The Best Dandruff Shampoos to Minimize Flakes and Itching

Editor's tip: If you have color-treated or gray hair, don't fret. This shampoo is gentle enough to be used on both without drying out or fading color.

Key ingredients: ketoconazole | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it's for: people with stubborn dandruff

Best Clarifying Shampoo: CLn Shampoo Clarifying Formula

Why it's worth it: The CLn Shampoo Clarifying Formula is the Swiss army knife of dandruff shampoos. Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut, is a fan of this formula because it employs tea tree oil, a powerful, dandruff-fighting ingredient with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties—in addition to salicylic acid and sodium hypochlorite to clear up excess oil, folliculitis, dermatitis, and itchiness. Use it one to three times a week, letting it sit for one to two minutes after lathering.

Editor's tip: The CLn 2-in-1 Gentle Wash & Shampoo is likely a better fit if your scalp is extremely dry.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid, sodium hypochlorite | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it's for: everyone

Best Luxury Dandruff Shampoo: Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Oribe's Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo contains salicylic acid to wash away buildup, flakes, and excess oil, but it also features impressive moisturizing properties. This delightfully creamy formula is a blend of hydrating and antioxidant-rich extracts derived from edelweiss flower, watermelon, lychee, and bilberry fruit, which condition the scalp and leave hair feeling softer and smoother.

Editor's tip: If you're short on time and your scalp hasn't reached itchy territory yet, Oribe's Best of Beauty-winning Serene Scalp Oil Control Dry Shampoo Powder helps curb excess oil, which leads to the formation of dandruff, and balances the bacterial landscape of your scalp. These benefits are thanks to ingredients like rosebay extract, green marine algae, and willowherb extract. (But please regularly wash your hair and don't overly rely on dry shampoo.)

Key ingredients: salicylic acid, glycerin, caffeine | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: people who want a luxurious wash day

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Busting Large Patches: Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Neutrogena's T/Sal Shampoo is a classic dandruff-buster with 3% salicylic acid as its star ingredient. "Just like in products designed for your face, shampoos containing salicylic acid work as "a peeling agent that helps increase cell turnover," according to cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. "This can help reduce flaking and break up the scaly patches." This is a good option if you're not sure what kind of condition you're working with—since it targets signs of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and scalp psoriasis alike.

Editor's tip: While this formula is considered gentle, Neutrogena's Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Daily Control is an even milder formula you might want to consider, as it contains a lower 1.8% concentration of salicylic acid.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it's for: People with thick or large flakes.

Most Invigorating Dandruff Shampoo: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo won over commerce writer Jennifer Hussein with its combination of anti-inflammatory tea tree oil, peppermint, and soothing lavender, which provides a zingy, get-your-scalp-right kind of clean. It helps wash away dirt and oil and is made for all hair types, too. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD, recommends using the wash with its matching conditioner, which also invigorates the scalp.

Editor's tip: If you have broken skin on your scalp from intense flaking or scaling, skip this shampoo, which could cause those areas further discomfort.

Key ingredients: tea tree oil, peppermint, lavender | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: people who want an aromatherapeutic option

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Dry Hair: Kérastase Bain Crème Antipelliculaire Antidandruff Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Kérastase's Bain Crème Antipelliculaire Antidandruff Shampoo is gentle, hydrating, and effective at curbing dandruff. The formula, which has a nourishing, creamy texture, supplements 1% pyrithione zinc with squalane, glycerin, and calming plant extracts. It's also sulfate-free, which helps prevent further dryness.

Editor's tip: The brand recommends using this shampoo at least twice a week for peak results.

Key ingredients: pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, squalane | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: people with naturally dry hair

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Curly Hair: Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo

Why it's worth it: The Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo is a happy medium between scalp care and general hair health; it makes quick work of scales and flakes without leaving hair dry or dull. "I started using this after I experienced postpartum hair loss with a side of flakes, and found that it somehow left my 2B curls more defined and less frizzy," says Allure contributor Deanna Pai. If you need further convincing, Zendaya is also a fan and her hair goes through a lot, so it's a great testament to this formula.

Key ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine, piroctone olamine | Fragrance-free: No | Who it's for: people with waves and curls

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Oily Hair: Ouai Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Ouai's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is one of our top sulfate-free picks for washing dead skin cells and excess oil down the drain. This gentle hair and scalp cleanser targets flaking with exfoliating salicylic acid—making it an excellent choice for oily hair—while conditioning additives like glycerin intensively hydrate the scalp. The results: minimal flakes and much-needed relief from scalp irritation. Bonus: It features the brand's Cape Town scent, which has an earthy feel with a hint of ginger.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid, glycerin | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: those prone to greasy roots or product buildup

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair: DpHue Apple Cider Vinegar Soothing Shampoo

Why it's worth it: If you're worried about brassiness or stripping away color with the more potent shampoos on this list, look no further than DpHue's Apple Cider Vinegar Soothing Shampoo. It gets rid of dandruff flakes with its gentle yet effective star ingredient, apple cider vinegar, which exfoliates and provides antibacterial benefits. This intensive formula is free of sodium lauryl and sodium laureth sulfates, two ingredients notorious for causing color to fade.

Key ingredients: apple cider vinegar, ginger root extract, lavender | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: people who color their hair

Best Weekly Treatment: Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Bumble and Bumble's Sunday Shampoo is great for weekly hair washers. Meant to be used sparingly, this scalp shampoo is formulated with ginseng to provide antioxidant benefits, including protection from irritation-inducing free radicals and other environmental aggressors. Rosemary extract also "eliminates dirt, strengthens follicles, provides moisture to the scalp, and minimizes breakage," according to Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut. It's available in a jumbo size, ideal for those who anticipate regular use.

Key ingredients: glycerin, ginseng, rosemary extract | Fragrance-free: No | Who it's for: people with flakes from product buildup

Best Scented Dandruff Shampoo: Maria Nila Head and Hair Heal Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Powered by piroctone olamine (an antifungal agent) and aloe vera, the Maria Nila Head and Hair Heal Shampoo does exactly what its name promises—heals. The allergen-free formula soothes and stabilizes flaky, sensitive scalps, doesn't wreak havoc on color-treated hair, and protects from UV damage and free radicals. Thanks to notes of white jasmine, galbanum, and linden flower, this formula smells like a fresh bouquet. Pair the shampoo with its sister conditioner, the Maria Nila Head and Hair Heal Conditioner, for the whole kit and kaboodle.

Key ingredients: aloe vera, piroctone olamine, peptides, vitamin E | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: everyone

Best Exfoliating Dandruff Shampoo: R+Co Submarine Water Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo

Why it's worth it: If you're tired of "exfoliating" meaning tiny beads doing the leg work, the R+Co Submarine Water Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo will be a welcome surprise of a formula. The nourishing, silky formula uses ingredients like willow bark extract and glycolic acid to gently exfoliate and help prevent future dandruff. Bonus points for the warm, refreshing fragrance of cardamom, pineapple, and lavender.

Editor's tip: Use the shampoo once a week in place of your standard shampoo. Squeeze the shampoo into your palm and activate it with water before applying it to your scalp—adding more water as needed.

Key ingredients: willow bark extract, glycolic acid, lactic acid | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: people who want a gentler alternative to active ingredients

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Sensitive Scalps: Vanicream Dandruff Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Vanicream is frequently touted by board-certified dermatologists as a budget-friendly brand that won't irritate sensitive skin, which extends to the scalp. Ringing in at $13, Vanicream Dandruff Shampoo fits the bill just like its popular moisturizer and face wash siblings. Antifungal pyrithione zinc is the main active agent targeting and minimizing flakiness but you won't find much else crowding the ingredient list—a very good thing, we promise. The simple lineup is free of dyes, sulfates, fragrances, lanolin, parabens, botanical extracts, and essential oils.

Key ingredients: pyrithione zinc | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it's for: [eople with very sensitive or reactive skin

Best Dandruff Shampoo for Very Itchy Scalps: Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Dandruff Defense Intensive Itch Relief Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Got an itch that can't be satisfyingly scratched? Head & Shoulders's Clinical Strength Dandruff Defense Intensive Itch Relief Shampoo, an Allure Best of Beauty winner, is here to help. This intensive shampoo gets its itch-relieving powers from 1% selenium sulfide, which our go-to dermatologists call a go-to ingredient for addressing dandruff and the itchiness that comes with it.

Editor's tip: If you have a sensitive scalp, the Head & Shoulders Clinical Dandruff Defense Sensitive Shampoo is a gentler yet effective option. The 2022 Allure Best of Beauty winner targets dandruff with 1% selenium sulfide, while aloe vera works its soothing, irritation-calming powers.

Key ingredients: selenium sulfide, menthol | Fragrance-free: no | Who it's for: people with pronounced itchiness

Frequently Asked Questions

Though dandruff is commonly mistaken for a dry scalp, the two conditions are quite different. "Dandruff is the result of increased oil production and yeast overgrowth on the scalp," Texas-based board-certified dermatologist Heidi Prather, MD, previously told Allure. Accordingly, it makes sense that dandruff tends to develop on those with oily scalps rather than dry ones.

The yeast in question is called malassezia, and can be commonly found in the skin, according to Dr. King. "It can contribute to the inflammatory response in seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis [the scientific name for dandruff] and feeds on sebum, so it, therefore, thrives in oily areas," she adds.

Dandruff is limited to the scalp and typically presents itself as loose, white scales or plaques, as Dr. Prather explained, but it can evolve into seborrheic dermatitis. The latter can affect other seborrheic areas (like your face, chest, and back à la fungal acne) and manifests as yellow, greasy scales coupled with redness, itching, and irritation.

Dandruff can have a number of triggers, including buildup-causing styling products, stress, infrequent (or too much) shampooing, overproduction of sweat, and living in moist, humid, or warm climates. Stress and diet can also contribute to dandruff production, according to Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut. "Increased levels of stress can trigger dandruff,” she previously told Allure. “When our cortisol, the stress hormone, rises, it triggers inflammation and sebum production. If the sebum builds up on the scalp, that can lead to dandruff." Dr. Robinson added that both overly frequent and overly infrequent washing can both lead to dandruff. "If you are not washing your hair frequently enough, sebum and dead skin cells together can build up and cause dandruff," she said.

While Dr. King says we can't fully cure seborrheic dermatitis, there are ways to manage it with the help of over-the-counter shampoo ingredients—that is, outside of topical corticosteroids that your board-certified dermatologist can prescribe. Dr. King calls out several anti-fungal (and some antimicrobial) ingredients like selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, coal tar, and tea tree oil that can decrease malassezia, inhibit fungal growth, and calm an irritated, inflamed, and itchy scalp. According to Dr. King, pyrithione zinc-infused formulations are especially gentle yet effective, making them great for sensitive scalps.

Joel Lamm, MD, a NYC-based board-certified dermatologist, says salicylic acid is another useful exfoliating ingredient that helps wash flakes away and reduces scaling when used in conjunction with other dandruff-specific treatments.

Each dandruff shampoo has its own usage instructions, often relating to the concentration of active ingredients. Usage can also depend on the severity of your flakiness, your scalp's oil production, and hair texture. "Those with oily hair or dandruff may find that it is important to wash more frequently, while those with dry or thicker hair may not need to do it as often," Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, previously told Allure.

• David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC at Idriss Dermatology
• Neil Sadick, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
• Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
• Francesca Fusco, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
• Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
• Heidi Prather, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Texas
• Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
• Joel Lamm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
• Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology

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?

For our review of the best dandruff shampoos, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and board-certified dermatologists—who have experience with different scalp conditions, including dandruff. 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.

Find more Allure editor-approved picks for your hair-care routine:

• These Creams Are the Way to Pillowy-Soft, Defined Curls
• 17 Best Detangler Sprays for Knot-Free Hair
• 15 Best Air-Dry Creams to Perfect Your Heatless Styles
• Every Allure Editor Has A Boar-Bristle Brush — Here's Why You Need One, Too

Done reading? Now, watch beauty mogul Huda Kattan nail her everyday glam routine.

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