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Imagine the winter chill is biting, you’ve reached for your favourite black turtleneck, and you’re in a meeting. You look down and notice specks of white around your shoulders like scattered wintered snowfall, but it’s not snowfall. It’s dandruff.
Dandruff is one of the most common and least glamorous beauty concerns on our (admittedly long) lists, and it typically strikes hardest come winter. Not only does it make our favourite no-brainer all-black office winter wardrobe hazardous; it’s often accompanied by itchiness and irritation that makes keeping our hands off our scalps feel impossible. Fortunately, the best dandruff shampoos address this pressing hair concern quickly and easily.
Historically dandruff shampoo has been a pretty unglamorous category, full of strong chemical scents, un-chic packaging and formulas that strip the life out of your hair and hair colour. Fortunately, in 2024, dandruff shampoos are a lot more sophisticated. These formulas combine antifungals like propanediol caprylate, piroctone olamine and climbazol that address the root causes of dandruff with exfoliants like salicylic acid that whisk away dead skin cells and anti-inflammatory and hydrating ingredients that leave your scalp soothed and your hair shining like the bonnet of a car. Not to mention delicious fragrances that will leave your locks smelling sweet.
We’ve done the research for you and rounded up our top picks.
2024’s TOP DANDRUFF SHAMPOO
- Ouai Anti Dandruff Shampoo, $65.00, Sephora (here’s why)
- Philip Kingsley Flaky Itchy Scalp Shampoo, $55.00, Adore Beauty (here’s why)
- Neutriderm Anti Dandruff Shampoo, $$20.00, Neutriderm (here’s why)
The best dandruff shampoos of 2024
01
Ouai anti-dandruff shampoo
$65.00 at Sephora
Best for: gentle cleanse
While dandruff can feel and look dry, it’s often accompanied by excess oil. This gentle shampoo uses salicylic acid to buff away flakes and regulate sebum production. This is combined with propanediol caprylate, a classic anti-dandruff active ingredient of natural origin that limits the activity of malassezia (the fungi that live on human skin and like to stir up problems like dandruff for us). Its calming earthy fragrance includes notes of spearmint, ginger, basil and green fig.
Key features:
- Contains anti-fungal propanediol caprylate
- Salicylic acid addresses oiliness and flaking
- Spearmint, ginger, basil and green fig scent
- 300ml
02
Philip Kingsley Flaky Itchy Scalp shampoo
$55.00 at Adore Beauty
Best for: soothing and colour safe
Many dandruff shampoos are a little harsh which is why hairdresser Philip Kingsley created this colour-safe shampoo that addresses both the causes and symptoms of dandruff. The key ingredient is piroctone olamine, a compound that neutralises the bacteria that causes dandruff. This is combined with soothing aloe vera and glycerin to provide relief to the scalp.
Key features:
- Contains anti-fungal piroctone olamine
- Aloe vera and glycerin soothe and hydrate scalp
- Colour safe
- 250ml
Available at:
- $55.00 from Oz Hair and Beauty
- $55.00 from Sephora
- $55.00 from The Iconic
03
Neutriderm Anti-Dandruff shampoo
$20.00 at Neutriderm
Best for: sensitive skin
Perfect for those with more sensitive skin, this gentle anti-dandruff shampoo combines climbazole, an antifungal ingredient proven to eliminate dandruff-causing bacteria, with hydrolysed wheat protein to strengthen hair, natural moisturising agent sodium PCA for elasticity, and vitamin E to nourish and balance a stressed scalp. This shampoo is gentle enough for people with seborrheic dermatitis and appropriate for those with dry or damaged hair.
Key features:
- Anti-fungal climbazole
- Hydrolysed wheat protein to strengthen hair
- Sodium PCA and vitamin E hydrate
- Appropriate for very sensitive scalps and dry hair
- Paraben and sulfate free
- 120ml
04
Bondi Boost dandruff shampoo
$27.96 (usually $34.95) at Oz Hair and Beauty
Best for: minty freshness
If you love the feeling of a tingling fresh scalp, you’ll love the inclusion of peppermint oil in this zingy anti-dandruff shampoo. The formula uses three “active” ingredients. Anti-fungal piroctone olamine, Australian aloe vera that nourishes the scalp and soothes irritation, quinoa to strengthen hair and sea buckthorn, which further detoxifies the scalp. Other vitamin and fatty acid-rich oils like linseed, olive oil, and sunflower are thrown in to further support scalp and hair health.
Key features:
- Anti-fungal piroctone olamine
- Soothing aloe vera
- Quinoa to strengthen hair
- Sea buckthorn, linseed, olive and sunflower oils provide fatty acids
- Colored and chemically treated hair safe
- Paraben and sulphate free
- 300ml
Available at:
- $35.00 from Adore Beauty
- $35.00 from The Iconic
- $25.90 (usually $35.00) from Activeskin
05
Kérastase Symbiose moisturising anti-dandruff Cellular Bain shampoo
from $57.00 at Adore Beauty
Best for: dry scalp
This shampoo uses salicylic acid, a gentle oil-soluble ingredient that dissolves dead skin cells and unblocks pores as it gently shifts debris. It’s accompanied by piroctone olamine – an anti-fungal compound that addresses the root causes of persistent dandruff. Your scalp will be clearer immediately, and you’ll notice a reduction in dandruff over time.
Key features:
- Salicylic acid decongests and exfoliates
- Anti-fungal piroctone olamine
- Silicone and sulphate-free
- Glycerin hydrates and moisturises
- 250ml
Available at:
- $57.00 from Oz Hair and Beauty
06
R+Co Submarine water activated enzyme exfoliating shampoo
$54.00 at David Jones
Best for: everyday
This shampoo is perfect for daily flake maintenance and leaves a glass-like shine. Gentle fruit enzymes remove dead skin cells while a host of natural extracts, including bilberry, fermented radish root, and tomato extracts, leave hair exceptionally silky, full, and soft. Once rinsed out, it leaves behind the evocative scent of blonde woods, lavender, cardamon, and pineapple.
Key features:
- Fruit enzymes gently exfoliate
- Vegetable and berry extracts add softness and shine
- Warm romantic scent
- Sulfate free
- 90ml
Available at:
- $37.80 (usually $54.00) from Oz Hair and Beauty
- $54.00 from Adore Beauty
07
Oribe Haircare Serene Scalp Balancing shampoo
$82.00 at Adore Beauty
Best for: everyday luxury
A glamorous solution to an unglamorous problem, Serene Scalp Shampoo from Oribe will polish up your scalp while adding a pastel flourish to your shower. This shampoo contains salicylic acid, which breaks down flakes, product and oil buildup, and clogged pores while hydrating. The creamy formula is infused with edelweiss flower, watermelon, lychee, and bilberry fruit extracts, leaving hair feeling soft, fluffy, and smelling like a summer garden.
Key features:
- Salicylic acid breaks down flakes and oil
- Edelweiss flower, watermelon, lychee and bilberry extracts soften and condition hair
- Vegan, paraben and sulphate free
- 250ml
Available at:
- $37.80 (usually $54.00) from Oz Hair and Beauty
- $54.00 from Adore Beauty
08
L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert scalp advanced anti-oiliness shampoo
$50.50 at Adore Beauty
Best for: deep exfoliation
This shampoo targets itchiness, dryness, irritation, and scalp buildup with concentrated 3% alpha-hydroxy acids. These acids break down dead skin and purify the scalp. The lightweight gel rinses clean, leaving your hair and scalp feeling fresh and fabulous.
Key features:
- 3% alpha hydroxy acids
- Dermatologically tested
- 300ml
Available at:
- $45.45 (usually $50.50) from Oz Hair and Beauty
- $50.50 from Amazon
What causes dandruff?
Dandruff (also known as seborrheic dermatitis) is caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Malassezia. While it sounds exotic, it’s actually found on everyone’s skin and imbalances in Malassezia are easily addressed with anti-fungal dandruff shampoos. While dandruff shampoos have typically been an unglamorous category, full of ingredients that strip colour from your hair and leave your locks smelling faintly of bleach, in 2024, the best dandruff shampoos combine effective ingredients with moisturisers and anti-inflammatories and that leave your scalp balanced and your hair shiny.
What is the difference between dandruff and dry skin?
Dandruff and dry skin have distinct differences. Dandruff is primarily caused by an overgrowth of the yeast-like fungus Malassezia, which results in the shedding of oily, white or yellowish flakes. It is usually accompanied by inflammation and itchiness and can be more persistent and noticeable than dry skin. Dry skin, on the other hand, results from lack of moisture, causing small, white flakes that are typically less oily. Dry skin is usually linked to environmental factors like cold weather, harsh soaps or haircare products, overwashing and low humidity. If you’re suffering from dandruff, the best dandruff shampoo for you will be one that includes anti-fungal ingredients like xx, while if you’re suffering from a dry scalp, focus on a shampoo that combines exfoliating enzymes or acids with hydrating ingredients (and consider adding a scalp serum).
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