The 12 Best Dandruff Shampoos of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Head & Shoulders Clinical Dandruff Defense Intensive Itch Relief

5

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We absolutely love this anti-dandruff shampoo, and so do dermatologists. “This shampoo contains 1 percent selenium sulfide, which helps prevent flaking, itching, irritation, scaling, and redness associated with dandruff,” says Dr. Michele Green, a New York City-based dermatologist. And she’s right—we found this shampoo to be highly effective at reducing itching, flakes, and oil production. After just one wash, it leaves the scalp flake-free and feeling balanced, but after consistent use over the course of a few weeks, it helped to almost completely eradicate flaking altogether. If you’re looking for an affordable and accessible shampoo to help tame dandruff, this is our top pick. 

Price at time of publish: $10

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 13.5 fluid ounces

Best Budget

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo With Build-Up Control

5

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This formula is the true definition of an oldie-but-goodie. It’s been popular for a while, thanks to the star of the show, which is a three-percent concentration of salicylic acid. The beta-hydroxy acid is great at dissolving excess oil and helping to fight flakes. This fragrance-free shampoo is also suitable for more severe scalp conditions, like psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Though it’s highly effective, the formula is gentle enough to use daily without feeling too powerful or medicinal. Just FYI, this can be a bit drying if used on its own, so make sure to pair it with a conditioner. While we didn’t find that it made a huge improvement in the oiliness of the scalp over time, it did a fantastic job of stopping flakes fast. If you’re struggling with a super flaky scalp, this drugstore pick could make a serious difference for you.  

Price at time of publish: $7

Hair Type: Oily, dandruff | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 4.5 fluid ounces

Best Splurge

PHILIP B Anti-Flake II Relief Shampoo

4.6

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Formulated with a blend of soothing botanicals, pyrithione zinc, and coal tar, this luxe shampoo formula offers relief from flaking and itching associated with dandruff. The brand suggests massaging it into the scalp and letting it sit for three minutes before rinsing, and we found that doing so works great—after three minutes, flakes are gone, itching is significantly reduced, and excess oil is mitigated. It’s a great pick for those with oily scalps, but note that it can be drying on the lengths of the hair, so we recommend applying a deep conditioner after using it. We also love that, unlike a lot of other shampoos created to treat dandruff, this one creates a nice big lather. And while some people might love the tingling sensation it creates, thanks to the inclusion of tea tree oil in the formula, it is a bit intense, so it might not be for everyone. 

Price at time of publish: $55

Hair Type: Oily, dandruff | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 7.4 fluid ounces

Rahua Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo

4.9

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If you’re dealing with mild flaking rather than intense dandruff, we recommend trying this gently exfoliating formula. Though it doesn’t contain pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfate to target the root cause of dandruff, it does have a mixture of crushed star anise to scrub the scalp, as well as mango and passionfruit enzymes for a subtle peeling effect. These ingredients work to rid the scalp of dead skin cells and buff away flakes, making way for a smoother, more balanced scalp. We also appreciate that the formula has a blend of nourishing Amazonian oils for hydration. We were so impressed by how well this shampoo improved flakiness and reduced excess oil without stripping the hair. We also really enjoyed the light, earthy scent. 

Price at time of publish: $40

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 9.3 fluid ounces

Best for Sensitive Scalps

Klorane Balancing Shampoo with Galangal for Flaky Scalp

4.8

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Dandruff is often accompanied by scalp irritation and sensitivity, and if you experience this, finding a really gentle (but effective) formula may be the key to a more comfortable scalp. We love this shampoo because it relies on the extract of galangal, a plant native to Indonesia, to help improve dandruff as opposed to pyrithione zinc. The brand found through a comparative study that galangal removed flakes even faster than pyrithione zinc, making it an effective and gentle plant-based alternative. 

Throughout our test, we found that the formula worked to significantly reduce flakes, tame excess oil, and relieve itching. One of our testers struggles with scalp psoriasis, and she shared that this formula was effective and even helped to lessen her flare-ups. While we wish that it lathered and spread better, we still highly recommend it for anyone on the hunt for a mild dandruff-fighting shampoo. 

Price at time of publish: $24

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 13.5 fluid ounces

Best for Itch Relief

Jupiter Balancing Dandruff Shampoo

4.8

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An itchy scalp can be seriously frustrating. If you’re dealing with consistent itchiness as a result of dandruff or dryness, this shampoo might be just the thing you need. Containing one percent zinc pyrithione, coconut oil, and algae extract, it works wonders for relieving flakes and itchiness. It also helps to balance the scalp, ensuring that it’s neither too dry nor overly oily. 

While we noticed an immediate reduction in itchiness upon the first use, we were incredibly pleased by the fact that it completely eradicated itchiness after using it consistently for a few weeks. It doesn’t create the best lather, but considering how effective it is and that it can be used on all hair types as well as color-treated hair, this formula absolutely has the Byrdie stamp of approval. 

Price at time of publish: $25

Hair Type: All| Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 4.5 fluid ounces

Best for Oily Hair

Canviiy Scalp Bliss Scalp Purifying Foam Treatment

4.8

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If you have both dandruff and very oily hair, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with both issues simultaneously. However, this product helps to target flakes, excess oil, and itching to leave you with a more balanced, comfortable scalp. It features a lactic acid complex that works to cut through oil and dissolve flakes, as well as aloe vera, witch hazel, and tea tree extract to soothe. 

Unlike a typical shampoo that you use whenever you wash your hair, this foaming formula is a treatment that’s meant to be applied once weekly. You just apply a few pumps of the foam to your scalp and let it sit for around five minutes before rinsing it out to reveal a clarified scalp. While we wish it did a better job at removing product buildup, it worked beautifully to reduce oiliness and prolong the period needed in between washes, making it a pick we recommend if oil control and dandruff relief are your goals. 

Price at time of publish: $15

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 fluid ounces

Best Exfoliating

R+Co Submarine Water-Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo

4.8

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In recent years, we’ve seen scalp care begin to mimic skin care—after all, the skin on our scalps is skin, too. So just like we exfoliate our faces to remove dead skin cells and reveal a smoother complexion, the same benefits apply to the scalp—especially if you struggle with dandruff. This chemically exfoliating shampoo formula works to remove dead skin cells thanks to a cocktail of enzymes and fruit AHA’s. It also contains a blend of plant extracts to help reduce inflammation, nourish the skin, and remove excess sebum.

Although it comes in a very small bottle, especially for the price, we were pleasantly surprised by how a little bit of product spreads nicely and goes a long way. It’s easy to massage into the scalp and after just one wash, it removes flakes and restores balance. Plus, we love that it creates a spa-like invigorating sensation. 

Price at time of publish: $36

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 3 fluid ounces

Best Scrub

amika Reset Exfoliating Jelly Scalp Scrub

4.5

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Scalp scrubs are hard to nail, and while this one isn’t perfect, we do really like it for those struggling with dandruff. It utilizes both chemical and physical exfoliation to rid the scalp of flakiness and reduce itching and excess oil. It also contains pink clay and charcoal to absorb dirt, odor, and impurities. We wish the sea salt bits were more concentrated in the jelly formula in order to create a more intense, even scrub, but we absolutely love that the packaging features a needle nose applicator which makes applying the formula directly to the scalp easy. 

After just a couple of uses, we noticed a real improvement in itching and excess oil, and after using this formula consistently for a few weeks, flakes were significantly reduced. If you’re looking for a gentle scalp scrub that doubles as a chemical exfoliation, we recommend checking this one out. 

Price at time of publish: $28

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 4.7 fluid ounces

Best for Natural Hair

Melanin Haircare African Black Soap Reviving Shampoo

5

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Because people with natural hair often have very dry scalps, it’s really important to find a dandruff-fighting formula that isn’t stripping—and this one blew us away. The clarifying formula relies on tea tree, peppermint, and black cumin seed, which are all known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, to reduce flakes and itching. This might just be the magic combination because one of our testers noted that this worked far better at relieving her daughter’s scalp issues than a medicated shampoo provided by a doctor. After using it consistently for a few weeks, it cleared up her seborrheic dermatitis, rid her scalp of flakes, and helped her kick her scratching habit as she was no longer itchy. 

In addition to how effective it is, we love that the formula contains soothing and nourishing ingredients like argan, cocoa butter, and rosemary. Plus, it comes with a needle nose applicator that makes applying it to targeted areas on the scalp a breeze. If you have natural hair and you’re struggling with dandruff or itching, we urge you to try this formula.  

Price at time of publish: $20

Hair Type: Natural | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 16.1 fluid ounces

Best Fragrance-Free

Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Charcoal Shampoo

4.5

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Synthetic fragrance can be an irritant for those with sensitive skin or even people who are headache-prone, so we love that this dandruff-targeting shampoo doesn’t contain it. It does, however smell like tea tree due to the inclusion of the ingredient in the formula, so know that it’s not odorless.  

As for the formula, it contains salicylic and glycolic acids to exfoliate the scalp, remove excess oil, and tamper itching. It also features charcoal to remove buildup and draw out impurities. It spreads easily, feels incredibly refreshing, and effectively reduces flaking, itching, and excess oil. If you’re looking for an anti-dandruff shampoo that’s free from synthetic fragrances, this one is a great option. 

Price at time of publish: $42

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.4 fluid ounces