<p>Dandruff shampoos are your best tool in controlling dandruff. They’ll usually have ingredients like pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole, all of which are FDA-approved for treating dandruff because they target and kill Malassezia. You’ll also sometimes find exfoliating ingredients to help reduce buildup, skin barrier- and microbiome-supporting ingredients to help prevent future fungus overgrowth, and soothing ingredients to calm irritation. While dandruff is an incurable ailment, using a dandruff several times a week can quickly reverse the symptoms and keep everything balanced and dandruff free. As for which dandruff shampoo to use? Well, that’s another question—one we’ve set out to answer for you here. Remember, a dandruff shampoo might be great, but if you don’t want to use it, it won’t do you any good. That means everything on this list not only works, but also, you know, cleans your hair and makes it look good like a shampoo should. No matter what kind of hair or dandruff you have, read on to find your best option.</p>” data-next-head/>
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Best Dandruff Shampoo for Textured Hair
Head & Shoulders Royal Oils Moisturizing Shampoo
Pros
- Formulated for curly and textured hair
- More hydrating than your typical dandruff shampoo
- Sulfate free
Cons
- May be too heavy for straight hair
The thing about lots of dandruff shampoos is that while they are great at controlling dandruff, which remember is caused by fungal growth that loves moisture, the active ingredients can leave your hair and scalp feeling overly dry. This is a bummer for anyone, but especially for people with textured or curly hair, which requires more moisture than straight hair types. Without moisturization, curls can become dry, frizzy, and break easily. This is a problem that this dandruff shampoo solves. Because it’s formulated specifically for textured and curly hair, it not only has the requisite pyrithione zinc to help control dandruff, but it also contains ultra-moisturizing coconut oil as well as apple cider vinegar to aid its cleansing power without over drying the hair. Thanks to the moisturizing factors, it also helps keep the scalp well moisturized and healthy, which, as we all know, can be just as important as your hair.
| Active Ingredients | Pyrithione zinc, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar |
|---|---|
| Use | At least twice a week |
| Hair Type | Curly, textured |
Best Maximum Strength Dandruff Shampoo
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Pros
- Contains ketoconazole, a very powerful dandruff fighter
- Maximum strength
- Good for all hair types
Cons
- Too strong to use daily
Many ingredients have been found to fight dandruff (pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid) but few are as powerful as ketoconazole, which is so good at killing fungus that it’s used to treat all sorts of other fungal infections, too, like athlete’s foot. It sounds gross, but remember the root cause of dandruff is fungus, so attacking the root cause is always your best bet. According to the brand, ketoconazole is ten times more effective than other ingredients at treating dandruff-causing fungus. While we can’t validate that claim ourselves, we can say that this stuff is powerful. It’s so powerful, in fact, that it’s designed to use only for about eight weeks until you need to taper off. If you have moderate or severe dandruff, it’s especially good because it treats dandruff quickly—some of the fastest results we’ve found in our testing. And from a shampoo standpoint, while it’s clearly a medicated shampoo, it’s still gentle enough to use on all hair including color treated, chemically treated, and gray hair (provided you use it as directed).
| Active Ingredients | Ketoconazole |
|---|---|
| Use | Every three to four days |
| Hair Type | All |
Best Botanical Dandruff Shampoo
Kick Active Shampoo
If you’re looking for a more natural solution to dandruff, this botanical shampoo may be your best bet. Packed with ingredients like tea tree oil and aloe vera (both of which help to control the symptoms of dandruff) and many others to help address all aspects of hair health (including thinning), this all-around great shampoo helps to control dandruff symptoms while also just making your hair stronger and healthier. Keep in mind that none of the ingredients in the formula are FDA-approved to treat dandruff, but if you have mild dandruff this could be a great option to keep flaking and itchiness at bay. On top of that, the scent is great—much more like your typical shampoo than a medicated one—and the shampoo itself leaves your hair feeling clean, fresh, and healthy.
| Active Ingredients | Tea tree oil, aloe vera |
|---|---|
| Use | Daily |
| Hair Type | All |
Best for Sensitive Scalps
Alaffia Authentic African Scalp Care Shampoo
Pros
- Very gentle
- Smells incredible
- Can be used daily
Cons
- Does not contain FDA-approved dandruff controlling ingredients
Scalp sensitivity and dandruff aren’t the same thing, but they can be related, particularly when itchiness and irritation are involved. It can be hard to treat the two together, but this soothing and gentle shampoo does a great job. The main ingredient here, African black soap, isn’t technically an approved dandruff treatment, but it does have sulfur in it which has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s not a great option for severe dandruff, but in mild cases it can help control flaking, itching, and other dandruff symptoms. On top of that, the shea butter in the formula is deeply moisturizing to the scalp and helps to preserve the natural oils on both the scalp and hair. Personally, we can’t get enough of the unique, kind of spicy, kind of sweet scent of African black soap and we found ourselves reaching for this daily even when we weren’t concerned about dandruff flare ups.
| Active Ingredients | African black soap |
|---|---|
| Use | Daily |
| Hair Type | All |
Best Luxury Dandruff Shampoo
Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Pros
- Contains salicylic acid
- Very luxurious scent
- Suitable for color treated hair
Cons
- Expensive compared to other dandruff shampoos
We’ll just be honest: When it comes to medicated shampoos to address dandruff, you often need to compromise between treating your dandruff and the experience. Many shampoos, while very effective, leave something to be desired when using them as, well, shampoos. The beauty of this one is that it doesn’t compromise on either aspect. The formula contains salicylic acid—which we’ve established is great at treating dandruff thanks to its exfoliating properties—and a dash of pea sprout extract to help control sebum (oil). But it’s also a pleasure to use, with a rich, creamy lather and easily the best scent out of any shampoo on this list (if you haven’t experienced the signature Oribe scent, you are seriously missing out). Even if you don’t have dandruff, it’s a dream at soothing itchiness and irritation on your scalp, so we believe it’s a worthy investment—dandruff or not.
| Active Ingredients | Salicylic acid |
|---|---|
| Use | At least twice a week |
| Hair Type | All |
What Causes Dandruff?
Contrary to what you may believe, dandruff isn’t the flakes you see on your scalp or shoulders. Those flakes, along with itchiness, redness, and irritation are symptoms of dandruff, not the cause itself. All of those things, which make up dandruff, are caused by an overgrowth of fungus on your scalp, specifically a fungus called Malassezia. This yeast-like fungus is attracted to moist, warm environments (like the oil on your scalp). It’s why, seemingly counterintuitively, dandruff often looks like dryness and oiliness on your scalp.
Can Dandruff Be Cured?
Unfortunately not, but it can be controlled—which is where dandruff shampoos come in. The best way to control dandruff is to use a shampoo with ingredients that kill Malassezia, like pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole (all of which are FDA-approved for treating dandruff). For mild cases, scalp exfoliation using gentle scrubs or salicylic acid can also be helpful, but keep in mind that those don’t attack the fungus itself.
How To Use a Dandruff Shampoo
Generally, you want to follow the directions on the label since shampoos may be formulated differently and, of course, the advice from your doctor. You’ll notice that many shampoos are meant to be used two or three times a week until the dandruff is under control, then less frequently for maintenance. Unlike a traditional shampoo, you’ll want to leave the dandruff shampoo on your scalp (make sure to massage it all the way down to your scalp if you have longer hair) for around five minutes to make sure the active ingredients penetrate before you rinse it off.
Why Trust Us
We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our grooming and e-commerce teams.
When it comes to hair care you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting products that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved. Our grooming editor Garrett Munce, along with the rest of the style team, has spent years applying, wearing, and test driving hundreds (thousands!) of hair care products and we are confident that these are the best.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists) comes from these years of testing. We know that everyone’s hair is different, no two men are the same, and what works for you may not work for everyone else. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
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