Your scalp is an extension of your skin, and should be treated in a similar manner. So, when you're dealing with an itchy, dry scalp, you'll want to use a gentle dry scalp shampoo to help cleanse away flakes without stripping your hair of its natural moisture.
The most common non-medical cause of a dry scalp is dehydrated skin, according to Dr. Anar Mikailov, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of skincare line KP Away. He says a dry scalp often occurs when you shampoo too often or don't follow up with a conditioner.
Irritation from hair dye, product build-up from dry shampoo, and using harsh ingredients can also cause dry scalp. Eczema and psoriasis can lead to dry scalp, too. Notably, the scaling caused by both skin conditions is a lot thicker than regular dandruff, he adds.
Factors you can't control might also cause dry scalp, according to trichologist Dominic Burg, Ph.D., chief scientist of haircare line évolis Professional. According to Burg, the oil and sebum produced on each hair follicle are generally caused by genetics or hormone levels over your lifetime, including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and your menstrual cycle.
How Do I Treat Dry Scalp?
Mikailov recommends shampooing twice a week so you're not removing your scalp's natural oils. His go-to tip for patients is to massage a little conditioner or a hair mask onto the scalp as a leave-in treatment.
Berg notes you can safely wash your hair without washing your scalp. “If you have a super dry scalp that is exacerbated by shampooing, then concentrate on the mid-lengths and ends, and don’t shampoo the scalp unless you really need to,” he advises.
Another expert-recommended tip is to read the ingredient label of any prospective dry scalp shampoo. Here are the best and worst ingredients for treating dry scalp, according to Mikailov, Berg, and Dr. Iris Rubin, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of haircare line SEEN.
Photo: Nicole Saunders/Best Products
👍 Best Ingredients
You can effectively treat your dry scalp problem by using a shampoo made with a combination of hydrating ingredients, chemical exfoliants, and non-irritating ingredients.
Other hydrating ingredients like beta-glucans from oat and mushroom extracts, CBD, eucalyptus, oatmeal, vitamin B-5, aka pantothenic acid
Exfoliating ingredients like azelaic acid, bakuchiol, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, are also helpful
Gentle detergents are alternatives to harsh surfactants like sodium cocoamphoacetate and lauryl glucoside
👎 Worst Ingredients
In addition to avoiding scalp scrubs and detoxes, here are a few harsh ingredients the experts recommend skipping: charcoal, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.
Now that you have a better understanding of why you have a dehydrated scalp and how to shop for dry scalp shampoos, here are the most impressive expert-approved products. Our beauty editor also researched and found other dry scalp shampoos aligned with their guidance.
A bonus: These dry scalp shampoos include a mix of ingredients the pros suggest, and start at just $6!
You don't have to spend a ton of money to banish dry scalp, thanks to Vanicream's $10 shampoo. It earned the number one spot on this list because it hits all of the checkmarks you're likely looking for in a gentle hair wash: a mild, pH-balanced formula that's free of pesky ingredients like sulfates, silicones, and fragrances.
Instead, it contains a relatively short list of gentle detergents and moisturizers to help cleanse and rebalance your dry scalp. Since it's dermatologist-tested and has garnered impressive Amazon reviews, you can feel comfortable and confident that this shampoo will help quench your dry scalp, too.
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, glycolic acid, and xylitol
Size: 8.5 ounces
When I first used this citrus-scented dry scalp shampoo, I was blown away by how clean my scalp was after just one wash. Most shampoos will dry out my natural hair, but LivSo's product is a game-changer because my scalp is both clean and feels incredibly soft — like I used an expensive deep conditioner soft! — after just one use.
The sulfate-free shampoo contains a potent blend of moisturizing coconut oil to help prevent breakage, glycolic acid to eliminate flakes and dry scalp, and xylitol to calm itching.
And I'm not the only one who loves this shampoo: After several weeks of patiently waiting, LivSo's dry scalp shampoo is finally restocked on Amazon, where it boasts a 4.3-star average rating from nearly 1,050 reviews.
Selsun Blue makes six shampoos that can eliminate flakes, but Itchy Dry Scalp is your best bet for a few reasons.
For starters, it’s formulated with eight hydrating ingredients like glycerin, and vitamins B-5 and E. Itchy Dry Scalp also utilizes soothing aloe vera to calm your sensitive skin, while pyrithione zinc helps treat and prevent flakes. Pyrithione zinc also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
If you enjoy a nice lather and don’t want to splurge on your dry scalp shampoo, this option is a great fit for your needs.
Salicylic acid is known for its ability to treat acne on your face and body, and it can even help when you’re dealing with a dry scalp. The popular beta hydroxy acid (BHA) gently exfoliates your scalp and removes product buildup and flakes. It also helps minimize pesky itching and irritation.
Is your scalp also sensitive? Well, you can relax knowing this gentle shampoo is also free of irritants like dyes, fragrances, and preservatives.
Are you ready for a more eco-conscious approach to beauty, but are just not sure where to start? Well, a single Ethique bar lasts up to 80 washes (or the equivalent of three regular shampoo bottles), according to the brand.
Beyond earning rave reviews on Amazon, Ethiques Shampoo Bar won over our design editor Bridget Clegg. “The light lime scent is refreshing without being overpowering, and my strands were left feeling smooth even before conditioner,” she says.
The cruelty-free product is also infused with a soothing and hydrating blend of ingredients — most notably oatmeal, karanja oil, and neem oil.
“Coconut oil has been shown to improve dandruff and dry scalp. It also has calming ingredients, like centella asiatica and aloe vera,” notes Mikailov.
His recommendation is compatible with all hair textures and densities. Plus, it received the Clean at Sephora seal, which indicates that it's made with natural ingredients. Holiroots is also gentle enough for anyone with color-treated hair to use.
Mikailov is also a fan of Monpure's splurgeworthy dry scalp shampoo because it's made with very moisturizing ingredients like vitamin B-5 and aloe vera.
Notably, it also contains keratin, a natural protein found in hair that banishes flyaways and protects it from color treatments and heat damage. The product also includes vegan silk peptides that promise to strengthen your hair.
Philip Kingsley is a highly regarded trichologist from England, and his shampoo earned a recommendation from Mikailov because it has a very gentle formula. Mikailov considers piroctone olamine the most important ingredient in this dry scalp shampoo, since it's a gentle anti-fungal that eliminates flaking.
It's also made with soothing aloe vera to relieve your tight, itchy, and dry scalp, while cocamidopropyl betaine helps create a great lather that cleanses and hydrates.
“This shampoo helps promote a healthy, balanced scalp, and is non-irritating and full of moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients,” says Mikailov.
It's formulated with three plant-based ingredients: mung bean, curcumin, and red clover. There's also a vegan b-SILK protein that promises to cling to your strands and repair your hair ... even after washing away the dry scalp shampoo. Plus, it contains a blend of marula, baobab, and ximenia oils to help lock in hydration.
Pureology's dry scalp shampoo is so gentle, you can use it regularly without stripping your hair color. It helps keep your color-treated mane vibrant too, thanks to mild surfactants like coconut oil-derived sodium cocoyl isethionate.
Although the lightweight product features moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, it doesn't overload fine hair. It also utilizes green tea and sage to help stimulate your hair follicles, while salicylic acid keeps flaking in check.
Not to mention, it smells like a relaxing spa treatment, thanks to a blend of lavender, bergamot, and patchouli.
As the chief scientist of évolis Professional, Berg is naturally a fan of the company's Prevent Shampoo. He says this option is great for treating dry scalp because it's made with mangosteen and a soothing blend of lavender, rosemary, and flaxseed oil.
Green tea extract fights itchiness and irritation, which is a common symptom of dry scalp. Prevent is also infused with goji berry to help improve circulation and stimulate hair growth.
This dry scalp shampoo is the only option on our list boasting a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association (NEA). It's fragrance-free and made with sensitive scalps in mind. (If you prefer shampoo with fragrance, then SEEN still has you covered, but that version did not receive a seal from the NEA.)
Hemisqualane — a sugar-derived and biodegradable alternative to silicone — protects your hair color and smoothes your hair. It also contains bisabolol to soothe your tender scalp.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
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