11 Best Shampoos for Dry Scalps, According to Dermatologists
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When flakes and itchiness take over your scalp, the best shampoo for dry scalp can provide immediate soothing relief. You might mistake your usual bout of flakes for dandruff, but this common skin diagnosis has nothing to do with lack of moisture at all—which, by the way, is a chronic condition caused by fungal overgrowth, according to Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York and California.
But dry scalp can be genetic, seasonal, or just a consequence of your hair routine—and requires its own wash-day formula (although you can find some overlap). While more intensive cleansers are made for oily hair, patches of dandruff-related flakes, and excess buildup, you’re better off with shampoos that treat the delicate skin on your head; these typically offer a blend of hydrating humectants and moisture-sealing emollients while delicately cleansing away buildup, flakes, and excess oil with gentle surfactants. When the root of your itchy scalp is related to seasonal or chronic dryness, their ultra-moisturizing formulas can make a world of difference.
Lather up with these flake-reducing scalp treatments, which have gotten the green light from the pros (as in, board-certified dermatologists). Check out their favorites, along with tips for keeping scalp dryness at bay, below.
Best Shampoo for Dry Scalps Overall: Selsun Blue Moisturizing Antidandruff Shampoo, $9 $8
Best Drugstore: Head and Shoulders Bare Shampoo & Conditioner, $20
Best Fragrance-Free: Seen Shampoo, $29
Best Exfoliating: CLn Shampoo, $36
Best for Seborrheic Dermatitis: Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo, $10
Best for Scalp Psoriasis: Nizoral Scalp Psoriasis 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner, $18
Best for Dry Hair: Jupiter Hydrating Shampoo, $32
Is dry scalp the same as dandruff?
Which skin-care ingredients help minimize scalp dryness?
How we test and review products
Selsun Blue
Why it's worth it: Nearly every dermatologist we talked to name-dropped the Selsun Blue Moisturizing Antidandruff Shampoo for its clarifying and moisture-replenishing properties. Both Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas and Emily Wood, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, Texas, say this shampoo is ideal for dry, flaky scalps due to its ability to break down dry patches with exfoliating, antifungal selenium sulfide and replenish much-needed moisture with soothing aloe vera extract.
Key ingredients: selenium sulfide (1%), aloe vera extract | Who it's for: anyone who needs a deep, soothing cleanse | Scent: coconut
Head & Shoulders
Why it's worth it: You know a product is top-tier when both dermatologists and Allure editors can’t get enough of it, and that definitely applies to the Head and Shoulders Bare Pure Clean Shampoo. This shampoo nabbed a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award for its non-drying formulation that keeps flakes at bay with zinc pyrithione, a popular ingredient in dandruff shampoos that reduces excess oil and flakes. This shampoo also contains almond oil, which helps to moisturize the scalp to offset dryness. “This combination works to relieve dryness, flakiness, and irritation while leaving the scalp feeling soft and hydrated,” says Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “It's ideal for those who need both dandruff control and moisture replenishment, making it a gentle yet effective solution for dry, sensitive scalps.”
Key ingredients: zinc pyrithione, almond oil | Who it's for: anyone with scalp dryness, excessive flaking, and product buildup | Scent: orchid and aloe
SEEN
Why it's worth it: Seen’s Shampoo is one of the few hair cleansers on the market that’s also developed to be skin-friendly. That means it’s “free of many common irritating ingredients: including synthetic fragrances, dyes, and sulfates that can be irritating to sensitive skin, according to Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. What it does contain is a moisturizing blend of hemisqualane (a conditioning sugar-derived alternative to shine-boosting silicones) and scalp-soothing bisabolol.
Key ingredients: hemisqualane, bisabolol | Who it's for: any who wants a sulfate-free shampoo | Scent: scented (apple dew, orange peel, leafy greens), fragrance-free
CLn
Why it's worth it: When flakes and product buildup reach all-time highs, Dr. Castilla recommends lathering up with CLn’s Healthy Scalp Shampoo, which provides both soothing and exfoliating properties to rid your scalp of flakes, oil, and hair product buildup without dehydrating an already-dry scalp in the process. ”Its combination of hypochlorous acid and salicylic acid provides a gentle cleanse, exfoliates, and rebalances the microbiome of the scalp’s skin,” says Dr. Castilla.
Key ingredients: hypochlorous acid, salicylic acid | Who it's for: anyone who needs a deep cleanse | Scent: fragrance-free
Neutrogena
Why it's worth it: If your flakes are looking more like a blizzard than a light flurry, Dr. Rambhia recommends lathering up with Neutrogena’s T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo. It’s powered by a potent concentration of 3-percent salicylic acid (the maximum dose available over the counter) to intensively exfoliate the scalp, removing dead skin, product, and oil buildup in the process. “This shampoo is great for treating dry scalps caused by conditions like scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis,” she says. “It effectively exfoliates and removes scales without causing excessive dryness, making it a good option for people with sensitive scalps.”
Key ingredients: salicylic acid (3%) | Who it's for: anyone with excessive flaking and scaly patches | Scent: fragrance-free
Nizoral
Why it's worth it: Nizoral’s Psoriasis 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner is the perfect swap for your usual shampoo when your hair and scalp are feeling more brittle and dry than usual. “It combines the exfoliating power of salicylic acid with the convenience of a conditioner, helping to soften the hair while treating scalp psoriasis,” says Dr. Castilla. This shampoo sloughs off excess sebum and product buildup with a combination of salicylic acid and antimicrobial tea tree oil, vitamin E hydrates dry scalp and strands. Heads up: Though it’s a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, Dr. Castilla still recommends using a conditioner afterward if you have dry hair to minimize dullness, brittle texture, and breakage.
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Key ingredients: salicylic acid (3%), tea tree oil, vitamin E acetate | Who it's for: anyone with a dry scalp and hair | Scent: fragrance-free
Jupiter
Why it's worth it: Need extra moisture? Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, TX, is a fan of Jupiter’s Hydrating Shampoo. This moisture-replenishing cleanser swaps sulfates for a deep-cleansing blend of antifungal tea tree oil and jackfruit extract, an antioxidant-rich botanical that gently exfoliates while hydrating your scalp and strands, leaving behind a glossier finish to your hair. Glycerin, a hydrating humectant, also makes an appearance in this formula to double down on this dry-scalp shampoo’s conditioning properties.
Key ingredients: tea tree oil, jackfruit extract, glycerin | Who it's for: anyone with a dry scalp and lackluster hair | Scent: citrus, florals, linen
Dove
Why it's worth it: If you have an itchy scalp, Dr. Geddes-Bruce suggests washing your scalp with a shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione, such as the Dove Dryness & Itch Relief Damage Therapy Shampoo. Zinc pyrithione is common in dandruff-minimizing shampoos for its ability to address dryness, irritation, and flaking all at once. And, for added moisture, this formula is also spiked with coconut and shea butters.
Key ingredients: zinc pyrithione, coconut butter, shea butter | Who it's for: anyone with a dry, itchy scalp | Scent: coconut and shea butters
Paul Mitchell
Why it's worth it: Tea tree oil not only provides deep-cleansing and astringent-like benefits but, according to Dr. Sartor, it also soothes inflammation, which is why she recommends washing up with a tea tree oil-infused shampoo like Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Special Shampoo. Its combination of tea tree along with peppermint and lavender essential oils creates what the brand calls its “tingling complex,” which provides a cooling sensation to minimize itchiness and sensitivity.
Key ingredients: tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil | Who it's for: anyone who needs cooling relief on their scalp | Scent: peppermint and lavender
Maria Nila
Why it's worth it: All of Mari Nila’s formulas are formulated with the brand’s Color Guard Complex, a combination of color-preserving antioxidants, to ensure your expensive color treatments don’t wash down the drain, so rest assured you can lather up with its 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Head & Hair Heal Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo provides a scalp-clearing cleanse through piroctone olamine, an anti-fungal ingredient, while aloe vera soothes the scalp and moisturizes strands. As an added bonus, this shampoo is also infused with peptides to improve hair elasticity, making each strand less prone to breakage.
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Key ingredients: Color Guard Complex, aloe vera, piroctone olamine, peptides | Who it's for: color-treated hair | Scent: white jasmine, galbanum, and linden blossom
Sachajuan
Why it's worth it: Fine hair types work best with a lightweight cleanse in the form of Sachajuan’s Scalp Shampoo. The key ingredient in this strand-fortifying formula is rosemary oil, which moisturizes the hair cuticle and makes it more malleable, creating a thicker appearance and protecting it from breakage in the process. This ingredient also has anti-inflammatory properties to ease any itchiness or sensitivity felt on your scalp.
Key ingredients: rosemary oil, ginger extract, menthol, salicylic acid, lactic acid, wheat protein, piroctone olamine | Who it's for: thin, breakage-prone hair types | Scent: rosemary, mint
Like dryness anywhere else on your skin, a dry scalp is simply skin that’s lacking moisture. “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,” Dr. Murphy-Rose previously told Allure.
Meanwhile, dandruff is caused by fungal overgrowth, according to Dr. Murphy-Rose. “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," she says. The fungal overgrowth can lead to similar side effects of dryness including itchiness, flaking, and redness on the scalp, which is why it’s important to consult a professional before lathering up with a new shampoo.
There are many factors that lead to a dry scalp, including chronic skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, harsh hair products, or cold weather, according to Dr. Rambhia. But the effects of these triggers can be eased by using cleansing ingredients and exfoliators like salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, and ketoconazole. “Salicylic acid exfoliates the scalp to help shed the outer layer of dead skin cells,” she says. “By breaking down these cells and preventing the buildup of plaques or scales, salicylic acid helps to keep the scalp clean and reduces itchiness and inflammation.”
Zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide in particular have anti-fungal properties that reduce yeast growth and inflammation, which is ideal for minimizing the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis. “Ketoconazole is another antifungal that targets scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, relieving irritation,” she says. “These ingredients can be incorporated into a regular scalp care routine to improve scalp health.”
Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas
Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas
Blair Murphy Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist practicing in New York and California and founder of Skincare Junkie
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?
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For our review of the best shampoos for dry scalps, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, hairstylists, and board-certified dermatologists—who have experience with a variety of hair types and textures. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out 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.
Continue on your good hair journey with these editor-backed product picks:
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