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After days of layering dry shampoo and using heat protectant, it’s time to give your scalp a good reset. The best scalp scrubs gently remove product buildup from your roots to leave your hair feeling oh so clean. Some formulas can even help treat itchiness, oil buildup, or dry flakes at the source.
To find the scrubs that are really worth your time (and money), we collected plenty of recs from dermatologists and SELF editors. Dive into their favorites below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo, $42
- Best for Itchy Scalps: Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, $54
- Best for Oily Scalps: Fekkai Apple Cider Detox Scrub, $38
- Best for Flaky Scalps: Oribe Serene Scalp Exfoliating Scrub, $52
- Best for Dry Scalps: Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub, $40
- Best for Shine: Bumble and Bumble Bb. Seaweed Whipped Scalp Scrub, $22
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Shop the best scalp scrubs
These take that freshly-washed-hair feeling to the next level.
Best Overall: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
Briogeo
Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
A true multitasker, this shampoo-and-scrub combo uses microcrystalline cellulose—an exfoliant that comes from plants—to gently remove dead skin cells and product buildup that might be causing flaky or greasy roots. But it’s not too harsh on skin, thanks to soothing botanicals, Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City, tells SELF.
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After one wash with this, you’ll notice a major difference, according to SELF’s senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin. “This leaves my hair feeling squeaky clean,” she says. “My roots tend to get oily pretty quickly in the summer, and I often struggle with clogged pores on my scalp. When I use this, I notice that my hair stays cleaner longer—I can go another day without washing it—and my scalp gets less irritated. It also smells heavenly—fresh and minty.”
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Best for Itchy Scalps: Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
Christophe Robin
Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
Dr. Camp calls out this scrub’s ability to “detoxify and relieve itchiness post-product buildup.” Sea salt crystals physically exfoliate dirt and grime away, while bisabolol (an oil derived from a Brazilian candeia tree) calms inflammation that might be causing you to scratch.
To combat a dehydrated scalp—which can also lead to itchiness—the scrub contains moisturizing ingredients like butylene glycol (a humectant that draws water into the skin) and saccharide isomerate (a plant-based moisturizer that locks hydration in).
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Best for Oily Scalps: Fekkai Apple Cider Detox Scrub
Fekkai
Apple Cider Detox Scrub
Greasy roots have finally met their match. Fekkai’s treatment contains antibacterial and antifungal apple cider vinegar, an astringent that removes oil to prevent scalp acne and flakes between washes. Meanwhile, salicylic acid (a chemical exfoliant) goes deep, regulating oil production and stopping clogged pores before they can form.