The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment.

Haircare

About this product

A liquid scalp treatment with salicylic acid, designed to exfoliate the scalp and hair parting and clear away buildup.

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua/Eau), Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Betaine, Panthenol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-37, Hexylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Guru Score

83%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

Hairline and scalp breakouts earn this liquid the most praise, since it uses the same salicylic acid found in face care. It clears crusty scalp and heavy buildup, and the suggested way to use it is along the part or wherever breakouts show up. The one thing to keep in mind: the skeptical takes found it did little for hair regrowth, so those hoping for thicker hair may want to set their expectations low.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take June 2024

What they liked

Easy pre-wash exfoliation
Liked for hairline and scalp breakouts
Tackles crusty scalp flakes

What they flagged

Little noticeable difference
Didn't help hair regrow

Type

HaircareLiquid

Key actives

Salicylic acid (BHA)

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Dandruff and flaky scalp2 experts

“Or if you have just like a ton of scalp buildup, [...] this will stop all of that.”

Cassandra Bankson, watch at 12:30

Breakouts and acne1 expert

“If you have scalp acne, this is amazing.”

Cassandra Bankson, watch at 12:30

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

✓Nay

"This right here is from The INKEY List, it's a Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment. I don't feel like this made much of a difference so I'm probably not going to continue using this."

Top Pick: scalp exfoliating treatment

All 6 takes from Cassandra Bankson

f it... i'm microneedling my scalp? (everything i'm doing for my hair loss) [Dec 2023]

"This right here is from The INKEY List, it's a Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment. I don't feel like this made much of a difference so I'm probably not going to continue using this."

Best and Worst Products From The Inkey List

"This is the Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment and just the way this salicylic acid cleanser is amazing for those who have acne or blackheads. If you get hairline acne, if you get pomade acne, [...] if you are someone that gets acne in your hairline, this is so good. If you get a crusty scalp, if when you scratch you get snowflakes, this is so good."

🧀 Got Scalp Cheese? How I Got Rid Of It - How To Remove Scalp Buildup & Scalp Exfoliation Favorites

"The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment [...] is a liquid that you can put into your part or into any of those areas that you're struggling with, and especially if you get hairline acne this can help so much because salicylic acid is medically proven to help with acne. This is made for the scalp and made for the hair, and it's the exact same thing as using a skincare product on your scalp, only with salicylic acid instead."

10 Best & Worst Hair Growth Treatments That I’ve Tried At Home

"I found some things that were like exfoliating or nice for my curls from the Inky List like this salicylic acid exfoliating treatment. It was good for getting the crusties out of the way, but I don't feel like this helped regrow my hair."

What I'm Doing About My Hair Loss…

"The salicylic scalp exfoliating treatment. I have been using this. I am having some hairline acne and I think it's scene skin's fault because I've been breaking out a ton. But I do have some breakouts kind of in my scalp area. [...] This really has been helping. If you have scalp acne, this is amazing. Or if you have just like a ton of scalp buildup, [...] this will stop all of that. Bomb diggity."

5 Things People Don't Realize are Triggering Their Acne

"The Inkey List has a salicylic acid hair treatment, it's actually a scalp treatment, and yes salicylic acid is recommended by the derms and doctors that I've worked with for people who have scalp acne or scalp pimples. It's a beta hydroxy acid, it works on the face and it works here too."

Dr. Jenny Liu

324k subs

✓Yay

"One I really recommend is from The INKEY List, their Salicylic Acid Oily Scalp Treatment. That is essentially a pre-washed exfoliating treatment that you will apply on your scalp and then you jump in the shower and wash that off. It contains 2% salicylic acid as well as panthenol that's hydrating, so overall a great scalp treatment to use. And again, just like facial exfoliants, you don't want to overdo it. At most, like once or twice a week depending on your scalp type."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment?

A liquid scalp treatment with salicylic acid, designed to exfoliate the scalp and hair parting and clear away buildup.

Is The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment worth it?

Mostly yes. 1 of the 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

What is The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment's Guru Score?

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

What is The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment is good for dandruff and flaky scalp (2 experts) and breakouts and acne (1 expert).

Is The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment good for dandruff and flaky scalp?

2 experts who reviewed The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment say it is. Cassandra Bankson put it this way: “Or if you have just like a ton of scalp buildup, [...] this will stop all of that.”