Dandruff Shampoo Doesn’t Have to Suck: These 10 Formulas That Work Without Drying Out Your Hair, According to Editors

Nizoral is a cult-favorite dandruff shampoo loved by derms, and it's actually pretty close to what you'd find prescribed from a doctor. It uses ketoconazole, an antifungal ingredient that helps kill dandruff-causing yeast, making it a master at getting rid of flaking, itchy, and scaling, says Dr. Garshick. She recommends lathering it through your roots twice a week, following up with a moisturizing conditioner and leave-in to keep your ends soft.

One Cosmo editor says: "When I lived in Chicago and went through the most brutal winters, my dandruff was at its worst. Itchy, flaky, oily scalp—I dealt with it all. This shampoo was the one saving grace to help break down the buildup and soothe the itch and irritation."—BG

If the worst part of your dandruff is an itchy scalp that just won't quit, this selenium sulfide-based shampoo is fantastic. Selenium sulfide is an antifungal that helps inhibit the growth of malassezia (the dandruff-causing fungus on your scalp), and it's particularly good at helping with itchy, irritated skin. It's a bit stronger than pyrithione zinc, the antifungal in a lot of dandruff shampoos, making it ideal for those with persistent flakes.

One Cosmo editor says: "I get acne and dandruff (I'm the whole package!!), so I love a formula that incorporates both dandruff-killing andexfoliating ingredients. This one packs both selenium sulfide which seriously manages itchiness but also salicylic acid to reduce breakouts."—BG

Dandruff and excess oil go hand in hand, which means scalp breakouts and bumps are also present in people who have dandruff. Fun! So whenever my scalp acne is the main character, I just suds up with this 2 percent salicylic acid shampoo that breaks down excess oil and dissolves any pore-clogging dead skin cells and flakes on my scalp. After a month of once-weekly use, I had fewer bumps on my scalp, and I felt like I didn’t need to wash my hair as frequently—a dream for anyone with greasy scalp IMO.

One Cosmo editor says: "Both my dad and brother begged me to bring home a really good dandruff shampoo when I came home for Thanksgiving. So, knowing I loved this for its gentle formula that's both effective and lovely to use, I stashed this in my bag. A month later, they're both obsessed with it and have requested a year's supply (as if I can supply them with that, lol). They both love the creamy texture that lathers up but doesn't leave their hair or scalp feeling too dry."—BG

Huge dilemma: Flaky, dandruff-prone scalp with dry, curly ends. Fix: This moisturizing dandruff shampoo from Maria Nila. Instead of all the drying ingredients you're used to with dandruff shampoos, this one uses a gentler antifungal called piroctone olamine that helps control the Malassezia globosa (aka the fungus that causes dandruff flakes), but also helps calm inflammation. But this creamy shampoo also contains moisturizing aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, and peptides. It's much gentler than many other dandruff shampoos on this list, so you could use it every single wash, or switch off every other shampoo with a formula for volume, color care, smoothing—you name it.

One shopper says: "I should get a job with Maria Nila because I tell EVERYONE about these products. The Head and Hair Heal is my favorite, and it does such a good job keeping my scalp healthy and not itchy. It's made my life so much easier. If I go more than 72 hours without it, I can easily tell the difference!"

If your entire bathroom is filled with clean beauty products, you don't have to make sacrifices for an effective dandruff shampoo, thanks to Head & Shoulders Bare. This formula features only nine (!) ingredients, including gold-star antifungal pyrithione zinc to help reduce plaques and irritation. But what's most exciting are the ingredients it doesn't have, like silicones and sulfates.

One shopper says: "Works like magic! Would definitely recommend. Starts to really work by the fifth day of washing. Almost done with the bottle, and my dandruff is completely gone now."

Your dandruff shampoo doesn’t have to smell medicinal and boring to be effective. Proof? This formula from Biolage, which has a minty, floral aroma that I love. The scent is fairly light and breezy (meaning it won't completely overtake your shower), but it lingers on my hair to give me a little hint of freshness throughout the day.

But it's not just a pretty scent—this formula has all the same dandruff-fighting powers as the other shampoos on our list, thanks to a combo of antifungal pyrithione zinc and exfoliating salicylic acid. I lathered up with this shampoo once a week, and my irritation subsided in about a month (but, like, it smells so good that I continue using it every few weeks or so).

One shopper says: "I have tried numerous "dandruff" shampoos over the past few months. This one has worked since day one! It's been a week and it's simply perfect. And a bonus is that it smells just like any other Biolage shampoo, not like some chemical/medicine."

Unfortunately, dandruff shampoos are usually filled with drying, irritating ingredients, which totally goes against exactly what most people with dandruff (read: sensitive scalps!) need. But Vanicream's shampoo is the opposite. It's the most simple formula I've ever seen. Of course, there's pyrithione zinc to help treat and prevent dandruff flares. But otherwise, the ingredients list is bare bones, including a lil panthenol to help moisturize, as well as a handful of coconut-based cleansers. In fact, it's free of sulfates and any strong surfactants that could irritate your skin. Just keep in mind this isn't the most cleansing formula, so you might want to throw in one of the gentle options below once or twice a week if you're prone to oiliness.

One shopper says: "This is one of my what-would-I-do-without-you products. I have stupidly sensitive skin with flares of seborrheic dermatitis, and this seems to minimize flares in terms of frequency, duration, and severity!"