The 10 Best Scalp Massagers to Remove Build-Up, Tested & Reviewed
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A residue-free scalp is step one for healthy hair.
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Scalp massagers have been on the rise for the past few years — it's likely you've seen your favorite influencer or hairstylist touting the trendy tool or hitting up a scalp massage spa. But, amidst all the new products flooding the market, it’s hard to know which scalp massagers perform best.
That’s where we come in: We extensively researched the category, finding 28 of the top-rated scalp massagers out there, and enlisting a team of InStyle editors to test every single one. As we massaged our heads, we evaluated the bristle firmness, grippiness of the handle, ability to get around our whole head, and of course, the amount of build-up it was able to loosen from our scalp. After poring over each editor's notes and feedback, we curated this list of our top 10 favorites.
Best Overall: Leonor Greyl Massaging Scalp Brush
What We Love
It’s an affordable luxury that gives your scalp a spa-like massage.
What We Don’t Love
If you have dyed hair, it can stain the white tool.
This scalp brush earns top honors in our book for its soft and durable bristles, ability to aid in product penetration, and great price. Not only did each editor provide rave reviews, but our friends couldn’t get enough of it, either, and the scalp massager soon became a house party favorite.
It’s easy to use on both dry and wet hair and amazing at working up suds, but we loved it most for a moment of relaxation. Unlike some other scalp massagers on the market, it doesn’t tangle strands, and its handle helped us maintain a good grip, so this massager could do all the heavy lifting. We found this massager's performance simply impeccable, but keep in mind that using it on dyed hair could stain the bristles — a very minor downside.
Material: Recycled plastic and silicone | Hair Type: All
Best Budget: Maxsoft Hair Scalp Massager
What We Love
This scalp massager helps hair care products — like masks — absorb better.
What We Don’t Love
The bristles may be too harsh for those with sensitive scalps.
If you’re looking to try a scalp massager for the first time, this Maxsoft one is a perfect option: Its affordable price point makes it an easy investment. I actually ordered one a few months ago after being convinced by lifestyle influencer Amanda Stanton Fogel, and it’s been a staple in my wash day routine ever since. I’m not the only person who loves it, though — InStyle editors noticed a major difference in their hair when using it, too.
And it all starts with the bristles — they're the perfect level of firmness and the spacing between them is excellent, not too close but not too far, so we could avoid tangles while still getting a great scrub. We sometimes even used it as a comb when applying a conditioning hair mask and unsurprisingly, the mask absorbed better on the side we applied it with the massager. Along with hair masks, it can be used for enhanced shampoo lather, and the sturdy handle is easy to slide in between your pointer and middle fingers for excellent grip.
Material: Plastic and silicone | Hair Type: All
Best Splurge: Mount Lai Jade Massaging Comb
What We Love
This stimulating jade comb delivers gua sha benefits to your scalp.
What We Don’t Love
It’s prone to breaking if dropped.
This hand-crafted comb is made from luxurious jade — the stone of eternal youth and balance. When you use this, you’re also adding a little piece of art to your bathroom counter. Before putting it to the test, former InStyle Commerce Writer, Caitlyn Martyn, was nervous the product would be uncomfortable to drag across her scalp, “but it’s surprisingly the opposite,” she says. “It feels stimulating and relaxing, and really glides through hair without pulling or tugging.” Martyn also reports that her hair oils sunk in faster, and her scalp felt more exfoliated after incorporating the comb into her routine. “I let my boyfriend borrow it and he loved it so much that he got his own! It works well on anyone, no matter your gender or how long your hair is,” she adds.
Be mindful that this is a tool that should be handled with care as jade is fragile and prone to breaking. Martyn accidentally dropped hers and a piece snapped off — luckily it is still usable, but that’s not the case for everyone.
Material: Jade | Hair Type: All
Most Ergonomic: Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager
What We Love
This scalp massager has an easy to hold grip that is comfortable and gives you greater control over the tool.
What We Don’t Love
Our tester notes that because all of the bristles are the same size and shape, it lacks at providing a deep sensory experience.
We love the way this massager feels in our hands — its comfortable grip won’t slip in the shower or increase finger tension, letting all the focus rest on your zen-like moment of relaxation. And we appreciate that the pretty design looks nice in the shower.
Martyn tried the massager with shampoo and conditioner and noticed an increased level of penetration with the latter. However, she notes, “when I used it with shampoo, I didn’t feel that same level of absorption.” If you use hair serums or oils, it performs especially well on both wet and dry hair. “The bristles are a great balance of being firm yet pliable.”
Material: Plastic and silicone | Hair Type: All
Best for Exfoliation: Jupiter Scalp Brush
What We Love
These bristles are firm and durable for an invigorating exfoliation experience.
What We Don’t Love
If you have thick or curly hair, you might need to apply more pressure on the product to get through to your scalp and feel results.
With its firmer bristles and durable design, this brush is intended to cleanse the scalp of impurities, remove build-up, and gently exfoliate. It's lightweight and features a comfortable hole to slide your fingers through. For an added bonus, it comes with a clasped chain for easy hanging in your shower.
Though the bristles are stronger than other tools we tried, they’re tightly packed together, meaning that we needed to apply more pressure to really get down to our roots and pull it through our thicker hair. When we used more gentle pressure, the bristles would only run through our top layer of our hair, and even that felt too light to be effective. Furthermore, we love the way the matte black handle and white bristles give the product a sophisticated design appeal.
Material: Plastic and rubber | Hair Type: All
Best for Thick Hair: Flathead Products Scalp Massager
What We Love
This massager comes with two interchangeable brush heads for different uses.
What We Don’t Love
The smaller brush head doesn’t work well on thick hair.
We love how simple it is to switch out these different massage inserts — just twist off the head of the massager, switch the insert, and then twist it back on. For thick hair, we recommend the longer bristle attachment, as it easily penetrates the hair to reach the scalp. On the flip side, the smaller stub insert is great for short, thinner hair, particularly when used with a scalp scrub.
Although we love our super thick hair, it can sometimes be tricky to get the shampoo suds all the way down to our scalp, but this massager helped us not only reach our scalp, but give it a thorough cleanse. The best part? It was only a fraction of the work it would have been if we used our fingers. Especially for the low price point, we’re impressed with the quality and how well it holds up after repeated use.
Material: Plastic and silicone | Hair Type: All
Best for Thin Hair: Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager
What We Love
It helps shampoo, oil, and other hair products seamlessly absorb into your scalp.
What We Don’t Love
We wish this massager came in more colors.
Another option that comes with an attached string for easy shower display, we love this Briogeo massager that gets to all the greasy build-up on our scalps. As a brand, Briogeo specializes in clean products that work for all different hair types — and this therapeutic tool is no different. “I frequently use dry shampoo which can build up on the scalp, and this brush does a better job of removing the residue than just my fingers,” explains former InStyle Assistant Commerce Editor, Emily Cieslak. “Just using it reminds me to take the time to massage my scalp in the shower.”
Though it’s hard to tell if using the massager actually contributes to new hair growth (a supposed benefit), Cieslak notes that it does make her shampoo and hair oil absorb more evenly and easily. Another plus? These bristles pop out to make cleaning the brush super simple.
Material: Plastic and silicone | Hair Type: Thin
Best Multitasking: Denman Palm Styler for Detangling, Massaging & Styling
What We Love
The Denman styler really shines when it comes to distributing hair oils.
What We Don’t Love
This palm styler might be a bit too heavy-duty for sensitive scalps.
Denman is one of our favorite brands for curly hair brushes and tools, so we were excited to try this palm styler. Its bristles are definitely stiffer and more firm than other options we tested (they’re plastic as opposed to the softer silicone materials), but we thought they were perfect for a super deep clean.
We found the best way to handle the massager was by sliding three fingers inside the top loop, then massaging whatever product we were using onto our scalp and down through the ends. While we loved the lather it worked up when we used it with shampoo, it did its best work with our hair oil applications — we were able to target our applications with precision so we weren't wasting as much product, and the firm bristles really helped the oil penetrate deeply into our scalp, resulting in hair that feels healthier and looks shinier.
Material: Plastic | Hair Type: Curly
Best for Absorption: Comfier Cordless Hair Scalp Massager
What We Love
It’s an electric massager with four different settings that do all the scalp work for you.
What We Don’t Love
Because this one is an electric device, it’s noticeably heavier than other massagers we tested.
Though this massager is far heavier than others we tried, its ergonomic design feels good in the hands, and its heftiness contributes to its high quality appeal. For an electric device, Cieslak says it’s surprisingly quiet. “The bristles are sturdy, but the tips are soft, so it’s really pleasing when moving on the scalp,” she says.
We love that there are four different massage settings for varying preferences — from light to vigorous (and, it can technically be used on your neck, back, and calves as well). The device comes with a charging base and USB cable, and once fully charged, should last cordless for several hours. Plus, it’s waterproof and safe for in-shower use. Despite the $50 price tag, our tester found it totally worth the investment.
Material: Plastic and silicone | Hair Type: All
Best for Sensitive Scalps: Freatech Shampoo Brush Scalp Massager
What We Love
It’s a quick, easy, and affordable way to add more self-care into your bathing ritual.
What We Don’t Love
Though our tester didn’t notice much of a difference when it came to overall hair health, she did enjoy the product for its relaxing effect.
For less than $12, this tool gives you a spa-like experience in your very own bathroom. Gentle enough for sensitive scalps, it has just the right sensory effect to create a soothing moment. It also comes in an array of fun colors (including purple, pink, light blue, and green) to liven up your shower and includes a detachable rope for easy hanging storage.
While we didn't notice a huge difference in our hair health on a daily basis, we definitely enjoyed the moment of relaxation it provided, especially when a headache set in.
Material: Plastic and silicone | Hair Type: All
What to Keep in Mind
Bristle Material: Whether you prefer a soft silicone bristle, a firmer plastic one, or a carved jade comb is entirely up to your personal preference and hair care needs. If you have a sensitive scalp or sensitive skin, err on the side of softer bristles, and try a silicone brush. If you have grease-prone hair or are an avid dry shampoo user and require a bit more scrubbing to get all build-up off your scalp, opt for something more firm with plastic bristles.
Your Hair Type: While most scalp massagers are safe and easy to use on all hair types, it is important to note that some are specifically designed for thick or curly hair and others perform better on thin hair. A good rule of thumb to follow is the thicker your hair, the larger the bristles need to be to reach your scalp. Dry scalp would also benefit from a massage tool to prevent flakes.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you use a scalp massager?
“I encourage incorporating scalp massagers into the pre-shampoo treatment step, preferably using oil or serum products as the lubricant and exfoliant,” explains certified trichologist, Bridgette Hill. She notes that when used with a scalp treatment product (in the pre-shampoo step of your routine), scalp massagers assist the active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Hill advises to start by applying your pre-shampoo mask, oil, or treatment to your hair, then section the hair into quadrants, and twist the ends together, ensuring each is liberally coated. “Starting at the nape, use the scalp brush and make semicircle motions moving up and around the head,” she explains. “Next, apply shampoo over the pre-shampoo treatment before adding water to emulsify and rinse.”
How often should you use a scalp massager?
“The most important consideration when deciding to try any scalp tool is that medically diagnosed scalp conditions should only incorporate scalp brushes under the guidance and supervision of a certified trichologist, MD, or dermatologist specializing in scalp and hair,” explains Hill. Otherwise, for non-medical scalp conditions or just standard self-care, scalp massagers can easily be incorporated into your weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly routine.
Does massaging your scalp help hair grow?
That’s a complicated question. Directly? No, they don’t. But, indirectly, they contribute to health benefits that, taken alongside other steps, can lead to hair growth. “Scalp massage improves blood circulation in the head and neck area,” explains Hill. “Research shows that scalp massage can lower blood pressure, reduce levels of stress hormones, slow heart rate, prevent flakes and dry scalp without the use of harsh chemical shampoos,” she adds.
“We know stress tightens the scalp and impedes circulation and hair growth. Depending on your hair care regimen and scalp condition, weekly scalp massages with massagers are excellent for overall health and well being. In a nutshell, scalp massagers and brushes aid with reducing tight muscles that are located in the scalp, in addition to improving circulation to deliver the necessary nutrients to the hair follicle for optimal hair growth,” adds Hill.
Why Shop With Us
Linne Halpern is a freelance beauty, fashion, and lifestyle writer. To help understand the intended use and health benefits of scalp massagers, she consulted certified trichologist Bridgette Hill.
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