By now, we know that scalp care is haircare. As excepted, then, the days I let my routine slip and I don’t tend to my scalp are when my hair will look dull, dry, flaky, and overall just “meh.” Before I reach for a serum or some sort of scalp mask, I look to the one product that really is the foundation of my hair routine: a good scalp shampoo

Vogue’s Favorite Shampoos for Scalp Care:

Over time, I’ve learned that picking a shampoo for your scalp really depends on what you’re looking to treat. Is your scalp super oily? Are you dealing with dandruff? Have you gone too product heavy and need a detox? Or perhaps you’re scalp has been close to one too many hot tool, and could use some soothing ASAP? For every scalp concern, we tapped the experts to break down the best shampoos for the scalp that they’d actually recommend. Read on below and get ready to click *add to cart.*

Best for Dullness: Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo

Aveeno

Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: A pick from board-certified dermatologist and founder of Georgia Skin Specialists Corinne Erickson, MD this ultra nourishing shampoo uses Aveeno’s signature colloidal oatmeal extract to calm any irritation and add needed moisture. It also has apple cider vinegar to give the scalp a thorough cleanse and promote a healthy environment for hair to grow strong and extra shiny. Plus, she says it’s a great option if you’re looking for something gentle for any scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, which is always a nice added bonus.
  • Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal extract, apple cider vinegar
  • Size: 12 fl oz.

Best Calming: Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Shampoo

Briogeo

Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist Sharif Poston likes this shampoo from Briogeo because it works to address visible flaking and buildup. It contains 3% salicylic acid to exfoliate the flakes, lactic acid to clear excess oil and buildup while also hydrating the skin, and sodium PCA to lock in moisture and soothe the scalp. “I appreciate products that allow clients to incorporate targeted scalp treatments into their routines without overlooking the condition of their hair,” he says.
  • Key Ingredients: 3% Salicylic acid, lactic acid, sodium PCA
  • Size: 8.4 fl oz.

Best for Buildup: Chris McMillan Clarifying Shampoo

Chris McMillan

Clarifying Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: “The Chris McMillan clarifying shampoo is great for removing excess buildup on the hair and scalp,” says celebrity hairstylist Owen Gould. “It can be especially beneficial for people who use a lot of styling products or struggle with oily roots.” It has sodium sulfonate, a very gentle sulfate-free cleansing agent that removes all the product buildup and debris, and niacinamide and peppermint oil to support the scalp’s skin barrier and promote healthy hair growth so you can continue styling your hair with all the products and tools your heart desires.
  • Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, sodium sulfonate, peppermint oil
  • Size: 8.5 fl oz.

Best for Sensitive Scalp: Vanicream Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: Tried and true, this Vanicream shampoo is beloved by derms and hairstylists alike. Dr. Erickson says it’s the fragrance-free option that many derms will recommend for very dry, sensitive skin, while Poston loves this for clients looking for a gentle cleansing routine. “I always encourage people to pay attention to how their scalp responds to products rather than choosing something based solely on fragrance or popularity,” he says. It’s also paraben- and sulfate-free, and packed with super nourishing ingredients like glycerin and panthenol to keep scalp moisturized without any irritation.
  • Key Ingredients: Glycerin, panthenol, purified water
  • Size: 12 fl oz.

Best for Oily Scalp: Harklinikken Stabilizing Scalp Shampoo

Hårklinikken

Stabilizing Scalp Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, loves this shampoo because it was designed specifically for oily scalps. It contains budrock root, which helps balance your scalp’s microbiome and control excess oil production, and nourishing ingredients like glycerin to provide moisture and soothe the scalp.
  • Key Ingredients: Budrock root, glycerin
  • Size: 9.81 fl oz.

Best for Dandruff: Nizoral Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: Considered by many as the gold standard for treating dandruff, this pick from Dr. Erickson works to keep your scalp clear of those pesky, itchy flakes. It not only sloughs those flakes away, but thanks to the 1% ketoconazole, the anti-fungual agent, it also gets to the root (yay pun) of the problem and lowers the fungus driving the yeast creating the dandruff. Not to mention, it comes in a clean, fresh scent that is actually pretty decent.
  • Key Ingredients: 1% Ketoconazole
  • Size: 7 fl oz.

Best for Inflammation: Innersense Hair Renew Scalp Bath

Innersense

Hair Renew Scalp Bath

  • Why We Love It: Inflammation causes a lot of hair problems, and this shampoo helps keep our scalp calm and clear. It’s made with fermented willowbark, which has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties to reduce flaking, and green coffee bean extract, which is known to promote better circulation for healthy hair growth. It also has pumpkin seed oil to volumize hair and add needed moisture.
  • Key Ingredients: Fermented willowbark, green coffee bean extract, and pumpkin seed oil
  • Size: 10 fl oz.

Best for Dry Scalp: Necessaire The Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: Nécessaire’s shampoo strikes the perfect balance between giving your scalp a thorough cleanse and not stripping your skin to the point it feels extra tight. It contains nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to lock in moisture and strengthen your scalp’s skin barrier, and plant surfactants to give your scalp and hair a very gentle cleanse. But it’s thanks to the special complex called ApiScalp that your scalp gets relief from irritation and itchiness.
  • Editor’s Experience: For times when my scalp feels extra dry, this shampoo soothes that tightness and keeps any dry flakes at bay. It’s a really nice lather and may scalp just feels calm relief. And once I blow dry and style my hair, it looks—and feels—much stronger. — Audrey Noble, contributor
  • Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, plant surfactants, and ApiScalp
  • Size: 8.4 fl oz.

Best Exfoliating: Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Briogeo

Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

  • Why We Love It: A pick from celebrity hairstylist Arbana Dollani, this shampoo from Oribe is the ultimate scalp exfoliator. It has salicylic acid to slough away debris and buildup and relieve any itchiness, while the bilberry fruit and sugar maple extract soothes irritation and provide protection against environmental stressors. The end result is clear and cleansed scalp to keep hair super healthy.
  • Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, bilberry fruit extract, and sugar maple extract
  • Size: 8.5 fl oz.

Everything You Need To Know

What do dermatologists recommend for scalp?

Dermatologists always recommend a good shampoo for the scalp to give it a thorough cleanse. But which one depends on your specific needs and how well your skin will tolerate certain ingredients. “I wouldn't choose a shampoo simply because it says, ‘sulfate-free,’” adds Dr. King. “The important question is whether the overall surfactant system effectively cleans without irritating your particular scalp.”

What cleans your scalp really well?

“Shampoos with effective surfactants are best for cleaning the scalp,” says Dr. King. Some of those surfactants she says to look for include sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), but you can look for gentler ones like sodium methyl cocoyl taurate.

Dr. Erickson says that if you’re dealing with a dry scalp, you’ll want to skip harsher surfactants like sulfates, and fragrance to minimize irritation. Instead, look for hydrating, barrier repairing ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, and panthenol to pair with gentle surfactants or exfoliators.

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity hairstylists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to scalp shampoos, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, lather, and the hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.