These Anti-Dandruff Shampoos Are Proven to Stop Flaking Fast (2024)

We updated this article in November 2022 to add more information about each featured product, two new product recommendations (Ouai and Selsun Blue) and expert commentary from Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and dermatologists.

Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as dandruff, is both uncomfortable and frustrating. There are a variety of causes of dandruff, but the key to solving the problem really is an effective anti-dandruff shampoo. That's because while "many people think that dandruff is a dry, scaling issue, but really, this is a greasy, flaky problem," says Amy McMichael, M.D., a professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Swapping a shampoo-conditioner set with the bacteria-fighting ingredient like pyrithione zinc into your routine weekly can help treat dandruff by help eliminating debris and purifying the scalp.

In addition to combating flakes, using a dandruff shampoo can clear clogged hair follicles that lead to an itchy, flaky scalp and “stunt hair growth and affect its quality,” adds Doris Day, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. While the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab hasn't formally tested anti-dandruff shampoos, GH Beauty Lab experts have a decades-long history of evaluating all types of shampoos both in the Lab using technical instruments as well as on consumer testers for ease of use, lather, scent, and look and feel of hair after use. Based on this expertise, our GH Beauty Lab scientists plus dermatologists and hairstylists weighed in to find the best shampoos for fighting dandruff based on active ingredients and efficacy.

Our top picks:

Fight flaking as you suds with the below picks for the best anti-dandruff shampoos you can buy for fast results, and keep scrolling for answers to all your FAQs on dandruff, including how to use dandruff shampoo for the best results and how we selected the best dandruff-fighting shampoos with the help of our Beauty Lab pros and dermatologists. And before you get shopping, be sure to learn more about common scalp issues, including the difference between dandruff and psoriasis.

This double duty anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner formula from Head & Shoulders is a GH Beauty Lab gold standard for powerful results. It helps remove flakes, calm itching, relieve irritation, reduce redness and fight dryness. The shampoo contains the active ingredient pyrithione zinc, which works as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal treatment to reduce the dandruff-causing yeast Malassezia. It's also infused with conditioning ingredients like dimethicone and almond oil to minimize the loss of moisture. The 2-in-1 combo may not be hydrating enough for dry hair (you'll need a separate conditioner!), and if you choose to go that route, GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler loves the brand's Classic Clean Shampoo: "It's tried-and-true; I love the creamy texture of the shampoo and the dense lather it creates," she says.

New York City dermatologist Francesca Fusco, M.D., says her #1 anti-dandruff shampoo recommendation is this drugstore buy from Dove. Made with nourishing sweet almond oil, vitamin E and aloe, it also contains the anti-dandruff active ingredient pyrithione zinc in a 1% concentration. "It helps get rid of flakes, irritation, hydrates a dry and/or itchy scalp and can be used every single day," she notes, though some users reported that it wasn't strong enough to help with their dandruff. To ensure you get the most out of the product, make sure you suds with it routinely, because "consistency is critically important when using dandruff shampoo," Dr. Fusco says.

This go-to Nizoral dandruff treatment is made with the flake-fighting medicinal active ingredient ketaconazole. "Ketaconazole is an anti-fungal ingredient that helps reduce the growth of Malassezia, the bacteria that causes dandruff," says Rajani Katta, M.D., a dermatologist in Bellaire, Texas and author of Glow: The Dermatologist’s Guide to a Whole Foods Younger Skin Diet. "This is a yeast that lives on everybody's scalp, but in some people it seems to trigger inflammation, with redness and flaking of the skin." The formula also boasts over 54,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Note that due to their strength, medicated dandruff shampoos can sometimes dehydrate hair.

Infused with the flake-fighting ingredients salicylic acid and tea tree oil, plus plant extracts and oils like rosemary, sage and sunflower, this ApotheCare Essentials shampoo balances the scalp while providing an aromatherapy-like experience thanks to its refreshing herbal scent, although some users said it didn't leave hair feeling smooth. GH's beauty director is also a fan of this line for its "pleasant aromas and pampering formulas."

Calm an itchy, irritated scalp with this extra strength Selsun Blue shampoo, which contains 1% selenium sulfide to treat dandruff. "This is one of the only OTC products that helps to soothe my dry scalp, especially since I tend to itch and cause damage near my roots [by scratching]," says GH Health Editor Zee Krstic. Though some reviewers noted that they didn't like the formula's strong medicinal aroma, Krstic says, "I love that I can feel the menthol for hours after my shower, and I also am impressed at how well my hair styles under a hair dryer after using this product."

Dr. Katta likes this Neutrogena shampoo because it's infused with a key dandruff fighter: salicylic acid. Though often used as an acne treatment, the active ingredient helps slough off any excess flaking, clearing the scalp of flakes, itchiness and dryness quickly. The tradeoff: The ingredient can also be drying on hair.

While no shampoo can actually help reduce hair fall, GH Beauty Lab experts recommend this bargain-priced Head & Shoulders formula for thinning hair. It contains the proven anti-dandruff active ingredient pyrithione zinc in a formula that will help enhance hair's fullness, though a few users noted that it made their strands feel dry. "My hair is thinning and I can see that this shampoo really does add a fuller look!" one reviewer raved. Another commented that it "adds volume to fine hair while it keeps your scalp free of dandruff."

This specialized anti-dandruff shampoo is from Bosley MD, a haircare brand known for fighting hair loss and promoting hair growth. In addition to anti-flake active pyrithione zinc, this formulation was created with botanicals like rosemary extract to boost scalp circulation and panthenol (provitamin B5) to strengthen hair.

Based on flake-fighting salicylic acid plus softening ingredients like glycerin and coconut extract, Re-Fresh's gentle dandruff shampoo gives hair much-needed nourishment. "Even if you don't have dandruff, this formula with its matching conditioner leaves textured hair incredibly silky," GH's beauty director says. "And it smells heavenly, like a tropical cocktail!"

True to its name, reviewers have found speedy scalp relief with this dandruff shampoo from Redken. The dandruff-busting ingredient here is pyrithione zinc, which Dr. McMichael says is anti-inflammatory and keeps seborrheic dermatitis from spreading. "Within two weeks it resolved my dandruff issue," wrote one reviewer. "And it makes my hair look so pretty and healthy."

While the GH Beauty Lab hasn't formally tested anti-dandruff shampoos, we sourced a combination of GH Beauty Lab-vetted formulas and expert recommendations from dermatologists, professional hairstylists and GH editors to formulate this list of the top picks. They are evaluated based both on their active ingredients and performance on hair and scalp. GH Beauty Lab scientists also vetted the products in on list to ensure they’re aligned with FDA guidelines, claims and ingredient efficacy.

To get the most out of your dandruff shampoo, "lather up and leave it on the scalp for five to 10 minutes before rinsing out," says Dr. Katta. "This provides longer contact time with the active ingredient."

Conditioning after using an anti-dandruff shampoo is especially crucial to counteract any dehydrating effects from the strong active ingredients. And yes, you do need a specialized duo for dandruff. “Using a regular conditioner with a scalp-treatment shampoo could wash away up to 70% of the flake-fighting active ingredient,” says Rolanda Wilkerson, Ph.D., principal scientist at P&G Beauty. Use your anti-dandruff shampoo with its matching conditioner, one that contains the same active ingredient if possible.