11 Best Dry Scalp Treatments to Deliver Immediate Relief
Save this story Save
Save this story Save
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you find yourself scratching your head—and not because you’re stumped—good news: There’s hope. The best dry scalp treatment can provide instant relief from itchiness and tightness—and, as a bonus, these formulas may also promote healthy hair growth over time. Plus, some of these scalp serums and sprays come with extra perks, like lending hair a reflective shine or dousing it in a delightful scent. (Fancy your itch relief with a whiff of woody, ambery orange blossom? You’re in luck.)
To find the best dry scalp treatments, we turned to the pros. Ahead, find treatments and practical tips for treating a less-than-optimally-hydrated scalp, with input from three board-certified dermatologists as well as Allure editors.
Best Dry Scalp Treatment Overall: Aveda Scalp Solutions Overnight Scalp Renewal Serum, $56
Best Pre-Wash: Briogeo Scalp Revival Pre-Wash Oil, $32
Best Serum: Kérastase Initialiste Advanced Scalp and Hair Concentrate, $60
Best Spray: Crown Affair The Calming Scalp Serum, $58
Best for Styling: Ouai Scalp Serum, $52
Best Leave-In: Living Proof Dry Scalp Treatment, $38
Best for Flakes: Jupiter Renewing Scalp Moisturizer, $35
How do you treat dry scalp buildup?
How do you moisturize a severely dry scalp?
What’s the difference between dry scalp and dandruff?
How we test and review products
Aveda
Why we love it: A 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, Aveda’s Scalp Solutions Overnight Scalp Renewal Serum is infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the scalp. The humectant is paired with a biotech-derived blend of natural ingredients, which work together to balance the scalp’s microbiome to ease dryness, dandruff, and itchiness. Plus, skin-care mainstay Centella Asiatica (also known as cica) soothes and calms the scalp, while lactobacillus ferment, a probiotic, balances the microbiome to prevent inflammation. Another key ingredient is ectoin, an amino-acid derivative with powerful hydrating properties. While the ingredients carry quite the scientific cred, there will be no pop quiz: All you have to do is massage the serum into your scalp before bed, then let the ingredients seep in to soothe and hydrate while you rest.
Tester feedback: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein put the product to the test and reported: “It’s a godsend when my scalp is at its itchiest.”
Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, andrographis, lactobacillus ferment | Who it’s for: All hair types and scalp types
Briogeo
Why we love it: Kiran Mian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City calls Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Pre-Wash Oil her “go-to oil treatment,” citing its blend of natural oils as the hair-and-scalp-loving ingredients that keep her coming back for more—particularly on wash days. “Coconut oil is great for hair shine, while rosemary, olive, and grapeseed oils contribute an antioxidative advantage,” she says. “The vitamins and fatty acids in the blend of oils help add strength to strands, prevent breakage, and clarify and nourish the scalp. Plus, this product in particular washes out very easily.” The oil can also be used as an overnight mask.
Editor’s tip: Rosemary oil is a popular ingredient in scalp care as it can reduce inflammation and boost circulation to encourage hair growth—but it can be irritating on some scalps. In this formulation, the ingredient is blended with oils for an ultra-gentle, non-tingly feel that suits sensitive scalps.
Key ingredients: rosemary oil, castor oil, tea tree oil | Who it’s for: those with sensitive, dry scalps or dull hair
Kérastase
Why we love it: Designed for hair and scalp alike (like the name implies), Kérastase Initialiste Advanced Scalp and Hair Concentrate smooths on with a featherweight feel. It’s infused with glycopeptides, which sink into hair cuticles to strengthen natural hair fibers; the treatment also has wheat protein to boost the hair’s smoothness and elasticity. The French concoction has a light floral scent, and it makes the hair infinitely softer and shinier. Its primary goal is to reduce hair breakage and strengthen the fibers, but it can also offer soothing benefits to a dry scalp: The formulation is infused with native plant cells, which hydrate the hair and the scalp while strengthening the roots.
Editor’s tip: Ashley Graham has credited this product with helping her recover thick, lustrous hair after she experienced postpartum hair loss.
Key ingredients: glucopeptides, wheat protein | Who it’s for: those with thin or brittle hair
Crown Affair
Why we love it: This easy-to-spritz-on serum instantly soothes the scalp with a touch of aloe vera, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and cooling peppermint oil. Crown Affair the Calming Scalp Serum also hydrates and protects the skin barrier with hero humectant hyaluronic acid, while tea tree oil has a calming effect on irritation such as redness and flaking. “Tea tree oil is included in scalp products because it has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can treat symptoms associated with dandruff,” says Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York. Tsubaki seed oil, a signature ingredient for Crown Affair, also makes its way into the serum. The ingredient moisturizes the hair, adds shine, and helps keep frizziness at bay. And, as an added perk, the product carries the brand’s signature scent. Designed to boost the mood with sparkling notes of yuzu and lemongrass, the scent is so popular that it also comes as a hair perfume.
Most Popular
Makeup
Chlöe Bailey's Jessica Rabbit Costume Is the Most Accurate I've Seen In Years
By Kara Nesvig
Wellness
Your November 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is Here
By Sophie Saint Thomas
Wellness
Each Zodiac Sign's Unique Personality Traits
By Aliza Kelly
Editor’s tip: The brand generally recommends using the serum on damp hair, either at night or before drying during the day. However, it can also be used as a quick pick-me-up for a dry and irritated scalp anytime. Just stash it in your bag and spritz as needed.
Key ingredients: aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, tea tree oil | Who it’s for: Those with normal, dry, or mildly irritated scalp types
Ouai
Why we love it: Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin’s brand specializes in products that tend to hair and scalp health while keeping styling needs in mind. Ouai Scalp Serum is made with natural ingredients that work together to hydrate the scalp and strengthen its skin barrier, which helps it keep moisture intact. The formulation pairs hyaluronic acid—an all-star humectant—with skin-barrier-nourishing adaptogens like Arctic root, chaga mushroom, and ginseng. You’ll also find red clover extract, which soothes the scalp from potentially irritating styling habits, such as pulling the hair back into a tight ponytail or yanking on it while detangling. Another key ingredient, peptides, help the serum foster healthy hair growth.
Editor’s tip: The serum is infused with Ouai’s Cape Town scent, which mixes notes of wet grass, amber, ginger, basil, spearmint, green fig, and tomato leaves for an earthy, herb-garden-fresh aroma.
Key ingredients: arctic root, red clover flower extract, peptides | Who it’s for: those with shedding or thinning hair or a dry scalp
Living Proof
Why we love it: Living Proof Dry Scalp Treatment is a favorite of Dr. Camp, who likes that it’s color-safe and free of sulfates, which may potentially dry out the scalp. “This leave-in scalp treatment contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to provide sustained hydration and soothe symptoms like itching and flaking,” he says. Designed to balance the microbiome, the fast-absorbing treatment has a bright citrus scent, and it can be used three times a week. The brand recommends dividing clean, damp hair into six sections, and then using the slim nozzle to distribute the treatment. Massage it into the scalp, let it rest, and be patient: While the product can relieve itchiness on contact, it can take about four weeks for its full, dryness-defying benefits to kick in.
Most Popular
Makeup
Chlöe Bailey's Jessica Rabbit Costume Is the Most Accurate I've Seen In Years
By Kara Nesvig
Wellness
Your November 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is Here
By Sophie Saint Thomas
Wellness
Each Zodiac Sign's Unique Personality Traits
By Aliza Kelly
Editor’s tip: The formulation includes the hyaluronic acid derivative sodium hyaluronate, which has a small molecular size, helping it easily penetrate the scalp for deep hydration.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic-acid-based molecular patch, niacinamide complex | Who it’s for: those with itching, flaking, and irritation on the scalp
Jupiter
Why we love it: Designed for daily use on a damp or dry scalp, Jupiter’s targeted moisturizer has a no-fuss application method: Simply massage it in, and let the product stay put while its scalp-quenching ingredients get to work. Powered by MoistuRestore Technology—the brand’s patented complex of hydrating ingredients—the Jupiter Renewing Scalp Moisturizer has a creamy gel texture that feels like a sip of water for the scalp. The treatment tends to dryness with glycerin, which bolsters the skin barrier by balancing its moisture levels. It also has olive-leaf extract, an emollient that’s packed with microbiome-balancing antioxidants, and pre- and probiotics, which also balance the microbiome by regulating its amount of beneficial and harmful bacteria.
Editor’s tip: If scented products are not your preference, rest assured: This moisturizer is fragrance-free.
Key ingredients: jackfruit, olive leaf extract, prebiotics, probiotics | Who it’s for: those with a tight, dry scalp and powdery flakes
Person & Covey
Why we love it: It might not sound (or smell) cute, but Person & Covey’s DHS Tar Shampoo makes up for that in sheer efficacy. “Coal tar has anti-inflammatory properties that make it an effective ingredient for treating scalp conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis,” says Dr. Camp, who recommends this particular formula. Along with stabilized coal-tar extract, which helps the skin shed dead cells from its top layer, the fragrance-free cleanser has just seven other ingredients to decrease the risk of reactions in sensitive skin. (Among those extra ingredients are citric acid, which keeps the product pH balanced and therefore beneficial for the skin barrier.) Also antibacterial and antifungal, the medicated shampoo can be used three times a week. For best results, lather it up and allow it to sit on the scalp for several minutes before rinsing it out.
Editor’s tip: Coal tar can increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV light, so avoid direct sun exposure or wear a hat after using the shampoo.
Most Popular
Makeup
Chlöe Bailey's Jessica Rabbit Costume Is the Most Accurate I've Seen In Years
By Kara Nesvig
Wellness
Your November 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is Here
By Sophie Saint Thomas
Wellness
Each Zodiac Sign's Unique Personality Traits
By Aliza Kelly
Key ingredients: coal-tar extract, citric acid, sodium laureth sulfate | Who it’s for: those with dandruff, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis
Act+Acre
Why we love it: “Act + Acre Daily Hydro Scalp Serum contains effective humectants, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid, to bring moisture to the surface of the scalp and protect against dryness,” says Blair Murphy Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York, NY and Newport, CA. “This is a great choice for those who want to avoid scalp oils while fighting dryness.” Those with fine hair in particular can benefit from using an oil-free solution to a dry scalp since oils can weigh the hair down. Sensitive scalps can also benefit from the hydrating serum: “It is free of fragrance, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates,” Dr. Murphy Rose says.
Editor’s tip: The serum is formulated by celebrity hairstylist and trichologist Helen Reavey, whose clients include Harry Styles and Amal Clooney.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, amino acids, glycerin | Who it’s for: those with dry and normal scalp types and straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair textures
Fable & Mane
Why we love it: Amla, an Ayurvedic ingredient derived from Indian gooseberry, is a powerhouse ingredient in scalp-care. "It's rich in vitamins C and E, as well as antioxidants making it both nourishing and hydrating for the scalp," Audrey Kunin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Kansas City, MO, previously told Allure. "These vitamins help fight free radical damage and support healthy scalp skin. It's also believed to have both calming and antiseptic benefits." In Fable & Mane’s formulation, the buzzy ingredient pairs with aloe and the anti-aging herb bakuchi to nourish dry and sensitive scalps. Though the oil-serum has a lightweight texture, a little goes a long way on fine hair, where one to three drops will suffice; those with thicker hair can apply a whole dropper’s worth of product.
Editor’s tip: The scent—a mix of tea rose, blackcurrant, woody amber, and orange blossom—supposedly has aromatherapeutic benefits and was designed to inspire a feeling of peace and calm.
Key ingredients: amla, bakuchi, aloe | Who it’s for: those with dry, itchy, or sensitive scalps
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Why we love it: German physician Barbara Sturm takes a scientific approach to treating issues ranging from dull skin to a dry scalp. Her scalp serum incorporates hyaluronic acid and purslane, an anti-inflammatory plant extract, to hydrate the scalp, while panthenol adds additional moisture. “Dr. Barbara Sturm's Scalp Serum is a gem when it comes to hydration," Margarita Lolis, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey, previously told Allure. But the secret sauce, so to speak, is a special complex designed to bring anti-aging benefits to the scalp. The patented blend pairs ATP—a naturally occurring molecule that tames inflammation and boosts collagen production—with antifungal papaya extract. The complex also contains algin, an algae derivative that helps the scalp retain its moisture balance.
Most Popular
Makeup
Chlöe Bailey's Jessica Rabbit Costume Is the Most Accurate I've Seen In Years
By Kara Nesvig
Wellness
Your November 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is Here
By Sophie Saint Thomas
Wellness
Each Zodiac Sign's Unique Personality Traits
By Aliza Kelly
Editor’s tip: In addition to quenching dryness in the scalp, the serum adds a glossy gleam to the hair.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, purslane, panthenol | Who it’s for: those with irritation or signs of aging on the scalp
According to Dr. Murphy Rose, buildup that appears to be linked to a dry scalp isn’t always what it seems. “The scalp is a difficult area to self-diagnose because you cannot see it well on your own,” she says. “For this reason, I recommend consulting a dermatologist if a scalp issue isn’t improving with product adjustments or basic care. What may seem like simple dryness could be dandruff, psoriasis, a hypersensitivity reaction, or another condition, each requiring a unique treatment approach.”
However, if the buildup truly is due to dryness, adding moisture to the scalp is a tried-and-true antidote. “Try massaging a moisturizing and skin-nourishing scalp oil into the scalp to soothe skin and loosen debris while locking in moisture,” Dr. Murphy Rose suggests. And heed this warning before you make every day a wash day: “In general, dry scalp tends to worsen after washing, which can leave the scalp feeling drier,” she says.
Dry-scalp relief may start in the kitchen. “A hair mask made of blended honey and avocado can be helpful for treating symptoms associated with a dry, itchy scalp,” Dr. Camp says. “Honey is known for its antibacterial properties and avocado contains hydrating oils and fortifying nutrients. Allow the mask to sit on the scalp for at least ten minutes before washing it out.”
Speaking of washing, watch your suds. “Scalp skin can be hydrated by using a gentle shampoo free of dyes, fragrances, and sulfates because these ingredients can sometimes cause skin irritation and dryness,” Dr. Camp says. “Use a conditioner or mask that helps restore moisture to the scalp and hair shafts, such as one that contains hydrating ingredients like avocado, jojoba, argan, or olive oil.”
Let's start with dryness. “Dry scalp results from a lack of moisture, similar to dry skin on other parts of the body,” Dr. Murphy Rose says. “Dryness is less common on the scalp due to its natural oils, though it may still occur, particularly during winter when the air is drier.”
On the other hand, “dandruff is a chronic condition caused by fungal overgrowth leading to scalp irritation and flaking,” she says. “The scalp contains an abundance of hair follicles with glands that produce large amounts of sebum, an oily substance, creating an ideal environment for fungi to thrive." That fungal overgrowth can trigger a reaction that's almost like a sensitivity—and comes with itchiness, flaking, and redness on the scalp. For that, a dedicated dandruff shampoo is your best bet.
Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, NY
Kiran Mian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in New York, NY
Blair Murphy Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist practicing in New York and California and founder of Skincare Junkie
Audrey Kunin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Kansas City, MO
Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in Hackensack, New Jersey.
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
Most Popular
Makeup
Chlöe Bailey's Jessica Rabbit Costume Is the Most Accurate I've Seen In Years
By Kara Nesvig
Wellness
Your November 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is Here
By Sophie Saint Thomas
Wellness
Each Zodiac Sign's Unique Personality Traits
By Aliza Kelly
For our list of the best dry scalp treatments, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Why stop at your scalp? Keep the TLC going with these hair essentials:
10 Best Hair-Straightening Brushes for Second-Day Sleekness
15 Volumizing Hair Products That'll Take Your Style to New Heights
14 Best Hair Masks for Your Softest Strands Ever
The Best Shampoos to Smooth Frizziness and Flyaways
Now, watch Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee walk us through her award-worthy makeup routine:
Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! And don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok—or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
……Lifestyle Health Beauty Fashion International
One-stop lifestyle app dedicated to making life in Singapore a breeze!
English
简体中文
Comments
Leave a comment in Nestia App