The Hair Health Hotline provides direct access to dermatologists, trichologists, hair stylists and other beauty professionals. Each story in this series addresses common hair and scalp concerns and offers science-backed solutions for taking care of your strands.
Scalp scrubs have obvious appeal. The act of massaging a gritty product into your skin is always satisfying, and the product promises a healthier scalp and better hair. If you’re a minimalist, a scalp scrub might sound unnecessary.
Before adding another product to your routine, you can see if a scalp scrub is worth the money and effort. Kibbelaar shares the pros and cons of the product below.
Q: My scalp is dry and dry, and I’m worried about scalp scrubs. Do they help and how do you choose the best scalp scrub?
A: Scalp scrubs can exfoliate the skin. This may benefit those with dry, flaky scalp, but it can also cause breakouts.
A scalp (or face or body) scrub provides physical exfoliation. That is, it contains tiny beads that help mechanically remove dead skin cells.The brand usually recommends that he use the product once or less a week, in addition to his normal hair washing routine. recommended. As with any type of beauty product, scalp scrubs have their pros and cons.
What are the benefits of using a scalp scrub?
If your scalp is dry and prone to small flakes, an exfoliating scalp scrub may help. “In general, the skin has a constant renewal process of skin cells,” says Kiberard. “But you might [want to] Help the process a little if you have those dry flakes. ”
Dry is the key word here. If you’re experiencing larger, oilier, yellowish flakes, a scalp scrub won’t solve the problem, says Kibbelaar. is needed, she says.
The act of massaging the scalp while using a scalp scrub generally increases circulation and may promote healthy hair growth. In one commonly cited study, the subject group had only nine of her, says Kibbelaar. In another study of a large subject pool of 340 people with androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), 69% of the subjects experienced hair loss after massaging their scalp twice daily for several months. , self-reported hair loss as stable or improved. That study also had limitations: the researchers noted that it did not include a control or placebo group and that the self-reported data were not objective.
What are the cons of scalp scrubs?
Hair is at its most fragile when wet. That’s where the main drawback of scalp scrubs lies. They’re meant to be used in the middle of the shower when your strands are soaking wet. “Using physical exfoliation with scalp scrubs that contain very particulate matter creates a lot of friction around the hair and can also cause damage,” she says. She says it’s likely to run out.
Contrary to popular belief, scalp scrubbing is not effective at removing product buildup, according to Kibeler. “A lot of people have said it works very well as a cleanser,” she says. Shampoos are more effective than scrubs, because scrubs do not contain surfactants that remove sebum and dirt from the scalp. It is a component that makes it easier to remove oil and sebum contained in.)
Should I Use a Scalp Scrub?
Scalp scrubs aren’t worth adding to your routine unless you’re prone to dry flakes. Still, there are better alternatives available. Look for shampoos that contain salicylic or glycolic acid, she suggests.
If you’re curious about the potential benefits of scalp massage, it’s best to apply the oil to dry hair first rather than using a scrub to massage the scalp while the hair is wet.
A scalp scrub may be a beneficial addition to your routine if you are dealing with small, dry flakes, provided you treat your hair gently. Don’t go overboard with it,” says Kiberard.
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