When Should Scalp Treatments Be Performed? - eMediHealth (2025)

Shiny locks are considered a sign of beauty, but reaching that level of lustrous hair takes a lot of good habits. From regular hair cleansing to investing in hair treatments, there’s a lot that goes into ensuring your hair looks healthy.

A ton of products are available nowadays such as specialized shampoos, deep conditioners, hair masks, gels, and sprays that do a great job of styling your hair or keeping your strands happy.

However, what you may be missing out on are products that promote scalp health. Scalp health may be a relatively new concept for many, but research has proven that it is non-negotiable to have healthy locks. (1)

Scalp treatments target scalp issues and create a healthy environment for your hair to grow. But the question that many people struggle with is, when should a person perform these scalp treatments?

That’s what this article will look into, so continue reading to learn more.

Scalp Treatments: Types and When to Perform

Scalp treatments can easily be divided into two main categories: routine scalp treatments and specialized/targeted scalp treatments.

When to perform which scalp treatment is based upon the use of these treatments and your hair type.

Routine or General Scalp Treatments

Routine scalp treatments are needed for maintaining scalp health and can be a part of your hair care regimen. These can be done weekly or monthly.

1. Biweekly or weekly treatments

A. Oil massage

You can massage your scalp with hair oils once or twice a week to promote blood circulation to the roots, which helps with the development and growth of your hair.

Increased blood supply means proper nutrient and oxygen supply to the hair follicles, giving your hair a pump of rejuvenation. (2)

Some common oils used for scalp treatment are: (3)

B. Clarifying shampoo

Another easily available scalp treatment is a clarifying shampoo, which you can use to wash your scalp once or twice a week to keep your scalp clean. These shampoos ensure a healthy environment for hair growth. (4)

2. Monthly treatments

A. Deep conditioning

There are conditioners specially formulated to nurture your hair, known as deep conditioners. They rejuvenate and repair hair as they contain very potent ingredients that leave hair super hydrated.

Experts recommend you do this treatment 1-2 times a month, and they claim that those with very damaged hair from heat styling or chemical usage can particularly benefit from these conditioners. (5)(6)

B. Exfoliation

Monthly exfoliation of the scalp can support hair health. These exfoliators expel dead cells from the scalp while unclogging the hair follicles. They remove any debris or impurities on the scalp too.

Exfoliators include physical scrubs or chemical agents such as alpha hydroxy acids. Choose according to what suits your hair and scalp requirements. (7)

Targeted Scalp Treatments

Targeted scalp treatments are treatments that not everyone requires to get done. They are made particularly for those struggling with scalp issues or other hair concerns.

The frequency of these treatments is decided based on the seriousness of your scalp problem. Targeted scalp treatments cover several issues.

1. Antidandruff scalp treatment (weekly and monthly)

Medicated scalp treatments can be easily found for people who struggle with dandruff problems. These treatments work through different mechanisms of action, but most of them contain active agents that fight the dandruff-causing fungi on the scalp, thereby keeping the scalp healthy.

Initially, they are done 1-3 times a week and then slowly reduced as the scalp gets better. (8)

These treatments often come as solutions or shampoos that are applied to the scalp for 5-10 minutes during taking a bath.

Common antidandruff treatments contain: (9)

2. Hair loss scalp treatment

Medicated topical products (such as minoxidil) and laser/LED light therapy are often advised for people who struggle with excessive hair loss. These treatments are done according to the schedule created by your dermatologist based on your hair condition and requirements. (10)(11)

Some medicated scalp treatments are to be used daily, while laser therapies are done weekly and then monthly or even less.

3. Anti-infective scalp treatment

Many people have an unhealthy scalp environment solely because of a bacterial or fungal infestation that can lead to a lot of scalp damage.

People who have irritated scalps or experience other such symptoms often go for an anti-infective scalp treatment, which is done using medicated products that contain antifungal or antibacterial agents.

4. Hair thinning scalp treatment

Hair thinning can be an alarming situation. It can lead to weak and finer hair that eventually disappears. This problem can have a huge impact on a person’s self-esteem and confidence levels.

Scalp treatments commonly used in such cases include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. (12) PRP treatment needs to be done at an interval of 3-6 months based on the scalp and hair requirements.

Most-Asked Questions

What pH of shampoo is good for the scalp?

Usually, scalp products with a pH of 4.5-5.5 are great for your hair.

Which scalp treatment is best for dry scalp?

Hot oil massages on the scalp can be great for dry scalp.

Final Word

Different scalp treatments are recommended based on individual needs and hair type.

Routine treatments include weekly scalp massages with oils such as coconut oil and argan oil and using clarifying shampoos once or twice a week. Monthly deep conditioning and scalp exfoliation treatments nurture and rejuvenate hair.

Targeted treatments such as antidandruff therapy (weekly or monthly), hair loss treatments (daily, weekly, or monthly), anti-infective treatments, and hair thinning treatments (every 3-6 months) address specific scalp concerns.

Consulting a professional and following their guidance are the best options for getting the required scalp care.