Top Scalp Product Picks and Expert Tips for Everyday Care and Relaxation
If you want healthy hair, it’s not just important to focus on your locks, but also your scalp. A healthy scalp will help foster the right environment for your hair growth.
Finding a balance when caring for your scalp
Not only may the state of your scalp affect your hair, but an unhealthy scalp can also lead to flaking, itchiness, and other uncomfortable issues. This can happen with buildup from the wrong products or be a sign of an underlying health issue.
Celebrity colorist Marco Pelusi shares that it’s important to find a balance when caring for your scalp. “You want to bring circulation to the scalp. At the same time, you don’t want to be too vigorous with over-exfoliating or over-cleansing,” says Pelusi.
“Think of your scalp like your facial skin: it needs regular cleansing, weekly exfoliation, and daily nourishment. There's no point in using fancy tools or growth serums if you’re not maintaining a healthy foundation first,” says Shab Caspara, certified trichologist and hair loss expert.
Scalp massage for hair growth
Studies show that scalp massage (which is one way to bring circulation to the scalp) may help promote thicker hair growth.
“When you massage the scalp, you have an opportunity to stimulate the scalp with your own hands,” says Pelusi. He shares that this may be of particular interest to those with thinning hair.
You can give your scalp a massage when you are shampooing your hair or at other times during your day when you have a little spare time. “If you’re sitting around at home late at night when you have nothing to do and you’re watching TV, you can gently massage your head without anything on it,” says Pelusi.
“For an added boost, brushing your scalp in the shower helps exfoliate more thoroughly, enhances product penetration, and stimulates cell turnover. Everyone should be using a scalp brush,” says Caspara.
More scalp care tips
Pelusi also explains that another way to help stimulate the scalp could be with the hair care products you are using. For example, Pelusi’s collection of products includes a shampoo with rosemary in it, an ingredient that may help stimulate circulation.
Pelusi recommends using a clarifying shampoo when you need it. “A non-toxic, gentle, clarifying shampoo is nice for somebody that really has a lot of buildup from product on the scalp,” he says.
“If you do have a bonafide scalp condition, you definitely want to consult your dermatologist for how to treat it, such as a medically prescribed shampoo that specifically targets your issue,” says Pelusi.
Our scalp care picks
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite scalp care products, along with popular picks and the latest scalp care launches to help you find the best scalp products for your needs.
Designed to gently eliminate dead cells and rebalance the scalp, this pre-shampoo exfoliating gel combines chemical and mechanical exfoliation for improved scalp health and hair vitality.
Made with a microbiome-friendly formula, Joico Scalp Vitality Replenishing Essence hydrates, nourishes, and rebalances dry scalp, reducing itchiness while leaving it calm and comfortable. It helps preserve the scalp's microbiome balance, improving barrier integrity. Clinically and dermatologist-tested for optimal care.
Thyme Intensive Shampoo from Taiwanese haircare brand SH-RD is designed to help control dandruff and offer relief from scaly, flaky, and itchy scalp thanks to Zinc Pyrithione (≤1%).
Marco Pelusi’s latest launch is a luxe coconut shampoo with a formula specifically formulated to boost hair body and thickness. Marco recommends giving yourself a good scalp massage when you are shampooing your hair to help foster healthy hair and scalp.
This scalp care duo from K-beauty cult favorite brand British M features unique ingredient combination to foster healthy hair and scalp. Regenall Scrub Shampoo features potent mineral-rich ingredients like Dead Sea salt to gently exfoliate the scalp. Regenall Energy Booster is a refreshing, lightweight serum that helps nourish the scalp with moisture, hydrating without stickiness.
Alterna’s new collection of Renewing Scalp Care products features a range of products to give you a relaxing salon-inspired experience while providing your scalp the TLC it needs. The collection includes Scrub to Foam, a vegan scalp exfoliator and shampoo that gently cleanses and exfoliates the hair and scalp, removing buildup, while leaving the scalp feeling calm, soothed, and hydrated. It also contains two leave-on treatments: Peppermint Leave-On Treatment and Hemp Leave On Treatment. Both treatments are lightweight and fast-absorbing to leave scalp feeling moisturized.
Watch this video for four steps for an invigorating scalp massage with Alterna:
Formulated with clinically proven Zinc Pyrithione and enriching botanicals, this ultra-luxe cleanser removes excess oil and sebum, leaving the scalp refreshed and nourished. Best yet? This award-winning anti-dandruff shampoo smells divine and is proven to reduce breakage without stripping color. Formulated to work alongside the Nourishing Conditioner for 24/7 control.
Shab Caspara shares that this is one ofher all-time favorites. It gently exfoliates with apricot seeds while removing excess oil and product build-up, without stripping or damaging hair.
A scalp massage can help promote hair growth, and Mounia Scalp Massager is a great tool to help you prioritize self-care with a relaxing head massage. It can be used in the shower or when you’re sitting on the couch. Mounia Haircare's Scalp Massager, which is made from 100% medical-grade silicone, eases tension, reduces product build-up, and just feels luxurious.
Tek Large Rectangular Brush with Long Pins ($57)
Handmade in Italy with FSC®-certified wood and patented wooden bristles, TEK brushes deliver a gentle, stimulating scalp massage that promotes growth, reduces breakage, and turns brushing into an actual moment.
UK beauty brand UKLASH is taking absorption to a whole new level with their latest launch - The Advanced Scalp Dermaroller ($27). This dermaroller uses micro-needling technology to pro-actively boost your hair journey. Using 540 0.25mm mini needles, it gently penetrates the scalp to help boost collagen production and stimulate the hair follicles.
This Peppermint Avocado Scalp Scrub is one of our all-time favorite scalp scrubs for relaxing with a luxurious spa/salon-inspired treatment. Avocado, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils create a tingly-cool sensation, invigorating your scalp and senses. This rich crème shampoo sea salt scrub promotes circulation while gently polishing to remove dirt, oil, and buildup to create bouncy, fuller hair.
Better Not Younger New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser ($35)
Use New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser Charcoal Scalp Cleanser once a week to detoxify, restore, and reset the skin on your scalp, paving the way for healthy, radiant hair. New Dawn was conceived for all hair types to restore strand resilience for women 40 and up — stimulating your scalp and unclogging pores for healthy hair. Activated charcoal with nourishing vitamins and Argan oil work together to deep clean your scalp from excess oils, dirt, and debris. A built-in massaging applicator brush helps remove dead skin cells, stimulate blood flow, and massages your scalp.
This gel scrub will help you remove toxins, sebum, sweat, and other pollutants to help support the condition of your scalp. Formulated with more than 95% natural ingredients, this scalp care scrub relies on a revitalizing blend of aloe vera, prickly pear oil, sea salt, and lemon essential oil to moisturize, soothe, and activate blood flow.
R+Co Super Garden CBD + CBG Soothing Scalp + Hair Treatment ($39)
Starting as a rich butter and then melting when applied to the scalp and strands, this luxuriously hydrating salve provides a luxurious sensorial salon/spa-inspired experience. The scalp is left balanced and soothed, while strands are nourished and softened.
This nourishing scalp serum is formulated with hand-picked powerhouse ingredients including apple cider vinegar and apple stem cells to help keep the scalp balanced while creating an optimal environment for shiny, healthy hair growth.
This dandruff relief shampoo features salicylic and lactic acids along with tea tree oil to help eliminate scalp flaking and irritation without stripping hair. It is designed for those experiencing scalp itching, redness, or flaking due to dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. It’s free from harsh sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, DEA, and artificial dyes.
Rejuvenating Scalp Scrub is a gentle scalp exfoliating treatment designed to help promote detoxification while invigorating the scalp. Activated bamboo charcoal helps absorb excess oil and debris from the scalp while rosemary extract helps reduce scalp inflammation and increase circulation.
This dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic shampoo and conditioner duo has been awarded the “Seal of Acceptance” by the National Eczema Association. The Shampoo is infused with hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and aloe vera leaf extract for a deep cleanse. The Conditioner is infused with hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and a clinical-proven, dandruff-diminishing celery seed extract for a deep condition.
Naturelab Tokyo Perfect Clean 2-in-1 Scalp Scrub & Shampoo ($21)
A sugar scrub and shampoo with probiotic-rich sake water, this scalp scrub gently removes product buildup and environmental impurities for a healthy scalp and shiny hair.
Using this product weekly is meant to be like a facial for your hair. Pre-Wash (Scalp Scrub) is a pre-shampoo treatment designed to help remove product buildup with gentle biodegradable microbeads that stimulate blood flow and promote healthy, shiny hair. It also contains chamomile flower extract which acts as an anti-inflammatory to soothe an itchy or irritated scalp.
This gentle exfoliating treatment helps revitalize and restore the scalp by removing buildup and residue. Its soothing formula is designed to help calm an itchy scalp.
WEN Botanical Hair and Scalp Tonic harnesses the power of plants to help improve the condition of your scalp and promote healthy hair growth. Essential oils of lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, and rosemary invigorate the scalp and hair shaft, helping to improve volume, body, shine, and manageability. Key ingredients include eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, and rosemary oil.
COOLA’s organic scalp and hair sunscreen with SPF 30 protects those often-forgotten spots. This water-resistant SPF mist doesn't weigh hair down or leave it looking greasy. Packed with color-protecting ingredients, this ocean-scented sunscreen spray also helps prevent UV-related color fade.
Purifying Scalp Scrub attacks dandruff while deep cleansing your scalp. Jojoba esters and perlite spheres provide a gentle grit to scrub away buildup left from oil, product, and dirt, while salicylic acid helps to fight dandruff and dry skin. The tapered applicator allows you to target problem areas without a mess. This product can be enjoyed by guys with or without hair.
A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16