A scalp scrub is the secret to stronger and longer hair, say the pros
If you've yet to add a scalp scrub to your haircare routine, then take note, because glossy and healthy hair begins with scalp care.
Red's beauty desk always had a niggling suspicion that a scalp scrub might have some part to play in hair health, but our attention was mostly devoted to keeping our ends glossy and fresh.
It was only when hair's biggest names – think Aveda, Hello Klean and more – launched lines targeted toward a healthy scalp and nothing else that our our heads were fully turned.
Best scalp scrubs 2024
How we test scalp scrubs
To find the best scalp scrubs, we tested a variety of formulas with different price points from a selection of our go-to beauty brands. While testing, we noted how easy the product was to apply, how thoroughly it washed out, whether any discomfort was experienced, and the overall result.
Not only did the top performers clarify the scalp, but they also left lengths feeling fresh and revitalised – and some even meant that wash day could be delayed by an extra day...
It has never been easier to shop for scalp treatments. There are options for all types and textures, too. You can shop Red's edit of the best scalp scrubs below and keep scrolling for the commonly asked FAQs, answered by haircare experts.
Red's pick of the best scalp scrubs
Living Proof, Scalp Care Exfoliator
Living Proof's Scalp Care Exfoliator truly excels, and it's a breeze to use. The nifty nozzle means you can squeeze the product directly onto the scalp; all that's needed are your fingers or a scalp brush to work the fluid in.
It's powered by a potent blend of AHAs, BHAS and PHAs to exfoliate, while probiotics and humectants keep the scalp nourished and hydrated. We have to mention the impressive clinical claims too, with 100% of participants agreeing that it removes build-up.
Christophe Robin, Cleansing Purifying Scrub
If you use plenty of styling products, have oilier roots or need total scalp rejuvenation, look to Christophe Robin. This scalp scrub is made up of chunkier sea salt crystals suspended in a hydrating formula, to give the scalp an intense clean while minimising abrasion.
The texture is coarse, and you can really feel the salt crystals getting to work on areas of congestion. The result? Hair feels remarkably clean after, and roots somehow stand more upright.
ARKIVE, The Crown Scalp Scrub
ARKIVE was founded by stylist Adam Reed who coined the term 'headcare', believing that we should look after our scalp just as much as our faces. The range features everything from shampoos to oils, but something has to be said for this delicate scrub.
Getting the balance just right, the creamy formula offers mild exfoliation that doesn't feel too gritty on your delicate scalp. Alongside the physical scrub, it uses oils and caffeine to sweep away dirt, boost shine and bring movement back into limp locks.
The Inkey List, Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub
Glycolic acid for scalp care? You read that right. Just like the serums you apply to your face, the chemical exfoliant works to remove dead skin and build-up while a gentle physical scrub comes from tiny castor beads. There's no oily residue either.
The treatment will also work for you in the long-run. It contains a microalgae-based complex that helps to regulate sebum production, meaning you shouldn't have to wash your lengths as regularly. Before you shampoo, squeeze a few drops directly onto your scalp and massage with your fingertips or, if you want to get professional, a scalp brush.
Hello Klean, Clarifying Scalp Soak
Hello Klean's soak works more like a clarifying tonic in that it uses cider vinegar and phytic acid to exfoliate as opposed to physical beads. So, if you prefer a non-gritty texture, this one's for you.
Designed to combat the dry and irritating effects of hard water, the soak will remove damaging minerals that can wreak havoc on your strands, while fermented rice water promotes growth and shine. It gently lathers too so you can tell once you've rinsed out all the product.
Fekkai, Apple Cider Triple Cleanse Scalp Scrub
Apple cider vinegar has long been loved as an ingredient to clarify clogged and overloaded follicles, which is why Fekkai's scrub makes our shortlist.
Combing apple cider vinegar with rice powder, it's a gentler scrub than most. But despite its creamy and whipped texture, it still works hard to exfoliate, calm inflammation and rid the scalp of shampoo or product residue. If you're into sweet aromas, you'll also love the fruity green apple scent.
Ouai, Scalp and Body Scrub
Chic and multi-functional? It can only be Ouai. Because this scrub can be used top to toe, the exfoliation is a tad more gentle. Nonetheless, hair definitely feels swishier and fresher, and it somehow manages to budge residual styling product with ease. The floral scent will have you hooked, too.
Fable & Mane, Wild Ginger Purifying Scalp Scrub
Scalp exfoliation doesn't always have to feel harsh and abrasive. Case in point? Fable & Mane's offering manages to rid dry, flaky build-up without sensitising the delicate area. It lathers more than the other scrubs in this edit which makes the product easy to manoeuvre around the hair (crucial, if you're using styling product all over), and the ginger element keeps hair feeling fresh.
Aveda, Scalp Solutions Treatment
If your scalp is prone to oiliness, look to Aveda. This exfoliates with a plant-derived salicylic acid that helps shed flakiness and minimise oil production, for roots that feel lighter and fresher. It's a gel formula that has a real cooling sensation when applied on the scalp, and, conveniently, can be used on wet or dry hair before shampooing. This is a gentle – but surprisingly effective – solution.
Bumble & Bumble, Seaweed Whipped Scalp Scrub
The texture of this scalp scrub is one that's seriously pleasing: a whipped, airy cream that is so easy to move around the hair. When met with water, this emulsifies into a soft lather, which somehow prevents the exfoliating dead sea salt from being too abrasive yet makes hair feel so much cleaner.
Act + Acre, Cold Processed Scalp Detox
Not a scrub, per se, but this exfoliates just as well. It uses botanical oils to nibble away at build-up of product, sweat and dirt, while anti-fungal and microbial ingredients help to balance the scalp biome. In short? A balanced scalp biome means less irritation, dandruff and itchiness. Use it as a pre-cleanse before shampooing once a week for a gentle way to cleanse a little deeper.
Do you need a scalp scrub?
According to trichologist Eva Proudman, the answer is a resounding yes. "Exfoliation helps to remove the build-up of dead skin cells and excess oils to keep it balanced and encourage healthy growth," she says.
Michael Lendon, senior creative director at Aveda, agrees. "Skin suppleness and hydration depletes as we get older, and it’s no different for the scalp, which – when it’s tight and dry – can’t do its best work in terms of hair growth."
Aveda works with the Centre for Skin Sciences at the University of Bradford, which in 2020 proposed via the medical journal Experimental Dermatology that hair growth is directly affected by the scalp.
"Healthy hair follicles sit deep in the fatty layer of the scalp, surrounded by blood vessels, lymphatics and sebaceous glands," says centre director Professor Julie Thornton, explaining that, as cell turnover slows and the scalp loses its ability to hold water and keep collagen fibres intact, the fatty layer there gets thinner and less elastic. Follicles are pushed into the dermis above, where the hairs they produce become finer and weaker.
And there's more. If excessive amounts of oil collect on the scalp, a reaction with airborne pollution particles leads to inflammation and damage. Tissues stiffen, some follicles disappear or sit empty, and growth rate falters. A scalp scrub, then, may well be something to consider.
How should you use a scalp scrub?
Helen Reavey, founder of scalp-first haircare brand Act + Acre, points out that a solid scalp care routine helps to maintain shine, and prevents ends from becoming brittle. She recommends the easy approach of giving your scalp some TLC whenever you do something extra for your skin. "I'll think, OK – I'm looking a little dull here and could do with some exfoliation – I’m going to assume my scalp is the same."
You Might Also Like
