Gretchen Fries, Gretchen Fries is a trichologist with Bosley Professional Strength, a line of hair products that helps prevent hair loss and restore thinning hair. Rubber: You’ll find many scalp shampoo brushes with rubber bristles. Rubber tips are hard, to provide a firm massage, but they won’t scratch the scalp like some plastic bristles can. Try the brush on your pet. Your scalp shampoo brush can double as a grooming brush for your pet. We recommend cleaning it thoroughly after each use if using it across species!

If you’ve got a flaky scalp or just want to give yourself a head massage, using a scalp shampoo brush in the shower is an easy and affordable way to give yourself a salon treatment at home. Most of these brushes have a circular, bristled head that you hold in the palm.

There aren't any hard and fast rules,” says Stafford. “Some scalp massagers are meant to be used on dry hair, while some of the most popular devices are used in the shower – which offer a gentle alternative to scrubbing and exfoliating your scalp with your fingers and nails. My top tip is read the instructions on your scalp massager so you know how to get the best results. The one I designed should be used in the shower, though, as I like to do the massage on wet hair so that any build-up is removed by the shampoo," he adds. Do scalp massagers work to stimulate hair growth?

A. There’s a difference between shampooing your hair and exfoliating your scalp. Shampooing, even with a medicated shampoo, won’t remove everything, especially deeply embedded debris. Only physical exfoliation will. Q. I wear my hair in braids and sometimes weaves. Can I use a scalp shampoo brush? If you've ever thought that a scalp massager wasn't for you, whether because of price or an assumption that they're too bougie for your low-key hair-care routine, think again. "It is necessary to activate the scalp muscles and improve circulation as well as remove debris from the base of the hair follicle," says Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist, hairstylist, and colorist with over 20 years of scalp- and hair-health experience. "The scalp brush is universally needed for all scalp and hair types to be used at some point in scalp and hair-care regimens," she adds. That said, Hill points out that the benefits of scalp massagers depend on how you use them. Her suggestion? Pair scalp massagers with pre-shampoo scalp treatments weekly or bi-weekly. "The scalp brushes aid with exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and product buildup from the base of the hair follicle," she explains. "When used with a pre-shampoo oil or serum-based scalp treatment, scalp brushes and massagers aid in assisting the active ingredients to penetrate deeper due to the design of the brush's teeth or nodes, as well." And, in case you were wondering, a massager also does wonders for ridding your scalp of itchy dandruff — so long as you're gentle and don't apply too much pressure. All hope isn't lost, though, because even though scalp massagers won't physically grow your hair, they can definitely make your scalp healthier (and long hair = healthy hair, y'all). Since scalp massagers are really excellent at removing product buildup and excess oil, they're a great addition to anyone's routine. And as an added bonus, they feel really, really great—and isn't that what self-care is all about? “A head massage feels good because there are many nerve endings in the scalp," says Francesca Fusco, MD, of Wexler Dermatology. "Individuals who experience stress in the muscles of the scalp report feeling better after a massage because it relaxes their scalp muscles." What is the best scalp massager?

Benefits of using a scalp massage brush

The Manta Hairbrush is a flexible, sleekly designed option that easily glides over every curve and bend of your skull as it works to detangle and stimulate the scalp. The brush also works to smooth your hair with its rotating bristles that comb right through your tangles. Half the joy of going for a haircut is that ever-so-cathartic scalp massage at the shampoo bowl. You know, the one with a glorious lather that leaves your head feeling lighter and scalp refreshed and tingly. Needless to say, our scalps—and increasingly tense minds—are in need of reinvigoration. Just ask Bridgette Hill, also known as The Scalp Therapist, a trichologist and colorist at Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa. Brushes that vibrate take the elbow grease out of scrubbing your own scalp, but they require batteries. These brushes also work as self-massagers with pulse and massage settings. Select one with a timer if you want to relax for five minutes without worrying about when to shut it off. Only select a vibrating brush that’s completely waterproof if you want to use it in the shower. Color This new scrubber by Conair is really convenient, since you can hang it in your shower, and the handle is ergonomically designed for easy use. The round, silicone bristles give you just enough of a sloughing effect on your scalp without going too hard, and they also work to detangle even the mightiest of knots. Plastic: This is the cheapest material used in scalp shampoo brushes. While this keeps the price low, the bristles themselves tend to be longer and sharper, which doesn’t yield as deep a massage. Plastic bristles can also potentially scratch delicate scalps. Shape and handle

Scalp massagers are typically handheld, brush-like devices that work to stimulate and exfoliate the scalp like my. They tend to have soft silicone or synthetic bristles that help massage the scalp and buff away dry, flaky skin, product buildup and excess oil," says award winning hairdresser Lee Stafford. “The result is an environment for a happy, healthy scalp making them a great addition to anyone's routine." How do scalp massagers work? Now that you know scalp massagers are the move for a healthy scalp, you're probably wondering how long and how often you should use one. There aren't any hard and fast rules when it comes to the length of your massage sesh, but Dr. Fusco suggests a solid three minutes if you're working with dry hair. If you're massaging your scalp in the shower or while shampooing, Blaisure says you should aim for one to two minutes. No matter how long your scalp massage is, though, there's one golden rule: Always use light to medium pressure with a scalp massager—anything rougher can (and will!) irritate your skin. To use, rinse hair with water, then pour the shampoo or scalp treatment directly on the bristles. Massage the shampoo into the scalp with tight, circular motions (rather than combing it through the hair). This should give you the sensation of a head massage performed by someone pressing their fingers firmly. Rinse out the shampoo and rinse off the brush. The result is an exfoliated scalp. Bristle material

Scalp shampoo brushes are made of a variety of materials. Pay attention to the material in the bristles, which isn’t always the same as the material in the handle or grip. You want to select a material that’s hard enough to provide the necessary pressure to scrub but not so hard that it will damage your scalp. Silicone: This is another common material used for bristles in scalp shampoo brushes. Like rubber, silicone won’t scratch the scalp. It has a little more give than hard rubber while also providing enough pressure to scrub. Silicone bristles tend to be longer and triangular. When you go in for a a fresh haircut or bouncy blowout, of course you can't wait for the end result: A pretty, shiny, coiffed 'do. But one of the best parts of the whole process? The scalp massage from your hair pro, hands down. A healthy scalp makes for a healthy head of hair. Exfoliating your scalp is just as important as exfoliating your skin, especially if you suffer from dandruff. Using a scalp shampoo brush is an effective and inexpensive way to buff your scalp and break up dandruff and oily buildup for a squeaky-clean scalp and shiny hair.