We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Skin & Hair Products The Best Dandruff Shampoos for Soothing Itchy Scalps, Tested and Reviewed These top shampoos combat irritation, dandruff, and buildup. By Jennifer Nied and Brittany Leitner Updated on April 08, 2024 Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD Fact checked by Marley Hall Print Verywell Health / Sara Luckey Dandruff can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition. It may occur for several reasons including sensitivity to hair care products, irritated skin, or most commonly malassezia (a yeast-like fungus). All of which can lead to the inflammation that causes flaking, redness, and itching. Depending on the cause, dandruff shampoos may offer relief. When deciding which shampoo to use, it’s important to consider the type of dandruff you’re experiencing, your hair type, and how frequently you wash your hair. To find the best dandruff shampoos available today, we spent hours researching and testing the most popular products on the market, evaluating formulation, effectiveness, method, and price. We also consulted board-certified dermatologist Orit Markowitz, MD, FAAD, a leading dermatologist, skin cancer specialist, and the CEO and Founder of Markowitz Medical in New York City, for her insights on which ingredients to look for and what to avoid. Then, our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy. These are the dandruff shampoos that we found were effective in relieving itch, soothing inflammation, and removing buildup. Ingredients to Look For The common ingredients found in anti-dandruff shampoos are zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, salicylic acid, and coal tar. These can all effectively reduce dandruff, says Dr. Markowitz. However, finding the right ingredient that works best for you may take some trial and error. If you prefer more natural ingredients, coconut oil, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar are effective alternatives. Tea tree oil is also naturally anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Head & Shoulders Clinical Dandruff Defense Shampoo at Amazon ($15) Jump to Review Best Budget: Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo at Amazon ($7) Jump to Review Best for Itch Relief: Jupiter Balancing Shampoo at Hellojupiter.com ($25) Jump to Review Best for Flakiness: R+Co Water-Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo at Amazon ($36) Jump to Review Best for Dry Scalp: Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo at Walmart ($35) Jump to Review Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Best for Buildup: Amika Exfoliating Jelly Scalp Scrub at Amazon ($28) Jump to Review In This Article Expand Ingredients to Look For Our Picks We Also Tested How We Tested the Best Dandruff Shampoo What to Look For Our Experts FAQ Why Trust Verywell Health Best Overall Head & Shoulders Clinical Dandruff Defense Shampoo Target View On Amazon $15 View On Walmart $14 View On Target $10 Pros Readily available at many retailers Fast and effective Reduces oiliness on scalp Cons Doesn’t lather as well as regular shampoos Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Selenium sulfide 1% | Scent: Unspecified scent | Usage: Twice per week or as directed by a doctor Why We Recommend It Head & Shoulders has been one of the most well-recognized brands of dandruff shampoo for decades. For multi-symptom relief and prescription strength, we chose Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Dandruff Defense Shampoo as our best overall. This formula treats existing dandruff and helps prevent recurrences with the active ingredient selenium sulfide when used as directed. Our hair and scalp felt cleaner after the first use. We saw significant improvement after three to four uses. After a month, our hair looked healthier, shinier, and we had no noticeable flakes. Head & Shoulders also reduced the oiliness and itchiness on our scalp, especially around the hairline. Keep in Mind We wished it was a bit foamier, however, we think the lather is a small sacrifice to make for a healthier scalp. Verywell Health / Erika Reals Verywell Health / Erika Reals Best Budget Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $7 View On Walmart $8 View On Neutrogena.com Pros Alcohol-, fragrance-, and preservative-free Treats seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis Gentle enough for everyday use Cons Small product size Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Salicylic acid 3% | Scent: Fragrance-free | Usage: Twice per week or as directed by a doctor Why We Recommend It Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control is free from fragrance, alcohol, color, and preservatives and is recommended by dermatologists. The active ingredient, salicylic acid, is commonly found in many skincare products and in this case, it works to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis on the scalp. This formula is gentle enough for everyday use to treat and prevent flakes without breaking the bank. We loved that this shampoo did not feel or smell medicinal or overpowering. It contains menthol, which aids in reducing itchiness and soothing the scalp. Overall, this product surpassed our expectations for its low price. Keep in Mind It lathered a little less than typical shampoo, and the bottle is pretty small so it may not last as long as other options on this list. Verywell Health Verywell Health Best for Itch Relief Jupiter Balancing Shampoo Jupiter View On Hellojupiter.com $25 Pros Certified vegan Safe for color- and chemically-treated hair Cons Small product packaging for the price Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Zinc pyrithione 1% | Scent: Mint, vanilla, sage, and lavender | Usage: Twice per week or as directed by a doctor Why We Recommend It Jupiter Balancing Shampoo is designed to treat mild to moderate dandruff with zinc pyrithione while it protects and softens hair using coconut oil, squalene, and sugar kelp extract. This formula is free from harmful sulfates, phthalates, and parabens, and safe for all hair types. The moisture-rich ingredients make it our top choice for itch relief. We noticed an improvement right away and all of the itchiness subsided within two weeks with regular use. The thick consistency of the shampoo spread evenly throughout our hair and scalp, but it did not create a dense lather as we hoped. It cleansed well without being too drying or oily. Keep in Mind For maximum dandruff control and itch relief, it is recommended to use this shampoo with every wash. Best for Flakiness R+Co Water-Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo R+Co View On Amazon $36 View On Randco.com View On Dermstore $36 Pros Vegan and gluten-free Warm, relaxing scent Visibly reduces flakiness Cons May dull the brightness of blonde hair Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Alpha hydroxy acid | Scent: Deep Waves | Usage: Once a week in place of regular shampoo Why We Recommend It R+Co Submarine is a water-activated enzyme exfoliator. Alpha hydroxy acid safely and gently removes flakiness without abrasive beads or granules. Other active ingredients such as bilberry extract, fermented radish root, and tomato extract reduce inflammation and odor while nourishing the scalp and hair when used once a week in place of regular shampoo. The “Deep Waves” fragrance is a warm, romantic scent with notes of cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo, and blonde woods, and it reminded us of a spa. When we applied Submarine to our scalp, there was a tingling sensation—almost as if we could feel it working. It did a great job of cleansing our scalp. Plus, we saw a visible reduction in flakes immediately. By the second use, the flakiness was completely gone. It worked better than we anticipated and a little went a long way. Keep in Mind We saw a slight dull in the brightness of our blonde hair when using this shampoo. However, we think that's a small price to pay for a noticeable reduction in flakes and inflammation. Verywell Health / Allison Widmer Verywell Health / Allison Widmer Best for Dry Scalp Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo Briogeo View On Walmart $35 View On Briogeohair.com View On Sephora $42 Pros Gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan Gets rid of itchiness and flakiness Gentle enough for daily use Cons Tea tree oil scent may be overwhelming for some Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Salicylic acid 3% | Scent: Fragrance-free | Usage: Twice per week or as directed by a doctor Why We Recommend It Briogeo enlists a powerful blend of salicylic acid, AHA, and Binchotan charcoal in their Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Charcoal Shampoo to draw out impurities, gently exfoliate the scalp, and cleanse lackluster locks. This fragrance-free formula is made of 92% naturally derived ingredients, including tea tree oil and lactic acid to soothe itchiness, irritation, and flakiness. It's gentle enough to use daily on most hair types. We loved that Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Charcoal Shampoo made a huge impact on reducing the amount of dandruff we had. There was a noticeable difference after the first couple of washes. We experienced sticker shock at the higher price point, but the shampoo delivered. It performed incredibly well at reducing dandruff flakes in number and size and eliminating itchiness. Keep in Mind Tea tree oil is the dominating scent, which was a bit overpowering initially since this shampoo is labeled as “fragrance-free.” Similarly to other dandruff shampoos, this one does not produce the thick lather that we’re accustomed to. Verywell Health / Stella Yu Verywell Health / Stella Yu Best for Color-Treated Hair Olaplex Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo Olaplex View On Amazon $30 View On Olaplex.com View On Sephora $30 Pros Easily lathers and rinses clean One-weekly treatment Reduces buildup, flakes, and itchiness Cons Requires purchase of additional shampoo Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate | Scent: Unspecified scent | Usage: Once a week in place of regular shampoo Why We Recommend It Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is a once-weekly treatment to remove product buildup and impurities while it repairs and strengthens hair bonds. It cleanses and volumizes limp tresses, adding softness, shine, and color clarity. The fresh, clean scent and rich lather made us feel as if this shampoo was really getting the job done. We don't consider Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo hydrating, so we were sure to condition right after using it. We noted that the shampoo worked to significantly reduce flakes and alleviate itchiness. The positive effects lasted a few days before the buildup became noticeable again. We added this clarifying shampoo to our weekly routine for a deep, refreshing clean. Keep in Mind Because this is only a weekly treatment, you'll need to purchase an additional shampoo for more frequent washes. Verywell Health / Gibreel Martinez Verywell Health / Gibreel Martinez Best for Buildup Amika Exfoliating Jelly Scalp Scrub Amika View On Amazon $28 View On Loveamika.com View On Sephora $28 Pros Free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum Eases oiliness and itchiness Has a calming, mellow scent Cons Doesn't lather well Key Specs: Key Ingredient: Sea salt, salicylic acid | Scent: Amika signature scent| Usage: Once a week in place of regular shampoo or as needed Why We Recommend It Amika Reset Exfoliating Jelly Shampoo is unique in every way. As the name implies, the jelly consistency, made of sea salt, salicylic acid, pink clay, charcoal, and Indian cress removes buildup and deep cleans the scalp. The signature scent is a mellow proprietary blend with hints of orange blossom, sandalwood spice, amber, and vanilla. The applicator tip makes it easy to apply directly to the scalp. This treatment worked better the more we used it. Most notably, it eased oiliness and itchiness. It also lessened flakiness. Over time, we felt like it gave us a deep clean that reduced buildup and kept our dandruff at bay. Keep in Mind We felt inclined to use more of the product because it doesn’t lather like typical shampoo. And we would have liked a bit more of the exfoliating particles, but we got a good scrub with Amika Reset Exfoliating Jelly Shampoo as-is. We Also Tested dpHue Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse: The ACV scent was intense, but didn’t linger and rinsed away along with all the buildup from our scalp, and we loved how shiny our hair was after using this rinse. However, we were concerned about our color-treated hair and over-drying with frequent use.Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo: We like that this product focuses on our scalp to combat dryness. However, the active ingredients, including wheat protein, may not be suitable for people with sensitivities. This is best for individuals with mild symptoms of dryness, dandruff, or flaky scalp.Aveda Scalp Solutions Balancing Shampoo: We love that this shampoo is formulated for all hair types and textures. It worked fairly well to reduce dandruff and buildup but felt a bit drying to our hair. How We Tested the Best Dandruff Shampoo Over the course of a 12-week period, our team tested more than 20 dandruff shampoos, using them according to package directions. We monitored our hair and scalp every week noting how well the shampoo cleansed our scalp and hair, if it was too harsh or drying, the scent, and how long it took to reduce or eliminate dandruff. To choose our top dandruff shampoos, we rated each product based on the following criteria: Formulation: We paid close attention to the ingredients in each product, how well each shampoo lathered, how the formula felt on our scalp, whether the product had a nice scent or not, and whether the product was color-safe or not.Effectiveness: Throughout testing, we looked for a reduction in itchiness, flakiness, and inflammation. We also focused on how our hair felt after testing, if there were any signs of additional irritation, and how long it took to see results. Method: How often you need to use a shampoo can impact how easily it fits into your routine. We selected a range of options so you can meet your needs regardless if you require daily washes or occasional weekly treatments. Price: We included a variety of products across a range of prices so you can find the right product for your individual needs within your personal budget. We also paid attention to bottle size and how long each product lasted because the quicker you go through a product, the more it will cost to restock it over time. What to Look for in a Dandruff Shampoo Hair Type: You should factor in your specific hair type when choosing a dandruff shampoo. There are a variety of formulas designed for color-treated, dry, and curly hair types. For example, your hair and scalp may need an extra boost of moisture, so hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera are just as important as the flake-fighter ingredients mentioned above. Your dermatologist and sometimes your stylist can help determine what is causing the flakes in your hair and the best treatment options. Method: Dr. Markowitz recommends cleansing with dandruff shampoo two times a week to start (once a week if you have textured hair). If your condition remains unchanged, you can increase the frequency by one or two more shampoos per week. Note the instructions on the packaging prior to use. In general, you'll scrub in the shampoo with your fingertips and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. This allows the active ingredients to penetrate your scalp and hair to work more effectively. Follow shampooing with a conditioner. There are anti-dandruff options available. Our Experts Orit Markowitz, MD, FAAD, a leading dermatologist, skin cancer specialist, and the CEO and Founder of Markowitz Medical in New York City Craig Ziering, DO, FISHRS, FAOCD, FAAD, an expert hair transplant surgeon and artist at Ziering Medical in New York City Frequently Asked Questions How does dandruff shampoo work? Dandruff shampoo works to curb a flaky, itchy scalp. What they target depends on the ingredients. Dandruff shampoos usually contain antifungals or corticosteroids. Antifungals keep fungus from growing, which, in turn, reduces the fungi that cause dandruff. Some common antifungals in dandruff shampoo are ketoconazole, bifonazole, selenium sulfide, ciclopirox olamine, and zinc pyrithione. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory, which helps reduce irritation and thus flaking. Fluocinolone is a common corticosteroid in dandruff shampoos. Coal tar is another common ingredient that acts as an antifungal and anti-inflammatory used to treat both dandruff and psoriasis , Is dandruff shampoo bad for your hair? Some dandruff shampoos, such as tar-based shampoos and selenium sulfide shampoos can cause discoloration of the hair and scalp. Read the instructions carefully to see how long (or short) the shampoo should stay in before rinsing thoroughly. Can you use dandruff shampoo every day? It depends. It’s always best to read the shampoo’s instructions for how often it should be used. It may be best to alternate regular shampoo with dandruff shampoo. For example, try using a dandruff shampoo two or three times a week and a regular shampoo on the other days. If you have dry hair, you may benefit from less shampooing overall. How long can dandruff last? Dandruff can last for weeks. If you’ve been using a dandruff shampoo for several weeks and aren’t seeing an improvement in the flakiness, itchiness, or irritation of your scalp, talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist. They can point you in the right direction for a better shampoo or other skin-based treatments. Sometimes, even after treatment was successful, dandruff may come back. So, you may need to restart dandruff treatment every once in a while. Why Trust Verywell Health As a seasoned health writer, Jennifer Nied understands how vital quality product recommendations are for treating symptoms safely and effectively at home. For over 10 years, she has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. She selected every product in this piece by taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews. Additional reporting by Brittany Leitner As a health writer with over eight years of experience, Brittany Leitner understands how important access to information is when it comes to making educated health decisions. She has interviewed dozens of medical experts, tested out hundreds of products, and aims to provide quality recommendations that won't break the bank. 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC. Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review. J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019 Additional Reading Aldhalimi MA, Hadi NR, Ghafil FA. Promotive Effect of Topical Ketoconazole, Minoxidil, and Minoxidil with Tretinoin on Hair Growth in Male Mice. ISRN Pharmacol. 2014;2014:1-5. doi:10.1155/2014/575423 Reeder NL, Kaplan J, Xu J, et al. Zinc Pyrithione Inhibits Yeast Growth through Copper Influx and Inactivation of Iron-Sulfur Proteins. Antimicrob Agents and Chemother. 2011;55(12):5753-5760. doi:10.1128/aac.00724-11 Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS. Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 47.6 (2002): 852-855. By Jennifer Nied Jennifer has written for VeryWell Health since July 2020.Her work has appeared on sites such as WomensHealthmag.com, Prevention.com, Shape.com, SpaandBeautyToday.com, and in American SpaJennifer has a Bachelor's s degree in magazine journalism and minor in psychology from Northwestern University. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit