15 Best Dandruff Shampoos for Every Type of Hair, According to Experts

This is the over-the-counter version of a prescription dandruff shampoo. It’s equipped with the same active ingredient — ketoconazole — but in a smaller dose. It’s a big hit in the dandruff community on Reddit, though it is obviously not as effective as its prescription counterpart, and it has an innocuous, barely there scent.
Pros: Works similarly to a prescription without having to see a doctor
Cons: Dries out the hair

While most dandruff shampoos are at the very least a little bit drying, Sachajuan’s is actually moisturizing. It makes hair feel soft, and the bottle is actually pretty, not an embarrassing medicinal-looking thing. The shampoo uses salicylic and lactic acids to remove flakes, and a few different oils in the mix help soothe your scalp. Although this isn’t the most powerful dandruff fighter, using it is a very pleasant experience.
Pros: Super-moisturizing
Cons: Takes a bit of time to be effective

Fighting flakes sounds like it’d be harsh on the scalp, but this effective formulation from the trichology experts at Philip Kingsley is gentle enough for daily use. The antimicrobial piroctone olamine alleviates the scalp of flaking, itching, and buildup, while a hefty dose of aloe vera soothes and repairs skin without drying or stripping hair in the process.
Pros: Keeps hair healthy
Cons: High price for a small bottle

If you’re slowly replacing all the bottles in your shower, here’s a plastic-free alternative. This kiwi-scented bar combats scalp issues with neem oil — an antifungal that contains nimbidin, an anti-inflammatory that prevents irritation. You’ll also find Karanja oil — often used to treat conditions like eczema with soothing anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. Reviewers love the scent and rich lather and how it volumizes and cleans even the finest hair without drying or weighing it down.
Pros: Lasts a long time
Cons: Storage can be messy

This shampoo will teleport you to a spa with its calming aroma. The medicated cleanser is imbued with vegan ingredients that work to nourish the scalp while getting to the root of dandruff and irritation with an ingredient list that is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and dyes. And it contains zinc pyrithione, which Karen recommends as an ingredient to get at the root of flaking and control oil production on the scalp.
Pros: Sleek design that fits in any shower
Cons: May leave hair feeling greasy, according to some reviewers

Ouai’s latest release combats a flaky scalp with gently exfoliating salicylic acid and helps reduce flaking, itching, and irritation without drying out your hair. Reviewers with all hair types love both how it makes their hair feel and how it smells — it has earthy notes of ginger, spearmint, and green fig.
Pros: Lathers well, smells amazing
Cons: Can dry out hair

This shampoo requires you to take on an intense, two-week hair regimen of marinating and massaging your dry scalp with the formula for five to seven minutes, two or three times per week. Even if you typically wash your hair only once a week, the extra shampooing isn’t damaging or drying. Your flakes will be gone before you know it, and after that, you can switch to monthly washes with a maintenance shampoo in between. It’s exhausting at first, but you’ll be glad you held strong.
Pros: Luxurious treatment
Cons: Strong smell

Dove’s anti-dandruff shampoo is a well-rounded formula that’s easy to find. It’s formulated with dandruff-removing and -preventing pyrithione zinc (the same stuff in Head & Shoulders), but it’s backed up with moisturizing coconut and shea butters to make sure your scalp and hair stay nourished during the medication process.
Pros: Affordable, helps reduce redness
Cons: Not ideal for everyday use

We’ve come a long way. It’s now possible to buy dandruff shampoos in millennial pink, skin-care-level packaging. With Oribe’s luxe formula, your scalp gets the treatment your face is used to with exfoliating salicylic acid that lifts flakes instead of sloughing them off. And it has vitamin C and caffeine to keep your scalp stimulated.
Pros: Invigorates the scalp
Cons: Expensive

This shampoo is First Aid Beauty’s first swing at hair-care products. The skin-care and makeup brand has always been keen on treating specific dermatological issues, so tackling dandruff is a natural next step. Formulated with one percent pyrithione zinc and vitamin E, the creamy shampoo removes flakes while soothing not only the scalp but the hair follicles. While I don’t suffer from too much dandruff, I do have an extremely itchy scalp from wearing so many weaves, and this shampoo, along with its sister serum, has been a game changer for my scalp.
Pros: Infused with pyrithione zinc to specifically target the cause of dandruff
Cons: Inefficient packaging

Dandruff shampoos may not be the kindest on curly hair. For one, they can be very drying, which is why Amazon reviewers love this moisturizing co-wash. It contains the usual dandruff fighter, zinc pyrithione (one percent), as well as olive oil and tea-tree oil. Along with a tingly scalp (thanks to the tea-tree oil), reviewers report less flakes and no more dryness and itching. It also has lots of slip for easy detangling and washing.
Pros: Hydrating formula, keeps hair feeling lightweight but still helps with itchy skin
Cons: Inconvenient packaging, according to some reviewers