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Dry scalp and hair loss are two things that many people experience at some point in their lives, and neither is pleasant. Thankfully, finding the best shampoo for dry scalp and hair loss can sometimes be all you need to remedy both of these troubling issues.
What’s the Best Shampoo for Dry Scalp and Hair Loss?
More than anything, the best shampoo for dry scalp and hair loss comes down to a matter of personal circumstances. There’s no definitive answer for everyone, but we can help you find the solution that works best for your situation.
To do that, we’ll go over our top seven picks for shampoos that are best for treating dry scalps and hair loss.
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Shampoo for Dry Scalp and Hair Loss:
- Best Overall: Tea Tree Special Shampoo
- Best for Dandruff: Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo
- Best for Sulfate Free: OGX Hydrating + Tea Tree Mint Shampoo
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: L’Oréal Paris EverFresh Shampoo
- Best for Hair Loss: Wow Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar
- Best for Sensitive Scalp: Aveeno Farm-Fresh Oat Milk Shampoo
- Best for Severe Dandruff: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Don’t worry if you find the number of options intimidating. Below we’ll cover the importance of shampoo for dry scalps and hair loss, as well as the pros and cons of each product.
Why You Need a Shampoo for Dry Scalp and Hair Loss
Suffering from dry scalp and hair loss is no laughing matter. If you’re experiencing this situation, you shouldn’t hesitate to seek shampoo for treatment. There are few treatment options for dry scalp and hair loss better than a quality shampoo.
Finding the right shampoo is sometimes tricky, but if you manage to pick one that works for you, you might save yourself a costly trip to the dermatologist.
Dry scalp and hair loss won’t go away on their own either. If you’re thinking your problems might cease on their own if you keep using your current shampoo, you aren’t doing your head any favors.
There are many shampoos out there, and it won’t hurt to look around and see if you can’t find something to keep your situation from worsening.
The 7 Best Shampoos for Dry Scalp and Hair Loss in 2024
Here are our picks for the best shampoos for dry scalp and hair loss! You can find all of these products on Amazon.
1. Tea Tree Special Shampoo – Best Overall
- Made with all-natural, safe ingredients
- Contains Tea Tree Oil and Peppermint
- Nourishes curly hair while eliminating dandruff
- Best for mild dandruff
- Not recommended for daily use
For treating scalp acne, Tea Tree Oil Special Shampoo is a well-rounded option that’s vegan, paraben-free, and safe for color-treated hair. The formula that combines lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil makes for a significant soothing effect on scalps with severe acne.
So you can expect instant relief with this shampoo. It works on all hair types and promotes hair growth while fighting against fungal infections and other nasty bacteria that can arise on scalps.
Unfortunately, this shampoo does contain sulfates, so your hair will likely feel a bit dry after use.
Counteract this by applying some conditioner and oil after washing. That way, your hair can benefit from the soothing effect of the Tea Tree Special Shampoo while also getting the right amount of moisture to promote better hair growth.
2. Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo – Best for Dandruff
- Combats dandruff effectively
- Works fast
- Can be used daily
- Not the greatest smell
- Doesn't leave hair feeling smooth
Neutrogena is one of the most well-known companies for skin and hair care products. Their T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo is among the best for dealing with dandruff.
Unlike some shampoos that treat dandruff and severe cases of dry scalps, one significant benefit of T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo is that it’s suitable for daily use. You don’t have to worry about any negative long-term effects from using this product as much as needed.
There’s also an extra-strength version for those who don’t find the original formula strong enough. A pitfall of this shampoo is that it does not leave hair feeling smooth after use, and many customer reviews took issue with this.
The fact that this shampoo leans a bit closer to a gel-like consistency is part of the reason why it has a thicker texture. It is not a deal-breaker though, as you can use conditioner or another shampoo that is better for softening hair.
3. OGX Hydrating + Tea Tree Mint Shampoo – Best Sulfate Free Shampoo
OGX Hydrating + Tea Tree Mint Shampoo is a solid pick when it comes to a quality sulfate-free budget shampoo. Because it’s not medicated to treat dandruff, don’t buy this shampoo expecting it to immediately clear up any severe dry scalp issues that you have.
Think of it as a supplementary shampoo that does a great job of moisturizing and repairing hair while still needing some help from other shampoos to moisturize the scalp. Many customer reviews speak glowingly about the product’s effectiveness in lathering and moisturizing their hair.
But they also note how it lacks in other areas, such as clearing dandruff build-up. If you are looking for an inexpensive shampoo that is good at dealing with not-so-severe cases of dry scalp, the OGX Hydrating + Tea Tree Mint will get the job done.
Just don’t buy it with the same expectations you would have for a product that is medicated to treat severe cases of dry scalp.
4. L’Oréal Paris EverFresh Shampoo – Best for Color-Treated Hair
- Does not affect color-treated hair
- Fresh scent
- Promotes improved hair growth
- Lacks moisture
- Thicker consistency
Having hair loss due to color treating your hair is not uncommon at all. Luckily, L’Oréal Paris EverFresh Shampoo exists specifically for color-treated hair. This sulfate-free shampoo nourishes the hair and causes improved hair growth with its formula that contains 1% pyrithione zinc.
You won’t experience any hair stripping with this shampoo, and if you are already experiencing hair loss, you can use this product daily to get things under control.
There are no harsh salts in this shampoo’s formula, so your hair will come out fresh and smooth to the touch after washing.
Some customer reviews mention that while this product does leave their hair feeling smooth after washing, it does not feel all that moisturized. Because of this, consider using a moisturizer after washing to make up for the lack of moisture.
5. Wow Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar – Best for Hair Loss
- Cleanses scalp without stripping it of natural moisture
- Contains DHT blockers to stop hair loss
- Detoxes your hair, repairs damage, and leaves hair soft
- Not great for fine, straight hair
- Some say that it has a strong scent
For people experiencing alarming amounts of hair loss, Wow Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar is a shampoo that deserves strong consideration. It contains many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory elements that’ll help soothe your scalp and reduce hair loss considerably.
The plant-based ingredients in this shampoo almost make it a popular choice for those who prefer natural ingredients that add more volume and moisture to the hair.
While most product reviews are primarily positive, there is a common issue many reviews have with the product: it struggles to moisturize thicker hair.
This is not necessarily a con though, as the shampoo is for people suffering from hair loss, in which case they most likely do not have thick hair.
It is also worth mentioning that the Wow Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is dermatologically tested. So, you know you will get a high-quality shampoo with this product.
6. Aveeno Farm-Fresh Oat Milk Shampoo – Best for Sensitive Scalp
- Great scalp relief
- Works with all hair types
- Provides lots of moisture
- Strong scent
- Contains added perfume
Aveeno Farm-Fresh Oat Milk Shampoo is the only shampoo on this list containing oats, and they are the primary factor in this shampoo’s ability to treat a sensitive scalp.
The next main ingredient is almond milk, which offers light nourishment to soothe the scalp and reduce inflammation and acne. In contrast to some shampoos, Aveeno’s Farm-Fresh Oat Milk Shampoo is compatible with all hair types.
You don’t have to worry about this shampoo being unable to moisturize your hair, even if you have thick or coarse hair. Your hair will receive plenty of moisture along with your scalp after a single use of this shampoo, making it a fantastic option as a main shampoo.
The one consistent caveat in the customer reviews was the unpleasant smell of the shampoo. You might expect it to have an oat scent, seeing how it features oats as the main ingredient.
But most customers describe the smell as more like a coconut. So, if you are not a fan of strong scents in shampoos, that’s something to consider before purchasing this one.
7. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo – Best for Severe Dandruff
- Contains ketoconazole 1% to remove dandruff
- Is great for people with severe dermatitis and psoriasis
- Helps soothe scalp inflammation
- Can be harsh on sensitive scalps
- Contains sulfates, which strip hair color and dry out hair
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is the best overall on this list because it does everything that a dry scalp needs. If you suffer from dandruff, no other shampoo works better than this one.
It is the only over-the-counter dandruff shampoo containing Ketoconazole 1%, which directly targets infections from fungus. The long-lasting effects of this shampoo make it a great option to get dandruff under control initially.
You can then opt to use it as needed when your scalp gets severely dry. Because Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo focuses so much on targeting the scalp, it does miss the mark a little bit when it comes to moisturizing hair.
Some customer reviews said that this was not an issue for them, but you may want to consider using another shampoo alongside this one that better treats your hair.
Finding the Best Shampoo for a Dry Scalp and Hair Loss
Now that you know our top seven picks for the best shampoos for dry scalp and hair loss, let’s go over some quick tips that can help you make the best purchase!
Specialty
The first and most important thing to consider when looking for any shampoo is its specialty. What does it do better than any other available shampoos? Typically, this is very easy to figure out because no company is shy about advertising what makes its product special.
Reading the front label or product description on Amazon will almost always tell you the most pertinent information about a product.
At that point, it is just a matter of deciding whether the shampoo offers what you’re looking for. In this case, all the shampoos on our list focus on dry scalp and hair loss, but they all also fill more specific niches like dandruff relief, colored-hair treatment, scalp acne, etc.
Most shampoos fill a particular niche, so it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with whatever that niche is, especially since the product is going in your hair.
Sulfates
You want to try and avoid hair products that contain any sulfates. Generally speaking, sulfates provide more coverage at a lower quality, so shampoos that have them still work fine if you need to wash your hair.
That said, your hair will feel noticeably dryer afterward, and if you use conditioner, the sulfates will make the job of your conditioner that much more difficult. To determine whether a shampoo contains sulfates or not, read the product description and ingredients list.
Also, read the ingredients list on the back of the bottle when it arrives. There are many instances where the ingredients you find online are not accurate to the list of ingredients on the shampoo bottle itself.
More often than not, there is a sulfate-free option for every type of shampoo, so you will eventually find one if you look long and hard enough. And searching for a sulfate-free shampoo is worth the effort, as your hair will get more moisture as a result.
Natural Ingredients
If you can, prioritize getting a shampoo that contains natural ingredients over a shampoo that contains artificial ingredients. Natural ingredients are much better for your hair.
You also don’t have to worry nearly as much as you would about the kind of stuff in a shampoo that’s got artificial ingredients.
Although, if you’re looking for a shampoo that does something specific, like combatting severe dandruff, then you will have a more challenging time finding one with natural ingredients. The vast majority of them are medicated to deal with dandruff.
So they tend to have artificial ingredients in them by default. Despite artificial ingredients being far from ideal, many shampoos that contain them are perfectly fine to use.
If you find a shampoo that checks all the boxes of what you are looking for, don’t feel you should not buy it if it has artificial ingredients. Just be sure to keep a close eye on how your hair and scalp react to the shampoo when you use it.
Product Reviews
Regardless of what you are buying, consulting product reviews is always a good idea. For shampoos, there are always reviewers that will claim the product did not work for them at all. This is no surprise though.
Everyone’s head and hair are different, making it impossible for any one shampoo to work for everybody. Product reviews can best serve you as supplementary information to help you reach a conclusion if you find a product you like but are on the fence about purchasing.
You want to avoid using product reviews as your primary way of deciding if you wish to buy a particular shampoo. To do this, don’t consult reviews before taking time to thoroughly go through all the information on the product page that the manufacturer supplies.
Otherwise, you run the risk of writing the product off without giving it a fair chance, or you might do the opposite of that and purchase it without thoroughly reading all its offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some questions you may still have.
Can dry scalp cause hair to fall out?
Yes, a dry scalp can cause hair to fall out because when you have a dry scalp, you get a natural tendency to scratch your head often. Scratching and picking at your scalp can cause a little or a lot of hair loss depending on how much scratching you do, so try to avoid it altogether.
Can washing your hair too much cause hair loss?
Yes, if you wash your hair every day for an extended period of time, that can eventually cause hair loss. It will also cause your hair to start breaking due to becoming extremely brittle.
Should I see a dermatologist for hair loss?
Yes, if hair loss concerns you, it’s good to consult a dermatologist for help. In some cases, a dermatologist will even recommend a specific shampoo for you to use so that you don’t have to go searching the internet to find one that sounds like it might work.
So, What’s the Best Shampoo for Dry Scalp and Hair Loss?
The best shampoo for dry scalp and hair loss depends on your situation. There are many shampoos that all do something a little different, and you won’t find yourself lacking options by any means.
Finding the right shampoo for you can turn into a process of lots of trial and error.
So there’s no need to feel put off if you do not get the right shampoo on the first few tries. If you don’t find any of the options from our list attractive, then use the information from our buyer’s guide to help yourself find the shampoo that works best for you!