Best dry scalp shampoo for color treated hair

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We updated this article in June 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

If you’ve ever looked down at your black shirt to find “snowflakes” dusting your shoulders before (and beyond) winter, you know just how embarrassing and uncomfortable dandruff can be. Heads up: dandruff shampoos might just be your new best friend.

“A lot of people are ashamed of dandruff and think it’s a reflection of poor hygiene, but that doesn’t have anything to do with it,” says Francesca Fusco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and board-certified dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York City. It’s important to not be too hard on yourself while experiencing something like dandruff, because it’s totally normal and even common.

So, what exactly is dandruff? “Dandruff is essentially scalp flaking caused by inflammation,” explains board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital. “This inflammation is driven by our skin reacting to yeast on the scalp. Yeast lives on everyone’s scalp, but some people react to it, leading to inflammation, itchy scalp, and flaky skin.”

Dandruff can be uncomfortable, bothersome, and difficult to get rid of. The good news is that using an anti-dandruff shampoo—and the right washing technique—can make all the difference, says Dr. Fusco.

Now, ready to banish those pesky flakes for good? One of these expert-approved anti-dandruff shampoos should do the trick.

How we chose the best dandruff shampoo

We consulted experts Dr. Fusco and Dr. Zeichner, conducted our own research, and sifted through tons of online reviews to find the best dandruff shampoos available.

Our top picks

• 1

  

  BEST OVERALL

  A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Nizoral

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• 2

  

  Best Value

  DermaCare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Dove

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• 3

  

  Best Lather

  Scalpsync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo BIOLAGE

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• 4

  

  Best for Color Treated Hair

  EverPure Scalp Care + Detox Sulfate Free Shampoo L'Oreal Paris

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• 5

  

  Best Scalp Treatment

  T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Neutrogena

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1

BEST OVERALL

Nizoral

A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

2

Best Value

Dove

DermaCare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

3

Best Lather

BIOLAGE

Scalpsync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

4

Best for Color Treated Hair

L'Oreal Paris

EverPure Scalp Care + Detox Sulfate Free Shampoo

5

Best Scalp Treatment

Neutrogena

T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo

6

Best Natural Formula

SheaMoisture

African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo

7

Best for Curly or Textured Hair

Head & Shoulders

Royal Oils Sulfate-Free Scalp Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

8

Best Scent

OUAI

Detox Shampoo

9

Best Medicated Shampoo

Vanicream

Free & Clear Medicated AntiDandruff Shampoo

10

Best Moisturizing

Selsun Blue

Moisturizing Dandruff Shampoo With Aloe

11

Best Salon-Grade

ORIBE

Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

12

Best Cooling

Nioxin

Scalp Recovery Medicated Cleanser

13

Best for Scalp Build-Up

Neutrogena

T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo

14

Best Itch-Relieving

First Aid Beauty

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with 1% Pyrithione Zinc

15

Best Eco-Friendly

Ethique

Solid Shampoo Bar for Touchy Scalps

How to choose (and use) the best dandruff shampoo

✔️ Scan for active ingredients: Pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, salicylic acid, and coal tar can all work to reduce dandruff, says Dr. Zeichner, but you may need to experiment a bit to find the one your scalp reacts to the best.

✔️ Note your hair type: The ingredients listed above are effective at banishing dandruff, but can sometimes feel a bit stripping if your locks need extra moisture. Especially for those with dry, coarse, curly, kinky, or coiled hair types, look for ingredients that will also hydrate the scalp and strands, like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera.

✔️ Wash effectively: For best results, rub your dandruff shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips, letting it sit for at least five minutes before rinsing, Dr. Zeichner says. Make sure you pick up an anti-dandruff conditioner, too. Once you rinse, some of the dandruff-fighting ingredients are left behind to continue working, so using a regular conditioner might actually buff those active ingredients away, he notes.

✔️ Mind your frequency: Start by washing at least twice a week, says Dr. Fusco. Take note of how your scalp and hair looks and feels. If you don’t see results, work up to three or four days if needed. You might even find that you get the best results by washing daily—it all depends on how your scalp reacts to the product.

Alisa Hrustic Deputy Editor, Prevention Alisa Hrustic is the deputy editor at Prevention, where she leads the brand’s digital editorial strategy.

Shannen Zitz Freelance Editorial Assistant Shannen Zitz is a Freelance Editorial Assistant at Prevention who recently graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with an English degree.

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