How to Exfoliate with the Best Ingredients

Scalps are the root cause of happy, healthy hair. Imagine your strands as a garden; if you don’t tend to what’s beneath the loamy soil, your flowers or veggies simply won’t flourish. In the same way, if you don’t maintain what’s underneath your strands, your hair won’t look its best.

To properly care for your scalp, you’ll need to begin a regular exfoliating routine. It’s like tilling the soil to encourage the best root growth. Before we plunge into the top ingredients for scalp exfoliation, let’s gain a better understanding of why it’s beneficial to care for your scalp – plus the best exfoliating products for optimal hair health.

It’s easy to overlook what we can’t see. It’s why tags stick out of shirt collars, lipstick gets stuck to teeth, or worse – TP gets stuck on the bottom of shoes. The horror! Unless someone points it out, it’s usually too late to dodge the faux pas. This is precisely why we’re bringing scalp exfoliation to your attention!

Knowing our scalps can easily go unnoticed is even more reason to take care of them in the first place. You should do so as if the health of your hair depended on it – and it does! Without regular exfoliation, our scalps end up with buildup, clogged follicles, and itchy, flaky dandruff. This affects the quality of your strands and impedes strong, healthy growth.

It’s time to give that scalp some love! To experience the cleanest, healthiest scalp – and the amazing hair benefits that come with it – here are the best ingredients for scalp exfoliation!

Coffee grounds
You know that morning pick-me-up that warms millions of hearts daily? Turns out that cup of go-go juice does more than allow us to play well with each other. Coffee is a powerhouse of antioxidants – more specifically caffeine – which perks up those follicles. It’s great for your hair and is a popular go-to for scalp exfoliation.

Using coffee grounds to gently exfoliate your scalp removes buildup, increases circulation, and stimulates new hair growth. What a tall order of brew-tiful benefits!

Lemon juice
When life gives you lemons, make a scalp exfoliator! Don’t get us tarted on the powerful antioxidants and essential vitamins that make lemons hair-raising powerhouses. Lemon juice thickens strands, since it stops hair from falling out while encouraging regrowth. Lemons have natural chemical exfoliating properties from citric acid, which helps slough off dead skin and loosen any oil that is blocking hair follicles.

Citric acid also balances the pH of the scalp and can keep dandruff and itchy scalps at bay. So, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade too, and squeeze the day!

Sea salt
You know how a soak in a sea salt bath can ease achy muscles and treat irritated skin? Besides the seemingly endless benefits including antibacterial properties it has for body scrubs, there’s so much more to sea salt than meets the ‘bath’. Sea salt is simply just evaporated seawater, which means it’s not processed and doesn’t contain any additives.

Sea salt can also effectively remove any product build-up, oil, and dead skin cells off your scalp. Exfoliating your scalp with sea salt stimulates blood circulation, tames inflammation, and loosens micropollutants from hair follicles so that they can be rinsed away. It also encourages hair growth while boosting shine and stunning texture.

Cornmeal
Anyone who has ever visited the South can probably tell that cornbread comes pretty standard with dishes – and there’s a ‘kernel of truth’ to that! It’s not only the key ingredient in cornbread, but cornmeal is also an all-star for scalp exfoliation. As a natural exfoliant, cornmeal can remove product build-up, oil, and dead skin cells.

Cornmeal contains hair-beneficial antioxidants, zinc, iron, and folic acid. The tiny super grains are what makes cornmeal a gentle exfoliant, plus it's a great substitute for anyone who finds coffee grounds or sea salt too abrasive.

Peppermint
Aside from freshening your breath, peppermint oil is excellent for cleaning your scalp – and smells ridiculously good! Peppermint essential oil stimulates blood circulation to the scalp, which can help with nourishing hair and naturally boosting growth.

Peppermint oil offers a pleasant cooling sensation, which can help to soothe itchy, irritated scalps and reduce inflammation caused by dandruff. The cooling and calming sensations offered by peppermint will definitely help you relax while you're waiting for hair to grow!

Lemongrass
Dealing with stubborn dandruff or a flaking, itchy scalp got your wardrobe devoid of all things black? Take back that black by adding lemongrass essential oil to your hair routine! With its anti-inflammatory properties, this oil helps keep skin safe during scalp exfoliation.

Lemongrass removes dead skin and product buildup, but also promotes hair growth by improving blood circulation to the scalp. We’re ready for this therapeutic scalp remedy to banish dandruff and flakes and be ‘back in black’ once and for all!

Much like facial exfoliation is the cornerstone of a glowing complexion, scalp exfoliation is the root of healthy hair. Once you do it – and see the stunning hair results that come with it – you won’t look back. But as with anything that yields amazing results, you might be inclined to want to exfoliate more often that you should, or skip on some important after-care steps.

After you exfoliate your scalp, be sure to gently massage your scalp and rinse well with warm water. This will help you to thoroughly remove any remaining ingredients that might clog up your brush later. You’ll also want to re-introduce moisture to your scalp, to nourish it and can keep pH levels on track. Give your scalp some TLC with the best conditioner for your hair type, or start with a moisturizing or repairing conditioner.

Too much of a good thing could be a bad thing – precisely why it’s good to start with exfoliating your scalp no more than once every other week. If you don’t experience any irritation, you can gradually work up to once a week.

Like skin types, we all have different hair types, and our scalps are reflective of that, too. Some of us might hail from the land of dandruff, while others might suffer from the four o’clock grease shadow. It’s time to give that scalp some TLC! To experience the cleanest, healthiest scalp – and the amazing hair benefits that come with it – here are the best products for your scalp concern.

Multi-Vitamin Healthy Hair Shampoo

Hair is primarily made up of a protein called keratin. Keratin is responsible for providing structure, strength, and elasticity to hair strands. Your hair’s elasticity determines its overall strength. If your locks have weak, brittle strands or are prone to hair breakage, you need a keratin-infused shampoo. Allow us:

This reparative shampoo is fortified with beneficial multivitamins, like vegan keratin, biotin, pro-vitamin B5, and vitamin E, and it’s designed to replenish hydration, restore vibrancy, and leave your hair looking and feeling softer and healthier than ever. Plus, it's safe for color or chemically-treated hair and can be used daily to keep your locks looking their best.

Best of all, this pH-balanced formula is free of many of the toxins commonly found in traditional hair care products, making it a great choice for anyone looking to prioritize their hair's health and well-being.

Burdock & Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo

Each follicle on your scalp is attached to an oil gland. Those with fine hair will have more hairs on their scalp than people with coarse hair, and will frequently find that their scalps get greasy quite quickly. If you have a dry scalp, itchy scalp, dandruff, or a combination of all, the best natural shampoo and conditioner for your hair should purify and unclog pores, while also stimulating circulation to the scalp.

This purifying formula clears pores, stimulates blood circulation to the scalp for new hair growth, and alleviates any scalp woes while adding hydration for a healthier scalp and hair. Key ingredients like burdock and neem will alleviate dryness, itching, and flaking, and will have you ‘back in black’ in no time!

For additional dryness relief, this formula includes vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5 to enhance hair softness and tensile strength. This sulfate-free natural shampoo is safe and gentle enough for color-treated hair. All in all, it’s a warrior for warding off excess oil and dandruff flakes once and for all.

Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo

Even if you don’t have fine hair, all hair types can benefit from a volumizing shampoo. Limp or sparse appearing strands are usually the cause of using the wrong shampoo. While many mainstream shampoos tout luscious, voluminous locks, most don’t deliver due to heavy conditioning agents and product buildup weighing your hair down.

Enter our best natural volumizing shampoo! Formulated with kelp extract and seaweed collagen for luster and volume, this shampoo is great for those with dry hair or itchy scalps. Kelp and peppermint essential oil help soothe and balance for a happier scalp and longer-lasting blowouts. The light rose water and mint infusion help to soothe any dryness or itchiness on the scalp.

Hydrating ingredients like aloe juice and coconut oil provide nourishment where it is desperately needed. Our nourishing natural formula is not only cleansing your hair, but it’s also building a better foundation for healthier, stronger, and glossier hair over time.

Argan Oil

A healthier scalp means healthier hair. Our certified, cold-pressed Argan oil promotes collagen production for fortified hair growth and fights against breakage. Not to mention the deep moisturizing properties of argan oil for the luscious locks of your dreams.

This organic oil also tames frizz in a pinch! Since argan oil is super lightweight and non-greasy, it’s perfect for applying to dry or frizzy strands. It smooths and lightly glosses hair for healthier texture and bounce, while also acting as an effective detangler (without slippery, harsh silicones found in most hair oils).

A healthy scalp is the gateway between the “seed” of any hair strand and the way it looks and feels once it’s grown out of the head – similar to those flowers or veggies in your garden. Knowing our scalps can easily go unnoticed is even more reason to take care of them in the first place. As we do with our skin, it’s important to exfoliate with a scalp scrub. It’s the key to healthy hair!

What Are the Benefits of Scalp Exfoliation?

Without regular exfoliation, our scalps end up with buildup, clogged follicles, and itchy, flaky dandruff. This affects the quality of your strands and impedes strong, healthy growth.

Which Natural Ingredients Are Effective for Scalp Exfoliation?

Some of the best natural ingredients for scalp exfoliation are coffee grounds, sea salt, lemon juice, cornmeal, and peppermint oil. These ingredients help remove dead skin and product buildup, but also promote hair growth by improving blood circulation to the scalp.

How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Scalp for Optimal Health?

The frequency of scalp exfoliation depends on your hair type and scalp condition. For most people, exfoliating the scalp once a week is enough. However, if you have an oily scalp or use a lot of hair products, you might benefit from exfoliating twice a week.

Can Scalp Exfoliation Help with Dandruff and Flaky Scalp?

Absolutely! Signs that you might need to exfoliate your scalp include an itchy scalp, excessive dandruff, oily hair, or hair that feels weighed down or lacks volume. These could be indications of product buildup or excessive oil and dead skin cell accumulation. Without regular exfoliation, our scalps end up with buildup, clogged follicles, and itchy, flaky dandruff.

How Can You Safely Exfoliate Your Scalp Without Damaging Hair?

Yes, but the keys are to be gentle and follow with proper post-up care. After you exfoliate your scalp, be sure to gently massage your scalp and rinse well with warm water. You’ll also want to re-introduce moisture to your scalp, to nourish it and can keep pH levels on track. Give your scalp some TLC with a moisturizing or repairing conditioner.