These Anti-Dandruff Shampoos Are Proven to Stop Flaking Fast

We updated this article in November 2022 to add more information about each featured product, two new product recommendations (Ouai and Selsun Blue) and expert commentary from Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and dermatologists.

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as dandruff, is both uncomfortable and frustrating. There are a variety of causes of dandruff, but the key to solving the problem really is an effective anti-dandruff shampoo. That's because while "many people think that dandruff is a dry, scaling issue, but really, this is a greasy, flaky problem," says Amy McMichael, M.D., a professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Swapping a shampoo-conditioner set with the bacteria-fighting ingredient like pyrithione zinc into your routine weekly can help treat dandruff by help eliminating debris and purifying the scalp.

In addition to combating flakes, using a dandruff shampoo can clear clogged hair follicles that lead to an itchy, flaky scalp and “stunt hair growth and affect its quality,” adds Doris Day, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. While the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab hasn't formally tested anti-dandruff shampoos, GH Beauty Lab experts have a decades-long history of evaluating all types of shampoos both in the Lab using technical instruments as well as on consumer testers for ease of use, lather, scent, and look and feel of hair after use. Based on this expertise, our GH Beauty Lab scientists plus dermatologists and hairstylists weighed in to find the best shampoos for fighting dandruff based on active ingredients and efficacy.

Our top picks:

Fight flaking as you suds with the below picks for the best anti-dandruff shampoos you can buy for fast results, and keep scrolling for answers to all your FAQs on dandruff, including how to use dandruff shampoo for the best results and how we selected the best dandruff-fighting shampoos with the help of our Beauty Lab pros and dermatologists. And before you get shopping, be sure to learn more about common scalp issues, including the difference between dandruff and psoriasis.