Scalp Exfoliation Is the Trick to Shiny, Bouncy Curls
Weekly exfoliation became my new hair's new best friend until I finally chopped the damage off and started from scratch. With healthy hair, I went years without thinking about exfoliating my scalp. Then, this summer, my relentless quest for maximum curl volume at all times brought scalp exfoliation back into my life. I was having trouble getting my curl pattern to start near the crown of my head thanks to a combination of how curls loosen under their own weight and the buildup of sprays, powders, and oils I use throughout the week. When I asked our brilliant beauty writer, Rachel, what she used to keep her curls in perfect spirals, she recommended finding a scalp exfoliator that I loved. So I did just that. Twice.
The bad news is that I could not choose between Lush Big Shampoo and IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub if you offered me cash money. The good news is that they're both vegan and cruelty-free and I don't think anyone will ever force me to pick one over the other. Both products break through buildup and unclog pores while differing slightly in texture. Lush Big Shampoo has some slip to it, thanks to extra virgin coconut and mandarin oils combined with sea salt granules that dissolve quickly enough to make it a five-minute scrub-session if you're in a hurry.
The IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub's consistency leans more toward a paste—which takes longer to massage in and rinse out—but brings the bonus of apple cider vinegar (a major win if you're dealing with a lot of product buildup; it eats right through residue to dissolve it). The end result from both products is the same: supple, featherlight hair with a lot of shine and plenty of bounce.
Even if you don't pile on tons of product like I do, you'll still see the benefits of exfoliating your scalp. "Any product or just daily activity like flaking, sweating, and oil production can cause buildup in your hair, and your scalp produces more oil when you’re stressed," says Chase Kusero, Co-Founder of IGK Hair. That's right. Even a squeaky clean scalp bears the volume-crushing weight of buildup.
After bringing scalp exfoliation back to my weekly hair care routine, I was so impressed with the bouncy, boing-boing softness of my hair that I actually encouraged my coworkers to touch it, which should show you how dramatic the results of this 10-minute savior really are. I would throw down with anyone who touched my hair without permission, but it feels like a worse crime to deny a close-up experience of how awesome my curls are at peak soft, corkscrew curly brilliance.
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