10 Best Shampoos for Dry Scalps

Having a dry itching scalp is just irritating. It can even be embarrassing if you find yourself constantly scratching your head through business meetings, family dinners, and nights out with friends.

Even if you have fantastic hair, a dry scalp makes it harder to show that hair off since it’s harder to maintain your style when you’re scratching through the day.

And worse, having a dry itchy scalp can lead to dandruff and other appearance issues if the dry skin builds up.

The first solution many of us reach for is showering more often, assuming that there must be dirt or sweat build up on your scalp causing the problem. But showering too often, or with the wrong products, can make the problem worse instead of solving it.

If you have a dry scalp, whether it’s a full-time problem or a seasonal occurrence, having the right shampoo is a great first step to getting control of the problem.

Of course, if your itchy dry scalp is progressing toward something more serious, like severe dandruff or a rash on your scalp, you should consult with your doctor or dermatologist to make sure you’re taking the right steps for your skin and your situation.

In this guide we’ll talk about some generally beneficial ingredients you can often find in the drugstore and over the counter shampoos, and then present 10 of the best shampoos for dry hair and why they work.

Ingredients to Look for or Avoid

Everyone’s scalp is different, so you may need a different shampoo than your best friend, or even your partner. Fortunately, some general ingredient guidelines can help you find a good product for you, even if you decide against using one of the products on our list.

If you don’t have good luck with the first shampoo you try, don’t despair. This list will also help you identify new ingredients and formulations to try until you hit on a winning product.

Look For Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is one of the more popular products with dermatologists for controlling dandruff and soothing dry scalps. It’s a little less common in shampoo, which means if you find one that contains it, chances are it’s a pretty good product.

Ketoconazole works by fighting the bacteria and yeast that can grow on your scalp. Some bacteria and yeast are normal, but they can become overgrown, causing irritation and dryness. Ketoconazole helps restore your scalp’s natural balance, reducing skin irritation.

Look For Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is most commonly used in acne fighting-cleansers, but it’s beneficial on your scalp as well. Salicylic acid works to break apart dried sebum and lift dirt and debris out of your pores, leaving your skin healthier and cleaner.

Salicylic acid can also clean your hair strand more thoroughly, giving it more body and shine.

Avoid High Alcohol Content

Some alcohol in your shampoo is normal and even okay. Many doctors and dermatologists note that alcohol types starting with C and S, like cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, can be good for your skin and hair.

But even these beneficial types of alcohol can be harsh and drying in too high a concentration. You should aim to avoid alcohol in the first 4 ingredients in the ingredient list, and the further down the list the better.

Look For Selenium Sulfide

Selenium sulfide is another anti-microbial that works to reduce the itching irritation which comes with dry scalp, and it can be used to tackle some more severe forms of dandruff in addition to the mild ones.

Selenium sulfide is one of the effective ingredients in Head and Shoulders products and works to reduce the source of the irritation in addition to effectively treating the symptoms.

It does have the occasional side effect of making your hair oily, although that is fairly rare.

Avoid Cleansing / Clarifying Shampoo

This one isn’t exactly an ingredient, but it’s important if you’re fighting the problems associated with dry scalp.

Cleaning and clarifying shampoos, the ones that advertise washing everything out of your hair, are simply too harsh for most people with dry scalps. While these shampoos can be useful if you’re using a lot of hair styling product, have excessively oily hair, or are likely to get a lot of irritants in your hair regularly, they are also likely to be hard on your skin and hair.

If you already have a dry scalp, the last thing you need is a harsh cleansing shampoo that can make the problem worse.

Look For Coal Tar

Tar is not the first ingredient I think of when I think about good hair and healthy skin. But in this case, that aversion isn’t warranted.

Coal tar is the key ingredient in T-Gel (one of the shampoos on this list) and is known for being an incredibly effective treatment for dry scalp and several other mild skin conditions that can occur on your scalp.

It has the advantage that, in weak concentrations, it’s available over the counter. Even in those weak concentrations coal tar has still proven incredibly effective.

Plus, it’s not an expensive designer ingredient, meaning that shampoos can include some coal tar in their formulation without pushing their price up too high.

10 Best Shampoos for Dry Scalp Comparison Table

 

10 Best Shampoos To Soothe Dry Scalp: Detailed Reviews

Each of these shampoos works in a slightly different way and has a different scent and even texture. We’re confident that one of the products on this list will be a great product for you, but they can also be a good springboard for finding good ingredients if you decide to hunt down your own shampoo brand.

1. Briogeo Scalp Revival with Charcoal and Coconut Oil (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5.0

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Briogeo Scalp got it right. Many shampoos talk about their benefits for your hair, but if you aren’t taking care of your scalp, where your hair is growing, no amount of treatments for the shaft of your hair will compensate for it.

Briogeo’s scalp revival shampoo takes advantage of the dirt lifting and cleansing power of charcoal, boosting the natural action of the soap suds and bubbles to that it more effectively lifts sweat, dirt, debris, and bacteria to wash down the drain.

Coconut oil also works as a mild anti-microbial, one of the reasons it’s commonly used as a natural moisturizer and skin and hair mask. The coconut oil will help eliminate excess bacteria on your scalp, reducing irritation.

The added moisture of the coconut oil also works to immediately soothe the irritated areas of skin, restoring the natural moisture barrier that protects it.

The combination is a powerful clean and both immediate and long-term symptom relief. This shampoo also offers a thick lather for a more luxurious shower.

Peppermint oil also encourages more circulation in your scalp, bringing nutrients and oxygen to your skin and hair need and encouraging healthier growth of both.

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2. Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo is a dryness and dandruff fighting giant. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which we’ve already mentioned for its ability to break-up and remove glue-like excess oil from your scalp.

Oil, particularly the oil our scalps naturally produce, sebum, may seem like a good thing when dryness is your main irritation, but too much sebum turns into glue or cement, especially when combined with dry skin cells and dirt or sweat.

That dried gluey sebum and dead skin cells attract bacteria and yeast to your scalp, leading to irritation and further drying.

In addition to the salicylic acid, Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo also harnesses the power of several essential oils, including, rosemary oil and ginger extract, to boost the anti-bacterial properties of the shampoo. Further, both rosemary and ginger improve hair health and encourage hair growth.

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3. LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo for Dry Hair and Scalp

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo is another great option, especially if you have sensitive skin in addition to a dry-scalp. Their sulfate-free formulation is even gentler than most moisturizing shampoos, drastically reducing the chance of shampoo-caused irritation.

They also use coconut oil in their formulation, which adds to the restorative power by protecting the moisture barrier throughout your scalp.

They also use glycolic acid which, like salicylic acid, is a mild chemical exfoliant. Glycolic acid gently helps to lift dead and dry skin cells, making it easier for them to wash away in the shower. This ingredient benefits from a gentle massaging motion in the shower, take your time and this shampoo will reward you with great results.

Their last dryness fighting active ingredient is Xylitol, which is a powerful but gentle anti-microbial perfectly safe for human use. Xylitol is also a common artificial sweetener in many gums and drink mixes.

On your scalp, this ingredient works to eliminate unwanted bacteria and yeast and to prevent those harmful microbial colonies from growing back or getting out of control again.

One note, however, Xylitol is highly toxic to most pets. It’s less of a problem for cats since they cannot taste sweetness and usually aren’t attracted to Xylitol containing products. But, dogs will go after Xylitol, since they can taste sweetness.

If you’re a pet owner it’s especially important to make sure you thoroughly rinse your hair if you use a shampoo that contains xylitol, and that you keep the product out of your pet’s reach and quickly clean up any spills.

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4. R+Co Atlantic Moisturizing Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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R+Co Atlantic Moisturizing Shampoo is another go-to option if you have sensitive skin in addition to a dry scalp. It’s also a vegan and cruelty-free product, making it a good choice if animal testing or animal products are important issues for you.

Atlantic Moisturizing Shampoo is also petroleum oil, mineral oil, paraben, sulfate, and gluten-free. If your skin has chemical sensitivities, or you have allergies, this shampoo is an amazing choice.

Atlantic also uses nettle extract to help protect your color, meaning this is one protective shampoo that won’t make your hair fade or stripe vibrant colors out early, saving you cash.

The most important feature, however, is how well it helps with the symptoms of your dry scalp. This shampoo uses babassu oil and its primary moisturizing ingredient. The oil is light and fully coats your hair shaft and scalp, without being weighty or dull like other oils.

They use a combination of Rosemary extract and Witch Hazel to fight against bacterial and yeast overgrowth, in addition to encouraging healthy, rapid, hair growth.

This is also a shampoo that backs up its claims with regular inspections and testing. All their product claims were verified as recently as 2018, so you know you’re getting exactly what you paid for, every time.

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5. T-Gel Extra Strength Therapeutic Shampoo (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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T-Gel is not only a cheap, over the counter shampoo, it’s also one of the most highly dermatologist-recommended brands for all things dry scalp and dandruff.

We went with the extra-strength version for this list simply because it’s their most popular option, but the original formula, as well as the T-Sal slightly milder formula, both deliver great, long-lasting results.

T-Gel works best if you wash with it at least twice a week, although the extra strength formula is potent enough you won’t necessarily need to use T-Gel and your only shampoo to get results. The coal tar that is the primary active ingredient in T-Gel continues working for hours after you wash, actively repairing irritation and skin damage even outside the shower.

T-Gel is also soothing for several other conditions that can contribute to dry scalp, dandruff, and general itchiness, like scalp psoriasis, although you should consult with a dermatologist if you are concerned you have a medical condition.

This shampoo would have been higher on our list but for one thing, it’s very definitely designed as a therapeutic shampoo, and the scent can be unpleasant for some people. It’s not particularly potent or medical, but it also isn’t on par with your average pleasantly scented shampoo.

Some users also note that it doesn’t lather as well as other shampoos, although we can assure you it’s working just as well without the lather.

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6. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair, Super Moisture Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

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This second offering from Briogeo may not be specifically targeted at soothing a dry scalp, but it’s moisturizing and restorative formula will get the job done just as well.

This shampoo doesn’t directly target yeast and bacteria the way some other shampoos on our list do, so it may not work as well if the source of the problem is unwanted bacteria or yeast. On the other hand, it’s a better moisturizing shampoo than many of the others on our list and may work better for you if you have seasonal scalp dryness or suddenly developed a dry scalp after moving to a new climate.

It also works to control bacteria and yeast simply by restoring the natural health, moisture barrier, and key nutrients to your scalp and hair.

This formulation uses shea butter, a stronger moisturizer than coconut oil, rosehip oil, and algae powder to help balance and restore your hair.

The rosehip oil also works to smooth your hair and fight frizz.

Algae powder, in this case, primarily delivers key growth nutrients to your hair and scalp, protecting your cells and helping them grow stronger and healthier over time.

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7. Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bar for Dandruff

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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Ethique’s Eco-friendly Solid Shampoo Bar is the only shampoo bar on our list, but it’s also the only one that needs to be here.

Shampoo bars are an increasingly popular low-waste product, and this one bar is the equivalent of 3 standard-sized bottles of shampoo, making it a great option for men who don’t want to constantly run to the store.

It’s also a highly restorative shampoo, designed specifically to add moisture to your scalp while also working to balance PH and create healthy skin and hair follicles.

They offer a powerful mix of 4 natural oils, Kiwifruit Oil, Coconut Oil, Neem Oil, and Manuka Oil.

These four oils tackle different moisturizing problems, from dealing with excess bacterial and microbial growth to restoring the moisture barrier, and carrying deep-penetrating nutrients for added hair and skin health.

This shampoo bar also uses calendula, an herb, to add to the recuperative effects of the shampoo. Calendula not only soothes surface irritation, but it also encourages healthy growth and healing, soothing the root causes of irritation quickly.

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8. Rene Furterer Astera Fresh, Soothing Freshness Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Rene Furterer’s Astera Fresh is designed to feel as good as it is effective. This light and soothing shampoo feels light, cool, and soothing while it’s working, in addition to soothing skin irritation and providing a protective moisture barrier for hours after you wash.

This is another shampoo that relies on the power of natural botanical ingredients to soothe and heal without irritating, stripping your hair, or adding drying ingredients that can make the problem worse.

There are three potent extracts at work in this formulation, Asteraceae extract, and Peppermint & Eucalyptus essential oils.

Peppermint is mildly anti-microbial and is also behind the pleasant cool feel to this shampoo while you wash. Peppermint also works to encourage circulation, which works to bring nutrients and oxygen needed to produce collagen, the main protein in your skin, and keratin, the main protein in your hair, improving the overall health of both.

The Asteraceae extract works to provide long-lasting protection from outside irritants. It’s also somewhat adaptogenic, meaning it helps to give your skin the nutrients it needs to quickly adapt to changing conditions and to fight new irritation sources.

Eucalyptus is another anti-microbial and also boosts circulation in the area, working with the peppermint to deliver even better results.

However, the combination of eucalyptus and peppermint, while highly soothing for most people, can potentially be irritating to some people, so this might not be a good shampoo for you if you already know you are sensitive to one of these ingredients.

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9. ApotheCARE Essentials, The Equalizer Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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ApotheCARE Essentials real believes in using botanical ingredients and high-quality ingredients to provide effective, high-quality products. In this case, they use a combination of powerful soothing and moisturizing botanicals with salicylic acid to provide some extra cleansing and scalp-restoring punch.

This shampoo is most suitable for dry scalps that also have some dandruff, although it’s still a good choice if you don’t have dandruff as the formulation is mild enough to be a great preventative as well as an effective dandruff treatment.

They use extracted juniper berry, refined tea tree oil, and distilled cypress for a combination of anti-microbial, soothing, and protective qualities.

The tea tree oil, in particular, is useful, combining all the best features found in other essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus oil, for a total cleansing and circulation health-boosting effect.

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10. Klorane Shampoo with Peony

Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0

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Klorane Shampoo with Peony is another good all-around soothing, moisturizing, and non-irritating product designed for soothing and healing dry scalps as well as preventing the irritation from reoccurring.

Paraben and sulfate-free, this shampoo is also less likely to irritate even if you have highly sensitive skin and will also protect your hair shaft from drying damage or breakage that can be caused by those ingredients.

This shampoo also boasts added B vitamins, one of the most important essential nutrients for hair and skin health, delivering them directly to the skin since your scalp is often one of the first places to stop getting nutrients via circulation since your brain requires so much.

The peony in this formulation works to soothe and calm irritated areas so they are less troublesome while the rest of the ingredients get to work.

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