Board-certified nurse practitioner and aesthetics expert Vanessa Coppola emphasizes that scalp care directly impacts hair health and appearance, making exfoliating treatments essential. A good scalp exfoliation can balance your scalp, improve circulation, reduce itchiness, and create the foundation for shinier, healthier hair.
“Most people focus on their hair strands but forget that healthy hair starts at the root,” she explains. With her background in integrative wellness, Coppola views the scalp as an extension of the skin. “Just like your face, it needs balance, exfoliation, and nourishment to function at its best. Scalp treatments remove buildup from products, excess oil, and environmental pollutants that can clog follicles and disrupt hair growth. A healthy scalp leads to stronger, thicker hair, better circulation, and even improves the effectiveness of other hair products.”
### Vogue’s Top Exfoliating Scalp Treatments
Best with Charcoal:
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Treatment ($32, Amazon)
This leave-on serum uses binchotan charcoal to deeply cleanse while tea tree and peppermint oils soothe and refresh. Coppola recommends it for those dealing with product buildup or dry shampoo residue.
Best for Oily Roots:
Act+Acre 4% Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum ($68, BlueMercury)
Niacinamide, known for its skin-clearing benefits, also works wonders for oily scalps, balancing excess sebum and reducing irritation.
Best Drugstore Option:
L’Oréal Oil Erasing Scalp Serum ($12, Amazon)
With salicylic and hyaluronic acids, this pre-shampoo serum purifies without stripping moisture, keeping roots fresh for up to 72 hours.
### How to Tell If Your Scalp Needs Exfoliation
If your hair feels greasy, itchy, or just lifeless, it might be time for a scalp detox. Flakes, excess oil, or styling product buildup are also signs.
Ready to upgrade your routine? Below, 13 Vogue-approved scalp treatments—from scrubs to detoxifying serums—to keep your scalp (and hair) in top shape.
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### Featured Products
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Treatment
– Why We Love It: Cleanses deeply while cooling and refreshing the scalp.
– Key Ingredients: Binchotan charcoal, tea tree oil, peppermint oil
– Best For: Dry, flaky, or congested scalps
L’Oréal Oil Erasing Scalp Serum
– Why We Love It: Lightweight, residue-free formula with salicylic acid for long-lasting freshness.
– Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid
– Best For: Oily or congested scalps
Act+Acre 4% Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum
– Why We Love It: Niacinamide balances oil production and soothes irritation.
– Best For: Oily, irritated scalpsHere’s a natural, fluent rewrite of your text while keeping the original meaning intact:
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Niacinamide Scalp Serum
Coppola explains, “Niacinamide is a powerhouse for skin barriers, and this lightweight serum works the same magic for your scalp. It’s ideal for oily roots because it controls excess oil without drying out your scalp—key for maintaining balance.” Plus, with regular use, you can go longer between washes.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, fermented green tea extract, bio-fermented astragalus
Type: Serum
Best For: Oily hair, scalp buildup
Size: 2.2 fl oz
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Best Custom: Prose Custom Scalp Serum
Price: $56 at PROSE
Why We Love It: Like all Prose products, this serum takes the guesswork out of finding the right formula. After a quick quiz, the brand crafts a personalized scalp serum with hydrating and exfoliating ingredients tailored to your needs. Curious what’s in yours? Add it to your cart to find your unique blend.
Key Ingredients: Varies by formula (hundreds of clean, sustainably sourced options; fragrance- and silicone-free available)
Type: Serum
Best For: All hair types and scalp concerns
Size: 8.5 fl oz
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Best Salicylic Acid Treatment: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
Price: $15 at AMAZON
Why We Love It: “Salicylic acid fights dandruff flakes,” says Brezavscek, highlighting this treatment. Coppola adds, “It gently exfoliates and unclogs follicles, just like it does for acne-prone skin—great for reducing flakes and keeping pores clear.” Panthenol and castor oil soothe irritation.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, Fluidipure 8G, panthenol, hydrogenated castor oil
Type: Pre-wash treatment
Best For: Oily scalp, dandruff, itchiness
Size: 5 fl oz
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Best with Keratin: Virtue Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
Price: $50 at BLUEMERCURY or AMAZON
Why We Love It: Think of this as a clarifying facial for your scalp. Powered by Alpha Keratin 60ku, it removes buildup, oil, and dead skin while promoting healthy hair growth. A weekly reset leaves your scalp refreshed and ready for styling.
Key Ingredients: Alpha Keratin 60ku, rice exfoliator, fruit enzymes, jojoba beads
Type: Cream
Best For: Congested or oily scalps
Size: 5 fl oz
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Best with Spicules: Celladix Hair Boosting Scalp Serum
Price: $22 at AMAZON
Why We Love It: This K-beauty roll-on uses tiny spicules to deliver tea tree oil, rosemary, and charcoal deep into the scalp—without irritation. The cooling metal tip makes application soothing and mess-free (no dropper spills!). Perfect for mornings: section, roll, and go.
Key Ingredients: Redensyl, biotin, caffeine, niacinamide
Type: Roll-on serum
Best For: Thinning hair, weak strands, scalp health
Size: 1.7 fl oz
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Best for Dandruff: Jupiter Restoring Serum
Price: $33 (6% off) at AMAZON
Why We Love It: If flakes are a constant battle, this lightweight leave-in treatment is your solution. With zinc as its star ingredient—known for its anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties—it soothes irritation, reduces dandruff, and balances oil for a healthier scalp barrier.
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Key Ingredients: Zinc pyrithione, niacinamide, green tea extract, aloe vera
Type: Serum
Best For: Dandruff, itchiness, oily or sensitive scalps
Size: 2 fl oz
### Best for Curly Hair: Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Deep Scalp Detox 2-in-1 Hair Serum Cleanser
Price: $29 (Nordstrom, Amazon)
Why We Love It: For curly hair, this is the ultimate reset. Pattern’s pre-shampoo treatment removes dead skin cells and product buildup while delivering nourishing ingredients—perfect if you’ve been using heavy conditioners or oils. It’s also great for refreshing the scalp after braids or sew-ins when your natural curls haven’t gotten much attention. Just part your hair, shake the bottle, and apply directly to the scalp before shampooing.
Key Ingredients: Australian tea tree oil, lemon peel oil, pink clay
Type: Pre-wash treatment, daily serum
Best For: Scalp detox
Size: 4 fl oz
### Best with Mandelic Acid: Living Proof Scalp Care Exfoliator
Price: $38 (Nordstrom, Amazon)
Why We Love It: This exfoliator preps your scalp for washing and styling with gentle chemical exfoliants like mandelic and gluconolactone acids. The pointed applicator ensures precise application, helping glycolic acid, BHAs, and PHAs remove flakes and reduce excess oil.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, mandelic acid, polyhydroxy acid, prebiotics, beet root extract, agave extract
Type: Pre-shampoo treatment
Best For: All hair types, dandruff-prone scalps
Size: 3.4 oz
### Best Scrub: Typology R52 Scalp Scrub
Price: $38 (Typology)
Why We Love It: French brand Typology delivers high-performance haircare, and this pre-shampoo scrub is no exception. It combines physical and chemical exfoliation—jojoba beads gently buff away dirt and oil, while 5% gluconolactone dissolves dead skin cells. PHAs are gentler than AHAs, making this ideal for sensitive scalps. It lathers well and resets the scalp without irritation, great for those with dandruff or psoriasis.
Key Ingredients: PHA 5%, jojoba beads, silica, aloe vera juice, peppermint oil, eucalyptus leaf oil
Type: Exfoliating gel scrub
Best For: Pre-shampoo treatment
Size: 3.38 fl oz
### Best for Itchy Scalps: Oribe Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-On Treatment
Price: $48 (Nordstrom)
Why We Love It: When your scalp needs comfort, this luxurious leave-on treatment delivers. Peppermint and salicylic acid provide a cooling sensation while gently exfoliating flakes and soothing irritation. Whether post-workout or after styling, it feels like a spa treatment in a tube—goodbye, itchiness!
Key Ingredients: Watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss extract blend, salicylic acid, peppermint oil, caffeine, niacinamide, panthenol
Type: Leave-on scalp treatment
Best For: Dry, itchy, or flaky scalps needing relief
Size: 1.7 fl oz
### Best Soothing: Aavrani Scalp Rescue Serum
Price: $42 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: Think of this serum as a calming scalp spa in a tube. It soothes, balances, and detoxifies without weighing hair down. With 1.8% salicylic acid, it gently removes flakes and buildup, while colloidal oatmeal and neem help calm irritation.
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This version keeps all the original details while making the language smoother and more natural. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!This Ayurvedic herb with antimicrobial properties provides instant soothing relief. Within minutes, even irritated scalps feel noticeably healthier. The lightweight, fast-absorbing leave-in formula restores your scalp’s balance without affecting second- or third-day hair.
Key Ingredients:
1.8% salicylic acid, neem extract, colloidal oatmeal, peppermint, patchouli
Type: Leave-on milky-gel serum
Best For: Dandruff-prone, flaky, or irritation-sensitive scalps
Size: 2 fl. oz
### Everything You Need to Know
What is an exfoliating scalp treatment?
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman explains that exfoliating scalp treatments cleanse the scalp of oils, buildup, impurities, and dead skin cells that accumulate over time. This helps reduce dandruff and oil production, improving scalp health and extending time between washes.
Nurse practitioner Catie Boucher adds that exfoliating treatments benefit everyone, especially dry shampoo users or those who use styling products frequently. “Addressing product buildup is key,” she says.
Benefits of an Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
Healthy hair starts at the scalp—whether you deal with dryness, oiliness, or flaking, a consistent scalp care routine improves hair appearance and strength over time.
Vanessa Coppola compares scalp care to skincare: “Your scalp has its own microbiome, oil balance, and renewal cycle. Focusing only on hair means missing the foundation. Scalp care is self-care.”
What ingredients should you look for?
Dr. Spearman recommends ingredients that remove buildup, soothe irritation, and restore balance:
– AHAs & BHAs: Lactic, mandelic, and glycolic acids (AHAs) and salicylic acid (BHA) break down dead skin cells and buildup.
– Niacinamide: A form of vitamin B3 that reduces inflammation and controls oil.
– Charcoal: Draws out impurities for better product absorption.
– Tea tree oil: Refreshes and balances the scalp.
– Soothing botanicals: Aloe vera and jojoba oil calm irritation and hydrate.
– Physical exfoliants: Sugar, sea salt, or seeds manually remove dead skin cells.
Meet The Experts
– Catie Boucher, FNP-C, DCNP: Board-certified dermatology nurse practitioner, founder of SavvyDerm.
– Paula Brezavscek, PA-C: Board-certified dermatology physician associate, founder of Azala Skin Clinic.
– Vanessa Coppola, APN-C, FNP-BC: Board-certified nurse practitioner, aesthetic expert, founder of Bare Aesthetics Medspa & Wellness.
– Dara Spearman, MD: Board-certified dermatologist specializing in melanoma and skin cancer care.