Scalp Scrub: The Difference Between Removing Buildup and Treating Dandruff

This is a product that is used before shampooing your hair. It is essentially a scrub for your scalp that helps exfoliate the scalp to remove dirt, oil, buildup, or leftover product residue leaving the hair fresh and exfoliated similar to how we treat our face. It helps to lift away what sits on the surface of the scalp, often used on a scalp that feels heavy, oily or coated.

What it does not do is act as a treatment for dandruff which makes for the most important distinction and it's the reason it's worth knowing what kind of flakes you see appear on the crown of your head.

Look closely at the flakes and at how your scalp feels.

• White, loose, dry flakes that fall off easily are often dead skin or product buildup. This is the type a scrub can help remove.
• Oily, yellowish flakes that stick to the scalp, especially with itching or redness, point towards dandruff.

Hair that feels coated, stiff or dull, or flakes that appear after using lots of styling products, also suggest buildup rather than dandruff. However, it is best to know that these signs are a guide, not a diagnosis. If you're unsure, or if flaking, itching or redness doesn't improve, it's worth speaking to a dermatologist.

We've established that a dandruff usually needs a dandruff-targeted shampoo and not a scrub alone. Dandruff is linked to factors such as oily scalp, a yeast that lives on the skin, and sensitivity and exfoliating the surface doesn't address those causes. A scrub may clear some visible flakes for a while, but they're likely to return if the cause isn't treated.

If you do have dandruff, a medicated shampoo should be your main step. You can still use a gentle scrub occasionally for buildup, but not as a replacement.

Step 1: Wet your hair and scalp thoroughly.

Step 2: Part your hair into sections so you can reach the scalp directly.

Step 3: Apply a small amount and massage gently in circular motions with your fingertips, not your nails.

Step 4: Rinse well, then follow with your regular shampoo and conditioner.

• Use it once a week or less. Over-exfoliating can leave the scalp dry, tight or irritated.
• Keep the massage gentle: When applying the scrub, don't scrub hard, because it doesn't clean better; it just irritates the scalp and weakens the roots.

A clean, balanced scalp supports healthy hair, because clogged, coated skin isn't the best environment for hair to grow from. But a scalp scrub does not directly make hair grow faster. Hair growth depends on factors like genetics, nutrition, hormones and overall health, and exfoliating the scalp doesn't change the rate at which your hair grows.

Think of a scrub as scalp maintenance. It helps keep the scalp clean, which is a good foundation, but it isn't a growth treatment. If you're worried about hair fall or thinning, it's best to speak to a doctor or dermatologist.

BeBe Picks: Love Beauty & Planet Tea Tree Oil & Peppermint Scalp Scrub

If your scalp feels weighed down by buildup, or tends to be oily and itchy-feeling, Love Beauty & Planet Tea Tree Oil & Peppermint Scalp Scrub is a good one to try. It's made to exfoliate the scalp and lift away residue, and the tea tree oil and peppermint give it a fresh, cooling feel. Use it as described above, gently, about once a week, and on a healthy, unbroken scalp. If you have true dandruff, keep using a dandruff-targeted shampoo as your main treatment.

It's important to remember that not every flake is dandruff. White, loose flakes are often buildup or dead skin, which a scalp scrub can help clear, while oily, yellowish, itchy flakes usually need a dandruff-targeted shampoo. Use a scrub gently, once a week or less, to avoid irritated skin, and don't expect it to speed up hair growth. Used for what it does well, it keeps your scalp fresh and your shampoo working better.