The 5 Best Dry-Scalp Remedies to Fix Itchiness and Flakes Fast

Living Proof Restore Dry Scalp Treatment, $32

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This liquid-like gel uses hyaluronic acid that seeps over your scalp like a patch, trapping in moisture and releasing balancing and calming vitamin B3 throughout the day. In small-scale clinical studies, 92 percent of participants said the gel instantly soothed their scalps, which is a major win for anyone dealing with incessant itching.

Use it three times a week (squeeze the gel through your damp, clean roots in sections, massage it in with your fingers, then style hair as usual without rinsing).

Dove DermaCare Scalp Dryness & Itch Relief Shampoo, $5

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Yeah, yeah, there’s nothing sexy about dandruff shampoo, but who the hell cares if it stops your scalp itch and flakes fast? This drugstore favorite uses a high dose of pyrithione zinc (one of the best over-the-counter treatments for both dandruff and seb derm) to kill the fungus—sounds gross, but it’s just an overgrowth of yeast that we all have—without stripping your hair. Use it in place of your usual shampoo.

Cantu Refresh Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse, $5

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As curly folks know, the scalp itch struggle is real. Usually, it’s due to a combination of product buildup and a lack of airflow (especially with weaves and protective styles), which can cause irritation, itchiness, and even dryness.

The fix: This apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse, which uses a mix of clarifying ACV to dissolve gunk and oils, tea tree oil to kill bacteria and calm inflammation, and shea butter to moisturize your hair and scalp. Use it in place of your shampoo when you feel the itch coming on.

Klorane S.O.S. Serum with Peony, $20

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If your scalp is plain ol’ dry and itchy (with absolutely zero redness or flakes), try a calming spray, like this floral-scented formula from Klorane. It’s infused with peony extract (a natural anti-irritant) to calm irritation, plus menthol to temporarily neutralize itching, and, most importantly, a mix of glycerin and castor oil to hydrate your dry scalp and keep the moisture in.

Spray it on towel-dried or fully dried roots, section by section, every night, without rinsing.

Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, $15

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What this product lacks in packaging pizazz, it makes up for with an incredibly powerful flake-killing formula. I mean, 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon don’t lie: This shampoo really works. It’s filled with 1 percent ketoconazole (the other holy grail in seb derm and dandruff treatments) to cut itching and flaking after just a few uses.

Swap it with your regular shampoo just once or twice a week, but don’t skimp on the conditioner—the formula can be drying, especially to curly types, so you'll want to moisturize your strands.