When I first began the curly girl routine, the buildup from cheap products was my worst enemy. Used to harsh shampoos, my scalp didn’t know what to do with all this cheap conditioner and nothing to cleanse it!
The exfoliating brown sugar scrub recipe from Curly Girl: The Handbook quickly became my scalp’s best friend. It was a weekly habit that that first year of going curly. My friends and I jokingly called it “boy bait” because it smelled so good (especially compared to some of our other hair treatments that included baking soda and apple cider vinegar!).
Now that my hair is used to the curly routine, and I use more natural products with less “cones”, I don’t have as much product buildup. But I still love to give my scalp a refreshing exfoliation every so often. Whenever my scalp starts feeling a little itchy, I know it’s time to “candy” my curls.
What You’ll Need
- 2 to 4 Tablespoons brown sugar or uncooked quinoa
- (I use a bit of raw cane sugar or white sugar if I want extra exfoliation)
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons conditioner
How You’ll Candy Those Curls
Step One
Mix sugar and conditioner together to form a thick paste. (Wait to combine the ingredients right before you hop in the shower or the sugar will start to dissolve and lose its exfoliating power!)
Step Two
Gently massage generous amounts of the scrub into scalp from the roots. Part your hair as needed to reach all areas evenly.
Step Three
Continue to gently scrub with your fingertips until your scalp feels nicely exfoliated. Linger on any areas that are extra itchy.
Step Four
Rinse well with lukewarm water.
Step Five
Fill the empty scrub container with cold water and use it to do a final cool rinse of your head.
About Gretchen Louise
Gretchen Louise is a follower of the God Who created beauty, the redheaded wife of a brown-eyed farmer, and the mommy to three curly-haired little children. When she’s not working in the family business, hanging out laundry, or washing dishes, you'll find her stealing a quiet moment to write or managing the community over at Kindred Grace.
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So i have really thick frizzy curly biracial hair and i must say this works amazing 🙂 over time i have gotten a natural shine, which i thought was impossible for my hair type. Love! but i do add oils to it as well.
Hi! This looks like an amazing solution to my problem, but I have one question.Do you have to use brown sugar or can you use any other types?
Thanks for the recipe. Off to try it!
Hi!
I found this website to be extremely information! Just to make sure though this recipe helps with dandruff to right?
It’s great if you do this with coconut oil, instead of conditioner. It’s better for your skin and conditions the hair and scalp with no chemical additives.
After rinsing well just wrap hair and leave the oil on overnight. Wash in the a.m. and your hair will gleam!
My head and hair love coconut oil treatments alone, but I’m going to add some coconut sugar and make a scrub. Dr. Josh Axe reports it to have antimicrobial, anti-fungal properties, much like the coconut oil.
Thanks for the suggestion!
So is this intended to be used alone, with no shampoo? Sort of an all-in-one? Or am I to shampoo and then do this treatment?
I noticed you said you had tried the baking soda and vinegar method; I was doing it for about a year but it didn’t give me the results I wanted and I heard it can actually make your hair brittle after prolonged used. But I have hated going back to regular shampoo and conditioner! I have to wash my hair MUCH more frequently and I get greasy sooner.
If you must shampoo, do it before. You may need to adjust the conditioner ratio according to your scalp’s needs. Check out the book “The Curly Girl Handbook” (link in the sidebar) for some great Curly info that really changed a lot of our hair. If you aren’t curly, you may need to still/always shampoo. Just try to pick something without cones and a good quality! 🙂
Have you tried using Diva Curls cleanser? It will get out the grease and stuff without all of the chemicals
I’ve heard wonderful things about Deva Curl! Some of our writers used and love it. Looking forward to trying some myself here soon!
http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/products/for-the-hair/shampoo-bars/ This website has affordable shampoo bars that are all natural and chemical free. They saved my hair! I didn’t want to use shampoo but the home no poo recipes didn’t work for me. Baking soda, like you said, is terrible for your hair. Rye flour was hard to use and honey leaves a waxy feeling. I have tried countless other methods but I eventually found these shampoo bars! They really clean my hair and hair a nice lather that most other no poo methods lack. My hair is shinier and healthier than ever! Check them out!
Love Chagrin Valley. I’ve used their bars off and on for years. 🙂
Hi! I’m excited to try this! I’ve never done anything but shampoo and condition, no special treatments. I use products to tame my curls, does using this method in lieu of shampooing actually clean the product out of your hair too? Or would I need to shampoo first to get product out and then do this scrub? Also, my hair is light and very thin and fine, so I do worry about a greasy look.
I want to try this method but I’m nervous about a reaction. I have sensitive skin and for some reason I occasionally get pimples on my scalp (perhaps from product buildup), but I definitely don’t want to do anything to make it worse. Any experience with this?
Leigh, I have sensitive skin and get “pimples” on my scalp occasionally too! I have a very greasy scalp.
In my experience, there was no reaction, and I used a little less conditioner and added a bit of water. Also, picking a good conditioner is important. The cheap stuff tends to leave it more greasy feeling. You may need to play around to get the portions just right for you, but I did find that it made my scalp feel nice and massaged which was great! 🙂
I am absolutly gonna try this i hv bn fighting with my wild untamed dry frizzy curly hair since junior high school thank u for all the tips n natural solutions
Awesome! If you haven’t, go find a copy of The Curly Girl Handbook by Lorraine Massey (Link in the sidebar–you could also check the library!). Seriously “hair-changing” for more than one of us curly girls who thought we were destined to a life of untamed frizz! 🙂
Should I wash my hair first??
This method is for a conditioner only method, where no shampoo is involved. Research the “curly girl” method for more info on it! I supposed you would shampoo before if you do wish to shampoo, as it would create build up.
Tried this last night and it’s left my scalp feeling greasier and my hair feeling heavy and greasy… I rinsed everything out thoroughly but debating whether to use shampoo after…
Dia, is it possible that it’s the conditioner? I know I have used some conditioners that just did NOT work on my hair. Plus, keep in mind that non-curly girls sometimes need a bit of cleanser, too! I’ll let Gretchen weigh in, since she’s definitely more of a pro with this than I am, though!
My guess is that it’s the conditioner. I’d check the ingredients and make sure you’re using something that doesn’t have ‘cones.
And to get rid of the greasy feeling, I’d try an apple cider vinegar rinse.
Wow! This worked. For years I’ve had a build up problem. I’ve used clarifying shampoos and dandruff shampoos. They only seemed to loosen the build up and never washed it away. So when my hair was dry it looked liked I had dandruff even though I had just washed my hair. I even tried a scalp scrub with cinnamon but that only added cinnamon to my build up. So glad you posted this!
Hi all!
Has anyone with scalp eczema tried this method? My scalp is doing pretty bad, it’s so dry and irritated, it’s driving me crazy!
Are there any other methods that may be helpful for my scalp?
Any information helps
Thanks!
Hey… I have scalp psoriasis which is way worse than eczema and I exfoliate every Sunday. I used brown/white sugar blended and warm olive oil. The conditioner doesn’t work and it’s very counterproductive to removing buildup. Every other week I add a bit of cinnamon to help with the dandruff. I have dark hair and there’s a risk of cinnamon lightening hair, that’s why I only use it once a month.
Hey there,
Wouldn’t using a conditioner in this be counter effective? This is a scrub to remove build up, won’t the conditioner just be more build up if that makes any sense?
I’ve found that as long as I use a good quality conditioner and rinse it well, the exfoliation with conditioner removes build up without drying or damaging my hair.
How often/is there a limit in frequency to doing this?
Thanks
I think you can do it as often as you feel the need! 🙂
How much white sugar should I use?
This worked so nice for me. I added the cane sugar to it, too, and scrubbed it in and now my scalp feels so clean and my hair feels great! I will definitely keep doing this when needed.
I heard about curly girl several years ago but never did check into it further. I think my 13 year old daughter might especially benefit from this – thank you for the recipe and the tips!
I used this and scalp felt instantly better. I think you could even use it instead of shampoo. I didnt have to wash my hair for 3 days after I used this. This is a super great find.
Do you wash your hair first or use the concoction as a shampoo?
Can we use any kind of conditioner?
I have oily hair. Will putting conditioner directly on my scalp make it greasy?
No, I’ve found that the more I condition my scalp, the less greasy it is!
I wonder if it will cause the appearance of dandruff?
I’ve found it to lessen buildup on my scalp rather than causing dandruff. I think it would release any dandruff that might be there. But its effect on your scalp would also depend on the conditioner you used.
Which conditioner did you use? And what shampoo/conditioners are best for there type of hairs?
I’ve used Renpure Organics (which I really like!) as shown in the image, as well as countless other brands. I usually am using whatever natural variety is on sale at my local grocery outlet store!
Do you rub it into a dry scalp and then rinse or a wet scalp?
Wet scalp.
Thank you! Tried it this morning. Loved it!
So I tried it and it did a great job. My hair looks and feels softer and cleaner. Thanks again.
Okay. Thank you. I have done the baking soda and apple cider vinegar method and that has always worked well. I’m going to try this exfoliating method and I’ll let you know how it goes.
Can I wash my hair with shampoo before doing this? I have naturally red curly/wavy hair..so I hope this does wonders. Does this exfoliate get rid of the buildup of products and dead skin all together? I noticed how dry my scalp is, but hardly ever itches. And can I use any conditioner? I have L’Oréal total repair 5 restoring conditioner.
This exfoliation could definitely be used in conjunction with a gentle cleanser. Beware of the ingredients in shampoos, though, as they can cause a dry scalp to begin with.
Can I simply wash my hair after the treatment, especially if I use coconut or almond oil in the formula. I have very fine straight hair so I worry that it will look greasy if I just simply rinsed it with water. Also do you suggest shampooing before the treatment, and finally does the hair and scalp need to be fully dry for the exfoliation to work, or could I use this immediately following my cleansing routine?
Yes, I wash my hair afterwards. 🙂
If you use coconut or almond oil for the scrub you’ll definitely want to wash your hair as normal afterwards to remove excess oil.
I don’t shampoo before exfoliation–I use the brown sugar scrub as soon as I get my hair thoroughly wet. Hope that helps!
Hello, Loved your exfoliation tip, can’t wait to try it out today. I have curly hair too and I follow the curly girl method, but after switching to sulfate free shampoo, I can’t seem to get the oil out of my hair after a massage…
I like to use coconut oil on my hair but Sulfate free shampoos doesn’t seem to take out the oil…do you have any advice for this?? Thanks for your help and time…:)
I use a bit of baking soda and apple cider vinegar, thinned with water, to remove extra oil and build-up. You can also use lemon juice. Hope that helps!
Dear Gretchen
Thank you for your reply, I shall try out the baking soda with apple cider vinegar tip…:)
I need to find something that works. My scalp is so dry and itchy I have scratched it raw. Special shampoo treatments are so expensive. Im going to try this.
How did this work for you? I have done the same to my scalp and it has been like this for about a year…did the exfoliant help? Thank you (:
Oh I hope you’re able to find a solution for your dry and itchy scalp, Alyssa! Have you tried a different method of cleansing and conditioning?
I am SO going to do this. I have not heard of it before but it sounds like the EXACT thing I need.
You have to try it. For the lovely smell, if nothing else! 😉
Thank you ever so much! I have switched to the no-shampoo method since this blog started (and by the reccendation of a friend) but my scalp is not in great shape, just as you mentioned. :/ One question for you though…would this be better than using coconut oil? Or should I do both but intermittently? I have very dry hair from a thyroid condition and years of the shampoo use, but my scalp also tends to get flakey. 😛 I’ve been a little apprehensive to try something as I’m not sure what would be best to use. Would you have any suggestions or help for me? 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Oh, using coconut oil in place of the conditioner in this recipe would be fabulous! I’d definitely go easy on the scrubbing, and use brown sugar so it’s not too rough on your scalp, but coconut oil is always a great substitute for conditioner. 🙂
All right! Thank you so much! 😀
Hi girls, I just tried this recipe and my scalp feels so nice and clean 🙂 I found that after using coconut oil a bit it would build up on my scalp, I guess cos it goes solid at room temp maybe? So this really helped get rid of that and will help in the future 🙂
I would probably not use as much coconut oil as conditioner! When it comes to coconut oil, a little goes a veeeeeeery long ways. Otherwise you may be stuck in the shower rinsing your hair for a pretty long time. 🙂 (At least in my experience! 😉 )
Haha, very true, Chantel! I’d use teaspoons of coconut oil as opposed to Tablespoons of conditioner! 😉
Yes, thank you both for those tips! I look forward to trying this… 🙂
I agree. Esp. with my fine hair. I did a coconut oil treatment on my hair a few days ago and ended up having to go back and rinse it out again later on . But it did wonders for my hair! It just looked a little greasy for a while 😉
At least the greasy look is more in these days! 😉
🙂
I don’t know why I waited so long to do the treatment; it’s amazing!
oh the recipe looks so yummy even for someone who does not have curly hair.
Do you have any recommendations for shampoo?
I live using a natural egg to wash my hair, however I’m soon going off to college dorm life and would like something a bit more accessible.
Yes, it’s definitely not just for curly hair! You’d want to make sure you rinsed it all out extra well for straight hair, though.
Oh, I haven’t tried using egg in my hair yet! I love this brand shown in the pictures: Renpure. I also use the Organix brand.
Beth, I use baking soda rinses, with an aoccasional ACV rinse to end with on my fairly straight hair. It keeps it soft, silky and clean…at least now that my scalp has adjusted! I’ve also used a natural shampoo bar on it and that works well, too. We’ll be writing more about both of those in the future, but I got my shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley Soaps. 🙂
Can I use this method on straight hair too? This dry weather is causing a lot of flakes on my scalp and is like to exfoliate. Thanks!
I don’t see why not! 🙂
Laura, yes! I’ve used it when my hair was straight as well as curly (Post Partum changes. 🙂 ) Works well either way.