Hair exfoliation is a relatively recent beauty practice that involves removing all impurities and dead skin cells. The aim is to bring softness and lightness to the scalp. However, as this care technique is gaining more prominence and can be adopted by everyone, it is important to know more about its frequency of use and when to incorporate it into one's hair care routine. Here's what you need to know.
When should you exfoliate your scalp?
Summary
Published on February 8, 2024, by Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences — 4 min of reading
What type of hair should a scrub be used for?
Relatively new, the scalp exfoliation is a deep treatment in the form of a paste, gel or cream with a granulated texture. It helps to remove pollutants, excess sebum, dead cells, dandruff and all other impurities (hairspray, gel, dry shampoo, etc...) on the surface of the scalp. The hair exfoliation thus helps to purify the hair fibre and make it healthier. It also improves the penetration of active ingredients and enhances the effect of the hair treatments. Thanks to hair exfoliation, the scalp is "aerated" and stimulated, thus creating a favourable environment for hair growth.
All hair types can benefit from exfoliation. However, this beauty routine is particularly recommended for effectively combating dandruff and oily roots. It can also have positive effects on dry, tired/dull hair, and alleviate itching. On the other hand, it is advised to proceed with caution on coloured hair. Indeed, it could potentially fade the colour faster than expected, thus making the hair less vibrant. This care technique is also not recommended for irritated scalps, with lesions (micro-cuts, pimples...), eczema, psoriasis, etc... as it can be aggressive and therefore worsen the situation.
When should you exfoliate your hair?
It is recommended to carry out the exfoliation in the evening so that the hair can appreciate the active ingredients it contains. Furthermore, the hair scrub should be performed before your usual hair care routine (shampoo, conditioner, hair mask).
If you have coloured hair, you can perform a hair scrub during the last shampoo before renewing your colour. Indeed, the granules can cause the colour to bleed and damage the dye. Alternatively, you can potentially do one just after colouring to avoid irritations. This will clean the scalp and remove any remaining pigment residues. However, if you plan to treat another hair issue between two colourings, it's better to opt for a gentle hair exfoliant with small-sized granules. For instance, salt can cause colours to bleed.
How often should you perform a hair scrub?
Whilst everyone can try it, it is however important to be mindful of the frequency of application and to use it in moderation. It is crucial to space out the scrubs and limit oneself to once a month for dry, healthy or sensitive scalps. On the other hand, in the case of oily scalps or those prone to dandruff, a hair scrub once or even twice a week is recommended. In the case of coloured hair, it is advisable to limit its use to once to twice a month.
If overused, this beauty routine could potentially have the opposite effect on your hair, thus becoming counterproductive. Indeed, excessive use could risk stripping the scalp's skin, further weakening the hair, and overstimulating the sebaceous glands, which would then produce more sebum to protect the scalp. Similarly, for those with sensitive scalps, it is advised to use it sparingly to avoid exacerbating the condition.
