And to secure a lush, full mane, you need to regularly clean and stimulate your scalp. After all, a buildup of product, oil, and overall grime can suffocate the hair follicles and actually impede growth over time. You can find a plethora of scalp detoxing products on the market, which can get confusing in terms of which scalp-cleansing product to use. So if you’re looking to better your scalp health, then you should look for scalp-focused products, like a scalp scrub or scalp treatment. These products are formulated to lift buildup and rejuvenate the skin on the scalp, whether it be through chemical or physical exfoliation. Clarifying shampoos, however, are designed for the strands (although many contain ingredients that also purify the scalp as well). So if you’re looking to deeply cleanse your hair, then this is a good option. If you have color-treated hair, though, you should be careful when selecting your clarifying shampoos, as some may contain ingredients that can strip your color right off. Many scalp products contain chemical exfoliants like salicylic or glycolic acid, which provide a deep cleanse. These are great for the skin on your scalp, but they won’t help the health of your strands—hence the name scalp scrub. “If you just aren’t getting enough cleansing capability from your daily shampoo, which the majority of us don’t (and that’s a good thing), then you should use a glycolic acid scrub,” Reslan says. “The little granules in there will help scrub the scalp gently and then also break up that buildup and balance out the scalp.”
Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub
Cold Processed Scalp Detox Reslan explains the perfect time to call upon cleansing shampoo: “If your hair feels dull, it’s tangling a lot, or you use a lot of styling products daily, you definitely want your clarifying shampoo,” she says.