The Best Shampoos for Dry Scalps, According to a Dermatologist

Itchy dome? Makes sense you’d be looking for the best shampoos for dry scalps. If you’ve got flakes, the first item on the agenda is to figure out which kind you’re dealing with—because nothing in 2025 can be simple. Dry scalp flakes tend to be small, round white specks, while dandruff tends to be flat, yellow, and oily.

“Dry, flaking scalp is due to a break in the barrier of the scalp skin, causing skin cells to slough off abnormally,” says Dr. Macrene Alexiades, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. To help remedy this, you’ll typically want to look for hydrating, replenishing ingredients; however, you have to be careful because sometimes the dandruff-causing fungus malassezia can lurk on your scalp and feed off of “yeast, including fruit extracts, pectin, honey or sugars that are often seen in natural shampoos.”

Clearly, it’s complicated—so to get to the bottom of which shampoo products you should use, we polled Alexiades for her favorite formulas. Here, she shares her top picks, many of which contain hydrators alongside zinc or selenium sulfide to fight dry skin flakes and dandruff alike.

The Best Shampoos for Dry Scalps, According to GQ:

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Best Overall

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo (2-Pack)

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The Affordable Pick

Dove DermaCare Scalp Anti Dandruff Shampoo

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Best for Dandruff

Jupiter Balancing Shampoo

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Best Overall: Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo

Head & Shoulders

Dry Scalp Care Shampoo (2-Pack)

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Pros

• Contains pyrithione zinc
• Affordable

Cons

• Could be drying if used too often

While shampoos with zinc pyrithione—which, in addition to helping curb fungal growth, has been shown to help remedy eczema and psoriasis—can be slightly drying, Alexiades recommends using this one at least once per week to remain flake-free and to curb any fungal or yeast production on the scalp, all while hydrating dry hair and maintaining all your good natural oils.

This one is super effective and has a light scent that comes from the addition of almond oil, which also works to moisturize the strands. It’s also paraben-free and comes in large containers that are really cost-effective, so one bottle will stand the test of time.

Best Affordable Formula: Dove DermaCare Scalp Anti Dandruff Shampoo

Dove

DermaCare Scalp Anti Dandruff Shampoo

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Pros

• Contains pyrithione zinc
• Super rich lather

Cons

• Could be drying if used too often

Dove is really good at creating formulas that feel rich and moisturizing, and this shampoo is no exception. The texture is incredibly creamy, and it works into a satisfying lather that will help pull away dead skin cells.

While it’s lightly scented, the active ingredients are the stars of this shampoo’s show, which work together to inhibit the growth of fungus, yeast, and iron sulfur proteins—all of which can build up and cause dandruff and flakiness on the scalp. The formula is also pH-balanced, which will alleviate scalp issues by maintaining its newfound healthy environment after each wash and protect your hair follicles.

Best for Dandruff: Jupiter Anti Dandruff Shampoo

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Pros

• Contains zinc pyrithione and nourishing ingredients

Cons

If you’re looking for a dandruff shampoo that actually works—but isn’t too harsh on your actual hair—this is the way to go. It’s vegan, sulfate and paraben-free, and in addition to containing zinc pyrithione, it also has nourishing ingredients to keep your scalp from feeling tight and dry.

One of these ingredients is squalane, which works to add moisture to the strands while strengthening them so that they’re less prone to breakage. It also nourishes with coconut oil and uses sugar kelp, which is known for its antimicrobial properties, to prevent further flaking.