The Best Shampoos for Dry Scalps, According to the Pros

To add an element of exfoliation while using this shampoo, Adam Federico, hairstylist and R+Co’s vice president of technical education, suggests using a scalp massager before showering to loosen the dead skin cells. This will make it easier for them to wash away once you’re in the shower.

Best Shampoo for Dandruff: Jupiter Anti Dandruff Shampoo

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.

Best Shampoo for Itchy Scalps: Neutrogena Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Itchy Scalp

Not only does this shampoo contain salicylic acid and menthol—both of which will work to soothe irritation—but it smells like peppermint and musk, which will leave you feeling awake and refreshed. The salicylic acid in this formula works as a gentle exfoliant that will remove dead skin cells from a flaky scalp, as well as style product build-up that could cause clogged pores. Plus, it’s great at breaking down oil without stripping your skin. All of these factors will keep you from feeling more irritated and itchy later down the road.

Best Exfoliating Shampoo for Dry Scalps: Kiehl’s Amino Acid Scalp Scrub

This Kiehl’s formula is great because it contains both chemical and physical exfoliants. The salicylic acid serves as the chemical exfoliant by sloughing away dead skin and purifying the pores beneath, while the sea salt acts as a natural physical exfoliant that also helps balance the scalp’s pH.

To prevent dryness, the formula is also packed with coconut and seed oils, which keep the scalp from feeling dry after the dead cells are washed away. Use this product once per week (lest you want a sensitive scalp) in place of regular shampoo and make sure you’re focusing on massaging it into the scalp and thoroughly rinsing.

Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair: R+Co DALLAS Biotin Thickening Shampoo

If you experience hair thinning, Alexiades suggests looking for a shampoo that contains biotin. This one is great because not only does it have that ingredient, it has lots of other scalp health-promoting ingredients as well. “If someone struggles with a dry scalp, it’s essential to look for ingredients that provide hydration, soothe irritation, and maintain scalp health, while avoiding those that can cause further dryness or irritation,” adds Federico.

This formula has provitamin B5, which provides hydration by coating the strands and holding in moisture. Provitamin B5 can also act as a protective element for the strands when using shampoos with harsher ingredients. The coconut oil and saw palmetto berry extract in the formula will also nourish and add body to your hair.

Best Moisturizing Shampoo for Dry Scalps: IGK Legendary Hydrating Shampoo

Especially if you have dry strands, you want to make sure you’re not constantly washing your hair with harsh chemicals that can do more damage. Franck Izquierdo, a hairstylist and the co-founder of IGK Hair Care, notes that one of the problems he typically sees when styling people with dandruff or dry scalp is that they tend to over-treat by using dandruff shampoos every time they wash their hair. “This can actually lead to further skin issues and reactions by overly-medicating or drying out the scalp,” Izquierdo says.

He advises people to opt for physical exfoliants once per week—and he notes that this can include scalp massagers or thoroughly brushing your hair before showering to loosen up dead skin cells. “This will allow the cleansing process to rinse away any debris and dandruff,” says Izquierdo. This shampoo works to improve scalp health with ingredients including microbiome prebiotics, which will help balance the pH of scalp so that it’s healthier overall. It’s also packed with red sea algae, which works to hydrate the strands so that they can recover from the medication-heavy shampoos.

Best Clarifying Shampoo for Dry Scalps: Virtue Labs Purifying Clarifying Shampoo

Those with an oily scalp might think a clarifying shampoo will help them alleviate their problem, but in actuality, these shampoos can be overstripping your hair—and they can actually contribute to an even oilier scalp. But, for someone with a dry scalp, a clarifying shampoo can help get rid of excess hair product build up all while keeping your head nice and nourished. Not only is charcoal an excellent clarifying ingredient, it also serves as a physical exfoliant that’s natural and gentle on all hair types. The clarifying ingredient in this formula is the hops extract, which is a natural astringent that purifies the scalp without leaving it feeling too dry. To add in some moisture, the formula includes a coconut and fatty acid blend that’s incredibly gentle.