Pssst… your scalp needs exfoliation as well!

We scrub our bodies smooth with sugar and salt, take rotating brushes to our faces and buff our feet to silky softness… but what about the skin on top of our head? Yes, the scalp is skin. And while you give it a seeing-to every time you shampoo, it needs a little extra love.

Why you need to exfoliate your scalp

Like all other skin on our body, the scalp also needs to breathe. It needs oxygen, moisture and nutrients. And since our hair is rooted in the scalp, it is kind of important!

Exfoliating provides all the same benefits for your hair and scalp as it does for your face: it helps remove product build up from hair spray, gels and pomades that can clog hair follicles and weigh down the strands. It also removes dead cells and treats scalp acne (gross but it exists!). Plus, the extra stimulation helps boost circulation, which increases hair growth.

And if you have dandruff, a scalp scrub can help eliminate flakes. Neglecting your scalp, on the other hand, can result in hair damage and premature hair loss.

How to exfoliate your scalp

You can try at-home scalp exfoliants, such as Kiehl’s Deep Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Treatment and L’oreal Serie Expert Soft Peel Lipidine Cleansing Exfoliating Scalp Treatment.

Or mix up your own: blend 3 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and few drops of an essential oil like tea tree, jasmine or lavender. Wet your scalp and then massage it in gentle, circular movements with this mixture for a couple of minutes. Shampoo and condition your hair normally.

If you don’t shampoo frequently, use a lot of hair styling products or have oily hair, exfoliate every other week. Otherwise, you just need to do it once a month to maintain a healthy scalp and glossy strands.

Have you ever tried a scalp exfoliation? Would you prefer an off-the-shelf treatment or a make-your-own brew?