Tricho-Détox

Why scrub your scalp?

Écrit par Dr. Julie Pernet Docteur en pharmacie & trichologue certifiée Mis à jour le 29/09/2026 Lecture 3 min

Ce qu'il faut retenir

Le shampoing nettoie la surface mais ne retire pas le sébum oxydé et les cellules mortes accumulés à la racine. Le gommage du cuir chevelu désincruste ce dépôt, améliore la pénétration des soins et stimule la microcirculation — à condition d'être doux : une exfoliation trop abrasive aggrave l'inflammation.

Le shampoing ne retire pas les dépôts accrochés à la racine
Le gommage améliore la pénétration des soins appliqués ensuite
Il ne régule pas la production de sébum, qui est hormonale
Une exfoliation trop abrasive aggrave l'inflammation

Pourquoi faire un gommage du cuir chevelu ?

Why exfoliate your scalp?

While facial exfoliation is already fully democratized in Europe, scalp exfoliation is just beginning to make waves. A practice already well-established in Korean haircare, scalp exfoliation remains a habit to be adopted by Westerners.

Application of MakeMyMask Active Anti-Hair Loss Scalp Scrub.

1. Understanding the Scalp: A Living Ecosystem

The scalp is a skin in its own right, with:

sebaceous glands
a microbiome (bacteria + yeasts like Malassezia)
hair follicles

This balance is delicate.

When your scalp is disturbed, we observe:

dandruff
excess sebum
itching
hair loss

The risk of not exfoliating your scalp:

Several studies show that microbiome imbalance and sebum accumulation are involved in pathologies such as seborrheic dermatitis, or hair loss .

View of a clogged scalp with a Trichoscope (professional micro-camera)

2. Why shampoo isn't enough

Shampoo cleanses... but is not enough to eliminate everything:

pollution residues
silicones / styling products
dead cells
excess oxidized sebum

These residues form a physical barrier on the surface of the scalp.

Result:

the active ingredients in your hair care products penetrate less effectively
follicles can become "clogged"
the environment becomes inflammatory

The accumulation of oxidized sebum is associated with follicular inflammation and can impact hair growth.

3. Benefits of scalp exfoliation

→ Eliminate residue and purify

Exfoliation provides deep cleansing, mechanical and/or chemical, which frees the scalp.

Result: a healthier, more "breathable" scalp.

→ Rebalance the scalp microbiome

By reducing excess sebum and flakes, the proliferation of Malassezia is limited.

Less dandruff, less irritation.

→ Optimize the effectiveness of hair care products

An exfoliated scalp = better penetration of serums and active ingredients

This is a key step in any effective hair care routine.

→ Stimulate scalp microcirculation

The massage associated with exfoliation stimulates:

vascularization
nutrient supply to the follicle

which can support hair growth.

→ Regulate sebum

By eliminating deposits, the scalp regains a more physiological function.

Less oily hair... and less excessive washing.

→ Caution: not all hair scrubs are created equal

This is where many make a mistake.

Hair scrubs that are too abrasive (large grains)
→ can irritate
→ aggravate scalp inflammation
→ further unbalance the scalp

Especially on sensitive scalps, those with dandruff, or those prone to psoriasis.

Overly aggressive exfoliation can alter the skin barrier and increase inflammation (Draelos, Dermatol Clin, 2012).

4. MakeMyMask active scrub: a new generation of hair care

It is precisely to address these limitations that the MakeMyMask active scalp scrub was developed.

Intelligent dual scalp exfoliation

Gentle chemical exfoliation (PHA – gluconolactone)

gently removes dead scalp cells
respects sensitive scalps
maintains hydration

Ultra-fine mechanical exfoliation (jojoba microbeads)

clears scalp pores without aggression
stimulating "massage" effect

5. A scrub that also acts as a treatment

Unlike classic scrubs, here we don't just "deep cleanse":

we treat the scalp during application:

targeted active ingredients for specific problems (sebum, dandruff, hair loss, brittle hair...)
respect for physiological pH (~5)
preservation of the scalp microbiome

Why it makes a difference

sensory gel texture (easy to apply directly to the scalp)
high tolerance (suitable for sensitive scalps, excluding lesions)
optimizes the entire hair care routine

It is the essential first step of the dermo-capillary protocol.

In summary

Doing a scalp scrub isn't an "extra"...

It's an essential step for:

cleansing the scalp
preventing hair problems
optimizing the effectiveness of hair care products
improving scalp health

But you still need to choose the right one.

A gentle, intelligent, and adapted scalp scrub like the MakeMyMask active scrub allows for exfoliation without aggression, while deeply treating the scalp.

Testimonial from Sonia D., one of our first users of the Active Scrub:

"I saw that some influencers were talking about scalp exfoliation inspired by K-beauty. I wondered internally: " But what's the point? Why would I need it? "

By digging a little deeper into the subject, I came across Dr. Julie Pernet's account.

Firstly, I didn't realize the damage caused by a clogged scalp until I saw images. I discovered that you can have a clogged scalp, even if you wash it regularly, and that shampoo alone is not enough.

Secondly, I didn't imagine that my problem of lack of hair volume was linked to a heavy scalp: I simply thought it was my hair's natural tendency.

I don't understand why we don't hear more about it.

It has not only addressed my fine hair problem with the appropriate protocol, but I am also much more at ease because I am preventing other problems that I don't have yet....

Sonia D. - A converted customer "

Click here to discover our latest generation Active Scrubs.

Questions fréquentes

À quoi sert un gommage du cuir chevelu ?

Il retire le sébum oxydé, les cellules mortes et les résidus de coiffants que le shampoing ne décolle pas. Cela allège la racine, améliore la pénétration des soins appliqués ensuite et limite le substrat dont se nourrit la levure impliquée dans les pellicules grasses.

À quelle fréquence faire un gommage du cuir chevelu ?

Une fois par semaine convient à la plupart des cuirs chevelus. Deux fois sur un cuir chevelu très gras, une fois tous les quinze jours sur un cuir chevelu sensible. Au-delà, l'exfoliation devient contre-productive.

Comment faire un gommage du cuir chevelu ?

Sur cheveux humides, avant le shampoing, raie par raie et directement sur le cuir chevelu. Massez du bout des doigts en mouvements circulaires légers, sans les ongles, puis rincez abondamment avant de laver à pH 5.

Le gommage du cuir chevelu fait-il pousser les cheveux ?

Il n'accélère pas le rythme de croissance, qui est génétiquement déterminé. Il améliore en revanche l'environnement du follicule et la pénétration des actifs appliqués ensuite, ce qui soutient une pousse dans de meilleures conditions.

Le gommage du cuir chevelu régule-t-il le sébum ?

Il retire le sébum déjà produit et déposé, mais ne modifie pas sa production, qui dépend des hormones. Le confort ressenti vient du désencombrement, pas d'une baisse de sécrétion.

Peut-on faire un gommage du cuir chevelu avec des pellicules ?

Sur des pellicules sans inflammation, oui, avec une formule douce. En revanche, sur un cuir chevelu en poussée, lésé ou porteur de lésions de grattage, il faut attendre : exfolier une peau déjà altérée aggrave l'irritation.

Quel gommage choisir pour un cuir chevelu sensible ?

Une formule sans gros grains, qui associe exfoliation chimique douce et microbilles fines. Les gommages à base de sucre, de sel ou de noyaux broyés sont trop abrasifs pour une peau fine et souvent déjà fragilisée.

Écrit par

Dr. Julie Pernet

Docteur en pharmacie & trichologue certifiée.Docteur en pharmacie et trichologue, fondatrice du Laboratoire DermoPilaire MakeMyMask. Elle développe des protocoles de soin centrés sur la santé du cuir chevelu, fondés sur la science du microbiome et l'équilibre pH5.