Your Guide to Scalp Exfoliation - Why, When & How

A dry, itchy scalp is a difficult source of discomfort for many, leaving them wondering how best to alleviate the symptoms. It’s first important to understand what’s causing dryness and flakiness in your scalp. The hair care products you use can dry out your scalp, especially if they contain harsh chemicals, so it’s essential to always check the ingredient list. Cooler temperatures and other weather changes can also lend themselves to a dryness in the scalp. And any slight irritation can be exacerbated by stress, so it’s best to be proactive about managing any minute symptoms while you can.

To help you understand the scalp exfoliation process, here is your guide.

Why Exfoliate?

Scalp exfoliation is one of the best ways to combat a dry, flakey, itchy scalp. The proper gentle formula will glide over the skin of the scalp to wash away dead skin cells and reveal a smooth surface that’s ready for healthy growth and nourishing product absorption.

By removing the dead, dry skin cells, you’re removing the barrier between your scalp and the cleansing or hydrating products you’re trying to apply. You’ll also notice that it takes away any itch and irritation. It also helps get rid of excess oil and product build up that can lend themselves to a greasy appearance. So it’s a necessary step for your health as well as your overall comfort.

When Should You Exfoliate?

It’s possible to exfoliate the scalp daily, but it’s best to avoid this so that you don’t eliminate one source of irritation only to cause another. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid over-exfoliating so you don’t inflame the skin or send signals to skin cells that they need to produce more, creating more skin that will need to be scrubbed away.

Instead, stick to exfoliating about once a week. If necessary, you may do so twice a week to get rid of excess skin cells and product build up, especially if you’re just getting started with scalp exfoliation.

How Should the Exfoliation Process Go?

Scalp exfoliation yields the best results on wet hair. While it can be done on dry hair, it’s advised to first wet the hair and complete the shampooing process before moving onto exfoliating. The wetness will provide a barrier that makes the scrubbing process gentler.

To exfoliate, gently massage the scrub or other exfoliation product into the scalp for 1 to 2 minutes to get as much dirt, oil, product buildup, and dead skin cells out as possible. Then, rinse it all out thoroughly before following with a reparative conditioner and nourishing mask for optimal moisture absorption and soothing results.

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of the importance of scalp exfoliation and how best to do it, you can proceed forward in your hair care routine with confidence knowing that you’ve got it under control. This key step in optimizing scalp and hair health is vital and ultimately helps the hair properly absorb the best products for it. To shop for the rest of your healthy hair routine, check out our Nourish line for thick hair and Nourish-Light for finer hair types.