Why Scalp Exfoliation Is My Personal Holy Grail Cleansing Method

Washing my hair is one of those things I know is good for me and my hair, but I still absolutely do not look forward to doing. In all honesty, it is a day’s work; between pre-poo, shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioning*, moisturizing, detangling, and all of those other time-consuming tasks, I’m fed up.

Because I can be so anti-wash day, I searched far and wide for a shortcut that will allow me to hold off on washing my hair a little longer than usual. When I say “short cut”, I don’t mean using dry shampoo or simply doing a water-only wash–no. I mean being able to cleanse and detox my scalp without all of the added steps between regular wash days.

I tried all types of hair rinses and all-in-one products, but none of them seemed to really do it for me. I went through so many different regimens and products until I learned about scalp exfoliation.

Scalp exfoliation is exactly what it sounds like: exfoliating the scalp, or removing dead skin cells and build-up from your skin and pores. Now I’ve always exfoliated my face so I had an idea what the process was like, but I was still nervous to do it on my scalp.

I eventually worked up the courage and put together a recipe (that I’ve regrettably dubbed ‘Kinky* Poo’) consisting of:

1 Tbsp of Baking Soda 

1/2 cup of Shea Moisture* JBCO Strengthen, Grow, and Restore Shampoo

1 Tbsp of Honey*

3 Drops of Tea Tree Oil* 

After mixing up that odd-smelling concoction and I poured it in a bottle with an applicator tip, I applied to my roots and scalp and lathered it through the damp roots of my hair. I gently scrubbed my scalp for 5 minutes, let it sit for another 10 minutes, and then thoroughly rinsed it out with warm water.

Not only was was scalp super clean, but it didn’t even dry out my hair or skin like a body exfoliant would. From that day forward, I’ve been exfoliating my scalp every week between wash days because its added ingredients come with a lot of benefits.

The honey* added extra moisture to the shampoo while everything else balanced out the baking soda, and the tea tree oil* added extra cleansing properties. The shampoo itself made the otherwise stinky smelling mix smell a lot better and strengthen my hair at the roots.

If you’re thinking about trying your own scalp exfoliant, here are some benefits (and drawbacks) below!

Gets Rid of Dead Skin Cells and Buildup

I’m prone to dandruff and super clogged pores, so I was really pleased when the exfoliant mixed got rid of both my dead skin cells and all of the product buildup on my scalp. Both of those things prevent hair from growing and cause excessive dryness and breakage so when I have flaky scalp or buildup, I MUST wash my hair.

But thanks to the ‘Kinky* Poo’ exfoliant, I don’t struggle with it as much anymore so I no longer have to wash my hair as much as I used to. When I feel like my scalp is about to act up, I do a quick exfoliant, rinse my scalp with ACV, and then moisturize and go straight into a protective style afterward.

Allows More Days Between Washes 

Speaking of frequently washing my hair, yeah–I no longer have to do that and it’s been great. I used to wash my hair once a week and now I’m able to stretch it to once every 3 weeks. Cleansing your scalp by exfoliating and doing a regular wash day isn’t necessary and will actually dry out your scalp and hair.

If you’re trying to get into scalp exfoliation, consider how often you wash your hair. If you wash at least once a week, you might not want to consider this method. If you don’t wash your hair that often, think about incorporating exfoliant into the wash routine you already have set in place.

I Don’t Have To Wash All of My Hair 

My roots and scalp feel worlds away from the rest of my hair considering they require a lot more attention, so I thoroughly enjoy the fact that you don’t have to wash your whole head–you can just focus on your scalp and roots.

This may be the perfect mix if you’re transitioning because you don’t have to deal with both textures at the same time if you don’t want to.

Scalp exfoliating is perfect for you if you: Are in-between washes, have dandruff, experience a lot of build up, are transitioning, and/or moving from sulfate to sulfate free products.

You might want to think twice about exfoliating your scalp if you have really sensitive skin or aren’t particularly good at DIY projects because most times, you will have to mix your own products together.

Other than that, I encourage everyone to try exfoliating their scalp at least once because it cleanses and detoxifies your scalp while keeping your roots soft, clean, and manageable.