5 recipes for exfoliating the scalp at home to reduce greasy hair – prevent excess oil

Just like the face and body, the scalp also needs to be exfoliated to promote healthy hair nutrients! So which formula for exfoliating the scalp is highly effective?

Here are 5 ways to exfoliate your scalp at home extremely effectively, for a healthy scalp and dry hair!

What is Scalp Exfoliation?

Although the body’s natural mechanism is to replace dead skin cells with new skin cells, sometimes some form of exfoliation is needed, which includes the scalp area. Scalp exfoliation refers to the use of exfoliants in a physical or chemical form to remove skin cells, excess oil, and dandruff.

Regular exfoliation of the scalp is one of the ways to own shinier, healthier hair from root to tip. Keeping your scalp healthy and free of build-up by styling products can help make your hair look better and leave you with a clean scalp.

Benefits of Exfoliating Scalp

Exfoliating the scalp is one way to soothe, relieve pressure and promote scalp health. In this way, exfoliation can be beneficial for the scalp, specifically for those who are facing conditions such as:

• Dandruff appears on the scalp
• Dry scalp
• The scalp has too much excess oil, making the hair greasy and uncomfortable.

Not exfoliating the scalp can lead to dull hair, clogged hair follicles, flaky scalp, and itchiness. On the other hand, regular exfoliation can help hair grow thicker, shinier, and naturally produce less oil.

Instructions on how to exfoliate the scalp

Exfoliating the scalp is usually done after shampooing. After combing your hair thoroughly and deftly separating the sections, you can use your fingertips to apply the scrubs to your scalp. You can also use a brush or wear gloves to gently scrub and clean your scalp.

Note, you should avoid using your nails to exfoliate because it can easily scratch the scalp. Using an exfoliating brush with too much force can break or stretch the hair strands, which in turn leads to thinning and thinning hair.

If you’re applying the physical form, rub it in in a circular motion, taking care not to miss any hard-to-reach areas of the scalp.

In some cases, exfoliating can make the scalp more sensitive. To overcome this situation and protect the scalp against the harmful effects of the sun or dirt, you should use a sunscreen spray before leaving the house.

How many types of scalp scrubs are there?

There are two main ways to exfoliate the scalp: physical and chemical. Both of these forms provide certain benefits, although they work in different ways.

A physical scalp scrub uses manual friction (using fingertips or abrasive tools) to remove dry skin cells and build up. Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, help dissolve dead skin cells using certain chemical ingredients such as hydroxy acids (salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid) or retinoids. Not requiring as much scrubbing effort as physical exfoliants, chemical exfoliants only need to be lightly applied to the scalp to effectively slough off dead skin.

It is up to you to decide which method works best for your scalp. Each type has distinct advantages and disadvantages. With a physical exfoliant, your scalp will be at risk of being subjected to too much force when rubbing, thereby irritating the skin and causing hair loss. While if you use a chemical exfoliant you have to wait longer for the product to work, and there is a high chance that you will also experience allergic reactions to the product. It’s best to try both methods to see which works best for your current scalp condition.

Natural recipes for exfoliating scalp at home

A healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair. Scalp exfoliation can help remove scalp flakes by using ingredients that are naturally derived.

Here are the physical at-home scalp exfoliation recipes, using the following ingredients:

1. Brown sugar and oats

To make a scalp scrub from brown sugar and oats, you need to prepare:

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons finely ground oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons of your favorite hair conditioner.

The combination of brown sugar and oatmeal helps create a physical at-home scalp scrub recipe. After shampooing, apply this mixture to wet hair in gentle, circular motions to reach deep into the scalp and complete the next cleansing step.

2. Use aspirin

To make an aspirin scrub, prepare:

• 6-8 aspirin tablets
• 4 tablespoons warm water

In the composition of aspirin contains salicylic acid – an active ingredient in the form of chemical exfoliants. You can use a toothbrush to apply this scrub to the entire scalp. Next, you need to combine gentle rubbing to help remove dead skin cells more effectively. Wash away all residue remaining on the scalp after finishing and continue with the step of using conditioner.

3. Salt and lemon juice

Rubbing the scalp with salt and lemon juice will help remove dead skin cells on the scalp quite effectively. From there, it helps to easily absorb the nutrients from the shampoo into the scalp. You just need to prepare a little salt and lemon juice, then mix together. First, wet your scalp with cold water and apply the mixture on your scalp. Combine head massage for 3 minutes, then rinse with clean water to complete.

4. Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds can be used as a way to remove dead skin cells and help stimulate hair growth. In addition, coffee’s properties help to exfoliate the skin, removing dirt, dandruff, excess oil and even other product buildup that can clog pores on your scalp.

To make this recipe, you need to prepare:

• 4 tablespoons favorite carrier oil (such as coconut oil, olive oil, etc.)
• 6 tablespoons of previously finely ground coffee grounds
• 1 drop of tea tree oil.

Mix all ingredients well and store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Wet hair and apply an appropriate amount to the scalp. Next, you need to massage for 5-10 minutes before rinsing and washing your hair with shampoo.

5. Coconut oil, honey – an effective exfoliating formula for the scalp

Coconut oil acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, effectively soothing the scalp. Meanwhile, apple cider vinegar has the ability to maintain the pH balance of the scalp thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Adding honey to this recipe will help soothe the scalp, while minimizing the appearance of dandruff, eczema or psoriasis. You need to prepare this recipe as follows:

• ½ cup of coconut oil
• ¾ cup sugar
• 5-6 menthol
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• Raw honey.

Blend the ingredients together until you get a smooth texture. Pre-wash your hair with clean water to wet your hair, then apply the ingredients you just created to your hair. Incubate hair and massage scalp gently for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water to make sure no residue is left on the scalp. If your scalp is suffering from dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis then use apple cider vinegar with caution as it can cause scalp itching due to its highly acidic ingredients.

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Side effects and potential risks

You should not exfoliate your scalp if you are experiencing the following cases:

• Have an infection, such as ringworm
• On the scalp with open wounds or sores
• The attack of lice, lice
• Acne on the head, eczema or psoriasis

In some cases, people with sensitive skin may feel that some of the ingredients in a chemical or physical exfoliant are too harsh for the scalp condition. If you experience scalp discomfort, swelling or irritation during the exfoliating process, you should discontinue use. Instead, you should consult a professional if the discomfort persists.

What should you do after exfoliating your scalp?

To prevent the scalp from flaking due to excessive exfoliation of the scalp, you should apply moisturizer all over the scalp area. This can be done by using a conditioner to help lock moisture in the hair, leaving it soft and healthy from within.

Common mistakes when exfoliating the scalp

Exfoliating helps to massage the scalp, stimulate relaxation and treat skin diseases. However, if you accidentally make the following mistakes, not only will you not see the effect, but also make your scalp irritated and uncomfortable.

• Exfoliating scalp: You should only apply 1-2 times a week is reasonable. This helps to remove excess oil from the scalp and gives you clean, healthy hair. Excessive exfoliation on the scalp will cause the scalp to have the opposite effect, thereby stimulating the oil glands to work harder than usual and lose the pH balance on the scalp.
• Using exfoliants that are too large can damage the scalp. Instead, you should only do it with small and medium sized particles. You should not equate the idea that the larger the exfoliating particles, the more effective it will be to clean the scalp. On the contrary, this can cause your scalp to scratch, even bleed during the procedure.
• Not caring about the ingredients/exfoliating ingredients makes it difficult to determine if your hair is really suitable or not. For example, if you own dry, frizzy hair, you should prioritize using products containing formulas extracted from coconut oil, argan oil, and olive oil. In addition, avoid using products containing sulfates and fragrances because they can irritate the scalp.

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