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Benefits of Scalp Scrubs

“But my regular shampoo cleans my scalp, right?” Yes, but a scalp scrub takes cleansing to the next level. A scrub gives your head a deeper clean by lifting away all those scalp gunk culprits that shampoo alone can miss.

Here’s the tea – your scalp deals with a lot on the daily. Sweat, excess oil, product build-up, and dry flakes all accumulate up there. It’s important to really get in and lift that stuff away so it doesn’t block follicles and hinder healthy hair growth. This is where an exfoliating scrub comes in.

The scrubbing action helps dislodge dead skin cells, deep cleans oily build-up that shampoo doesn’t get, and frees clogged follicles so your strands can thrive. Pretty much a deep detox for your scalp. Here are some signs it’s time to treat your scalp to a scrub sesh:

Flaky or itchy scalp
Lots of product build-up
Excess oil production
Lackluster hair growth

So show your scalp some TLC and reap the rewards with our homemade hair scalp scrubs. Those pores will be cleared, flakes gone, and hair will finally be able to breathe. Ahhhh.

Homemade Hair Scalp Scrub

Ready to revive your scalp and hair with a spa-like treatment right at home? Homemade hair scalp scrubs are a easy, affordable way to nourish your scalp and locks using ingredients from your kitchen. Whip up a custom scrub to address your specific hair needs!

How Do I Exfoliate My Scalp?

Before we get into the recipes, let’s cover proper technique for exfoliating your scalp. Gently massaging a scrub into the scalp helps remove dead skin cells, clear blocked pores, boost circulation, and stimulate the hair follicles.

To exfoliate, first dampen your hair slightly and section it out to easily access your scalp. Scoop some scrub into your fingertips and rub it in a circular motion onto your scalp for 2-5 minutes, avoiding harsh scrubbing. The grains in the scrub provide gentle friction to lift dirt and flakes without irritation. Focus on stimulating circulation to nourish hair follicles. Rinse out thoroughly after scrubbing.

Aim to exfoliate 1-2 times per week for the benefits without overdoing it. Now let’s get into some easy homemade recipes to try!

How to Make Homemade Hair Scalp Scrubs

Making an effective but gentle DIY scalp scrub is simple. Just mix together an exfoliant and a nourishing oil as the base. Popular exfoliant options are sea salt, brown sugar, coffee grounds, or oats. For oils, try coconut, olive, almond or castor oil. Then you can add other enhancing ingredients to customize the scrub to your hair needs.

Homemade Scalp Scrub for Dandruff

5 Effective Homemade Hair Scalp Scrubs - For Healthy Hair

Banish flaky, irritated dandruff with this anti-dandruff scalp scrub:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
5 drops tea tree essential oil

How it helps: Baking soda deeply cleanses and exfoliates the scalp. Apple cider vinegar balances pH levels and prevents fungi overgrowth. Tea tree oil soothes itchiness and irritation.

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix together the baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil until a paste forms.
Apply the anti-dandruff scalp scrub to damp hair, focusing on flaky areas.
Gently massage in circles for 2-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Shampoo as usual to eliminate residue.
Use 1-2 times per week to clear dandruff.

Scalp Scrub for Oily Scalp

Regulate excess sebum production with this balancing blend:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oats
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 drops tea tree essential oil

How it helps: Finely ground oats absorb excess oil on the scalp. Lemon juice removes oil and residue without stripping. Olive oil then conditions the scalp. Tea tree oil reduces bacteria.

Instructions:

In a small bowl, combine the oats, lemon juice, olive oil, and tea tree oil.
Gently massage the scalp scrub for oily scalp into oily areas using small circles.
Take care not to over-scrub. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo well to remove oils.
Use 1-2 times per week to control oil production.

Soothing Scalp Scrub for Dry Scalp

Nourish and hydrate a parched, flaky scalp with this moisturizing blend:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

How it helps: Honey attracts moisture to the scalp. Coconut oil provides deep conditioning. Lavender oil calms irritation and dryness.

Instructions:

Mix together the honey, coconut oil, and lavender oil in a bowl until combined.
Apply the scalp scrub for dry scalp onto clean, damp hair. Massage in using small circles for 2-4 minutes.
Focus on very dry areas. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo as usual.
Use 1-2 times weekly to hydrate scalp.

Hydrating Scalp Scrub for Curly Hair

Give thirsty curls a nourishing cleanse with this scrub:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon avocado oil

How it helps: Brown sugar gently exfoliates without irritation. Olive oil boosts shine with antioxidants. Avocado oil provides deep conditioning.

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, olive oil, and avocado oil. Mix until a grainy paste forms.
Apply the scalp scrub for curly hair onto damp curls, focusing on the scalp. Gently massage in small circles for 2-4 minutes.
Rinse hair thoroughly before shampooing as normal.
Use 1-2 times per week for hydrated, defined curls.

Stimulating Scalp Scrub for Hair Loss

Increase circulation to prevent thinning hair with this blend:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
1 tablespoon jojoba oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil

How it helps: Cinnamon boosts blood flow and removes dead skin cells. Jojoba oil nourishes without clogging follicles. Rosemary improves circulation around follicles.

Instructions:

Combine the cinnamon, jojoba oil, and rosemary oil in a small bowl. Mix into a grainy paste.
Massage the scalp scrub for hair loss into the scalp using small circles for 2-4 minutes before shampooing.
Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Use 1-2 times per week to stimulate blood flow to follicles.

Bottom Line

Homemade hair scalp scrubs are easy DIY solutions for improving scalp health and hair growth. Making your own scrubs allows you to use natural ingredients that exfoliate, nourish, and stimulate your scalp.

The key benefits of homemade hair scalp scrubs include: removing product buildup and dead skin cells, improving circulation, moisturizing dry scalp, and unclogging hair follicles to reduce breakage.

Highly effective ingredients to use are sea salt, coconut oil, honey, and essential oils like tea tree and peppermint. Just mix together and massage the scrub into your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing. Use homemade hair scalp scrubs 1-2 times per week for the best results – healthier, stronger hair

FAQ’s

What does scrub do for hair?

A scrub exfoliates the scalp, removing dead skin cells and product buildup. It improves circulation to stimulate hair follicles. A scrub moisturizes, nourishes, and unclogs follicles to reduce breakage. Using a scrub 1-2 times per week promotes healthier, stronger hair growth.

Which hair scrub is best?

The best hair scrub contains natural ingredients that nourish while exfoliating. Look for scrubs with sea salt or sugar to gently scrub scalp and follicles. Coconut oil, honey, and essential oils like tea tree replenish moisture and soothe scalp. Coffee grounds stimulate circulation to boost hair growth. Choose a recipe with these effective ingredients for the best homemade hair scrub.

What are the cons of scalp scrubs?

Using scalp scrubs too harshly or frequently can cause irritation and dryness. Scrubs with coarse ingredients like salt or sugar can be abrasive on sensitive skin. Over-scrubbing can strip beneficial oils from hair and scalp. It’s best to limit scrubs to 1-2 times per week and rinse thoroughly after using to avoid residue buildup.

Is scalp scrub better than shampoo?

A scalp scrub complements shampoo but cannot replace it. Shampoo cleanses hair and scalp of dirt, oil, and product buildup. A scrub exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, unclog follicles, and stimulate circulation. While shampoo washes away surface impurities, a scrub deeply cleanses follicles and preps scalp for growth. For best results, use both shampoo and targeted scrub treatments.

Should I use scalp scrub on wet or dry hair?

For best results, apply scalp scrub to wet hair in the shower or bath. Water allows the scrub to spread easily and penetrate follicles. Wet hair is less prone to breakage from scrubbing than dry hair. Work the scrub in gently using circular motions on wet scalp for 1-2 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. The key is not to scrub too harshly on delicate wet hair.

Author

Kami Rey

Kami Rey knows that when it comes to food, you can have your cake and eat it too. For over a decade, she’s been showing readers how to transform traditionally “naughty” foods into more nutritious options, without sacrificing flavor. When she’s not experimenting in the kitchen, you’ll find this busy mom hitting the pavement, logging miles on her daily runs.

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