Best Shampoos For Dry Scalps 2019 | The Sun UK
NO ONE likes that feeling of having a dry, flaky scalp. Or worse, worrying about dandruff flakes being visible.
And everything from hormones to the hardness of the water can play a role (the harder the water, the drier the hair tends to be, and water in big cities like London and Newcastle is full of mineral deposits).
We’ve rounded up the best shampoos for dry scalps to suit all budgets, and the top-rated shampoos available to buy online.
While many worry that shampooing hair too often can dry it out further, dandruff is sometimes caused by an excessive buildup of oils on the scalp, which is why choosing the best shampoo for dry scalp is crucial.
Many pros suggest that for optimal scalp health, you need to treat your scalp as you would any other part of your skin, especially if it's dry, using an exfoliating scalp mask weekly to get rid of any flakes.
Experts also recommend using a hair oil weekly to help hydrate a dry scalp: coconut oil is antibacterial and has lots of fatty acids to help keep hair healthy.
Certain ingredients are known for helping with dry scalps, like zinc: the mineral combats dandruff by sloughing off skin cells and slowing down their dividing process, which causes flakes. Also look out for salicylic acid and ketoconazole.
Whatever shampoo you choose, avoid those formulated for oily hair, which can strip the scalp and hair of essential oils and leave it feeling even drier.
1. Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo
- Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo, £4.19 at Superdrug – buy here
A budget sulphate-free shampoo with moisturising coconut oil and Monoï, this shampoo from Palmer's has a creamy texture and gently cleanses without stripping hair of its natural oils.
Fans also say it works well on Afro hair – and yes, it does help alleviate dry scalp.
"My hairdresser recommended this for my dry scalp. After the first use it seemed to look so much worse but by wash 3 I noticed a huge improvement. My hair feels soft and smells great," writes one reviewer.
2. Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo
- Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo, £10 at Cult Beauty – buy here
For dry, itchy scalp, Sachajuan's Scalp Shampoo contains antifungal ingredients like piroctone olamine and climbazole, as well as rosemary oil, menthol, salicylic acid and ginger to soothe and nourish hair.
Fans say it's worked to assuage eczema and atopic dermatitis. One fan has stated:
"In the past years I had problems with my scalp (irritation, dandruff, oily and dry at the same time)."
"I tried so many different shampoos from the pharmacy with no success. I went to a hair doctor with no success."
"I finally tried this shampoo and my hair is back to normal."
3. Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo
- Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo, £6.39 at Superdrug – buy here
For more severe scalp dryness – as well as redness, itchiness and flakes – Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo has a proven track record.
"This is the best anti-dandruff shampoo on the market without a doubt. It actually works from the first time it's used."
"I wouldn't use anything else if I have a flare up of dandruff – I always keep one on the shelf just in case," writes one fan.
4. Living Proof Restore Shampoo
- Living Proof Restore Shampoo, £24 at Space NK – buy here
Designed by a team of top scientists, Living Proof's sulphate-free shampoo is ideal for hair that's dry from over-processing.
It cleanses hair and restores moisture levels, as well as healing damaged cuticles.
One reviewer explained: "I have used shampoos ranging from £10 to over £45 a bottle in order to get a product that is perfect for my thick, wavy, coloured hair."
"As I overprocess my hair with hair dye and straighteners I needed a shampoo that would overcome all this stress."
"This shampoo smells divine and because it is paraben and sulphate free it doesn't coat the hair strands or leave a residue after washing."
"The result is nice, cleansed hair without overuse of chemicals to get there."
5. Green People Irritated Scalp Shampoo
- Green People Irritated Scalp Shampoo, £13.50 at Green People – buy here
A natural shampoo for dry scalp, this calming hair cleanser contains rosemary and lavender, and is suitable for people prone to eczema or psoriasis.
Fans like the shampoo and do see results; they stress that they won't show up overnight though.
"Have to persist with it", wrote one, "but after about 3 weeks it's amazing."
"Love the scent. Makes hair so shiny and doesn't irritate scalp despite the nice smell."
6. LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo
- LivSo Moisturizing Shampoo, £16.99 at Amazon – buy here
This US brand is designed specifically to help curly-headed folk who suffer from dry scalp.
It reduces dryness and itchiness thanks to ingredients like Xylitol, glycolic acid and coconut oil. The formula is sulphate-free and helps restore scalp's natural moisture barrier.
As one fan says: "The shampoo: highly concentrated, so you don't have to use a lot of it, and it doesn't strip your hair."
"It has a nice citrus type of scent – clean. With other shampoos I usually experience an itchy or dry scalp a few hours after I shampoo."
"With this shampoo, my scalp feels normal."
We’ve designed Sun Selects to help you find everything you need when you’re shopping around the web. Click the link to find more of our top picks.
Found our round-up of the best shampoos for dry scalps useful? Why not give your skin some love with our round-up of best moisturisers.
Enjoyed our roundup of the best shampoos for itchy scalps? Then head over to the beauty section for more amazing product selections.
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