Best shampoo for dry scalp and fine hair

Your scalp is an extension of your skin, and should be treated in a similar manner. So, when you're dealing with an itchy, dry scalp, you'll want to use a gentle dry scalp shampoo to help cleanse away flakes without stripping your hair of its natural moisture.

What Causes Dry Scalp?

The most common non-medical cause of a dry scalp is dehydrated skin, according to Dr. Anar Mikailov, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of skincare line KP Away. He says a dry scalp often occurs when you shampoo too often or don't follow up with a conditioner.

Irritation from hair dye, product build-up from dry shampoo, and using harsh ingredients can also cause dry scalp. Eczema and psoriasis can lead to dry scalp, too. Notably, the scaling caused by both skin conditions is a lot thicker than regular dandruff, he adds.

Factors you can't control might also cause dry scalp, according to trichologist Dominic Burg, Ph.D., chief scientist of haircare line évolis Professional. According to Burg, the oil and sebum produced on each hair follicle are generally caused by genetics or hormone levels over your lifetime, including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and your menstrual cycle.

How Do I Treat Dry Scalp?

Mikailov recommends shampooing twice a week so you're not removing your scalp's natural oils. His go-to tip for patients is to massage a little conditioner or a hair mask onto the scalp as a leave-in treatment.

Berg notes you can safely wash your hair without washing your scalp. “If you have a super dry scalp that is exacerbated by shampooing, then concentrate on the mid-lengths and ends, and don’t shampoo the scalp unless you really need to,” he advises.

Another expert-recommended tip is to read the ingredient label of any prospective dry scalp shampoo. Here are the best and worst ingredients for treating dry scalp, according to Mikailov, Berg, and Dr. Iris Rubin, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of haircare line SEEN.

Nicole Saunders

👍 Best Ingredients

You can effectively treat your dry scalp problem by using a shampoo made with a combination of hydrating ingredients, chemical exfoliants, and non-irritating ingredients.

• Moisturizing plant-based ingredients,including aloe vera, argan oil, avocado oil, Brazil walnut oil, bisabolol, baobab, camellia oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, mangosteen, and shea butter
• Other hydrating ingredients like beta-glucans from oat and mushroom extracts, CBD, eucalyptus, oatmeal, vitamin B-5, aka pantothenic acid
• Exfoliating ingredients like azelaic acid, bakuchiol, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, are also helpful
• Gentle detergents are alternatives to harsh surfactants like sodium cocoamphoacetate and lauryl glucoside

👎 Worst Ingredients

In addition to avoiding scalp scrubs and detoxes, here are a few harsh ingredients the experts recommend skipping: charcoal, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

Now that you have a better understanding of why you have a dehydrated scalp and how to shop for dry scalp shampoos, here are the most impressive expert-approved products. Our beauty editor also researched and found other dry scalp shampoos aligned with their guidance.

A bonus: These dry scalp shampoos include a mix of ingredients the pros suggest, and start at just $6!

1

Best Overall

Vanicream

Shampoo

2

Created by a Dermatologist

LivSo

Moisturizing Shampoo

3

Ultra Hydrating

Selsun Blue

Itchy Dry Scalp Shampoo

4

Flake-Free

Neutrogena

T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo

5

Eco-Friendly

Ethique

Solid Shampoo Bar for Touchy Scalps

6

Color-Safe

Fable & Mane

HoliRoots Hydrating Shampoo

7

Anti-Breakage

Monpure

Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo

8

Clarifying

Philip Kingsley

Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo

9

Anti-Inflammatory

Vegamour

GRO Revitalizing Shampoo

10

Softens Hair

Pureology

Hydrate Sheer Shampoo

11

Volumizing

évolis Professional

Prevent Shampoo

12

Safre for Eczema

SEEN

Fragrance-Free Shampoo

Nicole Saunders Beauty Editor Nicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.

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