One of the first things we learned in cosmetology school was how to do a scalp treatment, and for good reason. For all the benefits they provide, I think it’s crazy they aren’t a regular part of our “beauty” routines. We’ll scrub, rub, and moisturize every square inch of our body, but the scalp tends to be neglected. Of all the at home diy treatments you can do, a scalp treatment is of the easiest – and seriously one of the best. They feel amazing, get rid of flakes, and promote fast and healthy hair growth. Catch me after the jump, I’ll have you scrubbin’ your head in no time, with a couple things you have around your house!
Diy All Natural Scalp Treatment
I have a friend from childhood that was my ever faithful guinea pig during beauty school. She was the first head of hair I ever took a pair of scissors to, put color on, and performed my first scalp treatment on. To this day it is the one thing she begs me to make time for when I make it back home. I always say yes, under the condition she’ll do mine too. After just one, you’ll understand!
Before we talk about the how, let’s talk about the why.
Why Scalp Treatments Are Important
Here are just a few reasons that a scalp treatment should be a part of your regular beauty routine:
- Removes product build up (even shampoo and conditioner build up)
- Relieves dry, flaky, tight skin from winter months
- Treats dandruff
- Stimulates the scalp to speed up hair growth
On a more serious note: many scalp related problems including hair loss and slow hair growth are caused by a hardened build-up of sebum that clogs the hair follicles. Over time this build up may cause some types of scaling, and if not removed may eventually obstruct the hair follicle’s ability to function properly.
Convinced you yet? Okay, then lets talk about how.
How To Do A Scalp Treatment
Supplies
- Scalp treatment bristle brush – natural is best, but all I could find at Sally’s was a nylon brush. They have a rounded top at the bristles making it easier to roll over the scalp, but even a regular bristle brush can do the job.
- Ingredients for recipe
- Application brush or cotton balls
While you can give yourself a scalp treatment, if you have a willing friend to swap with you, it’s dreamy. It always feels better when someone else washes your hair, right? My scalp was a mess from winter, so I couldn’t wait for a taker and did it myself, still fabulous.
Recipes
When I was in school we actually used sea breeze, or tea tree conditioner. However, I like to go a natural route these days and it’s really simple to whip up your own anyways.
My favorite oil to use is Coconut oil. It has a wealth of benefits for the hair and scalp, and it smells great. However, you can use olive oil, as it has it’s own fair share of benefits. Just make sure both are extra virgin and organic. I’ve heard jojoba oil is fabulous on the scalp too, I just haven’t tried it. You can just add a little lemon juice to the oil and right there you have a great treatment, but if you want to kick it up a notch:
My all time favorite recipe: Take about 4 tablespoons softened coconut oil, mix with 2-4 (depending on sensitivity) drops tea tree oil, and 3-4 drops of rosemary oil. This is dreamy.
Ingredients from the kitchen: I mix 4 tablespoons coconut oil with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 tablespoon grapefruit juice.
You can do a little research and find all sorts of recipes and concoctions for scalp treatments, these are just my favorite. Rosemary and tea tree oil are both great for treating dry flaky scalps, and stimulate the hair follicle for hair growth, among other things. You can also adjust the amounts, but keep in mind that tea tree oil can be irritating if you use too much, so use caution.
Application:
- You’ll start on dry hair, and it really makes no difference if it is clean or not. Starting on top, place the brush on the scalp, rotate it across the scalp while pressing down and pull off in the end. Repeat across the scalp, parting hair where necessary. This will stimulate the blood circulation and loosen any dry skin scales. This should feel good, don’t press so hard that it hurts.
- Next part the hair down the center and apply the oil mixture to the scalp with the application brush or cotton ball. Work in one inch sections down the sides of the head, then the back making sure the mixture covers the entire scalp.
- Now give your scalp (or your friends) a good massage. Rub with your fingertips in a circular motion all over the scalp. Leave the treatment on for about 20 minutes.
- Finish it off with a good shampoo and conditioner.
Easy right? And trust me, so worth it.
When you’re finished with that move onto the body with the easiest scrub ever.
Happy scrubbing friends, just consider it a part of your Beauty Spring Cleaning!
How about you, have you had a scalp treatment?
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hi i have problem when ever i wash my hear with shampoo after few hrs my sclap come oiley and i am so up set about this proble..and also i have hear fall so give some tips about my problem ..thanks and best wish
Umer the reason your hair becomes oily after shampooing is because shampoo is basically detergents and chemicals that strip your hair of all natural oils and sebum causing your scalp to over produce oil in order to make up for what the shampoo took away. Try googling “no poo” hair wash or search Pinterest.
Keep in mind that rosemary (along with many other essential oils and herbs) is known to stain and darken blonde hair. Perhaps just coconut oil would work.
Yes, if used straight up than can be a concern, but in the diluted amounts used here it shouldn’t be an issue. However when in doubt, just use the coconut oil alone.
I need to try this! I have so much product in my hair because my hold shampoo and conditioner brand was horrible! So I need to try this because I can’t get the product out!
Try a clarifying shampoo too, Aveda has an awesome one!
Hi. This isn’t related to the topic being discussed here but maybe you can help. I only wax my arm pits, legs, & do a Brazilian wax often. I get these ingrown hairs that I can detect & sometimes pull out in my bikini area but they’re all over my knee area & underarms. I’ve been using Dove, the unscented bar & also Nivea body wash, non-comedogenic aka doesn’t clog pores but I’m not sure about the dove bar soap. Something seems to be clogging my pores. I use Cetaphil lotion which also doesn’t clog my pores but it’s like my legs just get the most ingrowns & it’s rough. What advice can you give me? Also, from the ingrown, they leave the dark spots all over my bikini line, UGLY, what can I use to naturally lighten that up? I don’t want to use chemicals by the way. Thank You!
Hi Storm,
So sorry for the delayed reply. I know there is a product for men that you can buy at beauty supply stores that is supposed to be a dream for fighting ingrown hairs. I wish I remembered the name! I would google the term, and see what comes up and look at reviews. I don’t know about the ingredients, so look into that as well.
I can say that one of the best tips I was ever given was to take a wash cloth against the grain (growth pattern) every day after you shave. This ensures the hair doesn’t loop back inside the pore, and instead grows out. It kind of hurts, but works!
For the dark spots, for the non-chemical route I would say let it fade with time!
Tend skin is the name of the product that I think you are talking about. I have tried it and it burned like crazy. I believe it has alcohol in it. Another product that I have tried is called Coochy. Sounds funny, but works wonders. Not too expensive. Google it.
I used to have this same problem. Coconut oil after waxing/shaving prevents them. Since I started using coconut (sometimes with a drop of tea tree oil) I haven’t had a problem with ingrown hairs or razor bumps. Coconut oil is some amazing stuff! :D
You can make your own life saving anti ingrown hairs treatment! Use a 1:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol and witch hazel. You can buy both at a drug store. Crush up about 8 aspirin (must be aspirin) and add to the mixture. Shake well so the aspirin powder is well combined. Spread this on your armpits, legs, bikini zone etc after shaving. It will sting, sometimes quite a lot. But it is SO worth it!! After a few times, you’ll notice your 100% free of shaving bumps/ingrown hairs!
The shampoos & conditioners have chemicals that I’m allergic to and my scalp has sores on it and they itch, do you know of something I can use for a natural shampoo & conditioner, plus mousse & hair spray ??
Hi Sharon,
Aveda has a great line that is all natural – but keep in mind that you probably need natural and sensitive. Seek out a local health food store and they might have something you could use!
I love the idea of this!!! How often do you need to do it?
Jena
Hi Jena,
It really depends on your scalp. I don’t use a lot of products, and now live in the south, so I only need to do this a few times a year. However, when I lived in the super dry west, and used a lot more products in my hair I easily could have used one once a month! I would say every four weeks would be max.
Thanks so much! Sounds like just what I’m looking for. Planning to try it soon to treat my winter scalp. A great way to use my doTerra oils!
I’m just wondering why everyone says that it must be organic coconut oil. What is the difference to your scalp? Why not a less expensive pure coconut oil?
Hi Candi,
It depends on how much that kind of thing concerns you. Your scalp is very porous and anything you put onto is absorbed into your body. I just try to limit the amount of chemicals I use, thus why I said organic. But in all honesty, I haven’t done much research on Coconut oil and how vulnerable it is to being sprayed. For instance, although bananas are often sprayed, the flesh of the banana sees hardly any of the chemical.
Just use what you are most comfortable with!
Thank you! That was helpful. I have ordered some organic, but I just wondered since I have seen several people imply it had to be organic.
You’ve posted 2 recipes…are you mixing both of these together to do the treatment or choosing just one?
Just pick one – one is for stuff you might have around your house, or for those that don’t have access to a health food store. You can also just use a tea tree conditioner or the coconut oil alone.
Your articles are so fun and informative- thanks so much for sharing!
Summer- If you are not opposed to using traditional antiperspirant/deodorant containing aluminum chloride- swipe that on the areas that are prone to ingrowns just after you shave the area and pat it dry. My bestie’s sister is a nurse and it is a trick she taught us. Supposedly the aluminum chloride prevents bacteria from growing in the hair follicles and prevents infection/ingrowns. Otherwise, I can’t help. It works like a charm for us, I haven’t had an ingrown in probably 5 years. Happy hair removal!
I’m sorry, I meant to direct that at “Storm” not “Summer”. I mixed up two of my favorite names!
We generally avoid chemicals and keep things all natural, but I have to admit that I color my hair! Having white hairs concentrated at my temples at 35 was something I just couldn’t live with! Anyway, wondering how the scalp treatment affects color treated hair? Thanks!
It depends on the color really, but if your just wait to do this right before you color it and only use the coconut oil you would be fine. And yes, I hear you on the greys…they are showing up on me all of the sudden too :)
I have a scalp condition called sebhorric dermatitis and wanted to know which mixture would be best. I’m also trying to grow out my hair and it is damaged b.c of coloring and straightening and wanted to know what shampoo/ conditioner u would recommend?
Hi Nikki,
I am not familiar with that condition, and I would advise you to consult with your dermatologist first. You wouldn’t want to aggravate it -but it might help too. Just check with your doctor first.
As for Shampoo, Joico has the best hair reconstructer and for the life of me I cannot remember the name of it! Find a salon that sells Joico, and they will be able to point you in the right direction.
Either one should be fine, but start with small batches in case one or the other burns. If you have open sores, stick with coconut oil only. It should actually help.
Hi, i have a serious problem in the last 2 years basically since i moved into town i have had a problem with hair loss, my hair is so weak, and barely grows,. Any ideas on what i can do, i am 30 years old and my doctors can find nothing medically causing this condition. I really don’t want to loss all my hair, please help me if u can.
Hi April,
Hair loss can be caused by a number of things, I know in my family it is hereditary in women. My Aunt lost quite a bit of hair in her 30′s and starting using Nioxin with great results. I think she regained at least half the hair she lost. You can also go to a health food store and ask about certain vitamins that could help. So sorry you are going through this.
I would also recommend getting a blood test from your doctor for hypothyroid. That and stress can cause hair thinning and loss. I’ve had problems with my hair from both so I’m glad I found out. Both are fixable :)
I agree, and would add a cortisol panel. Your thyroid and adrenals are two parts of the same system, so a hitch in either one – due to stress, f.ex. – could cause this.
I have a very scaly and flaky scalp. Would this work at removing some of those flakes? I have tried everything and nothing seems to work! Thank you!
Yep, it sure will!
This sounds amazing! I have been coloring my hair for years and after my last visit to the salon, my hair stylists had to apply the color twice. Apparently my scalp is super sensitive because my scalp broke out and blistered and itched like crazy. It was awful! Now my hair is in recovery but still tends to itch. will a scalp treatment like this help with that?
Hi Amy,
You know without seeing your scalp it’s hard for me to recommend this treatment – it very well may aggravate the healing process. I would wait until you are certain that your scalp is healed up, then just use the coconut oil and rub with your fingers. This will loosen the flakes and ease the itching. You could also pop into the hairstylist and tell her she owes you one :) I would have done it for you!
Amy, it sounds like you have had an allergic reaction! STAY AWAY FROM ANY TYPE OF HAIR DYE! I am saying this from personal experience. After dying my hair blonde for years I went to have a touch up at the salon and woke up the next day covered in hives and blisters. After a whole week of itchiness and torture I was admitted to the ER and kept overnight. Worst experience of my life. I had to do an allergy test a few weeks later at the hospital and I was diagnosed with PPHD. PPHD is found in all pernament hair-dyes and hannah tattoo ink. I have since not been able to dye my hair. The allergy is very serious and the way you develop a reaction is by constant exposure to the chemical (ie. dying your hair over and over)- and one day, your immune and nervous system just collapses and you get a reaction. Over the past 4 years I’ve been using ‘Sanotint Light’ hair dye line as it has NO PPHD in its hair dye. I went from Blonde to brunette (as there was no way to upkeep blonde) and the dye is semi-pernament so because it doesn’t have the chemical the color fades over time with washing. I have decided to stop dying my hair since almost a year now and let my hair grow out naturally, it’s a process (my hair grows slow) but in the end I know its worth it!
PPHD is a really scary allergy that most don’t about because hair dressers don’t warn us about it and don’t do patch tests prior to an appointment. I would recommend to anyone who had a reaction after coloring their hair to book an appointment at the hospital to be tested for PPHD as it was in my case, the reaction could be life threatening.
I’d be glad to answer any questions you might have via email :) (ybarankin@gmail.com)
I would like to do this scalp treatment but im also wanting to try “dyeing” my hair naturally with black tea or coffee, and im just wondering which should i do first, the scalp treatment or the dye? If i did the scalp treatment first might it help the tea stain darker and more healthy looking or would it not matter?
Hi Sarah,
I don’t have any experience with the tea or coffee dyeing treatments – but where they would essentially be just staining the hair and not lifting then depositing I would say you would want to do this a couple days before so as not to strip the color. I hope this helps!
Hi
i need to know if this will reverse the premature gray hair? i’m 25 i’ve had gray hair since i was 16 its more like a genetic thing. my dad went thru same process! is there any home remedy that will help reverse gray hair?
thank you.
Sorry Pete, not that I know of :)
I saw some where that if you took 2 tbs of black molasses 2 times a day, in 3-6 months your hair will start growing back with your natural hair color.
I’m allergic to alll things coconut, very unfortunate considering how many things its used in. Do you know of any alternatives to coconut oil?
Yes, you can just use olive oil, or even just a tea tree conditioner – hope that helps!
hi
I was wondering if I could add an egg to the scalp treatment… I know egg is really good for the hair but wasn’t sure if it would be ok with this mix.
You know, I haven’t tried it, but I am sure a quick search on google would reveal some information. Let me know how it goes!
I’m definitely going to try this. Thank you for sharing.
I tried kitchen ingredient recipe and after thoroughly washing my hair I can not seem to get the coconut oil out of my hair. It looks as though I haven’t washed my hair for weeks and feels disgusting! What should I do? Is it safe to maybe add a few drops of dish washing soap to my shampoo to get the oil out?
Hmmm…I don’t know about dish soap, but a clarifying shampoo should work great. I have never had a problem washing mine out, but there have been a few that need a couple washes to get the job done.
Won’t the lemmon juice lighten your hair?
XOXO
If you don’t dilute it with oil, and if you lay in the sun…it sure could :). In this case you should be fine, but if you’re concerned stick with straight coconut oil or a Tea Tree conditioner.
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