Wash your hair less with these scalp-first shampoos that bust through buildup

Once upon a time we were told that we needed to wash our hair every single day. Here in 2019, however, we’ve learned that’s bull. That’s because shampooing your hair daily strips it of necessary natural oils, which can actually dry out your strands, tricking it into producing more oils, ultimately allowing for greasy roots on one end of the spectrum, and split ends on the other.

As a result, just about everyone and their mother has stocked their vanities with dry shampoo. While an absolute godsend of a product (I have more cans than I’d like to admit), it, too, has its limitations. When you load your scalp with dry shampoo to help extend a wash, sure, it absorbs excess oil, but it also clogs the pores and sebaceous glands on your scalp, which can lead to itchiness, dryness, and, in some cases, breakouts. That’s why it’s so important to stock your shower with scalp-specific products to cut through the gunk once a week.

The trick to finding a quality scalp shampoo is to know what to look for. It’s a safe bet to keep an eye out for ingredients like lactic and salicylic acid, apple cider vinegar, pink clay, and charcoal. All of these ingredients aide in gentle exfoliation, which is the main goal of caring for your scalp after weighing it down with dry shampoo all week.

Since you definitely don’t want to head to the store to read through dozens of hair care labels, we’ve done the work for you. Below you’ll find 13 scalp rinses and shampoos that will wash away the build-up of dry shampoo. You’re welcome in advance.

Shop Scalp Shampoos

Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo $28

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo $42

Leonor Greyl Bain TS Shampooing Balancing Shampoo $47

IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub $36

amika Reset Exfoliating Jelly Shampoo $25

dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse $35

Vitabrid C¹² Scalp Shampoo $32

DHC Scalp Care Shampoo $17

Hairstory New Wash (Deep) $40

R+Co Acid Wash ACV Cleansing Rinse $32

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo $57

The Mane Choice Prickly Pear Paradise Conditioning Cleanse Foam $15

Philip B. Peppermint Avocado Shampoo $34

While your scalp is top of mind, you might want to consider adding a scalp serum to your routine. And, whatever you do, don’t forget to apply scalp sunscreen on your next beach trip.