My Dry, Itchy Scalp Is a Dandruff-Making Machine—These Are the Only Products That Help
Because no one wants white flakes.
Every single centimeter of my skin hates fall and winter. My hands are cracked and scaly, my body is an eczema-ridden mess, and my heels are drier than the Sahara. But it’s my scalp that’s crying the loudest. Dandruff is in overdrive (I have flake-covered sweaters to prove it), and the sides of my head are so beyond itchy and irritated. In short: I’ve reached the end of my rope. With many, many grueling weeks of winter to go, I’m setting out to create the ultimate anti-dandruff treatment regimen for a dry, itchy scalp.
I have a few goals: calm down irritation, restore hydration, and make sure that my hair still looks shiny, glossy, and healthy when all is said and done. It’s a tall order, so I’m leaning on advice from my favorite derms, relying on my favorite scalp products that have seen me through winters past, and most importantly, being consistent with my routine. Everything I’m using, below.
The Best Anti-Dandruff Products
- Best Anti-Dandruff Scalp Scrub: Virtue Clarifying and Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
- Best Anti-Dandruff Drugstore Product: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Best Anti-Dandruff Conditioner: Moroccanoil Scalp Balancing Conditioner
- Best Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment: Davines Elevated Scalp Treatment for a Dry and Sensitive Scalp
- Best Anti-Dandruff Treatment for Itchiness: Augustinus Bader The Scalp Treatment
- Best Anti-Dandruff Leave-In Conditioner: Ouai St. Barths Detangling and Fortifying Leave-In Conditioner
Best Anti-Dandruff Scalp Scrub
I get it. Using a scrub on an already itchy scalp sounds counterintuitive. But trust! It’s actually one of the best solutions. Not only is it going to get rid of dead skin cells crowding your hair follicles (often the source of a lot of itchiness), but it’s also a great way to promote scalp circulation and promote new hair growth.
Review: "My skin is uber-sensitive, so if I’m going to be exfoliating, it has to be gentle—full stop. That’s why I love this whipped scalp treatment. Even though it uses physical exfoliation with fruit enzymes, it’s not harsh or stripping. Plus, the grittiness washes out completely." — Samantha Holender
Best Anti-Dandruff Drugstore Product
Oftentimes, the most effective products are the least sexy. Such is the case with dandruff shampoos. Candidly, the drugstore options are my favorite. They may not look the chicest in my shower, but a flake-free, soothed scalp makes up for it 20 times over.
Review: "It’s the OG for a reason. The packaging might not look great, but it’s what’s inside that counts. My scalp instantly feels calmer once I use it, and flakes are minimized in just a few washes. Pro tip: You can let this sit on your face for a few minutes to help with fungal acne." — Samantha Holender
Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Should you want to glamorize your dandruff experience (no judgment), scoop up Oribe’s special line. It contains salicylic acid to treat flakiness, redness, and irritation, while still staying color and keratin-safe.
Review: "You don’t know what a product can do until you run out! I have dealt with dandruff over the last couple years. I decided to splurge on the set. When it finished I went back to normal shampoo and noticed it came back. Of course you can find cheaper options, but the smell, and softness in my hair is worth it just as much as it’s anti dandruff. So worth the $$$." — Sephora
Best Anti-Dandruff Conditioner
As much as I love dandruff shampoo, my hair color often does not. It can leave my hair color distorted and my overall texture on the drier side. That’s why I always follow up with a deeply hydrating conditioner that considers color-treated hair.
Review: "While I’m not dousing my scalp in conditioner—it’s a mid-shaft and down situation—I do love that this product was formulated with my irritated scalp in mind. It contains niacinamide to soothe redness and irritation, as well as argan oil to restore hydration." — Samantha Holender
Best Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment
Between dandruff shampoo applications, I use these treatment serums to restore balance and moisture to my scalp. They go a long way to stop my itching, and both have hair growth properties. Talk about a win-win.
Review: "Augustinus Bader’s luxe serum isn’t necessarily designed for dandruff, but it does make a big difference. The TLDR: it fosters a healthy scalp, hair growth, and reduces shedding, which in turn makes my whole scalp feel more balanced and less irritated." — Samantha Holender
Best Anti-Dandruff Treatment for Itchiness
I’m always concerned that leave-on scalp serums will leave my roots looking disgustingly greasy. That is not the case with this Davines option, which feels lightweight and absorbs in seconds.
Review: "I am a Davines girl to my core—the products smell delicious, they're lightweight, and never weigh down my fine hair." — Samantha Holender, Senior Beauty Editor
Best Anti-Dandruff Leave-In Conditioner
Cold weather doesn’t just affect my scalp—it also makes my hair generally drier, and my split ends way more noticeable. To help my style look its shiniest (despite the frigid temps sucking the life force out of every strand), I give each section a generous spray with one of these guys post-shower.
Review: "I may be staying on the East coast for winter break, but using this leave-in post-shower makes me feel like I’m escaping to a tropical island. Notes of tuberose, baltic amber, and dragon fruit come together to create a coconut scent that smells divine."
What Causes Dandruff?
If you're noticing a spike in your dandruff in fall and winter—you're not alone. An itchy scalp, according to board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Soho Skin and Hair Restoration, Robert Finney, MD, is caused by a combination of personal susceptibility, oil, and yeast. "We all have a yeast called Malassezia living on our scalp. We also all have oil glands up there that produce a lot of sebum. The yeast loves the sebum and eats it, allowing it to overproliferate, and if that individual is predisposed to dandruff, they will manifest the symptoms of a dry, flaky scalp," he explains.
Dandruff loves to flare during the change of seasons and stressful times when our body's cortisol rises, triggering more oil production and ultimately leading to flares.
How Do I Get Rid of Dandruff?
Bad news: no one can cure you of your dandruff. "Anyone who suffers from it, should know that even if you are on your best behavior, you will still suffer from flares," says Dr. Finney. That being said, there are a few steps you can take to lessen its severity.
For starters, use a yeast-reducing shampoo and conditioner. "Historically, this was annoying as most options, like prescription ketoconazole helped a lot with the scalp, but was very rough on the hair. More recently, better options have surfaced that are much gentler on the hair, while still effective and reducing the yeast colonies on the skin of the scalp."
The other thing to keep in mind is cadence of your wash cycles. When you have dandruff, you likely need to be shampooing more, not less, explains Dr. Finney. "Anyone with dandruff should be washing at least three times a week, some daily."
What Ingredients Should I Look for in a Dandruff Treatment?
"To treat dandruff, it is best to incorporate ingredients like ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, or selenium sulfide which target the yeast," explains board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. "Salicylic acid can also be helpful for loosening and removing the build up of flakes."
If you're looking for a scalp serum, seek out soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, which can help support the scalp barrier and soothe irritation, says Dr. Garshick. Most importantly, avoid heavily fragranced products and exfoliating acids, which can worsen irritation.
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Meet the Experts
Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD is a leading board-certified dermatologist serving patients throughout Manhattan, New York and Englewood, NJ at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, as well as an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell - New York Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Garshick provides a wide variety of cosmetic and medical procedures and services including treatments for acne, eczema, hyperhidrosis, moles, psoriasis, rosacea, signs of aging, skin cancer, skin tags, vitiligo, and wrinkles.
She completed her undergraduate education at Emory University and attended medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine, where she graduated with Research Honors and Alpha Omega Alpha. As a medical student, Dr. Garshick was awarded the prestigious Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, during which she performed dermatology clinical trials and research at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was also awarded the American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Academic Achievement Award for graduating in the top of her class and the William Dameshek Award for Research Excellence. Dr. Garshick’s post-graduate training in dermatology began with an internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She completed her dermatology residency at Cornell’s New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. Dr. Garshick has numerous publications in scientific journals and book chapters, including a chapter on the treatment of acne, and has presented at national meetings. She specializes in general medical dermatology, including adults and pediatrics, and cosmetic dermatology, including neurotoxins, fillers, chemical peels, and lasers. Dr. Garshick is also involved in teaching the dermatology residents at Cornell, leading discussions reviewing the latest dermatology literature. She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and the Women’s Dermatologic Society, as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor.
Meet our Founder, Robert Finney, M.D., a Board-Certified Dermatologist, Fellowship-Trained in Hair Restoration and Aesthetics. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Finney completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at Pennsylvania State University. He completed his internship and dermatology residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA where he served as chief resident during his final year. Following his residency, he completed an advanced fellowship in aesthetics, hair restoration, and skin surgery with renowned hair surgeon Dr. Marc Avram in New York City.
Dr. Finney approaches aesthetics holistically, taking into account not only patients' current concerns, but also planning for the future. He takes pride in establishing longitudinal relationships, educating his patients on the 3D-nature of aging, and ultimately ensuring a future of aging gracefully. His goal is to ensure that his patients look refreshed, never “done”.
As a hair expert, Dr. Finney continues to push the standard of care, and innovates to create cutting edge, individualized treatment plans. He has been treating his own genetic hair loss since his mid-20s; therefore, he is truly able to view each treatment through the lens of the patient and provider. This is what led him to create his ScalpStim Pro treatments: efficacious, customized treatments for his patients.
Dr. Finney has authored several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on hair loss. He frequently lectures both nationally and internationally on the topic, leading him to be sought after by major media outlets to share his expertise re: skin and hair. Dr. Finney takes pride in helping mold the next generation of dermatologists, acting as clinical assistant professor at Mount Sinai - Icahn School of Medicine. When not seeing patients, Dr. Finney loves reading historical non-fiction, and staying active playing ice hockey, hiking or competing on peloton.
