8 Best Scalp Exfoliators That Break Down Buildup and Flakes

Below are our top scalp exfoliators with soothing, hydrating ingredients that prevent irritation, refresh your scalp, and leave your hair looking its best.

Best Overall: Aavrani Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser

Why it’s worth it: The Aavrani Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser combines the skin-buffing power of its gentle (yet effective!) silicone prongs—and none of the messy granules—with the naturally exfoliating properties of glycolic acid. Its multifaceted approach to breaking down buildup, along with the soothing and hydrating additions of vitamin E and lotus extract, has our editors hooked on its deep-cleansing results, which is why it won a 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award.

Best Shampoo: Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub

Why it’s worth it: Christophe Robin, the Parisian colorist renowned for his luxurious, scalp-first hair care, created the Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt as an intensive solution for hair and scalp buildup. “This classic scrub uses sea salt crystals to physically lift away buildup, while sweet almond oil soothes and hydrates,” says Arisa Ortiz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Diego, California, who recommends it for people with oily scalps or post-color services to remove residue. What starts as a scrub transforms into a frothy lather that cleanses like a clarifying shampoo. “It foams up nicely, making it a scrub that’s easy to distribute evenly,” she adds. Use it once a week to rebalance and deeply cleanse your scalp, leaving your hair feeling healthier and more bouncy.

Best Scent: Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub

Why it’s worth it: Ouai’s Scalp & Body Scrub can be used just about anywhere (except for your face and neck, which are far too delicate for rough body scrubs). The multipurpose foaming scrub “is made with sugar crystals and coconut oil to exfoliate and remove buildup while softening and balancing moisture levels,” says Dr. Camp. It’s been a longtime Allure tester favorite since 2018 for its skin-polishing abilities and moisturizing effects. If you’re a fragrance-phile, you’ll love Ouai’s brand’s signature Melrose Place scent. For those unfamiliar, it’s a souped-up rose fragrance that’s elevated with hints of bergamot, lychee, white musk, and champagne.

Best for Flaky Scalps: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Why it’s worth it: Derms and Allure staffers alike adore this formula (it’s a Best of Beauty Award veteran, after all), which is why Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo is topping this list. Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says its dissolvable, charcoal-based granules absorb excess oil while minimizing congestion in the scalp and around hair follicles. He also gives it kudos for its blend of moisturizing coconut oil and an anti-inflammatory cooling complex comprising peppermint, spearmint, and tea tree oils.

Best for Itchy Scalps: Act+Acre Salicylic Acid Scalp Exfoliator

Why it’s worth it: Flakes and itchiness commonly come as a package deal, but Act+Acre’s Salicylic Acid Scalp Exfoliator can help calm both. This pre-wash treatment is equal parts soothing and exfoliating, combining a buildup-busting dose of 0.15% salicylic acid with hydrating papaya extract. It’s no wonder that this treatment is both an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner and a favorite amongst dermatologists like Anna Karp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, who uses it herself. “It gently exfoliates the scalp, clearing loose flakes, excess oil, and buildup,” she says.

Best for Oily Scalps: Nutrafol Build-Up Blocker

Why it’s worth it: Nutrafol brings a holistic approach to scalp care with the Build-Up Blocker Exfoliating Mask. This targeted treatment is designed to gently lift away product buildup and excess oils without disrupting the scalp’s natural balance. Jojoba esters and lactic acid work together to whisk away product buildup, while antioxidant-rich fruit extracts like blueberry, sugarcane, and sugar maple help protect against environmental stressors.

It’s also gentle enough for more fragile hair types. “It’s safe for thin hair, color-treated hair, and even those with extensions,” says Maya Thosani, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It works quickly, so there’s no need to leave it on for ages. “Just massage it into your scalp for three to five minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual for a refreshed scalp,” she says.

Best for Dry Scalps: Nioxin Scalp Purifying Exfoliator

Why it’s worth it: Nioxin’s Scalp Purifying Exfoliator is a treatment designed to give your scalp the same kind of deep, hydrating clean your skin gets from a facial. “This product is a creamy exfoliant that helps lift buildup and excess oil off the scalp without irritation,” says Fatima Fahs, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Southfield, Michigan. Best applied to dry hair, this rinse-out exfoliator also uses lactic, tartaric, and benzoic acids to unclog follicles, lift away impurities, and rebalance the scalp, making it especially effective for dryness or dandruff-prone skin. To prevent over-drying, the formula is enriched with hydrating shea butter while peppermint oil helps cool and calm skin.

Best for Buildup: Alpha-H Healthy Scalp Exfoliating Treatment

Why it’s worth it: Alpha-H’s Healthy Scalp Exfoliating Treatment is designed to target itchiness, flakes, and excess oil buildup, creating the ideal foundation for healthier hair. The lightweight gel-cream formula spreads easily through the roots and rinses clean without residue, and, maybe the best part, it works in as little as one minute. “This is a combination of chemical exfoliants that maximize scalp renewal from all angles. Salicylic and lactic acids break up and dissolve dead skin cells, while gluconolactone provides gentle exfoliation for sensitive scalps,” says Dr. Fahs. To balance the acids, soothing botanicals like Australian desert lime, rice vinegar complex, and aniseed myrtle extract help calm and protect the scalp, leaving it refreshed, comfortable, and primed for stronger, shinier hair.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of scalp exfoliators?

The biggest benefit of using a scalp exfoliator is its ability to reduce buildup, which can cause flaking, itchiness, and clogged hair follicles. “Scalp exfoliators work to remove the dead skin cells, oil, and product debris that can clog hair follicles and slow growth,” says Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Some may work to increase blood flow to the scalp, which also stimulates hair growth.” She also notes that these nourishing formulas can help reduce flaking, an itchy scalp, and dandruff by sloughing away buildup.

As a reminder, a healthy scalp is clear of flakes, redness, and irritation, according to Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “We shouldn’t see redness, we shouldn’t see irritation, and we shouldn’t see a lot of scales or buildup,” she previously told Allure. “It should not feel tender and should not have an odor.”

What’s the difference between physical and chemical exfoliators?

Physical exfoliators, usually sugar- or salt-granule-based, polish the surface layer of your skin manually, while chemical exfoliants use acids to break down product buildup and dead skin cells. “Sugar and salt crystals are often used as physical exfoliators in scalp products to gently buff the skin,” says Dr. Camp. “Chemical exfoliants like the alpha hydroxy acids, lactic acid and glycolic acid, and beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid, break apart the bonds between dead skin cells, facilitating their removal from the scalp surface.” In addition to scalp scrubs, Dr. Camp also suggests using a scalp massager. “Scalp massaging tools, often made of silicone, can be used to exfoliate, too,” he says.

When should you use a scalp exfoliator?

Dr. Jeffy says that most people can benefit from incorporating a scalp exfoliator once or twice per week. With that being said, she notes that most exfoliants shouldn’t be used more than twice per week to prevent skin irritation. “If you have a sensitive scalp, eczema, or psoriasis, exfoliation can cause irritation, so you might want to skip it entirely. Also, avoid it if you have any cuts, sores, or infections in the scalp,” says Dr. Jeffy. You should consult with your dermatologist if your scalp is extremely dry or irritated, since certain active ingredients can make these conditions worse.

Can you use a scalp exfoliator if you have color-treated hair?

Worried about your scrubs and tonics potentially stripping your vibrant color? Don’t fret: You don’t have to skip your scalp exfoliator if you have color-treated hair, according to New York City-based colorist Rachel Bodt. “Just make sure the formula you use is marked as color-safe,” she explains. If you want to play it safe and steer clear of products that could strip your color, Bodt also recommends using a scalp massager to buff away buildup.

How do you use a scalp exfoliator correctly?

Though your product will come with its own set of usage instructions, Dr. Karp says that, typically, scalp exfoliation works best as a pre-wash treatment. “Usually, you’ll apply to dry hair before shampooing,” she says. Dr. Karp also recommends massaging the formula onto your scalp with your fingertips, not your fingernails, to ensure a gentle massage. “This helps remove dead skin, oil, and product buildup,” she says. Scalp exfoliators will have instructions for how long to leave them on before rinsing.

When applying a scalp exfoliator, Hallie McDonald, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, recommends applying the product directly to your scalp, avoiding the strands to minimize dryness from the product’s intensive active ingredients. “I tell patients to think of scalp exfoliators as a treatment and not shampoo, and that helps them focus on applying directly to the scalp,” she says.

How do you know if you’re over-exfoliating your scalp?

Tightness, tenderness, stinging from your usual products, and itchiness are all signs of an over-exfoliated scalp and disrupted skin barrier, according to Dr. McDonald. “Scientifically, irritation happens when exfoliants remove too much of the natural lipid layer that protects the skin,” she says. “If you experience burning with application or your roots suddenly feel dry instead of clean, that’s your cue to pull back.”

Meet the experts

• Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist, based at MDCS Dermatology in New York City
• Fatima Fahs, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dermy Doc Box, based in Southfield, Michigan
• Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, based in New York City
• Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, based in Scottsdale, Arizona
• Arisa Ortiz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Sciton expert, based in San Diego, California
• Maya Thosani, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Modern Dermatology, based in Scottsdale, Arizona
• Anna Karp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Rachel Bodt, a New York City-based colorist
• Hallie McDonald, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of skin-care brand ERLY

How we test and review products

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?

For our review of the best scalp exfoliators, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and board-certified dermatologists to find top-tier, flake-reducing formulations. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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