So You Have Scalp Buildup: 8 Expert Ways To Get Rid Of The Gunk ASAP

Your scalp's natural oils are a wonderful thing—they hydrate your strands, keep them shiny, and even improve overall scalp health. Although, if you've ever gone a day or two too long without correctly shampooing your hair (correctly being the operative word, here), chances are you've experienced some buildup—where those once glorious natural oils, mixed with dirt, dead skin, and bacteria, accumulate and wreak havoc on your tresses (more on that in a moment). And if you throw some stylers, dry shampoos, and hair care products into the mix? It's all the easier to gather up grime. 

Technically speaking, there are two types of scalp buildup: natural and product buildup. Natural buildup happens, well, naturally, when dead skin, dirt, and sebum accumulate on your scalp—especially if you go too long between washes.

Product buildup, on the other hand, is exactly what its name suggests—your hair care products can build up and up on the scalp, which can cause its own type of flakes (they're usually "stickier"; hair care products are made to adhere to the hair, after all). 

And no matter which type of buildup you have, too much of it can lead to scalp inflammation, resulting in flakes, itching, s

Short answer? Totally. Again, too much buildup can suffocate the follicle root, which is literally the source of hair growth. Too much inflammation can limit growth and eventually lead to shedding. Take it from Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mudgil Dermatology: "If buildup is really extreme, it can even pull the hair down because there's so much inflammation around the hair follicle," he previously told us. That's why many experts tout scalp-stimulating treatments for speedier hair growth—a clean, happy scalp leads to full, lush strands. 

Or, you can fold an extra treatment step into your hair care routine. These typically come with two action plans: There are your physical scrubs, with granules (like sugar and salt) to physically exfoliate the skin and remove buildup; and there are your chemical formulas, with naturally exfoliating acids and enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells and lift up debris. 

If you feel like throwing together your own concoction, hairstylist Anthony Dickey, founder of Hair Rules, has quite the DIY scalp treatment to try. It takes a bit of legwork, especially if you don't have a collection of essential oils at your disposal, but the mixture is nothing short of dreamy. 

Your trusty ACV makes a lovely DIY scalp treatment as well: "Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids, which can help degrease and cleanse the skin," board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, M.D., and co-founder of LM Medical NYC, once told us about ACVs hair benefits. 

While you can find a number of apple cider vinegar hair products on the market (it's a common ingredient in the previously mentioned clarifying shampoos), you can also DIY your way to buildup-free locks: Simply combine ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of cold water, then mix it together to form your solution. 

Some swear by the solution; others run straight for the hills. But if it works for your skin, you might fare well with applying the solution on the scalp. "It's a mild scalp refresher," says texture specialist and artistic director at Matrix Michelle O'Connor about witch hazel for hair. Witch hazel can help relieve itchiness as well as control oil and flakes, which makes it an especially great cleansing option for protective styles, such as braids or twists, O'Connor adds. You can either apply the witch hazel directly onto your scalp (with a dropper or spray bottle) or rub a saturated cotton pad on the skin.

Technically several of the above steps would qualify as a scalp detox, as it just means to deeply cleansing your scalp to get rid of buildup, and dead skin, and restore the scalp to a healthy state. There are many ways to do a scalp detox: From chemical exfoliants, clarifying shampoos, scrubs, detoxifying oils, and more. Read more about scalp detoxes here.