The 21 Best Shampoos for a Dry Scalp, According to Dermatologists, Hair Stylists and Reviewers
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Whether it’s caused by a change in environment or the products you’re using, a tight and itchy scalp can stem from multiple factors. Though it’s hard to pinpoint the exact culprit without having an expert take a closer look, the good news is that there are a few helpful solutions. The first step? Finding the best shampoo for you. We asked five experts to share what we should look for when shopping for the right one.
The Best Shampoos for a Dry Scalp at a Glance
Meet the Experts:
How We Chose the Best Shampoos for a Dry Scalp
We reached out to dermatologists and hairstylists to provide insight on the best shampoos for a dry scalp. We also scoured the internet for the top picks based on rave reviews from Amazon, Ulta and Sephora that highlighted key ingredients our experts recommended that cleanse, moisturize and soothe a dry scalp (like salicylic acid, zinc, jojoba oil).
We know that's a lot to remember. So if you need a little help shopping, we’ll get you started with 21 tried-and-true options ahead.
What is a Scalp Detox and Do I Actually Need One?
1. Harklinikken Balancing Shampoo
Created by a Scandinavian haircare brand that treats hair loss and thinning, their mild shampoo gently removes excess oils and dead skin cells from your scalp, while balancing the pH, so it feels nourished and clean. Tip: After massaging the shampoo into your scalp, leave it in for 30 seconds before rinsing it out; repeat with a second shampoo for best results.
2. Dove Dermacare Anti Dandruff Shampoo
Oftentimes, a dry scalp is accompanied by dandruff, and many dandruff shampoos that clear up flakes can also be drying on your strands. Luckily, the team at Dove cracked the code with this shampoo. It features pyrithione zinc, which effectively tackles dandruff and reduces flakes. The blend also has coconut oil and shea butter to hydrate the scalp. Plus, this flake fighter claims to be surprisingly mild and moisturizing on the rest of your hair.
3. Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Shampoo
If your skin is easily irritated, you may appreciate this hypoallergenic and dermatologist-approved shampoo that was formulated for people with sensitivities to fragrance, essential oils, lactose, soy and gluten. With scalp soothing aloe vera and oat milk, it reduces dryness, itchiness or tightness. (Note: Reviewers have reported that this formula works best on fine hair, so if you have thicker strands, maybe skip to one of the others on the list.)
4. Kérastase Curl Manifesto Shampoo
This creamy shampoo gently cleanses your scalp of any residue or product buildup, while adding back moisture with manuka honey and ceramides. The rich formula is especially forgiving on dry, frizzy hair, and the warm tuberose and jasmine scent lingers until your next wash.
5. Method Simply Nourish Moisturizing Shampoo
If you crave a deliciously scented shampoo, we raise you this nourishing wash from Method. Infused with coconut, rice milk and shea butter, it gently clears away buildup and extra oils from your scalp, while hydrating dry ends and leaving your hair smelling like a coconutty dream for up to 12 hours.
6. FEKKAI Apple Cider Detox Shampoo
Reviews aside, this shampoo by Fekkai is a favorite among one of our experts—and we can tell by the ingredients list alone. "This is ideal for anyone struggling with dry scalp as it’s powered by ginger extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and apple cider vinegar, which gently clarifies, resets and balances your scalp microbiome," explains Hayasaka. "Bonus: it doesn’t smell like vinegar at all, but instead leaves your shower smelling of delicious green apples!"
7. Klorane Shampoo with Peony Sensitive Scalp
Like its name suggests, this sensorially-pleasing shampoo is made with—and thus, smells like—peonies. Shoppers say it's fresh, bright and lovely on their hair. Plus, the pH-balanced formula helps soothe irritated and sensitive scalps, while being gentle enough to use on color-treated hair.
8. Shu Uemura Gentle Radiance Deep Cleanser
Shu Uemura’s clarifying oil shampoo is a fan favorite. As its name implies, it deeply cleanses the scalp and remove any product buildup, dirt and excess oil. In short, reviewers say it has a nice slip and believes to be incredibly gentle on the scalp. With a subtle citrus scent and loaded with hydrating plant and fruit oils, it leaves your scalp and strands in a state of blissful equilibrium.
9. Jason Dandruff Relief 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner
Formulated with a potent duo of sulfur and salicylic acid, this clarifying shampoo soothes itchy scalps, while clearing up any surface flakes. Add rosemary oil, which helps to rebalance your skin, and olive and jojoba oils to condition the lengths, and we never want to be without it.
10. Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath
Who doesn’t want to indulge in a hydrating hairbath from time to time? This rich cream wash is packed with essential oils like sage and tamanu to balance your scalp, while emollients like avocado oil and shea butter smooth the cuticle of parched strands. Shoppers say the clean formula is hydrating, yet lightweight, and gets rid of grease without stripping hair dry.
11. Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scrub Shampoo
Does one actually need a scalp scrub? Why yes, it turns out we do. This one has a whipped texture that lathers nicely as you massage it into your scalp. With Himalayan pink salt, cold-pressed moringa oil and unfiltered rosehip oil (this is GP, after all), it promises to make our hair feel shiny and new.
12. Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo
With over 900 five-star reviews, this shampoo was made for scalp relief. Featuring three percent salicylic acid, the formula promises to cleanse the scalp and soothe common conditions such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. As Kobets explains,"In cases with a lot of scalp buildup and scaling, you should add on an exfoliating (or clarifying) ingredient such as salicylic acid or tea tree oil. This shampoo happens to have this key ingredient, which can help exfoliate dead skin."
13. Pura D'Or Anti-Thinning Shampoo
Avid reviewers on Amazon (there are over 15,00o 5-star reviews as of writing) claim this shampoo reduces hair shedding and improves volume with continued use. Upon closer inspection of the ingredients, we see it includes biotin, vitamins, amino acids and over 17 DHT herbs that nourish, cleanse and protect your scalp with every wash.
14. Jupiter Balancing Shampoo
For those with chemically-treated strands and a perpetually dry scalp, this balancing shampoo will become your shower MVP. Zinc pyrithione tackles dandruff, while squalane and coconut oil softens and strengthens the mid-lengths and ends. FYI: We don’t mind the minty fresh aroma either.
15. Superzero Scalp Shampoo
If you’re really looking to cut down on space and waste, you’ll love this shampoo bar from Superzero. It's formulated with Brazilian ziziphus joaxerio extract to soothe the scalp and reduce flakes. Rosemary and tea tree oil further protect your scalp, while shea butter and avocado oil add moisture to your strands. The brand really (ahem) raised the bar with this plastic-free option.
16. Babo Botanicals Baby Shampoo & Wash
Sometimes a dry scalp is caused by certain skin conditions like eczema. And as anyone with eczema knows, the key to preventing and treating flare-ups can be to pare down the number of potentially irritating ingredients that you encounter. This gentle formula has plant-based ingredients (like colloidal oatmeal, shea butter and cocoa butter) so you can cleanse your scalp (and your kiddo's) without worry.
17. Vanicream Shampoo
If you’re looking for a simple shampoo that is free of pretty much every possible irritant (from fragrance, parabens, sulfates and formaldehyde), this dermatologist-tested product promises to cleanse your scalp and strands sufficiently. A helpful tip: Shampoo twice, and really work it into your scalp, as the formula does not lather like conventional formulas do.
18. Act + Acre Cold Processed Balancing Shampoo
Whether you have straight, wavy or curly locks, this balancing shampoo promises to restore moisture and balance out a dry scalp. It's formulated with baobab oil for hydration, glycerin for balance and two percent of apple amino acids to cleanse and condition the scalp. "It's one of my absolute favorites since it strikes the perfect balance of cleansing without disrupting the hair’s natural moisture balance," adds Reavey.
19. Oribe Serene Scalp Shampoo
We’re suckers for packaging, so when a product is as effective as it is good-looking, it’s a win-win. This salon-quality shampoo features gentle salicylic acid to slough away flakes, plus soothing active ingredients (like orange and lemon extract) to keep them from coming back. But the real game changer is the addition of botanicals like bilberry fruit and sugar maple extract, which maintain moisture and protect against free radicals when we lather up. (It’s like an anti-aging treatment for your scalp.)
20. Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo
This budget-friendly shampoo is dermatologist-approved and we can definitely get behind it, too. Its hydrating blend of rosemary, peppermint and cucumber refreshes and restores your scalp. Plus, the core ingredient—colloidal oat extract—soothes and moisturizes your hair. "It's also sulfate-free and free of parabens, making it a good option for those with dry or sensitive skin, as well as those with color-treated hair," adds Dr. Garshick.
21. LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo
Whether you have curly hair or color-treated locks, this sulfate-free shampoo is great for all hair types. It's enriched with coconut oil to add moisture back to the scalp, while glycolic acid deeply cleans and removes flakes, and xylitol strengthens strands. The calming lemongrass scent adds to the whole in-shower experience.
What Are the Main Causes Of a Dry Scalp?
There are a few factors that can cause a dry scalp. Here are some common ones:
How Do You Know If You Have a Dry Scalp?
"[Identifying] a dry scalp tends to be confusing for patients since it can be caused by many things, and can feel dry and oily at the same time," says Dr. Kobets. "Sometimes, a dry scalp is caused by eczema, which can cause you to become sensitive to fragrances, preservative or other potential irritants in products. A dry scalp can also be caused by psoriasis, which presents as silvery, white patches or plaques. Other signs can include white flakes on the scalp, itching and irritation." Pay close attention to your scalp and ask yourself: Am I experiencing flakes, irritation, redness or all of the above? It's important to take note of these things and not ignore them because as Dr. Kobets explains, a dry scalp can also lead to many conditions like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and sometimes hair loss.
Wait, What's the Difference Between Dandruff Versus a Dry Scalp?
"A dry scalp typically occurs when there's a bit of dead skin that hasn't been removed properly during your cleansing process. Dandruff is a bacterial growth that speeds up cell turnover, so you're losing more skin rapidly and it's building up on the scalp and combining with the sebum," explains Reavey.
How Do You Treat a Dry Scalp?
It all starts with a nourishing haircare routine. Dr. Garshick recommends using a shampoo and conditioner that won't strip away your natural oils. A helpful tip: Avoid drying ingredients like certain alcohols and sulfates and look for gentle formulas with ingredients like aloe, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil instead. "You'll want to focus the product on the back of your scalp, working your way up to the top of your head. From there, rinse and repeat," explains Reavey. "I also recommend double cleansing since the first cleanse removes buildup, while the second actually cleanses the scalp."
We Scoured the Internet and Found 20 Scalp Serums Worth Adding to Your Haircare Routine
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