If your scalp is frequently dry and itchy, you might wonder if a scalp detox might help. Scalp detoxing treatments come in different forms, but most aim to nourish your scalp and remove buildup, including from hair care products, debris, and dead skin cells.
A scalp detox is not a medical treatment, and there is limited research on its benefits. Even so, it is possible to safely do one at home or in a salon.
This article covers the reasons you might consider a scalp detox, the types of available products, safety for an at-home detox, and more.
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Why You May Want to Detox Your Scalp
People who experience an oily,dry, or itchy scalp, flakes ordandruff, or scalp odor may benefit from a scalp detox. You may also benefit from a scalp detox if you use hair products or wash your hair infrequently. It is recommended that you wash your hair three or more times a week. If you wash less frequently, it may not be enough.
Oily Scalp
Sebum buildup can lead to dandruff and the swelling of hair follicles. It might also promote bacteria growth andinfection.
How Sebum on the Scalp Can Benefit or Damage Hair
Itchy Scalp
An itchy scalp can be uncomfortable, but it is rarely a cause for concern. You might experience an itchy scalp because of an allergic reaction to a hair product or because the scalp is oily or dry.
Other causes of an itchy scalp, likescalp psoriasis(an autoimmune skin condition), are less common.
Dandruff
Dandruff is a common problem in which the skin on the scalp starts to flake. While it is not a serious problem, it can be challenging to treat.
It is considered a mild form ofseborrheic dermatitis.Seborrheic dermatitis causes the scalp and other skin areas to be dry, red, itchy, and flaky.
Scalp Odor
A healthy scalp typically has no odor.Scalp odorcan be the result of anunderlying medical condition, a fungal infection, poor hygiene, or hair product buildup.
Hair Product Buildup
Shampoos, conditions, hair sprays, treatment masks, and other hair products can accumulate in the scalp and hair follicles. These products can create excess residue that sticks around if the hair is not washed regularly.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
An oily or itchy scalp, dandruff, or scalp odor may require medical intervention. If you are experiencing scalp pain, burning, or sensitivity, schedule an appointment with adermatologist—a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the skin, nails, and hair.
You should also seek medical care for unusual hair loss, sores, or a skin rash on the scalp.These might be signs of conditions that require treatment, like scalp psoriasis,eczema, or seborrheic dermatitis.
A Word From VerywellIt is best to see a healthcare provider if you are experiencing a dry, oily, itchy, flaky, or red scalp that is not responding to at-home treatments, is worsening, or is impacting your overall quality of life.—MARISA GARSHICK, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
It is best to see a healthcare provider if you are experiencing a dry, oily, itchy, flaky, or red scalp that is not responding to at-home treatments, is worsening, or is impacting your overall quality of life.—MARISA GARSHICK, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
It is best to see a healthcare provider if you are experiencing a dry, oily, itchy, flaky, or red scalp that is not responding to at-home treatments, is worsening, or is impacting your overall quality of life.
—MARISA GARSHICK, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Types of Scalp Detox Products
A scalp detox might be helpful for maintaining a healthy scalp. However, it is a good idea to do this infrequently to avoid scalp irritation.
Various product types are available based on skin and hair types. If you have sensitive skin, consider using a mild product with natural ingredients or one designed for sensitive skin.
Pre-Shampoo Cleanser
Pre-shampoo cleansers are applied to the hair and scalp before shampooing. These products are believed to hydrate and nourish hair, repairhair shafts, and promote scalp health.
Scalp Scrub
A scalp scrub can help remove excess oils, dead skin cells, and product buildup that pulls up on the scalp and the hair roots. Products are designed forspecific hair types, including dry, oily, sensitive, and color-treated.
Scalp Serum Rinse
Scalp serum rinses containhyaluronic acid, which has calming, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory properties.Hyaluronic acid also has antifungal properties that treat fungi in the scalp.
Scalp Mask
Scalp masksare designed to be used before shampooing. They can help remove excess oils and product buildup and reduce dandruff. Masks are available to treat all hair types and scalp conditions, including dandruff or an oily scalp.
Exfoliation Products
Exfoliating products, which remove dead skin cells from the top layer of skin, can help keep the scalp healthy and clean. These products might also prevent hair follicles from clogging and remove hair products, oil, debris, and dead skin buildup.
Some types of dandruff shampoo may help reduce flaking through exfoliation. For example, ingredients like salicylic acid help remove dead skin cells, whilecoal tarand selenium sulfide can also help reduce flakes andinflammation.
Clarifying shampoos are deep-cleaning shampoos advertised to remove hair product buildup, dead skin flakes, and excess oil. They should not be used daily and are not a replacement for regular shampoo.
Exfoliating scalp scrubs are another option for ridding your hair of debris and excess oils. They can be massaged into the scalp once a week or every other week.
Chemical exfoliants incorporate ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids, including glycolic or salicylic acids. Physical scrubs or mechanical exfoliators may include ingredients like oatmeal, charcoal, and sugar or tools like brushes, massagers, or gloves that can be rubbed over the scalp.
How to Exfoliate Your Scalp
Salon Care
Salicylic acid is an ingredient in many scalp care products, including dandruff shampoos. It can remove dead skin cells and reduce dryness while increasing moisture.It is sometimes used with other ingredients like coal tar and zinc pyrithione to soften dry, scaly skin.
Bentonite clay is loaded with purifying materials, and it has been found to be helpful for clarifying the scalp.It is believed to bind to sebum and buildup in a way that allows for easy rinsing.
How to Detox Your Scalp Safely at Home
When looking for an appropriate scalp detox product, you will want to choose products containing ingredients that assist in reducing inflammation, promote healthy cell turnover, and have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.This includes products that contain mainly natural ingredients likealoe vera,tea tree oil,rosemary oil, and bentonite clay.
You might also consider using a physical exfoliant to clear away scalp buildup. Another option is to create a do-it-yourself scalp scrub at home using natural ingredients likeapple cider vinegar, sugar, and lemon mixed with water.
If using essential oils like rosemary or tea tree oil, add only a few drops, and dilute the oils with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil.
After applying the product, you can use a scalp brush. For straight hair, use the brush in circular motions, and for wavy or curly hair, use half-moon strokes.For the best results, do the treatment for at least five minutes.
Once you are finished with the scrub, rinse your hair and go about your regular hair routine.
Precautions for Scalp Detox
You should avoid a scalp detox if you have sensitive skin or an inflamed scalp. Chemical products can burn the scalp when misapplied or overapplied, especially for people with sensitive skin. If done too aggressively, physical exfoliation can harm hair follicles and cause skin damage.
If you have an open wound, sore, or rash on the scalp, you should avoid the chemical ingredients used in a scalp detox. Some natural ingredients, like apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, can also irritate wounds and sores.
If you have itching, burning, a rash, sores, or hair loss, these may be signs of a serious medical condition.You should avoid scalp detox products until you see a dermatologist who can examine the scalp and provide treatment.
Preventing Scalp Buildup
The best way to prevent scalp buildup is to stop it before it even starts. This is especially important if you are more prone to buildup.
Summary
A scalp detox is a process of deep cleaning the scalp to remove product buildup, dead skin cells, oil, and dirt. These factors can lead to an itchy or dry scalp, dandruff, or scalp odor. A scalp detox can be achieved using pre-shampoo cleansers, scalp scrubs, serums, masks, and chemical and physical exfoliants.
If you have sores or rashes on the scalp or sensitive skin, you may want to avoid scalp detoxing. Make an appointment with a dermatologist for scalp pain, burning, sores, rashes, or sensitivity.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Skin and hair.DermNet.Sebum.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief.BordaLJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2):10.13188/2373-1044.1000019. doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786Roseborough IE, McMichael AJ.Hair care practices in African-American patients.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009;28(2):103-108. doi:10.1016/j.sder.2009.04.007Robinson DM, Vega J, Palm MD, Bell M, Widgerow AD, Giannini A.Multicenter evaluation of a topical hyaluronic acid serum.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(9):3848-3858. doi:10.1111/jocd.15241Kumari KMU, Yadav NP, Luqman S.Promising essential oils/plant extracts in the prevention and treatment of dandruff pathogenesis.Curr Top Med Chem. 2022;22(13):1104-1133. doi:10.2174/1568026622666220531120226Dias MF, Pirmez R, Dutra H.How to select a good shampoo and conditioner.Hair and Scalp Treatments. 2019:253-264. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21555-2_17Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates.Your guide to proper scalp exfoliation.PiracciniBM, Brandi N, Alessandrini A, Bruni F, Starace M.Efficacious and safe management of thick scales, redness and flaky scalp condition using a specific shampoo containing urea, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, icthyol pale and laureth 9.Cogent Med. 2018;5(1):1475095. doi:10.1080/2331205x.2018.1475095Moosavi M.Bentonite clay as a natural remedy: a brief review.Iran J Public Health. 2017;46(9):1176-1183.American Academy of Dermatology.How to safely exfoliate at home.Krause T, Rust RC.Hair styling: technology and formulations.Cosmet Dermatol. 2015:270-279. doi:10.1002/9781118655566.ch31
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Skin and hair.DermNet.Sebum.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief.BordaLJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2):10.13188/2373-1044.1000019. doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786Roseborough IE, McMichael AJ.Hair care practices in African-American patients.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009;28(2):103-108. doi:10.1016/j.sder.2009.04.007Robinson DM, Vega J, Palm MD, Bell M, Widgerow AD, Giannini A.Multicenter evaluation of a topical hyaluronic acid serum.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(9):3848-3858. doi:10.1111/jocd.15241Kumari KMU, Yadav NP, Luqman S.Promising essential oils/plant extracts in the prevention and treatment of dandruff pathogenesis.Curr Top Med Chem. 2022;22(13):1104-1133. doi:10.2174/1568026622666220531120226Dias MF, Pirmez R, Dutra H.How to select a good shampoo and conditioner.Hair and Scalp Treatments. 2019:253-264. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21555-2_17Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates.Your guide to proper scalp exfoliation.PiracciniBM, Brandi N, Alessandrini A, Bruni F, Starace M.Efficacious and safe management of thick scales, redness and flaky scalp condition using a specific shampoo containing urea, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, icthyol pale and laureth 9.Cogent Med. 2018;5(1):1475095. doi:10.1080/2331205x.2018.1475095Moosavi M.Bentonite clay as a natural remedy: a brief review.Iran J Public Health. 2017;46(9):1176-1183.American Academy of Dermatology.How to safely exfoliate at home.Krause T, Rust RC.Hair styling: technology and formulations.Cosmet Dermatol. 2015:270-279. doi:10.1002/9781118655566.ch31
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Health Publishing.Skin and hair.DermNet.Sebum.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief.BordaLJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2):10.13188/2373-1044.1000019. doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786Roseborough IE, McMichael AJ.Hair care practices in African-American patients.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009;28(2):103-108. doi:10.1016/j.sder.2009.04.007Robinson DM, Vega J, Palm MD, Bell M, Widgerow AD, Giannini A.Multicenter evaluation of a topical hyaluronic acid serum.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(9):3848-3858. doi:10.1111/jocd.15241Kumari KMU, Yadav NP, Luqman S.Promising essential oils/plant extracts in the prevention and treatment of dandruff pathogenesis.Curr Top Med Chem. 2022;22(13):1104-1133. doi:10.2174/1568026622666220531120226Dias MF, Pirmez R, Dutra H.How to select a good shampoo and conditioner.Hair and Scalp Treatments. 2019:253-264. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21555-2_17Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates.Your guide to proper scalp exfoliation.PiracciniBM, Brandi N, Alessandrini A, Bruni F, Starace M.Efficacious and safe management of thick scales, redness and flaky scalp condition using a specific shampoo containing urea, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, icthyol pale and laureth 9.Cogent Med. 2018;5(1):1475095. doi:10.1080/2331205x.2018.1475095Moosavi M.Bentonite clay as a natural remedy: a brief review.Iran J Public Health. 2017;46(9):1176-1183.American Academy of Dermatology.How to safely exfoliate at home.Krause T, Rust RC.Hair styling: technology and formulations.Cosmet Dermatol. 2015:270-279. doi:10.1002/9781118655566.ch31
Harvard Health Publishing.Skin and hair.
DermNet.Sebum.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief.
BordaLJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2):10.13188/2373-1044.1000019. doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019
Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786
Roseborough IE, McMichael AJ.Hair care practices in African-American patients.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009;28(2):103-108. doi:10.1016/j.sder.2009.04.007
Robinson DM, Vega J, Palm MD, Bell M, Widgerow AD, Giannini A.Multicenter evaluation of a topical hyaluronic acid serum.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(9):3848-3858. doi:10.1111/jocd.15241
Kumari KMU, Yadav NP, Luqman S.Promising essential oils/plant extracts in the prevention and treatment of dandruff pathogenesis.Curr Top Med Chem. 2022;22(13):1104-1133. doi:10.2174/1568026622666220531120226
Dias MF, Pirmez R, Dutra H.How to select a good shampoo and conditioner.Hair and Scalp Treatments. 2019:253-264. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21555-2_17
Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates.Your guide to proper scalp exfoliation.
PiracciniBM, Brandi N, Alessandrini A, Bruni F, Starace M.Efficacious and safe management of thick scales, redness and flaky scalp condition using a specific shampoo containing urea, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, icthyol pale and laureth 9.Cogent Med. 2018;5(1):1475095. doi:10.1080/2331205x.2018.1475095
Moosavi M.Bentonite clay as a natural remedy: a brief review.Iran J Public Health. 2017;46(9):1176-1183.
American Academy of Dermatology.How to safely exfoliate at home.
Krause T, Rust RC.Hair styling: technology and formulations.Cosmet Dermatol. 2015:270-279. doi:10.1002/9781118655566.ch31
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