If you notice flakes in your hair or it's simply looking drab [1], chances are there's something making its home on your head [2] that you definitely don't want there. Depending on your own pH levels, it could be the oil from clogged follicles creating dandruff, but even if you consider your scalp on the normal-to-dry side, product buildup [3] can still linger on the scalp long after you've showered with shampoo and conditioner.
If you'd like to say a final farewell to product buildup, dead skin cells, and excess sebum, using a purifying scalp scrub once a week [4] can exfoliate away dirt and flakes and leave your hair feeling cleaner [5] than you've ever imagined. Beyond scrubs, other treatments like serums and oils can also help fortify follicles so hair grows back in healthier [6] and stronger, plus treat the protective cuticle layer that locks in moisture and keeps hair looking shiny, too.
Check out the best hair-care products at Sephora [7] that tackle everything from itchiness to dullness ahead, and give your scalp the special treat it's not-so-secretly seeking.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub
Use the same AHAs and BHAs that tackle dead skin cells on your face and put them to work on your head with this Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub [8] ($36), which leaves your scalp super clean [9].
Mizani Scalp Care Calming Dry Scalp Lotion
If your head feels itchy or scalp irritated, the lightweight Mizani Scalp Care Calming Dry Scalp Lotion [10] ($20) soothes those issues with moisturising aloe vera, avocado oil, and eucalyptus.
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Scalp Detox
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Scalp Detox [11] ($34) is a fizzy foam that removes product buildup (with micellar water) and dead skin cells (with salicylic acid) while also adding cooly refreshing bubbles.
Better Not Younger New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser
This top-rated Better Not Younger New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser [12] ($34) has its own massageing applicator tip inside so nutrients like lactic acid and menthol can stimulate blocked pores and soothe the scalp while activated charcoal deeply cleanses and removes excess oils.
dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub and Hair Rinse Duo
Give your scalp a facial with this dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub and Hair Rinse Duo [13] ($50) — it's got a salt scrub to exfoliate out the bad while aloe vera leaves your head feeling good and then the follow-up, protein-packed rinse leaves hair stronger than when you started. Of course, both products include apple cider vinegar to rebalance your scalp and seal its cuticles, and they're sold separately — dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub [14] ($38) and dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse [15] ($15-$57) — as well.
Living Proof Restore Dry Scalp Treatment
This Living Proof Restore Dry Scalp Treatment [16] ($32) is actually a leave-in treatment that still soothes long after you rub it in. There's hyaluronic acid and a vitamin-B3-based complex to rebalance your scalp and offer lasting hydration and relief from flaking or itchiness.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density [17] ($18) improves scalp health and reduces dandruff thanks to a highly concentrated peptide formula that also helps with shedding, thinning, and other breakage.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment
The antiseptic tea tree oil in this Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment [18] ($32) works to reduce scalp inflammation, but it's the charcoal that draws out the impurities and mint oils that reduce itchiness. Your scalp is left better balanced, and there's also biotin to better support hair growth in the future.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager
This Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager [19] ($16) can be used with the scalp treatment of your choice as the rubber tips work to distribute any product while also offering a nice self-massage on your scalp.
Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Ageing Clinical Densifying Leave-In Root Treatment
Fine, fragile hair can be rescued by this vitamin- and nutrient-packed Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Ageing Clinical Densifying Leave-In Root Treatment [20] ($38). It takes on anything that could be clogging your follicles — thus causing excess hair loss — and adds a special red clover complex that improves blood circulation and encourages thicker, stronger hair to grow back in.
IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub
This salt-free IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub [21] ($36) uses sugar and walnut shell powder to exfoliate the scalp and strengthen follicles in the process. Product buildup and dirt are removed, and hair is left soothed and shiny thanks to apple cider vinegar and walnut oil.
Better Not Younger Superpower Fortifying Hair & Scalp Serum
The leave-in Better Not Younger Superpower Fortifying Hair and Scalp Serum [22] ($47) uses nourishing ingredients you'll likely recognise from skin-care routines – like centella asiatica, niacinamide, and caffeine — but here they support healthy follicle function and hair growth instead.
Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil
This Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil [23] ($25) is a preshampoo treatment that absorbs built-up toxins with French pink clay and charcoal and oil-soluble dirt with sunflower oil. The pointy tip lets the light foam easily get where it needs to and leaves an invigourating tingle thanks to the menthol inside.
Kérastase Relaxing Scrub: Soothing Scrub For Dry Scalp
Even if your hair is not overly dry, the top-rated Kérastase Relaxing Scrub: Soothing Scrub For Dry Scalp [24] ($50) can nourish and cleanse your scalp with hydrating jojoba and sweet orange peel. It also adds in madecassoside (from centella asiatica) and nurturing vitamin B5 to reduce flakiness, itchiness, or other irritation.
Kérastase Energizing Scrub: Purifying Scrub For Oily Scalp
If your scalp's on the oilier side, the Kérastase Energizing Scrub: Purifying Scrub For Oily Scalp [25] ($50) eliminates dead skin cells, excess oil, and other impurities with vitamin B6 and sea salt, while salicylic acid helps deeply cleanse your whole head. (It also has a 4.9-star rating from other shoppers, and 100 percent would recommend it to others.)
Reverie Cake Restorative Scalp Tonic
Not only does the essential-oil-packed Reverie Cake Restorative Scalp Tonic [26] ($72) protect the scalp from environmental stressors and rebalance its pH when left in, but it also uses Swiss apple stem cells to delay follicle ageing (and thus also support hair growth).
Drybar On the Rocks Charcoal Scalp Scrub
The active ingredients in this Drybar On the Rocks Charcoal Scalp Scrub [27] ($32) include activated charcoal to purify and deep clean your scalp plus sugar to gently exfoliate without damageing your hair cuticles in the process.
Playa California Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo
Meant to be rotated in weekly, the Playa California Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo [28] ($38) uses sea salt and tea tree oil to balance your scalp's natural oils plus work out dead skin cells and product buildup so your hair ends up cleaner when you're done.
Earth's Nectar Scalp Oils
Choose the Earth's Nectar Green Olive and Lavender Scalp Oil [29] ($19) if you want the antioxidant-rich olive seed oil to fortify and soothing lavender to condition hair and calm itchiness. Or there's the Earth's Nectar Mint Leaves Scalp Oil [30] ($19) with cooling peppermint (to improve circulation), hair-strengthening rosemary, and moisturising almond and jojoba oils.
Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub
This foaming Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub [31] ($38) removes dead skin cells from your scalp, unclogs follicles, and tackles product buildup when used as a hair prewash . . . but you can also use it all over your body.
Good Dye Young Pre-Wash Weekly Detox and Scalp Treatment
The top-rated Good Dye Young Pre-Wash Weekly Detox and Scalp Treatment [32] ($30) is a preshampoo gel with natural plant extracts like thyme (to facilitate nutrients getting to your scalp) and rosemary (to increase circulation to help hair grow). There's also conditioning chamomile and grapefruit, which remove product residue throughout your hair and leave it both cleaner and softer.
Christophe Robin Purifying Scalp Scrub With Sea Salt
This Christophe Robin Purifying Scalp Scrub With Sea Salt [33] ($19-$53) uses purifying sea salt to remove lingering products or residue from colour processes, while its sweet almond oil leaves you with a healthier-feeling and -looking scalp moving forward.
Moroccanoil Scalp Treatments
The Moroccanoil Oily Scalp Treatment [34] ($38) and Moroccanoil Dry Scalp Treatment [35] ($38) both tackle scalp issues, but the version for oily scalps uses ginger root to control excess sebum (and resulting itchiness), while the one meant for drier scalps offers extra moisture and fights flakiness with salicylic acid.