing DIY scalp scrub won’t solely go away your hair refreshed, however it would additionally really feel wonderful. Listed here are three recipes to attempt.

Meet the Consultants

Penny James, IAT-certified trichologist and proprietor of Penny James Salon

Kerry Yates, a trichologist, hair stylist, and the founding father of Color Collective

Bridgette Hill, licensed trichologist

What’s a scalp scrub?

For many who do not know, a scalp scrub is considerably like a physique scrub. It is filled with exfoliating substances and is meant to cleanse the scalp by eradicating lifeless pores and skin and environmental buildup, explains stylist Penny James, IAT-certified trichologist and proprietor of Penny James Salon in New York Metropolis. “After a scalp scrub, your hair not solely feels more healthy, however it would look fuller too,” she says. “It’s particularly ultimate for many who use a whole lot of dry shampoo, as a scalp scrub is the easiest way to take away the beauty buildup on the dermis and preserve the hair follicles clear.”

Who wants a scalp scrub?

The common use of conditioners, gels, and hair spray may make hair boring and flat. So it is important to strip away this buildup in your scalp and follicles with out jeopardizing the well being of your hair. In case your hair seems limp and lifeless, and perhaps you are noticing a little bit extra grease than regular, it is time to give your scalp some TLC with a deep cleaning scrub.

Among the finest issues about scalp scrubs is that they are often used for all hair varieties—they usually’re particularly helpful for anybody who experiences a problem with dandruff, notes Kerry Yates, a trichologist, hair stylist, and the founding father of Color Collective. Nonetheless, she does emphasize that curly hair varieties might want to give their hair an extra 5 minutes of rinsing time to make sure all scrub parts are washed away. “Failure to completely rinse can once more result in product buildup and would defeat the aim of utilizing a scalp scrub,” she provides.

3 Straightforward & Cheap DIY Scalp Scrubs

A wholesome scalp additionally means wholesome hair in the long term—so it’s value tackling the problem to profit each your scalp and your hair. Listed here are three of the commonest scalp-related points, what they’re telling you, and how one can repair ’em.

Is your scalp oily?

If in case you have an oily scalp, you know the way irritating it may be on your hair to really feel squeaky clear one minute and soiled the subsequent. Hair will get oily as a result of the sebaceous glands in your scalp follicles produce extra sebum, which holds onto grime and weighs hair down, making it look soiled all too quickly.

Shampooing an excessive amount of or too little can throw off the steadiness of your scalp’s wholesome oil manufacturing.

A number of components can ship these follicles into overdrive, however the very first thing to attempt is straightforward: shampoo much less typically.

It might sound counter-intuitive, however cleaning truly strips your hair of oil, inflicting your scalp to reply by producing extra! So by shampooing much less, you may prepare your hair over time and educate these little factories to provide much less oil.

1. Exfoliating Brown Sugar + Oatmeal Scrub

“For extremely irritated, tender, scaly scalps, oatmeal-based exfoliants can help with turning over the pores and skin cells whereas providing reparative properties to the tissues of the scalp,” says Hill. This specialised scrub combines brown sugar and oatmeal to softly exfoliate, present moisture, and improve circulation to the hair follicles. These substances exfoliate in a balanced manner with out including extra oil or drying out your scalp.

—2 tablespoons brown sugar
—1 tablespoon finely floor oatmeal
—2 tablespoons hair conditioner

Mix the entire substances in a bowl. Shampoo your hair first to take away any styling merchandise. Then scoop a small quantity of this scrub into the palm of your hand. Work it into your scalp utilizing a round movement. Rinse your hair completely and shampoo, if desired.

Is your scalp dry?

Dryness is attributable to too little moisture within the pores and skin, which then causes your scalp to turn into irritated and the pores and skin to flake off. Whereas there are numerous components at play on the subject of dry scalp, it normally occurs for fairly easy causes. Two of the commonest? Chilly, dry air, and harsh styling merchandise.

Up your hydration, and provides your scalp and strands a little bit break from styling every time you may. And similar to with an oily scalp, it’s vital to not wash your hair too typically, otherwise you danger stripping away its pure oils.

2. Deep Cleaning Salt + Olive Oil Scalp Scrub

Salt and oil mix to stimulate hair progress and take away any flaky stuff with out drying out the scalp. Olive oil makes a wonderful conditioning masks as its fatty acids coat the hair, offering moisture and safety in opposition to injury. Salt exfoliates the scalp, whereas the lemon juice dissolves any product residue.

If you do not have lemon juice available, you may substitute apple cider vinegar, which helps shut the cuticle and retain moisture—due to its acidic nature, notes Hill. Apple cider vinegar can also be glorious for restoring shine, making it an excellent DIY scrub ingredient.

—2 tablespoons sea salt
—1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
—1–2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine salt, lemon juice, and oil collectively. Then moist your hair and therapeutic massage the scrub into your scalp. Let it sit for a number of minutes. Rinse it nicely and observe together with your regular shampoo.

Is your scalp flaky?

After we consider flakes, most frequently we’re imagining that unpleasant dandruff. Not like with a dry scalp, dandruff flakes are attributable to an excessive amount of oil. This extra oil encourages the overgrowth of a pure yeast on the scalp, inflicting pores and skin cells to construct up and your physique to reply with uncomfortable redness and itching [source].

Earlier than turning to a harsh, medicated shampoo, deal with your scalp. Begin by eliminating styling product buildup (which may very well be a reason behind your flakes). Then observe up by getting your scalp’s oil ranges again to regular (in case your scalp is tremendous oily).

3. Clarifying Shampoo + Baking Soda DIY Scalp Scrub

Baking soda-based DIY exfoliators and scrubs are perfect for nonproblematic symptom-free scalps, in keeping with trichologist Bridgette Hill. She additionally recommends baking soda for eradicating product buildup, because it gives antifungal properties. “It is extremely frequent for undetected fungal colonies to type in tightly coiled dense, thick hair that’s braided down or lined,” she says. 

Add baking soda to your shampoo for a simple and cheap clarifying shampoo that lightly absorbs oil and removes product buildup. Use 1–2 instances a month to take care of your scalp’s pure pH degree.

Tea tree important oil is of course antifungal and antibacterial [source], so utilizing it in your hair helps remove the sources of flakes and dandruff, too. To dislodge present flakes, you may add a tablespoon or two of salt to your scrub.

Be aware earlier than utilizing: This scrub is not really useful for color-treated hair because the baking soda can strip out hair shade.

—1 heaping tablespoon baking soda
—Massive squeeze of shampoo (roughly 1 tablespoon)
—A number of drops of tea tree important oil

Mix the entire substances and distribute the combination nicely by your hair, specializing in the scalp and roots. Work the scrub into your hair, and luxuriate in a pleasant scalp therapeutic massage to take away the accrued product and lifeless pores and skin buildup. Rinse completely with heat water and, if wanted, shampoo hair a second time to eliminate any lingering baking soda.

End your scalp remedy with a moisturizing coconut oil, honey, or avocado hair masks or an apple cider vinegar rinse. This will help seal the cuticle, the hair’s outermost layer, leaving it clean and tremendous shiny.

Need to spark new hair progress? Strive a scalp therapeutic massage.

Useful Suggestions

• Use mild, round motions. When massaging the scrub into your scalp, use your fingertips (not your nails) to softly rub in round motions. This improves circulation and ensures an intensive exfoliation with out scratching or damaging your scalp.
• Concentrate on the scalp, not the hair. The aim of the scrub is to exfoliate the scalp, so think about massaging the roots. Don’t rub the scrub into your hair strands, as they don’t want exfoliation.
• Don’t overdo it. Over-exfoliating may cause irritation and strip away pure oils, resulting in dryness. Follow utilizing a scalp scrub as soon as per week or each different week, relying in your scalp’s wants.
• Observe with a shampoo. At all times shampoo after utilizing a scalp scrub to scrub away any leftover scrub and oils. This additionally helps forestall clogged follicles and ensures your scalp is left feeling recent.
• Situation your hair after. Utilizing a scalp scrub can go away your hair feeling a bit dry, so observe up with a conditioner or a scalp remedy to rehydrate and nourish your hair.
• Take a look at for sensitivity. For those who’re utilizing a brand new scrub, check it on a small patch of your scalp first to make sure you don’t have a response, particularly if it accommodates important oils or robust exfoliants.

Scalp Scrub FAQs

This submit was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with in depth expertise in medical, beauty, and surgical dermatology. Be taught extra about Whats up Glow’s medical reviewers right here. As all the time, this isn’t private medical recommendation, and we advocate that you simply discuss together with your physician.

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