Advice
Hair Exfoliation: Should You Do It Before or After Shampooing?
Should you exfoliate your scalp before or after shampooing? We'll explain the proper order, the benefits, and the mistakes you should avoid in your hair care routine.
Scalp Exfoliation Before or After Shampooing: The Clear Answer to Properly Exfoliating Your Scalp
A scalp scrub is a treatment designed to revitalize the scalp. It helps remove dead skin cells, excess sebum, and styling product residue. But with the Madame d’Alexis routine, there’s one important misconception to correct: The scrub isn’t automatically used before shampooing. It replaces the shampoo on the day it’s used.
- Hair scrubs are not used after shampooing: they can unnecessarily irritate the scalp, which has already been washed.
- With Alexis's Madame Scrub, the rule is simple: use it as a refreshing wash and let it replace your shampoo that day.
- The recommended frequency is every 10 or 15 days, not once a week by default.
- The massage is performed on a wet scalp using the fingertips, without scratching with the fingernails.
- After rinsing, you can add additional products as needed: Night Serum on the roots at night, and a mask on the lengths and ends if they're dry.
Madame d’Alexis products mentioned in this routine
Product descriptions are included only for the treatments that are actually relevant to this article: Le Scrub, Le Shampoo, Le Night Serum, and Le Mask as a treatment for long hair.
The Scalp Rejuvenation Scrub
- Every 10 or 15 days
- Use this instead of shampoo that day
- Helps remove impurities and excess oil
The Gentle Shampoo
- Days Without a Scrub
- Sulfate- and silicone-free
- pH 5, plant-based keratin
Night Serum for Hair Roots
- Scalp and roots only
- At night, root by root
- A few drops, no rinsing required
The Mask for Long Hair
- Long solos and highlights
- After washing, if the strands are dry
- Does not contain keratin
Helpful Videos Before You Begin
The videos have been posted here because they demonstrate essential techniques: scratching, a congested scalp, and proper exfoliation.
Solutions for Itchy Scalp
Why the Scalp Can Become Suffocated
How to Exfoliate Properly
Hair Exfoliation: Before or After Shampooing?
The general answer: before shampooing
In a classic routine, scalp exfoliation is done before shampooing, as it helps remove buildup, dead skin cells, and excess sebum. Shampooing comes next to wash away what has been loosened.
Madame d’Alexis’s answer: The scrub replaces shampoo that day
To avoid over-washing or over-stripping the scalp, the Madame d’Alexis routine is simpler: Le Scrub is used as an occasional refresher and then rinsed off thoroughly. It is not necessary to follow up with Le Shampoing on the same day.
Remember: On days when you don't use the scrub, use Le Shampoing. On days when you use the scrub, Le Scrub replaces the shampoo.
How do you use a hair exfoliant properly?
The technique is just as important as the formula. A good scrub should never be rubbed in aggressively. The goal is to gently work with the scalp, not to irritate it.
Wet the scalp
Moisten the roots thoroughly to make them easier to spread and reduce friction.
Apply by area
Apply a small amount directly to the scalp, not to the lengths of the hair.
Gently massage
Use your fingertips in slow, circular motions, without using your fingernails.
Rinse thoroughly
Rinse until all the bumps are gone. With Madame d’Alexis, that’s where you stop: The Scrub replaces shampoo that day.
Fill in if necessary
At night, Le Sérum Nuit can be applied to the scalp and roots. If the lengths are dry, Le Masque should be applied only to the lengths and ends.
What are the benefits of a scalp exfoliation?
Hair exfoliation can be helpful when the roots get oily quickly, the scalp feels congested, or styling products build up. However, it’s important to avoid exaggerated claims: it does not “repair” or “strengthen” the hair medically, nor does it guarantee hair growth.
Lighter Roots
By helping to remove buildup, the scalp may feel fresher and less heavy.
Less buildup
This scrub is a good choice if you use dry shampoo, gel, styling cream, hairspray, or oils.
A Cleaner Routine
A periodic reset helps you start with a cleaner slate, without accumulating more products.
If your scalp is mainly oily or dirty, be sure to check out our guide on scalp sweat and dirt as well.
Hair Exfoliation vs. Exfoliating Shampoo
The two steps may seem similar, but they don't play exactly the same role in a routine. Exfoliation is a one-time refresh. Exfoliating shampoo is often thought of as a hybrid cleanser.
| Criterio | Hair Exfoliation | Exfoliating Shampoo |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Timely scalp reset. | Cleansing with gentle exfoliation. |
| Frequency | Every 10 to 15 days with Le Scrub Madame by Alexis. | According to the formula, which is often more common but less specific. |
| A Place in the Routine | Use it instead of shampoo that day. | It generally replaces a traditional shampoo. |
| Attention | Do not use on an irritated or injured scalp. | Check that the formula does not peel off. |
For more information: scalp exfoliation or exfoliating shampoo.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Exfoliate after shampooing, when your scalp has just been washed.
- Use the scrub once a week as a matter of habit. With Madame d’Alexis, use it every 10 to 15 days.
- Scrubbing with your fingernails or massaging too hard.
- Apply the exfoliant to dry hair unless the formula is specifically designed for wet hair.
- Do not use a scrub on an irritated, sore, injured, or very red scalp.
- Apply the mask to the scalp when it is formulated for the lengths and ends.
You can also read this to round out your routine
Exfoliation and the Scalp
Products and Ingredients
Frequently Asked Questions - Should You Exfoliate Your Scalp Before or After Shampooing?
Should you exfoliate your scalp before or after shampooing?
Generally, exfoliation is done before shampooing. But with Le Scrub Madame d’Alexis, it replaces shampoo on the day you use it: apply it, massage it in gently, and then rinse it out thoroughly.
How often should I use Alexis's Le Scrub Madame?
Every 10 to 15 days, depending on your scalp. Using it too often can cause irritation or disrupt the scalp's natural balance.
Can you exfoliate a sensitive scalp?
Yes, but only if your scalp isn't irritated, sore, or injured. The massage should still be very gentle. If you have patches, significant redness, or pain, avoid exfoliation.
Can you exfoliate after using a face mask?
No. The mask is a treatment for the lengths and ends of your hair. Exfoliating afterward doesn't make sense and can disrupt your routine.
Does exfoliation promote hair growth?
It may be accompanied by a feeling of a cleaner, lighter scalp, but we cannot promise that it will stimulate hair growth. Hair growth depends on many factors.
Should you wet your hair before exfoliating?
Yes. The scalp should be wet to help the product spread evenly and reduce friction.
