The best scalp scrubs help deep-clean your scalp by removing dead skin cells, excess oil, and product buildup. Essentially, they exfoliate and create a cleaner environment for healthy hair, which can improve scalp circulation, and overall hair growth, says Jeffrey Rapaport, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New Jersey, noting they’re particularly helpful for people experiencing dandruff, itchiness, or an oily scalp.
Experts recommend looking for ingredients that are gentle yet effective—and avoiding harsh chemicals (like sulfates and parabens), heavy fragrances (like synthetic fragrances), or overly abrasive particles, since these things can all be irritating to the scalp. Some key ingredients to consider include Himalayan pink salt or sugar for physical exfoliation; tea tree oil, peppermint oil, or salicylic acid to help cleanse and purify the scalp; rosehip oil or other soothing natural oils to provide hydration and nourishment; and rosemary oil and orange-peel oil for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, says Dr. Rapaport.
To help you find the hair products that actually work to soothe a dry, itchy scalp, we asked dermatologists for their recommendations, then tapped our editorial team—myself included—to give them a whirl. During evaluations, each tester reviewed ingredient lists and took notes on ease of use, scent, and overall efficacy.
Our top pick is Briogeo, a clarifying shampoo and scalp-scrub combo treatment that our testers said banished itchy symptoms and flakes for days on end. But there were plenty of other great options—including budget-friendly salt and sugar scrubs—that yielded surprisingly great results too.
The best scalp scrubs, at a glance
- Best Overall: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo, $40
- Best Value: Head & Shoulders Supreme Exfoliating Scalp Scrub, $10
- Best for Scalp and Body: Ouai Cleansing Scalp and Body Scrub, $40
- Best Intensive Exfoliator: Living Proof Scalp Care Exfoliator, $38
- Best Salt Scrub: Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub With Sea Salt, $20
- Best Sugar Scrub: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Pre-Shampoo Clarifying Sugar Hair Scalp Scrub, $10
Your scalp scrub questions, answered
Do dermatologists recommend scalp scrubs?
“Dermatologists may recommend scalp scrubs, but with some caution,” says Dr. Rapaport. “They can be helpful for individuals dealing with buildup, an oily scalp, or mild dandruff. However, they should not be overused, as excessive scrubbing or harsh formulations can cause irritation, especially in those with sensitive skin or conditions like psoriasis or eczema.”
How often should you use a scalp scrub?
In general, dermatologists say it’s safe to use a scalp scrub once per week, but that even more sparing use—e.g., once every two weeks—might be more appropriate for those with sensitive skin or an excessively dry scalp.
What’s the difference between a salt scrub, a sugar scrub, and a chemical exfoliant?
Not all scalp scrubs have the same exfoliating ingredient. Sugar and salt are examples of physical exfoliators, which manually slough off dead skin cells and product buildup via gentle abrasion. Chemical exfoliants harness the powers of acids, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). Both can get the job done, but chemical exfoliants may be too irritating for those with sensitive skin or excessively dry scalps.
Best Overall: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo
- Why we love it: Small exfoliating particles that are easy to work into hair; great scent; cooling and soothing effect; doubles as a shampoo
- What could improve: Doesn’t lather as well as some others we tried
- Key ingredients: Charcoal, coconut oil, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, tea tree oil
Open this scalp scrub, and you’ll immediately notice something different: It’s dark gray, like a mud mask. That’s thanks to the charcoal in the formula, which is touted as a detoxifying ingredient that helps draw out any impurities clogging the hair follicle and causing buildup on the scalp. The scrub also contains coconut oil to moisturize the scalp and prevent dryness and flakes, as well as a peppermint, spearmint, and tea tree oil complex that lends a cooling effect that’s great for soothing itchiness and irritation. Our tester says you’ll smell the latter ingredient right away and that it’s “heavenly.”
We love that this particular scalp scrub doubles as a shampoo, so it’s not an extra step in your routine. Simply apply it to wet hair, massage it into the scalp, and rinse away. It’s suitable for all hair types. Our tester has long, wavy hair and has always struggled with a “distractingly itchy scalp prone to white flakes from giving into the urge to scratch,” and said she couldn’t believe how well it worked. “I think I went two to three whole days before I started itching—I usually can’t go more than a few hours!” She also liked how small the exfoliating particles are. “Other products I tried had big pieces of salt or sugar that were harder to fully work into my scalp,” she said. On the downside, the sulfate-free formula doesn’t lather quite as well as some others.
Best Value: Head & Shoulders Supreme Exfoliating Scalp Scrub
- Why we love it: Small exfoliating particles that are easy to work into hair; lathers well; clean scent
- What could improve: Formula is a bit runny
- Key ingredients: Vitamin E, argan oil
Head & Shoulders shampoo is often billed as one of the best drugstore options to treat a dry, itchy scalp, but the brand’s exfoliating scrub is just as worthy of a look—especially for the budget-conscious. Like our top overall pick, this scrub has small exfoliating particles that are easy to work into the scalp. Our tester also praised its “clean” scent, noting that it smells like a classic bar of soap.
You’re supposed to massage it into your scalp prior to shampooing and conditioning, so it is an extra step in your hair routine. On the upside, it’s a leave-in treatment, so you don’t have to rinse it. Those with a dry scalp or strands will appreciate that the formula has moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E and argan oil. “Even though the formula is a bit runnier than other scalp scrubs I tried, I was impressed by how little product I had to use to get a good lather,” our tester said. “It did a great job of removing product buildup from my three-day hair.”
Best for Scalp and Body: Ouai Cleansing Scalp and Body Scrub
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- Why we love it: Lathers well; great scent; can be used from head to toe
- What could improve: Larger crystals can be hard to evenly work into hair
- Key ingredients: Sugar crystals, panthenol, glycerin, coconut oil
You’ve got to love a product as versatile as Ouai’s Cleansing Scalp and Body Scrub. Our tester used it—quite literally—from head to toe, and said it worked just as well on her scalp as it did on the rest of her skin. “My itchy scalp drives me crazy day to day, and I couldn’t believe what a difference it made,” she said. “I didn’t itch my scalp for at least two days, which is basically unheard of for me. It also left my arms, legs, and the rest of my body perfectly prepped for a spray tan.”
The sugar crystals—the main exfoliant in the formula—are on the larger side, but they dissolve well. “I was thoroughly impressed with the lather on this product, too,” said our tester. It doubles as a shampoo, so you don’t have to add another step into your beauty routine. The panthenol, glycerin, and coconut oil all help to nourish and moisturize the scalp without any greasiness. You can’t beat the smell, either—it’s heavy on the rose with hints of bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, and white musk.
Best Intensive Exfoliator: Living Proof Scalp Care Exfoliator
- Why we love it: Targeted nozzle for easy application; contains a combination of powerful chemical exfoliants
- What could improve: Requires five minutes to sit
- Key ingredients: Gly-acid blend, botanical extracts and humectants, Pentavitin Smart Moisturizing Technology
One of the best things about this scalp scrub is the precision tip, since you can direct the exfoliator right onto your scalp. And the targeted treatment really gets the job done, thanks to a powerful blend of glycolic acid, BHAs, and PHAs that works to exfoliate and cleanse. It’s not as harsh or drying as it sounds, though. The product also contains ingredients like a special prebiotic that’s been clinically shown to boost hydration and reduce sebum, as well as botanical extracts and humectants to soothe and rehydrate.
It is a pre-shampoo treatment that requires a five-minute wait time before rinsing, but users say it has a slightly tingly sensation—you can really feel it working its magic. “I found the clear gel-like scrub to be gentle yet highly effective,” says one user. “Instead of rough and flaky, my scalp feels soft and hydrated—even after a single use.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Sachajuan Scalp Scrub
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- Why we love it: Densely packed sugar particles provide a great scrub; contains plenty of hydrating ingredients; suitable for sensitive skin
- What could improve: Some users don’t like the smell (or lack of)
- Key ingredients: Sucrose, climbazole, shea butter, soybean oils
This scrub is densely packed with sugar, so you can work tons of exfoliants onto your scalp without much effort. While you rub, the natural sucrose helps slough off dead skin cells and product buildup from the surface of the scalp. Simultaneously, climbazole balances oiliness and sensitivity and stops itchiness, while shea butter and soybean oils moisturize.
“I was impressed by how soft this scrub left my scalp after just one use, but the smell leaves something to be desired,” said our tester. “It doesn’t smell much like anything, which is good in the sense that the fragrance-free formula is suitable for sensitive skin, but I thought it smelled almost like rubber or something.”
Best Salt Scrub: Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub With Sea Salt
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- Why we love it: Very rich and creamy formula; lathers well
- What could improve: Scent is almost nonexistent
- Key ingredients: Sea salt crystals, natural carbohydrate complex, bisabolol
We liked this scalp scrub so much that it was a contender for the top spot overall. It’s different from other salt scrubs, because it feels ultrahydrating the second you touch it. It’s more creamlike than most, and it lathers exceptionally well, which makes it easier to treat your full head without using too much product. You don’t need to follow it up with shampoo, either—this product serves as a replacement for your shampoo when you need to exfoliate your scalp.
The salt-based scrub is ideal for those who don’t want to use a chemical exfoliant like Living Proof’s ultrapowerful product. It works well to clear out the buildup and dead skin cells that can cause inflammation, says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Experts say it’s also a good option for soothing and cleansing the scalp after using a chemical colorant.
Best Sugar Scrub: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Pre-Shampoo Clarifying Sugar Hair Scalp Scrub
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- Why we love it: Targeted nozzle for easy application; instantly soothing; lathers well
- What could improve: Hard to squeeze out
- Key ingredients: Soybean oil, rosemary leaf oil, peppermint oil, shea butter, glycerin
Mielle makes a budget-friendly scalp scrub that rivals its much more expensive competitors. For starters, we love that it has the same targeted application tip as Living Proof’s scalp exfoliator. The tip makes it exceptionally easy for direct application, increasing the efficacy of your treatment. It also has that tingly, soothing sensation that makes the scalp feel instantly less irritated.
The sugar particles are nice and fine for a more gentle exfoliation, and they’re suspended in a clear, gel-like formula that lathers well, making it easier to massage into the scalp. It’s a pre-shampoo treatment, which means it adds another step to your routine, but there’s no wait time. Just massage it in to your liking, then rinse it out. Our tester said the results rivaled those she’s seen with much more expensive products, but did note the formula can be hard to squeeze out of the tube because of how tiny the tip is.
Best Purifying: Fable & Mane SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scalp Scrub
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- Why we love it: Lathers well; doubles as a great cleanser; whipped texture is easy to work with
- What could improve: Scent is polarizing
- Key ingredients: Himalayan pink salt, ginger, neem leaf, amla
Fable & Mane’s scalp scrub is unique, because the pink Himalayan salt is suspended in a whipped formula that’s exceptionally workable. It’s easy to apply and lathers much like a high-quality shampoo. Our tester liked that the salt particles were on the finer side, too, noting that it offered a gentler but still effective exfoliation. It also contains purifying ingredients that help cleanse the scalp even further: ginger to target flakiness; neem Leaf, an antifungal to support scalp health; and amla, a potent ayurvedic fruit rich in vitamin C to quell itchiness.
“I found this once-per-week treatment easy to use and effective at keeping my scalp cleaner, especially since I stretch the days between washes,” says our tester. “I didn’t love the scent, though—some say it’s heavy on the patchouli or sandalwood, but I just thought it was kind of muddy.”
Best Vegan: R+Co Crystal Halo Balancing Scalp Scrub and Shampoo
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- Why we love it: Cleaner ingredient list; lathers exceptionally well; small sugar particles are gentle yet effective
- What could improve: Hard to squeeze out
- Key ingredients: Raw sugar cane, blueberry extract, coconut extract, white mulberry bark, citrus extract chelating agent
This R+Co scrub is vegan, cruelty- and gluten-free, and formulated without harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and petrolatum. Our testers say it worked just as well as other more conventional hair care products. The raw sugar particles—the key exfoliator in this formula—are fine and gentle on the scalp, so they slough away the bad stuff (flakes and buildup) without irritating or stripping. It also contains blueberry extract, white mulberry bark, and coconut extract to nourish, cleanse, and reinvigorate the scalp, plus a citrus extract chelating agent, a light astringent with antioxidant benefits.
“It’s hard to squeeze out of the tube and you definitely want wet hands for this one (the formula is super thick and gummy), but once you get it working, the lather is unlike any of the other products I tried,” said our tester.
Best Lather: Crown Affair The Cleansing Scalp Scrub
- Why we love it: Lathers well; doubles as a shampoo; whipped texture is lightweight and easy to work with
- What could improve: Scent is polarizing
- Key ingredients: Bolivian pink salt, coconut surfactant, tsubaki seed oil
Crown Affair makes another whipped scalp scrub that goes on smoothly to deliver a gentle yet highly effective exfoliation. It’s studded with pink salt particles that gently remove buildup, skin cells, and impurities. In tests it lathered as well as the brand claims, thanks to its weightless texture and a coconut-based cleansing agent. The formula also contains tsubaki seed oil to infuse the scalp and hair with enough hydration to reduce itchiness without making hair feel greasy or heavy.
Users say it’s a great weekly treatment for anyone who struggles with an itchy, flaky scalp. “My scalp was much less irritated after the first time I used this, and I appreciated that it worked like a shampoo, addressing my scalp concerns and cleaning my hair all at the same time,” said our tester. Users were, however, polarized on the Italian bergamot, yuzu, and lemongrass scent—some loved it; some hated it.
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Exfoliating Scalp Care + Detox Scrub
- Why we love it: Promotes healthy scalp and leaves hair soft; smells great; color-safe
- What could improve: Runnier than other scalp exfoliating scrubs
- Key ingredients: Apricot seed, menthol
Remove product buildup and give your hair some TLC at the same time with this great drugstore option by L’Oréal. Instead of sugar or salt, this scalp scrub counts on apricot seed to exfoliate and menthol to purify. It’s a sulfate-free treatment (great for curly girls and color-treated hair) that users say you can feel working immediately upon contact with your skin.
It is a pre-shampoo treatment, which adds an extra step, but we like that the brand makes a companion shampoo and conditioner they say adds to efficacy if used in tandem. “I added this scalp scrub to my hair care routine to remove product buildup, and was very happy with how well it worked,” says our tester. “It’s gentle but invigorating and smells great. I also like that it’s a color-safe scalp treatment.”
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