The 20 Best Dandruff Shampoos For All Hair Types

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We all know that nothing can quite ruin your look for the day like bad hair. When your hair isn't right, everything else feels off. Of course, there are bad hair days and then there's the unrelenting mess of dealing with dandruff. Having white flaky pieces of dead skin visible on your scalp, that then end up adorning your outfit, is a pain that can't quite be described. Fortunately, the beauty market is filled with solutions.

Dandruff can occur due to a number of reasons, but the most common is simply having a dry scalp, per Mayo Clinic. Coupled with the knowledge that washing your hair can dry it out, selecting a shampoo for your dandruff becomes a tricky task. Shampoos that aim to target dandruff are formulated with this in mind, providing ingredients that target and treat your dandruff while still maintaining your scalp's moisture balance. In fact, there is an overwhelming number of solid options to choose from. We've put together a roundup of the best dandruff shampoos on the market that cater to your every hair type and need.

Every dandruff shampoo targets a specific type of dandruff concern and a certain hair type, but if you're looking for an overall dandruff fix that does it all then the best pick is Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo.

The gentle shampoo is suitable for all hair types. It deeply cleanses your hair without stripping it and causing further flaking by using coconut oil to hydrate it. The amino acids add fullness and body to your hair to give it shape and retain moisture. Hydrolyzed wheat protein is also used to condition and moisturize your scalp to help clear up any dryness. One Kiehl's reviewer shares, "This has helped to rebalance my scalp and natural oils, and I no longer deal with flakes and waxy build-up!!! Plus my hair in general has never felt so clean." 

Purchase Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo at Kiehl's for $38.

Of course, if you prefer to invest in your beauty routine and would rather opt for a more luxurious shampoo to treat your hair, you can't go wrong with Oribe's Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.

As the name would suggest, this clarifying shampoo is designed to leave you with a completely serene scalp by alleviating irritation using a combination of salicylic acid and caffeine. The salicylic acid gently exfoliates your scalp and minimizes flaking, while the caffeine rejuvenates your hair follicles to help encourage healthy regrowth. The stunning pink bottle will look great sitting in your shower, but your hair will be left looking even better. One Dermstore reviewer confirms it's worth the price, "As someone who deals with dandruff and itchy dry scalp, this has been one of the only products that actually worked. It relieves the itch, gets rid of the flakes, and smells amazing!"

Purchase Oribe's Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo at Dermstore for $52.

Finding the right dandruff shampoo can be made all the more difficult when you have color-treated hair as you don't want to cause more damage than good. First Aid Beauty's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is completely safe for color-treated hair, and it's a miracle worker on dandruff as well.

Its key ingredient is 1% Zinc Pyrithione (ZPT) which soothes irritated scalps and minimizes flaking. The shampoo is also formulated with calendula which is known for its calming benefits, as well as silk peptides that strengthen your hair and leave you with moisturized and smooth strands. One Ulta Beauty reviewer said, "My flakes were uncontrollable when it came to shampoos as none ever could get rid of them. This always put it under control and stopped the itching. "

Purchase First Aid Beauty's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo at Ulta Beauty for $30.

Chemical exfoliation is a fan favorite of the skincare community, but not many realize that it's also an option for hair care. Chemically exfoliating your scalp is especially helpful when it comes to dandruff, and Ouai's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo capitalizes on that. 

The shampoo has potent 2% salicylic acid — a star ingredient — which gently exfoliates your scalp to eliminate any flakiness and itching. It also works to remove any product buildup, as well as counteract any heavy metals, chlorine, and minerals that are in the water you're washing your hair with. 

Ouai claims that 100% of users visibly noticed less flaking after 28 days of use, and one reviewer definitely agrees, "I've had issues with really bad dandruff build-up. I've tried so many things and this has been the only stuff that has worked! This is the first time my scalp has been almost completely clear in a decade!"

Purchase Ouai's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo at Ouai for $36.

Transitioning over to a completely green and clean beauty routine is a commendable effort we should all be making. Especially considering how much the vegan beauty market has expanded. Even when it comes to a specific concern like having dandruff, you can find a clean pick that works phenomenally, such as Jupiter's Balancing Shampoo. 

100% vegan and cruelty-free, as well as also being paraben-free, dye-free, sulfate-free, and phthalate-free, the super clean formula of this shampoo also leaves your hair feeling just as clean. Containing 1% zinc pyrithione, an active ingredient that is proven to treat dandruff, it is also formulated with coconut oil and squalane which both work to deeply moisturize your scalp and soften your hair. One Jupiter reviewer raves, "This shampoo has taken care of the dandruff problem without creating another problem (oily hair)!" 

Purchase Jupiter's Balancing Shampoo at Jupiter for $24.

When it comes to tackling dandruff or flaky scalps in general, a known solution is exfoliation. Using a scalp scrub can be the best way to invigorate your scalp and physically slough any dryness away, and the best pick for that is Briogeo's fan-favorite Scalp Revival Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo. 

This product is a shampoo/scrub hybrid that uses Binchotan charcoal to draw impurities out of your scalp and give it a full reboot. The shampoo contains micro-exfoliators that invigorate your scalp and help physically scrub away any flaking, while also removing any product buildup that could be blocking your scalp. It is also formulated with coconut oil and super-vitamins to deeply hydrate your scalp and moisturize it. One Briogeo reviewer raves, "My scalp has been flaky and oily for the past 2 months and in just 2 applications my scalp feels refreshed smooth, and balanced + no excess oil and No more flaking."

Purchase Briogeo's Scalp Revival Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo at Briogeo for $42.

When picking a dandruff shampoo for more extreme redness, irritation, and itchiness, it helps to find something that feels soothing while it treats your dandruff. Nothing beats the cooling sensation of Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo. 

This shampoo is a professional salon favorite and a #1 best-seller. While the tea tree oil cleanses away any impurities, the best part of using this shampoo, aside from the long-term dandruff treatment, is the tingling cooling sensation it gives your scalp to soothe any irritation. One Ulta Beauty reviewer raves, "My hair felt squeaky clean and I love the tingling sensation. My dandruff was noticeably better after only one use."

Purchase Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo at Ulta Beauty for $25.50.

Just because you have a dry scalp, it doesn't mean you don't also need a dry shampoo to help extend your wash in a pinch. The only problem is that using dry shampoos can cause more product buildup and irritate your scalp further. Well, Briogeo is back yet again with the Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo to finally give us a dry shampoo that works on dry scalps. 

Infused with the range's popular Binchotan Charcoal, this dry shampoo detoxifies your scalp and cleanses it without using water. It also contains biotin which helps keep your scalp and hair nourished, while witch hazel oil balances your scalp's oil production. One Sephora reviewer shares, "I get dandruff dry itchy scalp super easily and most dry shampoo tend to make it worse. Not this dry shampoo! It's easy to use and gives my in-between wash hair a revive!"

Purchase Briogeo's Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo at Sephora for $25.

When washing our hair, our fingers tend to get the job done. But scalp massagers are always welcome to get even more thorough, especially when it comes to dandruff and a flaky scalp. For this, Tph's Taraji Master Cleanse Scalp Shampoo is perfect.

The shampoo is formulated with witch hazel water, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil which all work to deeply cleanse your hair and soothe your scalp to help prevent flaking. But it goes above and beyond with a built-in scalp massager which features three tips to add an extra level of exfoliation, allowing the shampoo to penetrate deeply. It also massages your scalp to help invigorate it and encourage healthy hair growth. One Target reviewer especially loved the tool component, "The applicator allows the product to hit the scalp exactly and not get lost in my hair so no product is wasted." 

Purchase Tph's Taraji Master Cleanse Scalp Shampoo at Target for $18.29.

Klorane is known for providing gentle, simple, and clean beauty products. The Balancing Shampoo offers a gentle alternative to dandruff treatment. With an all-natural plant-based formula, this shampoo focuses on using galangal to eliminate any flakiness, as well as gently exfoliating your scalp with lactic acid. 

The shampoo works to promote a healthier scalp biome by gently cleansing your hair without stripping it of its natural moisture balance. The gel formula is gentle and doesn't lather too much to avoid drying out your scalp. The shampoo is biodegradable, vegan, hypoallergenic, and even dermatologist-tested. One Ulta Beauty reviewer shares, "My itchy, flaky, oily scalp is gone. Finally, I have a happy healthy scalp that doesn't itch and my hair isn't falling out like it was. I noticed in just 1 wash!!"

Purchase Klorane's Balancing Shampoo at Ulta Beauty for $24.