6 Best Shampoos for Dandruff

Dandruff affects a lot of people. In fact, it’s probably a lot more common than you think. Despite this, we understand that dandruff can lead to a lot of embarrassing situations—most of them involving dark clothing. It’s also associated with itching and either dryness or oiliness, which can be quite uncomfortable to deal with.

Fortunately, using a good anti-dandruff shampoo can make a massive difference for most people. The best shampoos for dandruff will not only keep those pesky flakes at bay, but they will also help your hair restore its health and balance.

So, how exactly do you choose the best dandruff shampoo? Check out our guide below!

What causes dandruff?

There are a variety of things that can cause dandruff. In fact, many cases of dandruff are triggered by a combination of two or more of these factors. Knowing all of them can help you narrow down the potential triggers in your specific case, which will ultimately help you find the best anti-dandruff shampoo.

1. Dryness. When your scalp is stripped of moisture, it gets itchy and flaky. Whether this dryness is natural or a result of severe weather conditions, dandruff is a likely result.
2. Oiliness. You probably already know that excessive sebum on your face can clog your pores which, when combined with bacteria, leads to inflammation -- which then leads to a host of skin problems like acne and blackheads. Well, the same thing can happen to your scalp. Excessive oils on the scalp can combine with dead skin cells and produce dandruff. What’s more, an oily scalp is a good environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive in. 
3. Disrupted pH levels. When your pH levels are thrown out of whack, your body is bound to respond to this imbalance. Unfortunately, one of the most common ways with which your body responds to pH disruptions is the underproduction or overproduction of sebum, which eventually leads to dandruff.
4. Other conditions. Skin disorders like eczema, Malassezia, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis can all lead to dandruff. Allergies and infections are some of the most common suspects, too.

Tips for choosing the best dandruff shampoo

There are literally dozens of shampoos for dandruff on the market today. Fortunately for you, we’ve already done the research and listed the best of the best shampoos above. But if our list still isn’t specific enough for you, here are a few tips you can use to further narrow down your choices.

1. Consider your hair type. Not all anti-dandruff shampoos have the same effect. Some of them will help remove oil from your scalp and regulate sebum production, and these types are suitable for people with greasy hair. On the other hand, moisturizing anti-dandruff shampoos are available for those of you who suffer from dry hair.
2. Look at its active ingredients. Some active ingredients are better at certain aspects than others. Choosing the right chemical or substance for your specific case is important if you want to get the best possible results. Check out the next section for an overview of the most common anti-dandruff shampoo ingredients.
3. Be careful if you have color-treated hair. Anti-dandruff shampoos that use coal tar as an active ingredient can discolor white, blonde, grey, or silver hair.
4. Consider your lifestyle. Are you always in a hurry? Do you spend a lot of time under the sun? Some anti-dandruff shampoos will require you to leave the lather on your hair for a certain length of time before rinsing, which will definitely extend your shower time. Moreover, some active ingredients, like tar, can make your scalp more sensitive to sunlight.
5. Is the price right? Dandruff shampoos need not be expensive. Although some active ingredients may demand a bit more $$$, there are a lot of affordable shampoos for dandruff if you have a limited budget.

The most popular anti-dandruff active ingredients

Most anti-dandruff shampoos on the market use one of the following ingredients (or a combination of several of these). The best ingredient for you will vary depending on the circumstances of your condition. Here are brief descriptions of the most popular active ingredients for fighting dandruff.

Zinc Pyrithione

Zinc pyrithione is widely used for its anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It helps prevent the Malassezia fungus from taking over your scalp and worsening your dandruff. It also helps control the production of yeast on the scalp.

What’s more, zinc pyrithione can help improve the health and texture of your hair strands. It also helps in removing dead cells that may be accumulating on your head, as well as in minimizing hair fall.

Coal tar

Coal tar is commonly recommended for those with greasy hair. It’s a natural antifungal substance that slows down the growth of yeast. However, coal tar should not be used by people with color-treated hair.

Salicylic acid

You probably know salicylic acid as an anti-acne skincare ingredient. It’s a popular component that’s found in the best pimple patches, after all. Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps clear the pores on your face, and it helps reduce dandruff through a similar mechanism.

When used on the scalp, salicylic acid helps get rid of stubborn dead skin cells and accumulated sebum, consequently eliminating and clearing flakes. It has a tendency to cause dryness, though, so it’s important to pair it with a moisturizing conditioner.

Selenium sulfide

Selenium sulfide is another substance that is generally recommended for those with oily hair. This chemical soothes the scalp and slows down the production of sebum in the scalp glands, which could help slow down dandruff production. As with coal tar, it is not ideal for those with chemically-treated hair.

Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is arguably the most popular and effective anti-fungal ingredient used in dandruff shampoos. What makes it so great is that its effects last long after you have stepped out of the shower. Ketoconazole binds to the proteins in your hair to eliminate excessive levels of fungi on the scalp. What’s more, it controls the shedding of dead skin at the same time, leading to a two-pronged approach that gives fast results.

Tea Tree Oil

Another popular natural ingredient is tea tree oil. If you have used tea tree oil for acne before, then you’ll know that it has powerful antiseptic and antifungal properties. This helps in maintaining a cleaner scalp with reduced dandruff.

Green Tea

Green tea extract is used as a natural remedy for dandruff, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. Its effects aren’t as pronounced and established as those of the other ingredients on this list, so it’s recommended only for the mildest cases of dandruff.

Getting the most out of your anti-dandruff shampoo

Whatever shampoo you end up purchasing, there are a bunch of lifestyle changes that you can adopt in order to secure a dandruff-free scalp for the long term. These habits will ensure that your exposure to dandruff triggers will be kept to a minimum, thereby helping you get the most out of your dandruff shampoo.

• Don’t share combs, hairbrushes, and other personal equipment. Sharing items like combs and brushes, as well as styling tools like flat irons, curling wands, and hair straightening brushes, is a prime way of transmitting dandruff-causing fungi from one person to another. As such, you should never share these things with anyone else.
• Minimize the use of hair styling products. Styling products like waxes, mousses, hair gels, and hair sprays may be the key to a great hair day, but they can exacerbate dandruff, as well. Their residues can accumulate on the scalp and cause flaking and itching. If you can help it, try not to use these products every single day.
• Avoid hot showers as much as possible. A hot, steamy bath can be relaxing and indulgent, but hot water can actually strip off the natural oils from your scalp—leading to excessive dryness. And as we’ve pointed out earlier, a dry scalp usually falls prey to itching and flaking.
• Use a shampoo that thoroughly cleans the scalp. Mild shampoos are understandably good for the hair, especially if you have super fine hair strands or a delicate scalp. However, using mild shampoos exclusively can lead to a buildup of dirt and residue on your scalp, which leads to dandruff. That said, you should definitely switch out your mild shampoo with a clarifying one every once in a while.
• Don’t over-wash or under-wash your hair. The former will lead to a dry scalp, while the latter can cause dirt accumulation. Either way, dandruff could turn up as a nasty consequence.
• Don’t use salicylic acid or coal tar shampoos every day. While these ingredients are great at reducing dandruff, using them too frequently can backfire. Salicylic acid and coal tar, when used regularly, can irritate your scalp and lead to acute hair fall.
• Shampoo daily if you are Caucasian or Asian. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that you shampoo every day—two days a week with an anti-dandruff shampoo and the rest with a regular shampoo—if you are Asian or Caucasian.
• Use anti-dandruff shampoo once a week if you are African-American. African-Americans should use anti-dandruff shampoos less frequently.
• Always, always follow the instructions indicated on the bottle. Many anti-dandruff shampoos will have specific usage instructions that you must follow for best results. Make sure to carefully read the bottle of your chosen product before use. Otherwise, your efforts might go to waste.
• If your symptoms don’t improve, see a dermatologist ASAP. Although most cases of dandruff don’t require medical attention, for some of us, dandruff is actually an indicator of a more serious underlying condition. If you have already tried all the best shampoos for dandruff but aren’t seeing any significant improvement, set an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist ASAP.