Are you that person who goes to extreme lengths to keep your hair healthy, clean and well groomed? Having a whole ritual consisting of shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, serum, and so much more to attain that straight out of the salon look? Well, unfortunately, that is not enough. Your hair still needs one more vital care that is mostly overlooked.
Scalp Exfoliation. Sounds familiar? Yes, your scalp needs exfoliation just as much as your body does, especially during the summer time when your hair gets extra greasy. This is due to the overproduction of sebum, a natural oil that is produced by your sebaceous glands. When this sebum gets mixed with sweat and dirt, it makes your hair greasy (I know, gross, right). Various factors are responsible for the sebaceous gland producing more or less sebum - hormonal imbalance, puberty, pregnancy, stress etc.
While sebum protects your scalp by creating a protective layer and moisturising it naturally, it also causes buildup. The products we use on our hair, the dirt accumulating on our scalp and flaky dandruff also contribute to scalp buildup. All being said, what is the solution? Clarifying shampoos deeply cleanses your hair but not your scalp. This is where scalp exfoliation comes in.
What Is Scalp Exfoliation
Just like every other part of your body, your scalp’s skin sheds dead cells throughout the day. But sometimes, this natural process doesn’t occur, and the dead cells build up, forming layers. Scalp exfoliation helps remove dead cells renewing your skin’s condition. Chemicals, tools, and granular substances usually help fight this.
There are various scalp scrub benefits that make your hair grow healthier, longer and thicker. For starters, it gives you relief from an itchy scalp and reduces the oil residue so your hair doesn't look greasy right before a special occasion.
How To Exfoliate Your Scalp At Home
If chemical exfoliators are not your thing, we have the perfect at-home scalp exfoliation remedy with ingredients you can find lying around in your kitchen. Keep reading to learn how to exfoliate your scalp naturally.
Homemade Scalp Scrub
Here’s a quick and easy homemade scalp scrub that you can put together in less than 10 mins that would remove dead cells and itchiness on your scalp
Ingredients
- Lemon juice
- Coconut oil or Almond oil
- Salt
Now let’s do some scrubbing!
Step 1 - Take 3/4 cup of salt (if you have a sensitive scalp, you can opt for sugar)
Step 2 - Add almond or coconut oil until it forms a paste-like consistency
Step 3 - To this paste, add 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice
(Pro tip your scalp and hair must be clean when the scrub is applied, so using the scrub right after shampooing would work best.)
Step 4 - Take your DIY scalp scrub and apply it directly on your scalp
Step 5 - Massage gently in circular motions focusing more on the scalp and roots
Step 6 - Let it sit for 10 mins and then rinse thoroughly with warm water
Take your time while doing scalp exfoliation, or get a helper and enjoy a head massage!
This is one of the best ways to deeply cleanse your scalp at home. It removes the buildup on your scalp and works its way into preventing the clogging of hair follicles. Lemon juice is the star of the show; it clears up dead cells, reduces the oil, deals with dandruff AND promotes hair growth. Both coconut and almond oils have properties that moisturize dry scalp and soften your hair at the roots. At the same time, salt removes all the dirt and grime, stimulating blood circulation. Overall, this homemade scalp scrub for dandruff and dry skin works exceptionally on both oily and dry scalps.
P.S. If you are lazy like me, I’ll let you in on one of my go-to scalp exfoliating scrubs that also works like a charm and can be made in less than 60 seconds. (trust me on this)
Lazy scalp scrub for dandruff - Grab some coffee grounds and add them to your favourite shampoo, and voila! You have it — your very own customized coffee scalp scrub.
What Causes Scalp Buildup, Dryness And Itchiness?
Natural Buildup
Our skin secretes wastes in the form of oil and sweat to prevent it from drying. This also serves as a protective layer against infection. Unfortunately, this oil residue builds up over time, making your hair look cakey and greasy.
Chemical Products
The shampoo we use to clean our hair also causes buildup. This is because if not washed properly, the chemicals in our shampoo and conditioner accumulate over time on the scalp leading to dandruff. This often happens when products are not water-soluble and are more difficult to wash off.
Poor Diet
I hate to be the one to break it to you, but yes, your diet is also responsible for your scalp health. Problems like dandruff are not just due to dry scalp but also because of having a high amount of processed food and food high in sugar and fat.
Hygiene
While lousy hygiene isn't the cause of dandruff, it could worsen your scalp health. For example, not washing your hair for more than a week can cause the dirt and oil to worsen your dandruff, making it more itchy and dry.
Other Alternative Ways To Clean The Scalp
If DIY scalp scrubs are not your thing, it's alright. We have other alternatives for scalp exfoliation.
Chemical Exfoliators
If you hate rummaging through your pantry for raw honey and pink salt, we get you; chemical exfoliants can be a great way to help remove all that grime and buildup in your head. The glycolic and salicylic acids in these chemical exfoliants dissolve the buildup between your skin cells and simultaneously peel off thousands of dead cells. This is an excellent alternative for those with a sensitive scalp!
Scalp Exfoliating Tools
Other than chemical and physical scalp exfoliating methods, we have one more — scalp exfoliating tools. Brushes with dense bristles work like a charm in manually removing the dead cells from your scalp.
Ultimately, scalp exfoliation should be a vital part of your hair care ritual. Be it homemade scalp scrub, chemical exfoliators, or a silicon hair scrubber, make it a point to keep that scalp clean and get that dream hair.
But before you jump into this hair care journey, ensure you don't exfoliate daily. Too much of anything is good for nothing. Exfoliating once a week would do your hair good. A clean scalp makes the perfect environment for your hair to grow in, ensuring better hair growth.
So, what are you waiting for? Exfoliate your way to a healthier scalp and more beautiful hair.