3 Deep Cleansing 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? In case you’re additionally not prepared for “no poo,” as some name it, there’s excellent news: a deep-cleansing DIY scalp scrub won’t solely depart your hair refreshed, however it’s going to additionally really feel wonderful. Listed here are three recipes to attempt.

Meet the Specialists

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

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

Bridgette Hill, licensed trichologist

What’s a scalp scrub?

For many who do not know, a scalp scrub is considerably like a body scrub. It is stuffed with exfoliating substances and is meant to cleanse the scalp by eradicating useless 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’s going to look fuller too,” she says. “It’s particularly splendid for many who use numerous dry shampoo, as a scalp scrub is one of the best ways to take away the beauty buildup on the dermis and hold the hair follicles clear.”

Who wants a scalp scrub?

The common use of conditioners, gels, and hair spray also can make hair boring and flat. So it’s critical 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 possibly you are noticing a bit of extra grease than regular, it is time to give your scalp some TLC with a deep cleaning scrub.

Probably the greatest 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 Colour Collective. Nevertheless, 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 healthy scalp additionally means wholesome hair in the long term—so it’s value tackling the difficulty to learn 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?

When you’ve got an oily scalp, you understand how irritating it may be to 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 filth and weighs hair down, making it look soiled all too quickly.

Shampooing an excessive amount of or too little can throw off the stability 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 easy: shampoo much less typically.

It could 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 train your hair over time and train these little factories to supply 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 enhance circulation to the hair follicles. These substances exfoliate in a balanced method with out including extra oil or drying out your scalp.

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

Mix all the 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 brought on by 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 bit of break from styling every time you may. And similar to with an oily scalp, it’s essential 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 growth and take away any flaky stuff with out drying out the scalp. Olive oil makes a superb conditioning mask as its fatty acids coat the hair, offering moisture and safety towards harm. 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 brought on by 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 explanation for 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 Scalp Scrub

Baking soda-based DIY exfoliators and scrubs are perfect for nonproblematic symptom-free scalps, in accordance 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 occasions a month to keep up your scalp’s pure pH stage.

Tea tree important oil is of course antifungal and antibacterial [source], so utilizing it on your hair helps eradicate 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 beneficial for color-treated hair because the baking soda can strip out hair colour.

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

Mix all the substances and distribute the combination nicely by way of 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 gathered product and useless 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 therapy with a moisturizing coconut oil, honey, or avocado hair mask or an apple cider vinegar rinse. This may also help seal the cuticle, the hair’s outermost layer, leaving it easy and tremendous shiny.

Wish to spark new hair progress? Strive a scalp 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.
• Give attention to 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 could cause irritation and strip away pure oils, resulting in dryness. Stick with utilizing a scalp scrub as soon as per week or each different week, relying in your scalp’s wants.
• Comply with with a shampoo. At all times shampoo after utilizing a scalp scrub to scrub away any leftover scrub and oils. This additionally helps stop clogged follicles and ensures your scalp is left feeling contemporary.
• Situation your hair after. Utilizing a scalp scrub can depart your hair feeling a bit dry, so observe up with a conditioner or a scalp therapy to rehydrate and nourish your hair.
• Take a look at for sensitivity. In case you’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 incorporates important oils or sturdy exfoliants.

Scalp Scrub FAQs

This put up 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 Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As at all times, this isn’t private medical recommendation, and we advocate that you simply speak together with your physician.

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