One of today’s hottest hair care products? Exfoliating scalp masks, formulated with gentle chemical exfoliant glycolic acid. Propelled by the skinification of the hair care market, scalp masks target the consumer desire to protect the scalp’s health and improve the appearance of hair.
“Unlike the majority of hair masks on the market, scalp masks focus less on hair and more on skin, though it’s important to remember that the two are inherently related. So naturally, choosing the best scalp mask for you will depend on two things: your skin type, and the hair-related concerns you’re dealing with,” explains Andrea Pyros in EliteDaily.
For consumers seeking to promote their scalp and hair health, an exfoliating glycolic acid based scalp mask is an affordable, over-the-counter hair care product that could help reduce the buildup of dead skin cells, styling products, and excess sebum.
An uptick in interest
Consumer interest in scalp masks surged recently, according to new data by Spate:
- There are an average of 4.2K searches for scalp masks in the United States every month.
- Consumer interest in scalp masks has grown 41.8% since last year.
- The tops searches for scalp masks are for masks aimed at treating dry or itchy scalps, detoxifying masks, exfoliating masks, and thickening hair masks.
Surge in scalp care
The recent boom in consumer interest in scalp care is linked to emerging research about the importance of the scalp in promoting healthier hair.
In addition to performing a wide variety of important functions, like protecting the head from UV rays and preventing the entry of bacteria or pollutants, a healthy scalp may also be linked to healthier, more attractive hair.
“The proximate structural arrangement of the scalp and hair leads to an interdependent relationship between the two. While protective benefits of the hair to the scalp are obvious, the role of the scalp as an incubatory environment for the pre-emergent hair fiber has largely been ignored. In fact, there is a wealth of observational data on specific dermatological conditions of the scalp providing evidence for the role of the scalp condition in supporting the production of healthy hair,” – “Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress, International Journal of Trichology, authors Ralph M Trüeb, Jim P Henry, Mike G Davis, and Jim R Schwartz.
In short? A healthier scalp could also promote a healthier head of hair.
Why do consumers love scalp masks?
For consumers interested in improving the health of their hair and scalp, an exfoliating scalp mask is a natural choice for treating both.
Why? Exfoliating scalp masks can help reduce dead skin cells and buildup, which could help lead to improve hair strength and shine.
“While it’s easy to overlook what you can’t see, the health of your scalp can have highly visible results. Neglecting to exfoliate might lead to dull hair, clogged follicles, and itchy, flaky skin. On the flip side, exfoliating regularly can help hair grow naturally thicker, shinier, and less oily, according to our experts. Sounds dreamy, right?” says Shab Reslan in Brydie.
Exfoliating the scalp could help promote healthier hair
The benefits of exfoliating the scalp
To begin, exfoliating the scalp can help to stimulate cell turnover, which promotes the overall health of the scalp and the hair follicle.
Additionally, exfoliation of the scalp performs another critical task: removal of buildup. Hair spray, gels, styling creams, excess sebum, and dead skin cells can all build on the scalp and clog pores.
This can lead to issues like dry skin flakes, greasiness, or even issues like inflammation and bumps. Additionally, excess sebum buildup on the scalp can feed Malassezia furfur yeast, which can lead to dandruff.
Over time, buildup can negatively impact the health of the hair strand and even create conditions for hair loss.
However, an exfoliating scalp mask, formulated with glycolic acid, can be useful for tackling buildup gently and promoting a healthier scalp.
The power of glycolic acid
As one of the most powerful, yet gentle, chemical exfoliants, glycolic acid is an excellent addition to a exfoliating scalp mask formulation.
Glycolic acid is the smallest, lightest molecule in the powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acid family. As such, it is the ingredient best at penetrating the skin cell and dissolving the bonds holding weak, dead skin cells together.
Once applied, glycolic acid is hyper-effective at shedding off dead skin cells and sloughing away built up product, sebum, or dead skin cells from the scalp.
Glycolic acid is a gentle and powerful chemical exfoliant!
In addition to superior chemical exfoliation, glycolic acid scalp masks offer another benefit to users. Glycolic acid is a more gentle option for exfoliation, making it a better choice than rough, manual scalp scrubs.
Finally, glycolic acid is great for scalp masks because glycolic acid is a natural humectant. Exfoliation with a glycolic acid scalp mask prior to an intensive conditioning treatment could help hair strands absorb more moisture and look shiner.
“AHAs, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, are great for exfoliating away dirt and debris without irritating your scalp (though, it’s worth noting, you still shouldn’t use them every day). “Glycolic acid, in particular, is a humectant, so it exfoliates and draws in hydration at the same time,” says Michelle Henry, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. “They’re good for more sensitive skin types who want to incorporate gentle exfoliation into their scalp care regimen,” writes Zoe Wiener in Well+Good.
For consumers eager to deal with dry skin flakes and buildup on the scalp, an exfoliating glycolic acid scalp mask could help target multiple issues in one go.
A hot hair care product
Exfoliating scalp masks with glycolic acid can help gently exfoliate and remove build up, tame excess sebum, and stimulate skin cell turnover. For consumers seeking a healthier head of hair, a glycolic acid based scalp mask is an trending new formulation that can deliver visible results.
