Your Hair Is Only as Good as Your Scalp Routine—Start With These Key Products

"I love the clarifying shampoo from Kenra. It really helps break down any buildup that is on my scalp. I usually wash my clients with this first, followed by a regular shampoo. You also want to only use a clarifying shampoo once a week max or every other week, just when you feel that your scalp has buildup." — Glenn Ellis, celebrity hairstylist

Pros: Affordable, color-safe, gentle formula

Cons: Can be difficult to rinse out

Customer Review: "I use this product once a week to get rid of my product build up and I could not be any happier!"

This treatment from The Inkey List has a serum-like texture and contains salicylic acid and panthenol to help clarify the scalp. It also fights flaking and itchiness and helps balance oil production.

Pros: Contains exfoliating salicylic acid, panthenol soothes the scalp, fights flaking, itchiness, and balances oil production

Cons: May not be suitable for a sensitive scalp

Customer Review: "I love this product for my oily scalp. It gives me an extra few days to go between washes. Also, my scalp does not itch after using it. I usually use it prior to shampooing as per instructions and now it’s a must in my hair routine."

I'm a huge fan of Maria Nila's gentle, color-safe haircare products. While I have to give a special shout-out to the Curls and Coils collection, the brand's new clarifying shampoo is just what I needed to add to my routine since I usually use a co-wash. 

Pros: Gentle, purifying formula; contains AHAs, aloe vera, and peppermint to soothe the scalp; silicone-free

Cons: None

Although Nécessaire's scalp treatment has more of a serum-like texture, it's great for those dealing with hair loss or if you'd like to help boost your natural hair growth. It features a biomimetic peptide blend to support fuller-looking hair, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and niacinamide to support the scalp's protective barrier.

Pros: Helps boost natural hair growth, features a biomimetic peptide to support fuller-looking hair

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "This is so easy to use everyday and it works. It’s also immediately soothing to the scalp and not sticky at all like Vegamour so you can use it daily even if you don’t wash your hair every day."

This lightweight, pre-shampoo oil from Kiehl's is designed to immediately improve hydration levels in the scalp. It contains rich oils like avocado and rosemary to improve shine, manageability, and overall scalp health.

Pros: Infused with avocado and rosemary oil to hydrate the scalp, improves hair manageability

Cons: May be too thick for finer hair types

Customer Review: "I struggle with dry skin, especially on my scalp; This product helps with it. I just use it as directed and after I do not have any flakes in my hair. If you are on the edge of buying this product, definitely get it!"

A good hair oil can definitely up your scalp routine. Ceremonia's works so well as a pre-shampoo treatment. Every stylist I spoke to for this story also recommends using a scalp scrubber (with or without a a hair oil!). Ellis said it best himself: "I recommend getting a scalp massager to use in the shower during shampoos. This really helps loosen up anything on the scalps as well as promotes blood circulation, which stimulates hair growth!"

Pros: Works well as a pre-shampoo treatment, helps with flakiness, helps promote healthy hair growth

Cons: Strong smell

Customer Review: "I’ve used this oil for about two to three months now and I’m still loving it! The smell is unique but very pleasant. My hair feels thicker and looks shinier. I’ve also noticed insane hair growth around my hairline!!"

"The Solu Sea Salt Scrub Cleanser from Davines is great for a scalp exfoliant and it’s vegan!" — Ellis

Pros: Gently removes excess residue and buildup from the scalp, has a texturizing effect on the hair

Cons: Expensive

Ellis gives this apple cider vinegar scrub honorable mention. It soothes and calms scalp irritation and helps rebalance its pH levels in addition to detoxifying and exfoliating.

Pros: Calms scalp irritation, detoxifies with apple cider vinegar, helps rebalance the pH levels of the scalp

Cons: Hard to rinse out

Customer Review: "My scalp has never felt better!! I use this once or twice a week with the ACV rinse Lite and the ACV hair mask!! MAGICAL!"

Celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Korab loves this scrub from Kevin Murphy because it's gentle on the scalp yet extremely effective in getting rid of dirt, oil, and flakes. I've used this scalp scrub myself, though, and I definitely think it's a better option for thinner, finer hair types. If you have thick hair, let's just say it might take a couple of washes for you to get it all out.

Pros: Purifies and detoxifies the scalp, can be used as a pre-wash treatment

Cons: Hard to rinse out of thick hair

Customer Review: "I had flaky skin on my scalp and this scrub quickly fixed it! I love to have it as part of my hair routine now with no issues. My scalp feels so clean."

"When it comes to finding the perfect balance between a healthy scalp and hair, I prefer Nioxin products. Designed from a dermatologist's perspective on haircare, the entire line focuses on maintaining a healthy environment for hair to grow. The shampoo line comes in six different ranges depending on the density of the hair and whether or not the hair has been chemically treated.  They also have a full line of dry shampoos, scalp exfoliating, and growth-enabling products." — Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist

Pros: Helps hair appear thicker, helps promote healthy hair growth

Cons: Slightly fragranced

Customer Review: "Noticed an improvement in the texture of my super fine, limp hair after the first use. A slight tingle to the scalp and a light peppermint smell. Only use a dime size of each."

The Ordinary offers this milky, hydrating serum for the hair that contains several moisturizing factors found naturally within the skin to support long-term scalp hydration.

Pros: Affordable, contains moisturizing factors found naturally in the skin to support long-term scalp hydration

Cons: None

Customer Review: "Gives lots of moisture without making the scalp greasy!"

Nutrafol is known for its specially made formulas for hair thinning, but you don't want to miss out on the brand's scalp essence, either. It calms redness, reduces itching and a flaky scalp, and improves overall hydration levels.

Pros: Calms redness, reduces itchiness, improves scalp hydration levels

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "This has changed my hair for the better! I’m absolutely obsessed!!!"