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When I first started noticing hair fall, it was 2015 and I had just gone off of birth control. I tried everything: heated castor oil treatments, argan-based shampoos, Chinese herb-ridden products, rosemary essential oil, rice water, hair supplements of all kinds—nothing was off the table in terms of trial and error. I was desperate. I had gone from a Leo Moon Lioness (™) to a balding, pre-Saturn Return gremlin overnight.
Add in one pandemic, chronic stress, and iconically imbalanced hormones, and 11 years later, I am only just starting to make up for what has been lost (I swear I have more hair now!). “Never forget those whom we lost!” I say to my current follicles on a nightly basis.
What I’ve come to learn through my self-proclaimed Hair Journey is that—while hair health relies on a holistic look at one’s health from the inside out (and the outside in)—the real secret to healthy hair starts at the root…literally the root. I’m talking about the scalp.
I asked board-certified trichologist Aga Tompkins and dermatologist + rhute hair founder Dr. Aamna Adel for some clarity (which is a very clever scalp joke) as it relates to the importance of scalp care, how to properly tend to the scalp year round, and simple considerations when diving into your very own Hair Journey.
Scalp Care Is Skin Care Self-Care
Over the past year, I’ve seen a huge emphasis on leveraging daily skincare practices for the rest of the body. From body serums to body retinols to body exfoliants, our favorite brands have been asking us to lean into the idea that skin is skin no matter where it is on the body.
The scalp has now joined the conversation.
“We are finally recognizing the scalp as an extension of the skin. As consumers become more educated about skin barrier health and inflammation, that same science is now being applied to the scalp. At the same time, more people are experiencing hair thinning and shedding due to stress, hormonal changes, post-COVID effects, and medications like Mounjaro. This has pushed a desire to understand the why behind hair concerns and highlighted how essential scalp health is as part of the overall hair journey,” Dr. Adel shared.
So How Does the Scalp Affect Hair Health Directly?
Before you reach for your next magic hair pill, growth shampoo + conditioner, or special gummy co-signed by a Kardashian, Tompkins wants you to look at the scalp as living and breathing nucleus for hair growth, density, and health overall.
Explaining that consistent scalp care supports stronger, healthier hair growth over time, Tompkins said, “It improves circulation, helps regulate oil production, maintains a healthy skin barrier, and creates an environment where follicles can function at their best. People often notice not just better hair quality, but also less shedding, improved comfort, and a healthier-looking scalp overall.”
However, in the same way your skin needs often change depending on environmental and seasonal changes, so too do your scalp needs. Both Tompkins and Dr. Adel agree that the scalp is highly responsive to seasonal changes, where colder months can cause more dryness, flaking, and sensitivity as a result of indoor heating and reduced humidity. Warmer months, on the other hand, lend themselves to more oil production, sweat, and buildup—both of which can contribute to hair loss and irritation.
The Ideal Scalp Care Routine
Before you abdicate this concept completely—worried that you’re about to experience the same multi-step routine your usual skincare regimen demands, halt and catch fire!
Both Tompkins and Dr. Adel advise four simple considerations: cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate + treat.
- Cleanse: Leverage a scalp-specific shampoo (or “clarifying” as you might see on the shelves) to create a balanced canvas for growth and strength.
- Exfoliate: In the same way you exfoliate your skin to remove buildup, getting a gentle exfoliant for the scalp is key. This exists in overnight serums, 20-minute pre-wash treatments, and can even be consolidated into your clarifying shampoo.
- Hydrate: Whether in a daily serum or conditioner, ingredients for optimal hydration can help support the scalp barrier.
- Treat: Dr. Adel recommends targeted actives that address inflammation or excess oil that supports long-term, scalp health.
Above all else, consistency is key. Expecting results overnight is a fool’s errand, so stay on the lookout for less hair fall, stronger strands, and less scalp irritation over time.
Our Tried + True Root-Saviors
In evaluating all of the below scalp serums, my criteria was based on…
- A combination of synergistic, efficacious ingredients
- Visible results
- Usability (ie how well did it fit into my hair routine, did it leave oily residue, etc.)
- Expert-level formulation
Let’s go nuts, shall we?
Formulated by dermatologist Dr. Aamna Adel (who helped educate me on scalp care in general), rhute’s serum embodies all of the above. Dr. Adel’s serum is a real do-it-aller, tackling hair growth, strength, regeneration, density, barrier balance, exfoliation, and hydration—all thanks to stem cell extracts, a bioactive peptide blend, caffeine, and niacinamide. It’s designed for daily use, no post-application wash needed, and is perfect for sensi skin.
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Nutrire came onto the hair scene in the fall of 2024, led by biotech (which means super potent ingredients that are meant to target, treat, and produce real results). I immediately dived into their hair system, which includes products that have been designed to work in tandem with each other. The T.1 Day Serum delivers essential nutrients to energize the scalp and nourish the follicles for visibly fuller hair while the T.2 Night Serum helps to rebalance and exfoliate the scalp while you sleep. The products are clinically proven and are extremely simple to use.
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I have been a Jena Covello fan girl for years now, and that’s because this beauty wellness icon prioritizes quality and efficacy above all else. Spare no expense, my friends! That’s why, when she came out with this leave-in spray, I looked at the brightest star in the sky and said, “Thank you.” With consistent use, one should expect to see literal results within 84 days due to the extremely coveted, cutting edge ingredients like Redensyl®, Follicusan®, spermidine, rosemary extract, and astragalus. Hare it directly from the hair of babes here.
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Nécessaire has been owning the skin and body care space for a long time—an OG, one might even say. However, their latest endeavor into targeted hair growth is leaving many of us (me, it’s me) absolutely “gagging.” Focused on rosemary—which is famously known for hair growth—as the north star, this serum is a part of a larger lineup, combining rosemary water, oil, and extract alongside Capixyl™, a safe, non-hormonal alternative for hair regrowth. You’ll also find a whole host of peptides, ceramides, and other scalp-loving ingredients (that don’t leave a residue), so you can easily discover results in 30 days or less.
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Not many—if any—brands can claim that they’re addressing the aging of hair as well as growth. Arey can (and I know because I tried the whole system). Whether you’re experiencing premature greying or are just trying to support fuller, thicker hair, this non-oily daily serum targets the scalp from every angle. Their patented Mela-9® Complex combines clinically proven, hair-growing ingredients like biotin with tried and true Chinese herbs for growth and repigmentation. The entire product line has been designed around the scalp, including their Scalp Brush, which goes with me wherever I (my scalp) goes.
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Have you ever had a David Mallett haircut? I have, and let me tell you, there’s a reason this man is one of the 10 most internationally recognized hairdressers with salons in Paris and New York. His Elixir, which you’ll find being used throughout all of his salons, delivers 100% natural regenerating oil powered by a unique complex that combines the benefits of seven natural oils like broccoli, jojoba, sweet almond, avocado, and vitamin E. The aim: nourish, repair, and protect in a light, non-greasy formula that embodies true refinement, radiance, and Parisian-led chicness through and through.
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Get ready: k-beauty for hair has dropped. Having launched in spring 2025, Base-K draws from the Korean hair philosophy that focuses on the scalp as the foundation for the hair we want to see. Using their own DermaGro-8 solution, their Bamboo Tonic leverages biomimetic hair tech with a complex of clinically effective growth factors, microbiome support agents, and time-tested Korean ingredients (like rice, bamboo + green tea) and actives for denser, stronger hair follicles.
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Last spring, beloved biotech skincare brand OneSkin got into haircare, which is great news given the incredible results of their OS-01 Peptide™. The entire brand is driven by science and clinically proven results (almost all of the words they use to discuss aging are not easily pronounced, but make me feel smart to repeat like “cell senescence”). In line with their skin and bodycare portfolio, this peptide-based scalp serum targets aging follicles and weakening, thinning hair for some serious reversal over a six-month period.
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OBAGI never messes around when it comes to their R&D. When they launched their latest in scalp care back in the fall of 2025, I didn’t hesitate to give it a go. Powered by clinically proven actives, this serum hits all the high notes with their BioStim™ Complex that hydrates, soothes, repairs, and balances the scalp to promote optimal hair growth over time. All of the ingredients are synergistic, potent, and a reason to believe that growth can and will happen.
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Exosomes are having a real moment in skincare because of their ability to prompt regeneration of cells and boost collagen, elastin, and growth factors. Blair Skincare is bringing the power of exosomes to the scalp along with peptides and other growth-promoting ingredients (cue: rosemary again). The formula is designed for daily use, which means no oil residue or buildup—just targeted hydration and nutrient delivery.
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One thing I absolutely love about Reverie is industry-leading hairstylist and founder Garrett Markenson’s philosophy that less is truly more. The brand’s scalp tonic, which was a part of a haircare relaunch in 2021, is no exception. Inside every dropperful are Swiss apple stem cells, hydrolyzed protein, Indian Senna, rose hydrosol, and other synergistically formulated, scalp-loving ingredients that balance the pH to a 5.5.
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For anyone with super sensitive skin, meet your next best thing. Blossom Essential’s hydration holy grail is all about keeping the skin (no matter where it is on your body) strong, soothed, and hydrated with the simplest, cleanest ingredients. While this serum shares a like-minded ingredient list with many of the above, it brings in new heroes like tremella mushroom extract and aloe vera for extra-soothing support—two ingredients that I often ingest on the inside! While—yes—growth is the end goal, this serum specifically highlights hydration as the top priority.
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