This Is the Only Dandruff Shampoo That Soothes My Itchy, Flaky Scalp (2024)

“I’ve been using Jupiter for several years now, and it’s an absolute game changer,” says health journalist Lauren Mazzo, who didn’t have great luck with traditional dandruff shampoos. “Not only does Jupiter smell better, look better, and work better, but it also doesn’t strip my curly hair of moisture.” She also notes that her hair and scalp feel healthier overall, and her dandruff is a thing of the past. Glamour commerce editor Jake Smith is also a fan of Jupiter shampoo. “Almost immediately I noticed remarkable improvement. My flare-ups have receded to the point where I can go multiple days without shampooing. My hair comes out of each wash whisper-soft and moisturized, a far cry from the wiry, bone-dry mop I was forced to work with pre-Jupiter. Best of all, I can run my hands through it without triggering a mini snowstorm. Itching and flakes, at least for now, are things of the past,” he says.

Featuring dandruff-fighting Pyrithione zinc, along with moisturizing coconut oil and strengthening squalene, “it has all of the ingredients that work while still being nontoxic,” says Tylor Johnson, expert hair colorist and founder of Nous Haircare. Bottom line: It treats dandruff while keeping the hair soft, shiny, and aptly nourished.

Expert tip: A little goes a long way. It takes about 2 weeks to start to work, so just be patient!

• Ingredient highlights: Zinc Pyrithione, paraben-free, dye-free, vegan
• Smells like: Fresh
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 9.5 fl oz.
• Hair Type: All hair types

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Selenium sulfide is one of the ingredients Dr. King recommends seeking in a dandruff shampoo. Why? “It has antifungal properties and can decrease Malassezia,” she says. “It also can manage irritation and itching.” Most Selsun Blue products contain this very ingredient, which is why Dr. King often recommends this moisturizing anti-dandruff shampoo to her patients, especially those with hair dryness. This particular Selsun Blue formula also has aloe vera, to help moisturize the hair and nourish a dry scalp. (Not to mention, this shampoo has nearly 11,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.)

• Ingredient highlights: Selenium sulfide, aloe
• Smells like: Coconut
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 11 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for dry hair

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Another superstar anti-dandruff ingredient? Coal tar (yes, you read that correctly). “Coal tar suppresses fungus and decreases inflammation and may reduce sebum production,” says Dr. King. That’s why she recommends the Neutrogena T Gel shampoo, which contains coal tar extract, among other ingredients that help control a flaking and itchy scalp. The therapeutic shampoo is even suitable for people with chronic scalp psoriasis, and it comes with a stamp of approval from the National Psoriasis Foundation.

It’s not a sexy shampoo, but Amalie MacGowan, creative development manager at Condé Nast, raves about this over-the-counter option for her seborrheic dermatitis. “It has a charcoal base so it smells kind of medicinal, but it really keeps my flare-ups at bay, which for me usually looks like excessive flaking and redness, to the point of intense itchiness and pain.”

• Ingredient highlights: Coal tar
• Smells like: Cucumber
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 16 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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At this point, Head & Shoulders is a household name, and for good reason: It really works, according to Dr. Castilla. She particularly likes the brand’s “bare” shampoo, because it’s “effective but contains minimal ingredients, so it works well even for sensitive skin.” In fact, it only has nine ingredients total—including dandruff-fighting Pyrithione zinc.

• Ingredient highlights: Sulfate-free, silicone-free, and dye-free
• Smells like: Orchid
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 13.5 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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For those looking for a more “natural” treatment option, Dr. Castilla recommends this Jason shampoo. While it may feature a “clean formulation,” that doesn’t mean it’s not highly effective. It treats dandruff with sulfur (which has antifungal properties) along with salicylic acid to help exfoliate the dead flakes, she says.

What’s more,“it has hydrating and nourishing oils like jojoba, olive, and rosemary, which can help improve overall scalp health,” says Celeste Thomas, RN, a registered nurse and holistic skin-care expert based in Los Angeles. She also notes that it has a lovely herbal scent that she really enjoys.

Expert tip: “It’s a clean formulation made without any irritating fragrance, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, which can actually make dandruff symptoms worse,” says Thomas.

• Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, sulfate-free, sulfur
• Smells like: Herbal
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 12 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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Yet another winner from Head and Shoulders, Dr. Castilla notes that the brand’s Royal Oils shampoo works particularly well for curly hair types. That’s because it helps with dandruff without drying out hair, she says. It’s primary active ingredient is Pyrithione zinc, which has antimicrobial and antifungal properties, plus it helps with inflammation and itch, says Dr. Castilla.

Expert tip: This formula was specifically developed for Black hair by Black scientists.

• Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, dye-free, and sulfate free
• Smells like: Unscented
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 12.8 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Curly & coily hair

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^{Original photo courtesy of Glamour senior editor Jenifer Calle}

Ketoconazole is another effective ingredient to seek out in a dandruff shampoo: It’s an antifungal that inhibits fungus growth, plus it has mild anti-inflammatory properties, says Dr. Castilla. And you can find this active ingredient in over-the-counter Nizoral shampoo. In fact, this extra-strength shampoo has clinically shown to control flaking, scaling, and itching—even from severe cases of dandruff.

Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle has been using Nizoral shampoo for two months and has noticed improvements on her scalp. “First, I tried a bunch of oily hair shampoos but realized my scalp was the (hair) root of my problems. So far, Nizoral has been the only shampoo to give my scalp immediate relief. I like that I don’t need to use it for every hair wash. I simply add it to my hair wash rotation twice a week and it keeps my scalp flake-free. It smells like any regular shampoo—fresh and soapy—and considering my hair is very thick and course, it has a good amount of lather,” she says.

• Ingredient highlights: Ketoconazole
• Smells like: Fresh
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 7 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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Dr. King loves this Dove anti-dandruff shampoo because it contains pyrithione zinc, balanced out with coconut oil and shea butter. “It's a mild, pH-balanced formulation that can decrease yeast on the skin without causing irritation,” she says. What’s more, thanks to the nourishing ingredients in this formula, it can not only help soothe a dry scalp, but also calm frizzy hair and promote smoother strands.

• Ingredient highlights: Pyrithione zinc, paraben-free, shea butter
• Smells like: Coconut and shea butter
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 12 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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“These formulations contain apple cider vinegar and salicylic acid to exfoliate and offer anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties,” says Dr. King. She also recommends this one to patients because it contains moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil to keep the scalp and hair from getting dried out. What’s more, it’s formulated with eucalyptus for a soothing effect.

• Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, silicone-free, salicylic acid
• Smells like: Fresh
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 13.5 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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Show your scalp some much-needed love and support with the Garnier oat delicacy shampoo. It contains oat milk and rice cream for soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for a sensitive scalp, says Dr. King. What’s more, it “gently cleanses and hydrates without weighing down the hair,” she adds. That said, this isn’t technically a dandruff shampoo, so it may not be helpful for people with more severe cases of the condition.

• Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, silicone-free, vegan
• Smells like: Vanilla, oatmeal
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 12.5 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

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“My favorite technique for combating dandruff is to exfoliate the scalp with a scrub,” says Ashley Gomila, a hair and makeup artist based in Los Angeles. “I gently use 2Chic D:TOX Exfoliating Scalp Scrub first to get all of the dandruff loosened and scrubbed away. I follow that up with a double wash using Balmain Hair's Revitalizing Shampoo, which contains vitamin F that helps repair and condition the scalp.” She recommends this two-step process to her clients to help them get an immediate remedy and reduce irritating buildup, while managing the issue in the long-term.

• Ingredient highlights: Activated charcoal
• Smells like: Natural
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 7 fl oz.
• Hair Type: Best for all hair types

Glamour-loved brand OUAI has its own anti-dandruff shampoo, and it contains a whopping 2% of salicylic acid—which Dr. King says “helps to reduce scaling on the scalp.” This formula also features propanediol caprylate, which may help reduce dandruff-causing bacteria. What’s more, it features an array of conditioning ingredients, which leave the hair feeling soft and smooth.

Expert tip: Dr. King notes that products with salicylic acid may be most useful when used in conjunction with other treatments.

• Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, dye-free, and sulfate free
• Smells like: Unscented
• Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
• Size: 12.8 fl oz.

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