Best Scalp Treatment for Hair Growth

The best scalp treatment for hair growth is the one that deals with what's actually going on at your scalp, whether that's oil and build-up, dryness or flakes. Hair grows from the scalp, so a scalp that's clogged, tight or irritated is a poor place to start. A scalp treatment looks after that skin and gives the hair you're growing a cleaner, calmer base. It isn't a fix for every kind of hair loss, and it won't bring back hair that's already gone. Buy it for the scalp, and judge it on how your scalp feels.

Start with your scalp, not the label

Before you compare anything, look at your scalp the day after you wash.

• Oily, or flaky with build-up: an exfoliating scrub or clarifying scalp treatment, used before shampoo.
• Dry, tight or itchy: a leave-on serum or a pre-wash oil. Skip the hard scrubbing.
• Comfortable, but the hair looks thin at the roots: a light leave-on that won't weigh fine hair down.

Buy for the scalp you have, not the hair you want.

The three main types

Scrubs and exfoliants lift oil, dead skin and product build-up. Physical scrubs use fine grains; chemical exfoliants loosen build-up without the rubbing, which suits a scalp that doesn't like friction. Neither is an everyday product. Over-scrubbing leaves the scalp sore and oilier than before.

Leave-on serums and tonics go onto a clean scalp, parted section by section, and stay in. Texture matters here. Anything heavy at the root makes thin hair look flatter, so if your hair is fine, pick the lightest one that does the job.

Pre-wash oils and masks go on before shampoo and get washed out. They suit a dry, tight scalp. On an oily scalp they're usually the wrong choice.

Hair fall, hair loss and thinning hair

If you've been searching for the best scalp treatment for hair fall, you're probably seeing more hair in the brush or the drain. Shedding has lots of causes, and a scalp treatment only covers the scalp side of it. The same goes for the best scalp treatment for hair loss: match the format to your scalp type, use it regularly, and be patient. Hair grows slowly, so give a product a fair run before you judge it.

For the best scalp treatment for thinning hair, think about weight as much as anything. A clean, light root lifts better than one coated in oil, so leave-on formats and gentle exfoliants tend to suit thinning hair better than rich masks.

How to get your money's worth

• Follow the pack for how often. More is not better, especially with scrubs.
• Use your fingertips, not your nails, when you massage it in.
• If you colour your hair, don't exfoliate the scalp right before a colour service. A freshly scrubbed scalp is more likely to sting.
• Wash out pre-wash oils properly. Oil left at the root on fine hair undoes the point of the treatment.

Build the rest of the routine around it

A scalp treatment works between washes, but the shampoo you use every time matters just as much. Pair it with a shampoo for hair growth that cleans the scalp without stripping it. If you want something for the lengths as well, compare the best leave in treatment for hair growth options. For volumising and thickening products beyond the scalp, see our products for hair loss and thinning.

Here's the honest bit. If your scalp is clean, comfortable and not flaking, and your shampoo already suits it, you may not need a separate scalp treatment at all. Spend the money on the right shampoo and conditioner first. If you already know the format you want, browse the full scalp treatment range and compare them side by side.

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