Shop the best scalp scrubs plus discover the benefits of a scalp exfoliator and how often to use one
If you haven’t introduced a scalp scrub for your hair into your weekly beauty routine, where have you been? Scalp scrubs are now a beauty mainstay, and just as you’d slough off the dead skin on your arms, legs, face, and the rest of your bod, your scalp needs a decent (but not too deep) exfoliate too.
What is a scalp scrub?
Designed to buff away product build-up (ahem, dry shampoo), dislodge excess sweat and sebum, and clear out those hair follicles. Experts have found that a healthy scalp is key to brilliant, bouncy hair and can cure a list of hair ills from thinning hair and dandruff to promoting hair growth and turning dry, damaged strands into the silkiest you’ve laid eyes on.
"It is important to understand that, like the skin on your face, your scalp benefits from gentle weekly exfoliation," says Philip Kingsley Brand President and Consultant Trichologist, Anabel Kingsley. "An exfoliating mask helps to remove dead skin cells and flakes and can improve the overall health of your scalp", she adds.
When to use a scalp scrub
Hair experts recommend using a scalp scrub once a week to reach the areas shampoo can’t, and to give the scalp a deep cleanse. Use pre-shampoo on wet or damp hair, and post-exfoliation, shampoo and condition as normal.
There are so many scalp scrubs on the market that we’ve narrowed it down to the best, from Ouai’s A-List favourite formula to Hairburst’s five-star wonder and more.
Best scalp scrubs for hair growth
Monpure Stimulating Scalp Mask
Monpure’s scalp scrub includes a line-up of happy hair favourite vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants, clinically proven to repair fragile hair strands and give the scalp a healthy boost.
Best review: "Hair soft, shiny, and growing fast. A must-have."
£53 at Cult Beauty
£53 at Sephora
Philip Kingsley Density Scalp Mask
Philip Kingsley are hair and scalp experts, and the brand's haircare is formulated by leading trichologists to help with hair concerns, including thinning hair and lack of hair growth.
This stimulating scalp mask helps to nourish, soothe and condition the scalp.
What the fans say: "This was great for improving hair look and accelerating hair growth."
£20.40 at John Lewis
£24 at Boots
Hairburst Scalp Scrub
Earning an impressive five stars in the reviews, fans are fond of Hairburst’s tingly scalp scrub for stimulating hair growth. Use once or twice a week on damp hair, leave on for 2 minutes before rinsing.
Best review: "This exfoliating scalp scrub is so nice to use, it makes your hair look a lot healthier, softer, and helps to grow it."
£27.50 at Hairburst
£20.63 at LOOKFANTASTIC
Best scalp scrubs for thinning hair
Grow Gorgeous Scalp Scrub
Give your hair follicle’s a thickening boost with Grow Gorgeous’ intense scrub, enriched with ingredients like biotin, caffeine, keratin, and niamincide known to improve hair’s strength from root to tip.
Best review: "I would recommend this product, as it gives my flat and fine hair instant body, shine, and more volume."
£25 at Grow Gorgeous
£18.75 at LOOKFANTASTIC
Kérastase Fusio Energising Scalp Scrub
The name of the game for this energising scrub from Kerastase is purifying. With Vitamin B6 and Salicylic Acid, it promises 72% more volume after application – with those stats, it’s worth a shot.
Best review: "This is a hair and scalp saviour – best they’ve looked and felt in ages."
£49 at Kerastase
£43.25 at Sephora
Best scalp scrubs for dandruff
AMELIORATE Scalp Scrub
Itchy scalp? This scrub was made for you! Promising to alleviate dry, itchy, flaky scalps, Lactic Acid removes the dead skin cells while conditioning the scalp, leaving it perfectly balanced.
Best review: "So far, I have been impressed. I had a dry and itchy scalp with excess hair fall and poor hair growth. My scalp feels more comfortable and the itching has reduced tremendously."
£16 at Sephora
£8 at AMELIORATE
Umberto Giannini Scalp Scrub
Show your scalp some love with this specially formulated scrub, created to soothe and sort sluggish dry, flaky scalps. Infused with Pineapple Enzymes, it leaves hair smelling tropical too.
Best review "This has saved my scalp! I couldn’t recommend it enough. I had been suffering from a horrendous itchy scalp and dandruff for months and I’d tried everything under the sun. It worked from the first use, I’m amazed!"
£9.95 at Boots
£7.46 at LOOKFANTASTIC
Best scalp scrubs for all hair types
Ouai Scalp Scrub
Created by celeb hairstylist Jen Atkin, the Ouai sugar scalp scrub is a great all-rounder, designed to exfoliate product build-up from the scalp and nourish the skin.
Best review: "This stuff is GOLD! I use it as a hair scrub and as a body scrub, the smell is simply divine and it's moisturising without being at all oily. LOVE THIS!"
£36 at ASOS
£36 at Space NK
The Body Shop Scalp Scrub
For a zingy, refreshing scrub, try this from The Body Shop. Use once a week for a deep clean.
Best review: “It tingles! Has a great lather and really works for me."
£16 at The Body Shop
Davines Scalp Scrub
This scrub doubles up as a shampoo for a new way to cleanse your hair. Apply to damp hair and massage into a lather like regular shampoo.
Best review: "Great scrub, deeply cleanses the scalp with no irritation!"
£25 at Sephora
£28.50 at Cult Beauty
How I chose the best scalp scrubs
- Personal opinion: I have tried a lot of hair products, scalp scrubs included, having worked in the beauty industry for years. In this edit, you'll find scalp scrubs I've either tried or from brands I swear by.
- Trusted reviews: Not all of the products included have been personally tested, and I've meticulously combed through the reviews to include those that are praised the most.
- Price: I've been mindful to include products to suit all budgets, from small to large.
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