Not Detoxifying Your Scalp? You Should Be

The word "detox" gets thrown around a lot in the beauty and wellness industries. So when we heard about detoxifying your scalp, we couldn't help but roll our eyes — that is, until we talked to dermatologists. "I have always understood that healthy hair starts with a healthy and clean scalp and this is something that I educate my patients on regularly," says Dr. Caroline Robinson, founder of Tone Dermatology in Chicago. "Regularly cleansing the scalp with a shampoo that cleans the scalp without compromising your hair type is essential." To learn more about scalp detoxes, we tapped Dr. Robinson and dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman.

Keep reading for our expert-approved guide to detoxifying your scalp.

What Is Scalp Detoxing?

"Scalp detoxing is similar to exfoliating the skin," explains Dr. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology. "It involves applying cleansing ingredients to the scalp to draw out impurities and restore shine and luster to hair."

Typically, using a clarifying shampoo can do the trick. However, if you have super thick hair, make sure to also use a scalp brush. This tool will not only massage your roots as you wash, but it will also make sure that the product is getting down to where it needs to be.

What Are the Benefits of Scalp Detoxing?

Dr. Hartman shares that regular scalp detoxing leads to shinier, healthy hair with more effective growth. Detoxing the area helps to pull debris from the scalp and promotes a healthy environment for hair. However, like with anything else, overdoing it can pose its fair share of issues. Oh, and if you have a pre-existing scalp condition, tread lightly.