These Dry Scalp Shampoos Will Help You Achieve Flake-Free Bliss

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A dry scalp is the absolute worst to deal with, but it’s totally normal and incredibly common. I would know — apart from being Best Products’ beauty editor, I also suffer from a dry scalp during the winter months living in NYC. Given my experience with a dry, itchy, flaky scalp, I’m the perfect expert to introduce you to the best dry scalp shampoos that offer some major relief.

The Best Dry Scalp Shampoos

• Best Budget: Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo

• Best for Sensitive Scalps: Vanicream Shampoo

• Created by a Dermatologist: LivSO Moisturizing Shampoo

• Best for Dry Hair: Selsun Blue Itchy Dry Scalp Shampoo

• Best Eco-Friendly: Ethique Solid Shampoo Bar for Touchy Scalps

What Causes Dry Scalp

The most common non-medical cause of a dry scalp is dehydrated skin, according to Dr. Anar Mikailov, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of skincare line KP Away. He says a dry scalp often occurs when you shampoo too often or don’t follow up with a conditioner.

Irritation from hair dye, product build-up from dry shampoo, or using harsh ingredients can also cause dry scalp. Eczema and psoriasis can lead to dry scalp, too. Notably, the scaling caused by both skin conditions is a lot thicker than regular dandruff, he adds.

Factors you can’t control might also cause dry scalp, according to trichologist Dominic Burg, Ph.D., chief scientist of haircare line évolis Professional. According to Burg, the oil and sebum produced on each hair follicle are generally caused by genetics or hormone levels over your lifetime, including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and your menstrual cycle.

How Do I Treat Dry Scalp?

Dry scalp shampoo is essential because our scalp is an extension of our skin, and should be treated similarly. Mikailov, who also founded the skincare line Skintensive, recommends shampooing twice weekly to avoid removing your scalp’s natural oils. His go-to tip for patients is to massage a little conditioner or a hair mask onto the scalp as a leave-in treatment.

Berg notes you can safely wash your hair without washing your scalp. “If you have a super dry scalp that is exacerbated by shampooing, then concentrate on the mid-lengths and ends, and don’t shampoo the scalp unless you really need to,” he advises.

Another expert-recommended tip is to read the ingredient label of any prospective dry scalp shampoo. Here are the best and worst ingredients for treating dry scalp, according to Mikailov, Berg, and Dr. Iris Rubin, M.D., M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of haircare line SEEN.

👍 Best Ingredients

You can effectively treat your dry scalp problem by using a shampoo made with a combination of hydrating ingredients, chemical exfoliants, and non-irritating ingredients.

• Moisturizing plant-based ingredients, including aloe vera, argan oil, avocado oil, Brazil walnut oil, bisabolol, baobab, camellia oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, mangosteen, and shea butter

• Other hydrating ingredients like beta-glucans from oat and mushroom extracts, CBD, eucalyptus, oatmeal, and vitamin B-5, aka pantothenic acid

• Exfoliating ingredients like azelaic acid, bakuchiol, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, are also helpful

• Gentle detergents are alternatives to harsh surfactants like sodium cocoamphoacetate and lauryl glucoside

👎 Worst Ingredients

In addition to avoiding scalp scrubs and detoxes, here are a few harsh ingredients the experts recommend skipping: charcoal, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

How We Chose

Now that you better understand why your giftee has a dehydrated scalp and how to shop for dry scalp shampoos, here are the most impressive expert-approved products.

Since I’ve finally achieved flake-free bliss, I’m sharing honest feedback on the best dry scalp shampoos I personally tested and reviewed. Others on this list earned major snaps from the pros for their ability to cleanse away product buildup and flakes and simultaneously calm irritation. Based on my experience with these shampoos and expert advice, I also researched and found other dry scalp shampoos aligned with their guidance from some of my most trusted haircare brands. A bonus: These dry scalp shampoos include a mix of ingredients the pros suggest, and start at just $6.50!

T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo

Salicylic acid is known for treating acne on your face and body, and it can even help when dealing with a dry scalp. The popular beta hydroxy acid (BHA) gently exfoliates your scalp and removes product buildup and flakes. It also helps minimize pesky itching and irritation.

Is your loved one’s scalp also sensitive? Well, they can relax knowing this gentle shampoo is also free of irritants like dyes, fragrances, and preservatives.

Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to banish dry scalp, thanks to Vanicream’s $11 shampoo. It earned a spot on this list because it hits all of the checkmarks your giftee is likely looking for in a gentle hair wash: a mild, pH-balanced formula free of pesky ingredients like sulfates, silicones, and fragrances.

Instead, it contains a relatively short list of gentle detergents and moisturizers to help cleanse and rebalance your dry scalp. Since it’s dermatologist-tested and has garnered impressive Amazon reviews, your loved one can feel comfortable and confident that this shampoo will help quench their dry scalp, too.

Moisturizing Shampoo

When I first used this citrus-scented dry scalp shampoo, I was blown away by how clean my scalp was after just one wash. Most shampoos will dry out my natural hair, but LivSo’s product is a game changer because my scalp is both clean and feels incredibly soft — like I-used-an-expensive-conditioner soft! — after just one use.

The sulfate-free shampoo contains a potent blend of moisturizing coconut oil to help prevent breakage, glycolic acid to eliminate flakes and dry scalp, and xylitol to calm itching.

And I’m not the only one who loves this shampoo: After several weeks of patiently waiting, LivSo’s dry scalp shampoo is finally restocked on Amazon, where it boasts a 4.2-star average rating from over 1,360 reviews.

Itchy Dry Scalp Shampoo

Selsun Blue makes six shampoos that can eliminate flakes, but Itchy Dry Scalp is your best bet for a few reasons.

For starters, it’s formulated with eight hydrating ingredients like glycerin, and vitamins B-5 and E. Itchy Dry Scalp also utilizes soothing aloe vera to calm your sensitive skin, while pyrithione zinc helps treat and prevent flakes. Pyrithione zinc also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

If your giftee enjoys a nice lather and you don’t want to splurge on their dry scalp shampoo, this option is a great fit for their needs.

Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Sure, all shampoos on this list tackle a dry scalp and smell good, but this is far beyond the best fragrance of the bunch. The Oribe Signature Complex is a trifecta of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower to protect your giftee’s tresses from environmental damage, oxidative stress, photoaging, and more.

Most importantly, it eliminates dry scalp problems effectively, and the salicylic acid infusion helps prevent scalp acne. I love that Serene Scalp provides salon-quality results and lathers up like a dream. The overall quality is aligned with the splurge-worthy price tag.

Full Transparency Pure Revitalizing Shampoo

Does your recipient have a sensitive nose? They’ll gush over Full Transparency Pure Revitalizing Shampoo. It’s from Better Not Younger, a red carpet staple for stars, including Lily Gladstone, Jennifer Coolidge, and Cate Blanchett.

Although I haven’t tried this shampoo yet, I’m a fan of the brand’s hair oil and scalp massager. Given my positive experience with the brand’s other products and the impressive ingredient list, I feel confident recommending it.

Infused with scalp-nourishing ingredients like chia seed, yuzu, and xylitol, Full Transparency supports a healthier scalp and hair follicles. Chia seed is especially wonderful for promoting shine because it’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and protein.

InnerJoi Hydrate Shampoo

Joico is one of my favorite haircare brands of all time, so it’s not surprising that I’m including their dry scalp-friendly shampoo on this list. Although I never tested this particular version, after doing research, the InnerJoi collection is immediately going into my shopping cart.

It’s formulated with upcycled apple extract, a humectant (an ingredient that attracts moisture), while olive oil ester conditions strands. InnerJoi is also infused with vegan protein powder and aloe vera, which is rich in amino acids and fatty acids.

Super Garden Shampoo

Dealing with an irritated scalp is rough, but R+Co created the perfect solution with Super Garden Shampoo. As the name implies, it’s packed with plant-based ingredients, most notably soothing hemp-derived CBD.

There’s also coconut oil, which promotes hair growth and boasts antibacterial properties. Moringa oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamins, nourishing your giftee’s hair and scalp. It also softens your hair and imparts shine.

Rounding out the ingredients table is a combination of peppermint and eucalyptus oil, which stimulates the scalp and boosts circulation, helping to aid hair growth.

Strengthen Concentrated Peptide Shampoo

Meet the newest Clean at Sephora launch: The Rootist, a haircare brand focused on helping users achieve healthy hair from root to tip.

Despite its small size, The Rootist created a highly concentrated shampoo that helps rebalance a dry scalp. It’s made with a proprietary rootbiomic ferment and bio-peptides to strengthen weak hair. There are even yuzu ceramides for hydration to smooth your giftee’s tresses.

Sephora reviewers say the sulfate-free shampoo provides an excellent lather and is wonderful for all hair types, ranging from straight, fine tresses to big, bouncy curls and coils.

Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo

Mikailov is also a fan of Monpure’s splurge-worthy dry scalp shampoo because it’s made with very moisturizing ingredients, like vitamin B-5 and aloe vera.

Notably, it also contains keratin, a natural protein found in hair that banishes flyaways and protects it from color treatments and heat damage. The product also includes vegan silk peptides that promise to strengthen hair.

Hydrate transparent Shampoo

Pureology’s dry scalp shampoo is so gentle that your loved one can use it regularly without stripping their hair color. It helps keep their color-treated mane vibrant, too, thanks to mild surfactants like coconut oil-derived sodium cocoyl isethionate.

Although the lightweight product features moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, it doesn't overload fine hair. It also utilizes green tea and sage to help stimulate hair follicles, while salicylic acid keeps flaking in check.

Whenever I catch a whiff of my hair, it smells like a relaxing spa treatment, thanks to a blend of lavender, bergamot, and patchouli. I find it does a good job of providing my thick hair with a solid cleanse, but hydration-wise, it’s best suited for someone with fine or medium-density hair.

HoliRoots Hydrating Shampoo

“Coconut oil has been shown to improve dandruff and dry scalp. It also has calming ingredients, like Centella asiatica and aloe vera,” notes Mikailov.

His recommendation is compatible with all hair textures and densities. Plus, it received the Clean at Sephora seal, which indicates that it’s made with natural ingredients. Holiroots is also gentle enough for anyone with color-treated hair to use.

Solid Shampoo Bar for Touchy Scalps

Is your loved one ready for a more eco-conscious approach to beauty, but are just unsure how to start? Well, a single Ethique bar lasts up to 80 washes (or the equivalent of three regular shampoo bottles), according to the brand.

Beyond earning rave reviews on Amazon, Ethiques Shampoo Bar won over our senior digital design director, Bridget Clegg. “The light lime scent is refreshing without being overpowering, and my strands were left feeling smooth even before conditioner,” she says.

The cruelty-free product is also infused with a soothing and hydrating blend of ingredients — most notably oatmeal, Karanja oil, and neem oil.

Fragrance-Free Shampoo

I love using this SEEN shampoo because it cleanses away dirt, like product buildup, without stripping my scalp of necessary moisture. Don’t worry: It was also carefully crafted by a Harvard-trained dermatologist, so you know it’s legit!

This dry scalp shampoo is the only option on my list boasting a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association (NEA). It’s fragrance-free and made with sensitive scalps in mind. (If you prefer shampoo with fragrance, then SEEN still has you covered, but that version did not receive a seal from the NEA.)

Hemisqualane — a sugar-derived and biodegradable alternative to silicone — protects your hair color and smoothes your hair. It also contains bisabolol to soothe your tender scalp.

GRO Revitalizing Shampoo

TikTokers can’t stop using this popular dry scalp shampoo, but does it actually work? “This shampoo helps promote a healthy, balanced scalp, and is non-irritating and full of moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients,” says Mikailov.

It’s formulated with three plant-based ingredients: mung bean, curcumin, and red clover. There’s also a vegan b-SILK protein that promises to cling to your strands and repair your hair... even after washing away the dry scalp shampoo. Plus, it contains a blend of marula, baobab, and ximenia oils to help lock in hydration.

Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo

Philip Kingsley is a highly regarded trichologist from England, and his shampoo earned a recommendation from Mikailov because it has a very gentle formula. Mikailov considers piroctone olamine the most important ingredient in this dry scalp shampoo since it’s a gentle anti-fungal that eliminates flaking.

It’s also made with soothing aloe vera to relieve your tight, itchy, and dry scalp, while cocamidopropyl betaine helps create a great lather that cleanses and hydrates.

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