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Best Scalp Shampoo Brushes

Updated October 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Vitagoods Scalp Brush
Vitagoods
Scalp Brush
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

A good way to get a thorough scalp massage anytime you want while showering.

Pros

This product uses thick teeth to dig deep into many styles and types of hair. It works shampoo in more thoroughly than fingers and brushes alone. Easy to use and operate, and it comes with 2 speeds for different styles of massage.

Cons

Can be difficult to replace the batteries.

Best Bang for the Buck
Denman Palm Styler
Denman
Palm Styler
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A scalp shampoo brush that comes with extra-long bristles for a luxurious manual massage.

Pros

Uses a specially designed ergonomic handle that provides superior comfort. Extra-long plastic pins are soft to the touch and won't bend even with thick hair. The natural rubber pad adds grip and the flexible plastic is highly durable.

Cons

Plastic bristles may be too soft for a true, deep massage.

Fuller Brush Scalp Brush
Fuller Brush
Scalp Brush
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

A simple and affordable product that will allow you to style your hair and massage it at the same time.

Pros

Comes in a unique brush design with a long handle that is comfortable to grip in the shower. Provides a good, simple massage that is gentle on the skin and damaged hair. Good for thinner and thicker hair types.

Cons

Bristles can be too flexible for a deep massage.

Sosoon Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush
Sosoon
Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush
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Versatile Use
Bottom Line

The shampoo brush for every type of hair.

Pros

This silicone brush features an ergonomic handle that is also slip-resistant. You can use this product to work shampoo and conditioner into your scalp efficiently, and it also functions as a scalp massager. It's perfect for all hair types.

Cons

A few buyers reported issues with the handle breaking.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
197
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best scalp shampoo brushes

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.

Just like your face, your scalp produces sebum. This natural oil keeps hair shiny and hydrated, but when sebaceous glands produce too much oil due to a number of factors, such as a change in the weather, your scalp can get oily and dull, causing dandruff or flare-ups of a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. It can also cause hair to thin. Hair products add to the buildup that dulls hair and clogs follicles.

Unlike regular hairbrushes, scalp brushes are designed to be used in the shower on wet hair. The better ones have flexible bristles that produce enough scrubbing pressure without scraping your scalp. Some consumers use these brushes just for the pleasure of a head massage.

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Clogged follicles from a buildup of dandruff, sebum, or hair products can lead to hair loss or hair thinning. Regularly exfoliating your scalp will unblock follicles and keep them clear for fuller hair growth.

Key considerations

How to use a scalp shampoo brush

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Most scalp shampoo brushes aren’t shaped like regular hairbrushes, which have a long handle extending from the brush head. Instead, scalp brushes are circular and contoured to fit in the palm of your hand. In many, an ergonomic knob-like handle in the center of the base fits between your fingers. Some brushes have a strap-like handle that goes over the back of the hand when the brush is held in the palm. Others have a long handle like a traditional hairbrush. Be aware that if you use a scalp shampoo brush shaped like a regular hairbrush, it might be harder to achieve that circular massage motion necessary to stimulate the scalp and banish dandruff.

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Expert Tip
Use a scalp shampoo brush to save your manicure or long nails, which can get damaged by vigorously scrubbing your head.
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Scalp shampoo brush features

Vibration

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

Scalp shampoo brushes come in an assortment of colors. Rubber ones tend to have either white or reddish-brown bristles. The housing may be rubber or hard plastic of various colors. Silicone bristles are either a translucent white or the same color as the housing. Plastic bristles typically are the same color as the housing and handle. Black, pink, teal, blue, and purple are just some of colors you can find in scalp shampoo brushes.

Mildew resistant

Select a scalp shampoo brush made from mildew-resistant materials like silicone to keep unwanted fungus away from your head.

Nontoxic

If you want to use only nontoxic materials in your household, select food-grade silicone. Unlike other plastics, it won’t leach chemicals into the environment. Also, rubber is a 100% natural and safe material.

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Did you know?
Massaging your scalp with a scalp shampoo brush increases blood circulation to the scalp and is very relaxing, especially before bedtime.
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Scalp shampoo brush prices

Scalp shampoo brushes range in price from $3 to $20.

Inexpensive

For a low-priced plastic scalp shampoo brush, you can expect to pay between $3 and $6.

Mid-range

You can expect to pay between $6 and $10 for a rubber or silicone brush.

Expensive

For a vibrating scalp shampoo brush, you can expect to pay between $10 and $20. Batteries are not usually included.

Tips

  • Rinse the brush after each use. Allow it to air-dry.
  • Massage your head any time. You don’t have to use a scalp shampoo brush only in the shower. Anytime you feel like relaxing and giving yourself a little head massage, use a scalp shampoo brush on dry hair. This will also help break up dandruff.
  • Try a wooden brush. Wooden dry scalp brushes are also available for banishing dandruff and invigorating the scalp. Do not use a wooden brush in the shower.
  • Pair the brush with dandruff shampoo. For a dandruff-busting double whammy, use a dandruff shampoo or scalp scrub with your scalp shampoo brush in the shower.
  • 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!
  • Use the brush with dry shampoo. After applying dry shampoo, try a scalp shampoo brush on your dry scalp to spread the product evenly at the roots.
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Expert Tip
A vibrating scalp shampoo brush will save your fingers by doing the scrubbing for you.
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Many scalp shampoo brushes claim to help stimulate hair growth. There is reason to believe that unblocking clogged hair follicles by exfoliating the scalp can help hair grow.

FAQ

Q. Is there anyone who shouldn’t use a scalp shampoo brush?

A. We don’t recommend using a scalp shampoo brush if you have psoriasis or eczema on the scalp because all the scrubbing can cause more scalp flakes to form. Also, if you have cuts or sores on your scalp, avoid using a scalp shampoo brush or any type of exfoliating product. 

Q. Isn’t shampooing my hair with a dandruff shampoo enough?

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?

A. Using a scalp shampoo brush can be a great way to keep your scalp clean if you wear braids, weaves, or extensions. Just look for a brush with long bristles.

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