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
NizoralA-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
With more than 11,000 raving reviews on Amazon, testers say it truly makes a difference. “This stuff is absolutely amazing. I was one step away from going to the dermatologist,” one reviewer wrote. “I had severe dandruff that was so bad I could shake my head and it would come off. With just a few uses per week, I got rid of all of my flakes.”
2. Best Scent
OUAI
If you can’t stand the smell of medicated shampoos, look no further. This effective formula is scented with the brand’s signature “Melrose” fragrance, with notes of bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, and white musk. The shampoo is formulated with apple cider vinegar to exfoliate away buildup, flakes, and residue, and hydrolyzed keratin to soften, smooth, and add shine.
3. Best Salon -Grade
ORIBE
For a salon-inspired wash, reach for this splurge-worthy dandruff shampoo. It contains salicylic acid and caffeine to exfoliate and energize the scalp, but doubles up on moisture with shea butter and nourishing vitamin E.
4. Best Itch -Relieving
First Aid Beauty
This color-safe formula uses 1% pyrithione zinc to rid the scalp of flakes while silk peptides and calendula calm and smooth the area, leaving the hair looking and feeling better all around.
5. Best Eco-Friendly
Ethique
If you’ve ditched plastic bottles in exchange for shampoo bars, there’s a dandruff-friendly version just for you. Ethique’s Heali Kiwi is a vegan bar that contains oatmeal, kiwifruit oil, neem oil (a natural anti-fungal), and coconut oil to treat dandruff issues and replenish moisture in one soap-free wash.
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.
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