Popsugar Beauty Hair Editors' Favourite Scalp Treatments For All Hair Types 4 Editor-Approved Scalp Treatments For Flakiness, Buildup, and Irritation 22 September 2020 by Morgan Ashley Parker Image Source: Sephora As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Chances are if your scalp is dry, sensitive, or both, you know it. (Like, all too well.) Whether you're constantly brushing away flakes from clothing or practically flinching the moment you see a comb, that itchiness, irritation, and dandruff could be coming from a pH imbalance, excess oil, built-up products, dead skin cells . . . and, well, the list can go on and on. There's no need to throw in the bath towel as there are plenty of treatments at Sephora that can target each of those issues, and soothe and improve your scalp. Plus, you're not alone: our editors have actually tested each of these products to help their own scalp situations. Ahead, see the treatments that get our stamp of approval — and they're all under $42. Related: We've Tried Dozens of Dry Shampoos, and These Are the Best Ones Under $25 For Irritation: Briogeo Scalp Revival Products Image Source: cultbeauty.co.uk Items: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo (£36) and Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment Serum (£20) What our editor said: "According to the folks at Briogeo, the charcoal in this formula works to lift impurities off of the scalp, while the cooling sensation of peppermint soothes itchiness straight away. Well, whatever ingredients make this formula effective, I'm just here to confirm that this formula totally lives up to the hype. I credit this [shampoo] with defining my curls, smoothing out my frizzy texture (without sacrificing bounce!), and making my hair look shiny as hell . . . [and], if you feel like going the extra mile, you can go big like yours truly did and pair up the microexfoliating shampoo with Briogeo's [separate scalp treatment]. My hunch is that I have this oil to thank for extending the clean, minty feeling of my freshly washed hair for those extra few days. If you're suffering from the hell that is an irritated scalp with no idea where to turn, I really can't give Briogeo's Scalp Revival line a big enough thumbs up." — Lisa Peterson, senior manager, Social If you want to read more, here is the complete review. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Scalp Scrub £36 from cultbeauty.co.uk Buy Now Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment Serum £20 from spacenk.com Buy Now For Dandruff: Playa California Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo Image Source: niche-beauty.com Item: Playa California Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo (£37) What our editor said: "To exfoliate the flakes right off my head, I use this [shampoo] once a week. The tea tree oil in it is instantly cooling, so it feels amazing." — Macy Cate Williams, senior editor, Shop If you want to read more, here is the complete review. Playa California Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo £37 from niche-beauty.com Buy Now For Buildup: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub Image Source: boots.com Item: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub (£26) What our editor said: "[Sporting a] wash-and-go look means I'm also using several products to style it that way, which also means there will be several products gathering in my roots each time I style it. And, as much as I may like to pretend it away, I know I can't exclusively cowash my hair forever. I'll be rotating in this refreshing scrub to cleanse my scalp of product buildup and dead skin cells because its moisturising marula oil leaves my hair feeling clean and nourished (and not stripped dry like shampoo often does) while I'm at home — and once I can travel again, too." — Morgan Ashley Parker, contributing editor, Beauty If you want to read more, here is the complete review. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub £26 from boots.com Buy Now HairShoppableBeauty ShoppingHair MasksSephoraShampooScalp