Dandruff is a scaly, itchy scalp condition where layers of skin cells come together to create flakes you can see in your hair.
If you have mild to moderate dandruff, treating it with over-the-counter (OTC) shampoos can often help keep flakes, itching, and irritation at bay.
Keep reading to learn what to look for in a dandruff shampoo and how specific ingredients interact with certain hair types.
Best overall
Selsun Blue Medicated Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Active ingredient: selenium sulfide 1%
- Scents: unscented
- Sulfate-free?: no
- Price: $
This affordable medicated antidandruff shampoo can help keep fungal overgrowth and flaking at bay. It’s formulated with 1% selenium sulfide and menthol to prevent and eliminate itchy scalp and visible flakes.
Most affordable
Dove Dermacare Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Active ingredient: pyrithione zinc 1%
- Scents: coconut and shea butter
- Sulfate-free?: no
- Price: $
Gentle enough for any hair type, this antidandruff shampoo from Dove is an affordable option. Not only can it rid the scalp of visible flakes, but it helps to smooths strands for less frizzy hair. Each bottle is formulated with active pyrithione zinc to hydrate and soothe a dry and itchy scalp.
Best for sensitive scalps
Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo
- Active ingredients: cocamidopropyl betaine, piroctone olamine
- Scents: apple
- Sulfate-free?: no
- Price: $$$$
Wash away dandruff with this gentle shampoo designed to soothe the most sensitive of scalps. It includes Cocamidopropyl betaine, which gently cleanses without drying, and antimicrobial piroctone olamine, which helps strengthen and protect. Additionally, none of the ingredients will strip or damage color-treated hair.
Best strengthening shampoo
Jupiter Balancing Shampoo
- Active ingredients: zinc pyrithione 1%
- Scents: mint, vanilla, sage, and lavender
- Sulfate-free?: yes
- Price: $$$
This balancing shampoo from Jupiter is formulated with zinc pyrithione, a powerhouse active ingredient that gets to the root of your dandruff problems by preventing fungal growth. Jupiter also sells a nourishing conditioner that works to add needed moisture to your scalp and hair.
Best moisturizing shampoo
SACHAJUAN Scalp Shampoo
- Active ingredients: piroctone olamine, climbazole
- Scent: fresh
- Sulfate-free?: no
- Price: $$$
This scalp shampoo contains piroctone olamine and climbazole to remove dry dandruff and itchiness. Rosemary oil, menthol, salicylic acid, and ginger extract work in tandem to soothe the scalp and moisturize strands.
Best for severe dandruff
Nizoral A-D Shampoo with 1% Ketoconazole
- Active ingredient: 1% ketoconazole
- Scent: fresh
- Sulfate-free?: no
- Price: $$
The active ingredient in Nizoral, ketoconazole, is 10 times more effective at killing scalp fungus, which causes dandruff. Plus, this shampoo only needs to be used twice a week.
Best for color-treated hair
Leonor Greyl Paris Dandruff Shampoo
- Active ingredient: propolis
- Scent: ylang ylang
- Sulfate-free?: no
- Price: $$$$
This anti-dandruff shampoo is made with 93% natural ingredients. It’s paraben-free and uses propolis, which has antiseptic properties, to help prevent scalp irritation. The gentle, cruelty-free formula can be used every day, even on colored hair, to help prevent flakes.
How we chose the best dandruff shampoos
For this list, we aimed to select dandruff shampoos at various price points while keeping all hair types in mind. We tested several products. We also scoured online reviews, prices, and ingredients.
It’s important to note that choosing a shampoo may take trial and error. You also need to consider your hair type and color.
Give a medicated shampoo at least 3 weeks before deciding to move on. If you don’t notice a difference by that time, you can try using another ingredient.
What makes dandruff shampoo special?
Dandruff shampoo is a specialty shampoo that contains antifungal and antimicrobial ingredients like ciclopirox and zinc pyrithione to help relieve itching and flaking, buildup, and excess sebum production in your scalp.
What to look for in a dandruff shampoo
When you start to look at dandruff shampoos, it’s important to know that dandruff usually occurs due to a combination of the three following factors:
- presence of Malassezia yeasts on the scalp
- sebaceous (oil gland) function and overproduction
- your body’s immune response to the presence of yeast
As a result, most dandruff shampoos contain ingredients that aim to reduce yeast on the scalp or keep the sebaceous glands from producing too much oil.
Contact dermatitis, as well as skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, can also cause dandruff.
Antidandruff ingredients
Manufacturers use many different ingredients in dandruff shampoos. Certain ingredients may work well for some people, but not so well for others.
The following table lists these ingredients and how they work to minimize dandruff.
Ingredient | How it works |
---|---|
ciclopirox | This antifungal agent works by stopping the growth of the fungus. |
coal tar | Coal tar helps reduce skin scaling and the overgrowth of skin cells that lead to dandruff. |
ketoconazole | This beta-hydroxy acid keeps skin cells from sticking together and can help remove scaly skin cells. |
salicylic acid | This beta hydroxy acid keeps skin cells from sticking together and can help remove scaly skin cells. |
salicylic acid and sulfur | Adding sulfur to salicylic acid helps further reduce skin cell buildup. Sulfur also has antimicrobial activity. |
selenium sulfide | This antimicrobial agent also helps slow skin cell turnover and scaling as well as reduce yeast growth. |
zinc pyrithione | Also known as ZPT or ZnPT, this ingredient helps heal the scalp by reducing yeast growth, excess oil production, and overproduction of skin cells that can lead to dandruff flakes. |
Is it dandruff or dry scalp buildup?
While dandruff and dry scalp have similar symptoms, they’re different conditions. Dandruff is the result of excessive oil production on the scalp with a yeast overgrowth, which causes skin cells to build and then shed. With dry scalp, the skin becomes irritated and flakes off.
You can differentiate between these conditions by assessing the appearance of the flakes. Dandruff flakes are bigger and look oily, while dry scalp flakes are smaller and dryer.
How to choose the best dandruff shampoo for you
According to HairClub Hair Health Expert and Trichologist Shab Reslan, “A dandruff shampoo is essential in clearing your scalp better than your daily shampoo, which typically offers a more gentle cleansing.”
She recommends choosing a dandruff shampoo with cleansing agents that can break down sebum and product buildup, environmental debris, and flakes caused by Malassezia fungus. Your scalp should feel clean and clear of any dandruff after one or two uses.
Other factors to consider for dandruff shampoos
In addition to ingredients, you may also want to consider the following variables when choosing a dandruff shampoo:
Hair color
Coal tar shampoos can darken or stain the appearance of your hair. For this reason, doctors don’t usually recommend using it on light-colored hair.
Frizzy and flyaway hair
If you have hair prone to flyaways, you may wish to try a ZPT-containing product.
One older study of women with dandruff asked them to use either a 1% ZPT solution or a 2% ketoconazole shampoo.
Researchers found that 75% of them preferred the ZPT-containing shampoo because it resulted in less frizz and flyaways compared with the ketoconazole shampoo.
Oily hair
Dandruff shampoos with selenium sulfide can make oily hair feel even oilier, according to the National Library of Medicine. If you manage hair greasiness, you may want to try dandruff shampoos with other ingredients.
Male vs. female response
Due to differences in their skin barrier, men are more likely than women to have dandruff. A small study found that men’s dandruff responded better to a 1% ZPT shampoo compared with women who used the same shampoo.
The study’s authors also found women’s dandruff responded better to non-dandruff shampoos than male dandruff, which they thought was probably due to the detergent (cleaning) effects of shampoo on women’s hair.
What about hair conditioners?
Hair conditioners can make hair softer and, ideally, more manageable. Some people advocate using conditioners specifically for people with dandruff. These conditioners often contain ingredients such as ZPT to further penetrate the hair and scalp.
Tips for making dandruff conditioners work effectively
- Apply the conditioner from the scalp to the ends of your hair.
- Leave the conditioner on your hair for at least 3 minutes.
- Use the dandruff-specific conditioner on your hair every time you use a dandruff shampoo.
In addition to conditioners, it’s important to avoid certain hair products that may be drying to the scalp.
A dry scalp can cause an overproduction of oil, which further contributes to dandruff. Products to avoid include hair sprays or regular shampoos with a high alcohol content.
When to see a doctor
If you have tried various dandruff shampoos for at least a month and your flakes persist, we recommend seeing a medical professional such as a dermatologist or a trichologist, a specialist who focuses on diseases or problems related to the hair and scalp.
We also recommend visiting a doctor if there is redness, pain, crusting, or pus.
Frequently asked questions about dandruff shampoos
Which antidandruff shampoo actually works?
A shampoo that has a mix of these ingredients should help rid the scalp of dandruff: ciclopirox, coal tar, salicylic acid, sulfur, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole.
How can I permanently get rid of dandruff?
Dandruff — or seborrheic dermatitis — is a chronic and relapsing condition of the scalp. Using medicated shampoos 2 to 3 times a week should help give some relief and temporary resolution, but chances are that the use of the shampoo will have to continue with scalp flare-ups.
How do I get rid of dandruff fast?
If your dandruff is mild, try brushing your scalp and shampooing more often. If your dandruff is more severe, switch to using a medicated dandruff shampoo.
Are there ingredients to avoid that cause dandruff?
Ingredients like parabens, silicones, sodium chloride, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances are unlikely to cause dandruff, but they can make existing flakes worse because they can be harsh and drying to the scalp.
What should I do if my dandruff is extreme?
If you’ve tried OTC dandruff shampoos that contain selenium or ketoconazole (following best practices for application, such as leaving the product on for at least 5 minutes before rinsing), you may need a prescription-strength medication. In that case, speak with your doctor about a topical corticosteroid.
Takeaway
For a significant number of people, OTC dandruff shampoos help treat symptoms.
If your dandruff is more severe, a dermatologist may need to prescribe stronger treatments to help you manage your dandruff. Talk with your doctor if OTC dandruff shampoos aren’t giving you the results you desire.