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 unhealthy 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 is not going to solely depart your hair refreshed, however it would additionally really feel wonderful. Listed below are three recipes to strive.

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 individuals 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 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 perfect for individuals 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 preserve the hair follicles clear.”

Who wants a scalp scrub?

The common use of conditioners, gels, and hair spray may also 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 appears limp and lifeless, and possibly you are noticing a bit of extra grease than ordinary, 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 sorts—they usually’re particularly useful 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 sorts might want to give their hair a further 5 minutes of rinsing time to make sure all scrub parts are washed away. “Failure to totally 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 problem to profit each your scalp and your hair. Listed below are three of the most typical scalp-related points, what they’re telling you, and how one can repair ’em.

Is your scalp oily?

When you have an oily scalp, you know the way irritating it may be in 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 stability of your scalp’s wholesome oil manufacturing.

A number of elements can ship these follicles into overdrive, however the very first thing to strive is straightforward: shampoo much less usually.

It could sound counter-intuitive, however cleaning really strips your hair of oil, inflicting your scalp to reply by producing extra! So by shampooing much less, you possibly can 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 improve circulation to the hair follicles. These substances exfoliate in a balanced approach 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 totally 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 develop into irritated and the pores and skin to flake off. Whereas there are various elements at play with regards to dry scalp, it often occurs for fairly easy causes. Two of the most typical? Chilly, dry air, and harsh styling merchandise.

Up your hydration, and provides your scalp and strands a bit of break from styling at any time when you possibly can. And similar to with an oily scalp, it’s vital to not wash your hair too usually, 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 wonderful conditioning mask as its fatty acids coat the hair, offering moisture and safety towards injury. Salt exfoliates the scalp, whereas the lemon juice dissolves any product residue.

If you do not have lemon juice readily available, you possibly can substitute apple cider vinegar, which helps shut the cuticle and retain moisture—because of its acidic nature, notes Hill. Apple cider vinegar can 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 properly and comply with together with your ordinary shampoo.

Is your scalp flaky?

Once we consider flakes, most frequently we’re imagining that ugly dandruff. In contrast to 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 could possibly be a reason for your flakes). Then comply with 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 keeping with trichologist Bridgette Hill. She additionally recommends baking soda for eradicating product buildup, because it offers antifungal properties. “It is extremely frequent for undetected fungal colonies to kind 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 stage.

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

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

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

Mix all the substances and distribute the combination properly 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 collected product and lifeless pores and skin buildup. Rinse totally 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 mask or an apple cider vinegar rinse. This may help seal the cuticle, the hair’s outermost layer, leaving it easy and tremendous shiny.

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

Useful Suggestions

• Use light, 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 a radical exfoliation with out scratching or damaging your scalp.
• Deal with 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. Follow utilizing a scalp scrub as soon as every week or each different week, relying in your scalp’s wants.
• Comply with with a shampoo. All the time 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 recent.
• Situation your hair after. Utilizing a scalp scrub can depart your hair feeling a bit dry, so comply with up with a conditioner or a scalp remedy to rehydrate and nourish your hair.
• Check for sensitivity. For those who’re utilizing a brand new scrub, take a look at 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 sturdy exfoliants.

Scalp Scrub FAQs

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

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