Laura Mulley
We get it: dealing with dandruff can feel all-consuming, from changing where your parting sits and constantly checking for flakes in the mirror to being on the never-ending hunt for the best shampoo you can rely on for a flake-free existence. If you're looking for a solution and still haven't found the best shampoo for dandruff, you're in the right place. I've suffered from a flaky scalp for a long time—and trust me—I understand the struggle. I've tried switching up how often I wash my hair, I've been googling how to treat dandruff and I've even tried the best scalp treatments, and I've still not managed to totally eradicate it.
Truthfully, it's embarrassing (even though I know it shouldn't be), and I'm putting my daily dandruff woes out there because I know I'm not alone. According to medical anti-dandruff brand Nizoral, 42% of us have noticed the condition worsening since the cost-of-living crisis. A quarter of us has a flare-up every week. And I make up one of the 36% of us who feel embarrassed by the falling flakes because I feel like I'll be judged because of it.
"The first signs of dandruff are an itchy, dry scalp, with white flakes that accumulate in the hair," says trichologist and Viviscal ambassador Hannah Gaboardi. "Dandruff is most common in the winter months when hair and the scalp are at their driest, but in summer I also see a lot of issues arise due to burning, which can result in a flaky scalp."
I have found that my scalp is extra dry and flake-filled a week before my period, when I'm stressed or when my water intake has been rubbish, and Nizoral says that 40% of people in the UK believe stress causes their dandruff to worsen. "When you are stressed, cortisol is released, which can lead to a flare-up," says trichologist Stephanie Sey.
But one thing we can stop stressing about is dandruff causing hair loss. "Dandruff itself does not cause hair loss," Sey explains. "However, if the condition remains untreated and becomes inflamed, it can lead to some shedding, and if the scalp is particularly itchy, you may scratch more than normal, which can also lead to hair loss."
I suffered from dandruff for a year before I went to see Gaboardi for advice. Scanning my scalp, she immediately saw I had dandruff, which I had left for too long and it had become seborrheic dermatitis (severe dandruff—yay), which can move to your eyebrows and behind your ears, too. Gaboardi told me to stop using the shampoo for coloured hair I was using and stick to the best shampoo for dandruff instead, and recommended Nizoral's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.
Keep scrolling for expert advice on how to deal with the condition and the best shampoos for dandruff to cure a dry, flaky scalp.
Best shampoos for dandruff: Quick links
- Best everyday shampoo for dandruff: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Daily Prevent Shampoo, £5.99 | Amazon
- Best shampoo for itchy dandruff: Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £30 | John Lewis
- Best shampoo for shiny hair: E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo, £6.25 | Amazon
- Best budget shampoo: Head & Shoulders DermaX Pro Soothing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £3.99 | Superdrug
- Best natural shampoo: STRAAND The Crown Cleanse Concentrated Anti-Dandruff Prebiotic Shampoo, £20 | Sephora
- Best exfoliating shampoo: Briogeo Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo, from £15 | Cult Beauty
- Best shampoo for sensitive scalps: Vichy Dercos Technique Anti-Dandruff Purifying Shampoo, £13.50 | Lookfantastic
- Best shampoo for persistent dandruff: La Roche-Posay Kerium Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £15 | Lookfantastic
What is the difference between dandruff and a dry scalp?
One mistake I made was convincing myself that my scalp was just a little bit of dryness and not dandruff. Gaboardi explains the difference: "Dandruff causes the scalp to flake and causes visible flakes on clothing or in the hair. In contrast, a dry scalp means your hair isn't producing or holding enough moisture—not necessarily producing dandruff," she tells me.
What can you do to prevent dandruff?
Gaboardi suggests using scalp treatments, such as a scalp scrub, to prevent build up which can cause dandruff— but don't overuse these, as this can mess with the natural oils in the scalp.
"Not shampooing enough could also be the cause of your dandruff. Oil accumulates in the hair and builds up on the scalp, which can cause dandruff," explains Sey. "Drinking water is essential for the health of our body, so a lack of it will be an issue for the body in general. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so again, this is also not great for overall health and well-being."
What is the best way to look after hair with dandruff?
It sounds like a cliché, but being kind and gentle to your hair is key when suffering from dandruff. "I would always recommend using a gentle shampoo to reduce oil and skin-cell build up," says Gaboardi. "If you suffer from really bad dandruff, I recommend using a dandruff-specific shampoo. I love using a scalp massager anyway, but I would recommend putting the shampoo on first, then massaging it into your scalp. This is a great way of exfoliating the scalp and removing any dead skin cells."
“You must assess your hair's needs," Sey add. "If you go to the gym everyday you may need to wash your hair more often, the same if you have oily hair. People do tend to over wash when they have dandruff as they feel it helps improve things—but I would suggest not over washing, as you want to keep your scalp ecosystem as balanced as possible."
The best anti-dandruff shampoos reviewed by a beauty editor
1. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Daily Prevent Shampoo
As the experts explain, over-washing hair may not be the best idea, but it's necessary to still keep your hair and scalp clean. This daily shampoo was made for those in-between days where you don't want to use a medicated dandruff shampoo but don't want to ruin any progress either.
Freelance beauty editor Laura Mulley says, "Nizoral's over-the-counter Anti-Dandruff Treatment really helps to ease the psoriasis on my scalp, but it's only meant to be used once or twice a week. For hair washes in between, I trust this shampoo to carry on the scalp-soothing results. it may not look the most glamorous, but it doesn't look (or smell) like a medicated treatment either."
2. Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
If an itchy scalp is the concern and you don't want a more serious treatment, then this could be the shampoo for you. Formulated by the trichologists at Philip Kingsley, it contains anti-microbial piroctone olamine, it'll remove flakes and bring relief instantly. It's mild enough to be used daily while removing build up and soothing the scalp. Plus, it has a fresh apple scent without smelling medicated.
Laura says, "It makes a nice change to see a shampoo that tackles itchy heads in the luxe beauty halls of the likes of Selfridges and John Lewis. The scalp feels immediately more comfortable after using this, and I love the like fruity scent."
3. E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo
Itchy skin saviour E45 has taken its skin-soothing formula to the scalp, creating a no-frills, everyday shampoo to relieve discomfort.
"I admit that initially I didn't have very high hopes for this, as it didn't sound very appealing to put anything resembling E45 cream near my already greasy-prone hair," says Laura, "but I was actually really surprised—and impressed. My hair looked and felt really clean for a good couple of days, and wow, the shine! My heavily-bleached hair never reflects the light but this had me doing a double-take in the mirror on a number of occasions."
4. Head & Shoulders DermaX Pro Soothing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Of course we couldn't do a round-up of the best anti-dandruff shampoos without including high street favourite Head & Shoulders. With this DermaX Pro range, H&S isn't just treating the condition with active ingredients but is also helping to improve the skin on the scalp, strengthening its skin barrier and balancing moisture levels.
Looking (and smelling) neither too medical nor too feminine, you'll have everyone in the household reaching for this, says Laura—and at this price, it's not one to keep for special occasions. "I love the fresh, fruity fragrance and it does soothe an itchy scalp. However if your hair's typically quite oily this may not be for you, as the clean feeling didn't last me much more than a day (pick a transparent shampoo instead)."
5. STRAAND The Crown Cleanse Concentrated Anti-Dandruff Prebiotic Shampoo
Aussie brand Straand is all about the 'healthy scalp = healthy hair' attitude, and creates this healthy scalp environment through prebiotics and natural ingredients rather than certain chemicals. Its products are also all free from silicones, parabens and sulphates, if that's important to you.
After being sold by the Instagrammable packaging, Laura was also sold on the formula. "I'm a big believer in the power of pre- and probiotics, so I'm happy to incorporate them into my haircare routine," she says. "Without the active dandruff-targeting ingredients I probably wouldn't reach for this is I was having a serious flare-up—I'd instead have it for everyday use to keep my scalp balanced."
6. Briogeo Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
Haven't got the time, energy or inclination to use hair treatments such as scrubs and masks? This Briogeo multi-tasker is for you. It contains clarifying charcoal plus conditioning coconut oil to clean, exfoliate and hydrate the scalp.
"I'm super lazy when it comes to my haircare routine so this is right up my street, and the minty/tea tree scent is amazing" says Laura. "It's not at all gritty like some scrubs, but I'd probably use it as a second cleanse after a shampoo that lathers up a little more. It's also quite tricky to scoop out with wet hands, and messy (my advice: keep it away from white bathmats...)."
7. Vichy Dercos Technique Anti-Dandruff Purifying Shampoo
Impressively, Vichy makes three different anti-dandruff shampoos, each specific to a scalp type: dry, oily or sensitive. If you're skin's especially irritable or you've been itching away and it's red and inflamed, this is the one you want to pick.
"I love Vichy skincare but I'll admit that I didn't realise the brand did haircare," says Laura, "but I've been really impressed by this. It manages to be effective yet doesn't feel strongly medicinal like some treatments."
8. La Roche-Posay Kerium Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
If you feel like you finally get on top you dandruff only for it to quickly reappear again, this may be the product for you. Purifying the hair deep into the follicle, tests showed an improvement in dandruff and itching within the first week, and 'anti-relapse efficiency' after four weeks.
Laura says, "I've only used the a couple of times but it feels very effective—my scalp felt very deeply clean and itchiness was less. My main problem is the bottle size, which is unlikely to last me and my long, thick hair the four-week recommended treatment length."
How often should you use dandruff shampoo?
"Each shampoo is different and varies from person to person. In most cases, I recommend twice a week, others more frequently and sometimes daily," says Gaboardi.
You may see results in one or two washes, but continue using dandruff shampoo long-term if you want to prevent it from returning—keep with the best shampoo for dandruff for at least a couple of months. "There is no cure so if you stop using your anti-dandruff shampoo, then it's likely it will come back," Gaboardi explains. "Often people use an anti-dandruff shampoo to treat their dandruff, and once they see an improvement, they go back to their usual shampoo and find that their dandruff comes back. It's important to be consistent."
