Salicylic acid has long been doing rounds as many people’s favorite skincare ingredient. However, have you considered that your scalp is also skin? Salicylic acid shampoos are also a great way to care for the skin of your scalp–and we’re not only talking about people with oily roots or seborrheic dermatitis. In fact, many, many people can benefit from using a shampoo containing salicylic acid. Whether you’re looking for a way to deeply cleanse your scalp or to keep it healthy, this may be the ingredient to add to your hair care routine.
On this post:
- Is salicylic acid in shampoo good for your hair?
- How much salicylic acid can be used in shampoo?
- How often should you use salicylic acid on your scalp?
- Who should not use salicylic acid?
- How do you use a salicylic acid shampoo?
- What are the best salicylic acid shampoos?
Is salicylic acid in shampoo good for your hair?
If you’re wondering whether using salicylic acid will have any effect on the hair you already have, the answer is probably no. However, this doesn’t mean that it won’t have any effect on the hair that is currently growing. The hair we see is just an agglomerate of dead cells, so there is little to do to it besides preventing damage. The growing hair, however, is an entirely different story. The hair root that is attached to your scalp benefits greatly from having healthy skin. And this is where salicylic acid shampoos truly shin–and make your hair shine, as well. Using salicylic acid in a shampoo is all about promoting a balanced scalp that can grow healthy and strong hair.
Salicylic acid mainly helps keep your scalp free from buildup, excess oil, and other debris. As it is a light exfoliator, it helps to remove dead skin cells, unclog the pores, and balance the oil on your scalp. Together with deep cleansing ingredients, it creates a perfect combo for a clarifying shampoo. Additionally, it’s also the perfect ingredient to fight off dandruff and scalp psoriasis.
How much salicylic acid can be used in shampoo?
In Europe, shampoos can include up to 3% salicylic acid–this is established on Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. Other cosmetic products cannot include such high concentrations of salicylic acid, and there’s a reason for that: shampoos are applied to a small area of the skin and always rinsed out, meaning they do not remain in contact with the skin for long. For this reason, it’s perfectly safe for them to contain higher concentrations of salicylic acid than other cosmetic products.
How often should you use salicylic acid on your scalp?
It all depends on how concentrated your shampoo is. If we’re talking about a clarifying shampoo, then once or twice a month is enough. These shampoos are highly concentrated in cleansing agents and will leave your hair feeling dry if used too often. If it’s a gentler formula, focused on removing dandruff or rebalancing an oily scalp, then you can go up to thrice a week. If you need to wash your hair more often, use a mild shampoo.
Who should not use salicylic acid?
If you have a known allergy to salicylates, then definitely avoid using salicylic acid. Using a salicyic acid shampoo is also not the best idea if you have bright or vividly dyed hair, as it can strip the hair color a bit. Usually, this is because salicylic acid is associated with deep cleansing agents, so it can strip some of the color.
How do you use a salicylic acid shampoo?
The best way to use any product is to use it according to the instructions on the label. If the product doesn’t have clear directions, follow this simple order:
- Wet your hair with lukewarm water;
- Apply a small amount of shampoo to your hands and apply the product to the scalp. There is no need to apply the shampoo to the lengths of the hair itself;
- Deeply massage the scalp with the pads of your fingers, avoiding using the nails;
- Leave the product on your scalp for up to five minutes, then rinse.
What are the best salicylic acid shampoos?
As we’ve mentioned, salicylic shampoos can serve many purposes. Based on this, we have put together a list of salicylic acid shampoos that you can use to treat different problems, from oily scalp to scalp psoriasis:
Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo Oily Hair
The best shampoo for oily hair
Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo Oily Hair
Neutrogena is one of the classic examples for salicylic acid shampoos. And it is one for good reason–the formula is great, people love it and it’s so concentrated it lasts ages. Back in the day, it used to have a specific scent that didn’t please everyone, but nowadays it’s been reformulated and it’s more pleasant. It helps to rebalance your scalp to remove excess oil. It’s perfect for oily scalps that get itchy and oily the same day they’re washed.
ISDIN PsorISDIN Psoriatic Skin Control Shampoo
The ideal shampoo for scalp psoriasis
ISDIN PsorISDIN Psoriatic Skin Control Shampoo
This shampoo helps to reduce flare-ups associated with psoriasis. It contains exfoliating ingredients that help to reduce plaques and avoid major desquamation from the psoriatic plaques. However, it’s not super aggressive, and leaves the hair feeling shiny and smooth.
Dr. Ceuracle Scalp DX Scaling Shampoo
The best shampoo for hair loss related to dandruff
Dr. Ceuracle Scalp DX Scaling Shampoo
There are some cases of hair loss related to dandruff and scalp buildup–and, fortunately, there are some targeted formulas that are specifically developed with that concern in mind. This one from Dr. Ceuracle contains not only salicylic acid to remove cell buildup, but also a patented ingredient to stimulate hair growth. It’s a perfect formula for those who struggle with hair loss that goes hand in hand with dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis.
Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff DS Shampoo for Normal to Oily Hair
The best shampoo for dandruff
Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff DS Shampoo for Normal to Oily Hair
This shampoo is another classic that has been reformulated to include selenium disulfite, as well as salicylic acid. It helps to rebalance your scalp microbiome, besides removing dandruff. It’s a great way to keep your scalp balanced and clear of dandruff, in a very easy-to-use formula.
Sebastian Professional Reset Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo
The clarifying shampoo with salicylic acid
Sebastian Professional Reset Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo
If you’re looking for a deep cleansing formula, this may very well be it. Whether it’s because you use a lot of styling products or because your scalp tends to get a lot of dead cell buildup, a clarifying shampoo can do wonders for you. These shampoos contain both salicylic acid and deep cleansing ingredients to ensure your hair is striped of everything it is accumulating. Make sure you only use these clarifying formulas once or twice a month!
Kérastase Scrub Énergisant Intensely Purifying Scrub Cleanser
The cleansing scrub with salicylic acid
Kérastase Scrub Énergisant Intensely Purifying Scrub Cleanser
If you’re looking for an actual scalp scrub with salicylic acid, this is one of the most famous. It’s a very different formula, a scrub jelly cleanser with sea salt crystals and salicylic acid. It’s perfect to have that occasional deep scrubbing session that leaves your scalp feeling fresh and free from flakes.
If one of your hair care goals is to achieve a healthy scalp that is capable of producing strong, shiny hair, then salicylic acid can be one of your best allies. As we’ve seen, it’s important to integrate this ingredient into a shampoo that is applied mainly to the scalp, so that the benefits are delivered right to your skin–after all, salicylic acid can’t do much for your hair strand!
And if you’re looking for even more allies to achieve the healthy scalp of your dreams, why not try a scalp mask, or a targeted scalp treatment?
