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Dandruff works hard, so the best dandruff shampoo for men needs to work even harder. Ideally, your dandruff shampoo should counter everything from peeling, itching, flaking, burning, thinning, excess oil, dryness…and the list goes on and on. To achieve all that, you need just the right active ingredient to counter the conditions that cause dandruff—like fungal buildup, dehydration, and more. (Most textbook dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis, is caused by yeast and fungal proliferation—often aggravated by oil buildup—but flaking itself can also come from dryness and severe skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.)
So how do you choose the perfect shampoo for you? Here's a complete rundown of the best active ingredients to look for when battling dandruff—some target the fungal/yeast proliferation better, while others target things like oil production, exfoliation, and inflammation. And then, once your scalp is feeling fresh and flake-free, we've also included a top-notch list of milder post-dandruff shampoos to help keep them that way.
Dandruff often arises from a buildup of fungus and yeast on the scalp, which can in turn cause inflammation. Antifungal ketoconazole targets these problems and is often used to reduce overactive oil production in the scalp, too.
Keeps dandruff shampoo with ketoconazole
Another common ingredient that targets yeast, zinc pyrithione also helps exfoliate the scalp to reduce active flaking. It isn’t as well tolerated as other options on this list, especially if you experience other scalp concerns like eczema or psoriasis, but is still effective for most users.
Dove Men+Care dandruff shampoo with zinc pyrithione
Whereas most ingredients on this list are antifungal, salicylic acid is a common skincare ingredient that's typically used to target oil buildup, prevent clogged pores, and exfoliate dead skin. When used in shampoos, it can reduce inflammation, tone oil levels, and lift away dead cells to prevent further flaking throughout the day.
OUAI dandruff shampoo with salicylic acid
Terrific for all scalp types (including sensitive ones), piroctine olamine is often considered the most effective ingredient at fighting the yeasts and fungi that cause dandruff. It’s growing more and more common as an ingredient in new products, too.
Typology dandruff shampoo with piroctone olamine
The least sexy ingredient on this list, in terms of name, consistency, and smell alike. Still, when it comes to efficacy, coal tar is a terrific choice. It helps exfoliate dead skin, reduce inflammation, and neutralizes fungus.
Neutrogena dandruff shampoo with coal tar
Selenium sulfide is a popular antifungal active ingredient that, in shampoo formulas of 2.5% upwards, yields drastic improvements when targeting seborrheic dermatitis.
Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo with selenium sulfide (2 pack)
Tea tree oil is antimicrobial (in this case, primarily targeting fungus) and can tone oil levels in the scalp. It’s also anti-inflammatory, making it a terrific multitasker in the treatment and prevention of dandruff.
GIOVANNI Tea Tree Triple Treat
Think of climbazole as a (typically) gentler alternative to ketoconazole, but thoroughly effective at countering fungal proliferation and yeast buildup.
Sachajuan scalp purifying shampoo with climbazole
While the above shampoos are useful for treating dandruff, you may also want to have proactive options at the ready for when the flakes aren’t actively falling. For that, we’ve included three more that should help keep your scalp toned. While they include some of the aforementioned active ingredients, they do so in lower concentrations, helping to maintain the flake-free results. If you feel that they also overdry your hair and scalp, then reduce use to once a week or once every other week, between washes with your regular shampoo and a reviving conditioner.
Head & Shoulder BARE hydrating dandruff prevention shampoo for dry scalps
Davines scalp purifying shampoo with selenium sulfide
Tea Tree scalp shampoo with tea tree oil
DERMA-E scalp shampoo with salicylic acid and tea tree oil
By The Editors of GQ
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