The Best Dandruff Shampoos to Finally Banish Those Itchy Flakes for Good
We updated this article in June 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
If you’ve ever looked down at your black shirt to find “snowflakes” dusting your shoulders before (and beyond) winter, you know just how embarrassing and uncomfortable dandruff can be. Heads up: dandruff shampoos might just be your new best friend.
“A lot of people are ashamed of dandruff and think it’s a reflection of poor hygiene, but that doesn’t have anything to do with it,” says Francesca Fusco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and board-certified dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York City. It’s important to not be too hard on yourself while experiencing something like dandruff, because it’s totally normal and even common.
So, what exactly is dandruff? “Dandruff is essentially scalp flaking caused by inflammation,” explains board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital. “This inflammation is driven by our skin reacting to yeast on the scalp. Yeast lives on everyone’s scalp, but some people react to it, leading to inflammation, itchy scalp, and flaky skin.”
Dandruff can be uncomfortable, bothersome, and difficult to get rid of. The good news is that using an anti-dandruff shampoo—and the right washing technique—can make all the difference, says Dr. Fusco.
Now, ready to banish those pesky flakes for good? One of these expert-approved anti-dandruff shampoos should do the trick.
How we chose the best dandruff shampoo
We consulted experts Dr. Fusco and Dr. Zeichner, conducted our own research, and sifted through tons of online reviews to find the best dandruff shampoos available.
