Scalp ExfoliatorsHelping You Find the Best

10 Best Scalp Exfoliators of 2024 (Dermatologist-Reviewed)

Q: Top 5 Scalp Exfoliators

No. 1: Neutrogena | Neutrogena | Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo with Pink Grapefruit No. 2: SHVYOG | Tea Tree & Mint Scalp Scrub No. 3: John Paul Mitchell Systems | Tea Tree Special Detox Foaming Salt Scrub No. 4: AROMATICA | Rosemary Scalp Scrub 165g No. 5: Pacifica | Rosemary Apple Cider Scalp Detox Tonic >> View Full Ranking

Q: How to Choose the Best Scalp Exfoliator - Buying Guide

・Get the Right Exfoliator for Your Skin and Hair Types ・Decide Between a Separate Treatment or a Shampoo ・Consider Whether to Use a Chemical or Physical Exfoliator >> Click here for details >> View Full Ranking

Have you been struggling with dandruff? Or maybe you just feel like your head needs a little more TLC. Just like with the rest of your skin, your scalp can benefit from a deep, exfoliating treatment. Scalp exfoliators come in all shapes or sizes but are often made from gritty ingredients like salt or with exfoliating acids.

To save you time and trouble, we've done all the research and curated a list of the top 10 best scalp exfoliators this year! Keep on reading to see our favorites and our expert-reviewed buying guide.

Last updated 10/04/2024

Quick List - Top Scalp Exfoliators

Neutrogena

Neutrogena ｜ Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo with Pink Grapefruit

Clarify And Exfoliate Scalp With A Refreshing Burst Of Pink Grapefruit

SHVYOG

Tea Tree & Mint Scalp Scrub

Exfoliate And Soothe Your Scalp With A Tea Tree-Infused Formula

John Paul Mitchell Systems

Tea Tree Special Detox Foaming Salt Scrub

Exfoliate And Refresh Your Scalp With A Detoxifying Blend Of Natural Ingredients

AROMATICA

Rosemary Scalp Scrub 165g

Exfoliate and Nourish Your Scalp With a Gentle, Mineral-Rich Formula

Pacifica

Rosemary Apple Cider Scalp Detox Tonic

Detoxify and Exfoliate Your Scalp With a Clarifying, Plant-Based Formula

Board Certified Dermatologist: Dr. Lauren Levy

Dr. Levy is a board certified dermatologist practicing in NYC and Westport, Connecticut. She has expertise in treating inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. She has an interest in skincare and takes a personalized approach to all of her patients.

Dr. Lauren Levy's Profile

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Table of Contents

Why You Can Trust Us
How to Choose the Best Scalp Exfoliator - Buying Guide
1
Get the Right Exfoliator for Your Skin and Hair Types
2
Decide Between a Separate Treatment or a Shampoo
3
Consider Whether to Use a Chemical or Physical Exfoliator
10 Best Scalp Exfoliators
No. 1
Neutrogena | Neutrogena｜Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo with Pink Grapefruit
No. 2
SHVYOG | Tea Tree & Mint Scalp Scrub
No. 3
John Paul Mitchell Systems | Tea Tree Special Detox Foaming Salt Scrub
No. 4
AROMATICA | Rosemary Scalp Scrub 165g
No. 5
Pacifica | Rosemary Apple Cider Scalp Detox Tonic
5 more products
How to Apply Your Scalp Exfoliator
Check Out These DIY Exfoliator Recipes
Looking to Give Your Hair Some More TLC?

View all

Why You Can Trust Us

Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.

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How to Choose the Best Scalp Exfoliator - Buying Guide

Finding the right scalp exfoliator is largely about figuring out what works best for your wash routine. Do you want to add a separate step? How often do you wash your hair? Is your scalp in desperate need of some serious sloughing?

Get the Right Exfoliator for Your Skin and Hair Types

You probably already know what type of skin and what texture hair you have. Both of these factor into the type of scalp exfoliator that's best for you. Here are some things to consider in terms of skin and hair types when you're looking for a new scalp exfoliator.

Choose High Oil-Content Exfoliators for Dry or Itchy Skin

If your scalp tends to be dry and flakey, or if you notice you've been experiencing itchiness, an exfoliator with lots of natural oils might be best for you. For example, oils like peppermint or tea tree are well known to calm an itchy scalp, while coconut oil is one of the best for hydrating dry skin.

Board Certified Dermatologist

Dr. Lauren Levy

Exfoliators can leave your hair feeling dry, so if you have dry or frizzy hair, choose a product that is deeply nourishing and oil-based. Additionally, limit the frequency of scalp exfoliation for dry hair. Weekly or every other week should be beneficial without drying out the hair.

Rougher Exfoliators Can Help With Oily Scalps

If you've noticed oily hair or skin along your scalp, you might want to look for an exfoliator with coarser ingredients such as sea salt. This will help thoroughly cleanse buildup around your follicles.

Charcoal is also a popular exfoliator ingredient for oily skin due to its deep cleansing properties, while zinc can help prevent excess oil from reoccurring.

Board Certified Dermatologist

Dr. Lauren Levy

For oily hair, exfoliators can be helpful for drying up dirt, grease, and oil. Oilier hair can tolerate a scalp exfoliator a few times a week if desired. Look for a gel-based product as these can help dry up the oil. Products with charcoal are great are removing oil, dirt, and product residue from the scalp and hair roots.

Your Hair Texture Plays a Big Role in Choosing an Exfoliator

The texture of your hair affects the state of your scalp and vice versa. If you have coarse hair or thick curls, a scalp exfoliator that cleanses oily skin but also hydrates your hair and scalp might be a good choice. Due to your hair's thick nature, your scalp might have plenty of oil while your locks themselves remain a bit dry.

On the other hand, if you have fine hair, you'll want to focus on the hair follicles themselves. Fine hair leads to a quicker buildup of detritus on your scalp, so a physical exfoliator or a deeply cleansing chemical exfoliator might be your best choice.

Whether you have coarse or fine hair, you'll want to take special caution if you've treated or dyed your tresses. Exfoliators with a lot of chemical content might not be the best choice, as they can interfere with the other work you've done on your hair. Try aiming for gentler exfoliators with more natural oils, acids, and cleansers.

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Decide Between a Separate Treatment or a Shampoo

There are two types of scalp exfoliators: exfoliating treatments like masks or scrubs and exfoliating shampoos. Treatments are good for those who already like their hair care routine and don’t want to change out any of their current products. If you already have a shampoo that works best for your hair, you might be reluctant to stop using it.

Another benefit of treatments is that you can choose when to use them. Experts recommend scalp exfoliations twice a week at the most. If you shampoo your hair more often than that, a separate treatment might be better suited to your lifestyle.

Exfoliating shampoos perform two jobs at the same time. You can exfoliate your scalp in the shower at the same time you wash your hair. Exfoliating shampoos also tend to be milder, but they should still only be used as a main shampoo by those who wash their hair more infrequently.

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Consider Whether to Use a Chemical or Physical Exfoliator

As with facial exfoliation, scalp exfoliation can be done either with gritty ingredients physically buffing away buildup or with chemicals that dissolve buildup.

Physical Exfoliants Literally Scrub Your Skin

Physical exfoliators contain salt, charcoal, or other hard substances. They physically scrub the dry skin and build-up away. We recommend natural exfoliators like these, but it's good to steer clear of physical exfoliators that contain microbeads. These are often plastic and are bad for your skin as well as the environment.

For those that use a lot of products or struggle with flaky skin and dandruff, a physical exfoliant will likely be your best bet for a quick, visible change. Experts do caution that a physical exfoliator will not completely remove dandruff, but note it helps to manage the condition.

However, depending on the type of exfoliant you use and your skin sensitivity, a physical exfoliator holds the risk of irritating your scalp. If you choose a physical exfoliator, we recommend exfoliating your scalp less often and being careful not to scrub with the formula too energetically.

Board Certified Dermatologist

Dr. Lauren Levy

If you have dry hair, processed hair, or frizzy hair, avoid using physical exfoliators often. They can be harsh or irritating on the scalp.

However, they do leave the scalp and the hair leaving squeaky clean, so if you want to try one, I recommend using it only once a month and following it up with a hydrating shampoo and a leave-in hair mask. Physical exfoliators are more helpful for oil control and dandruff-prone hair.

Chemical Exfoliants Act as a Scalp Peel

If you're looking for a gentler option, chemical exfoliants are the way to go. Chemical exfoliators contain harmless acids that work deep into your skin and dissolve or dislodge buildup between the actual skin cells. This leads to longer-lasting results than the sort physical exfoliators offer.

As there are no rough textures or pieces in chemical exfoliators, they're ideal if you have easily-irritated skin or if you want to exfoliate more frequently. Doctors do recommend against using chemical exfoliators, however, if you have open wounds on your scalp or are currently suffering from ringworm.

Experts recommend looking for chemical exfoliators with the ingredients salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or lactic acid listed on the label. These are safe and effective at working through that pesky scalp buildup. If you're wary of lab-made chemicals, look for products with apple cider vinegar or other natural acids.

Board Certified Dermatologist

Dr. Lauren Levy

Chemical exfoliators can be used more frequently since they are less harsh on the hair than physical exfoliators. The acids help remove scale, dandruff, oil, and dirt from the hair. These may also help if you have folliculitis of the scalp, a condition where you develop pimples frequently on the scalp. Be careful if you color your hair as these may strip color if used frequently.

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