The 15 Best Dry Scalp Treatments That Are Derm-Approved to Soothe the Itch

Best Overall

Living Proof Scalp Care

$38 at Amazon $38 at Sephora $38 at Ulta

Type: Leave-in treatment | Good For: Itchiness, flakiness, irritation | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Living Proof’s Dry Scalp Treatment is one of the most innovative scalp products around. Not only does the hyaluronic acid-based formula feel incredibly soothing while applying it to your scalp, but the serum-like leave-in treatment also creates a protective layer of hydration to keep irritation at bay and provide lasting moisture until your next hair wash. It also contains a vitamin B3-based microbiome complex to help rebalance the scalp and restore its health over time. The treatment works on all hair types, but some users, particularly those with fine or oily hair, have reported seeing some greasiness from the product.

Best Budget

Head & Shoulders Scalp Elixir

$10 at Amazon $10 at Target $11 at Walmart

Type: Treatment | Good For: Irritation, dandruff | Key Ingredients: Zinc pyrithione, menthol, peppermint oil | Size: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you want an effective dry scalp treatment at a reasonable price, you can’t beat this one from Head & Shoulders. Formulated with cooling menthol and peppermint oil, the elixir provides an instantly cooling sensation and major relief from itching and irritation. Plus, it contains zinc pyrithione to combat dandruff and flakiness, leaving your scalp soothed and squeaky clean. 

Best Splurge

Sisley Hair & Scalp Serum

$155 at Nordstrom

Type: Serum | Good For: Irritation, dryness | Key Ingredients: Piroctone olamine, sage extract, vitamin B5 | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This hair and scalp serum from Sisley’s Hair Ritual comes at a pretty penny, but it’s well worth the price tag. Taking a holistic approach to scalp health, it thwarts irritation and discomfort with just a few drops thanks to a blend of antifungal, dandruff-fighting piroctone olamine, moisturizing vitamin B5, and strengthening sage extract. In short: This serum nourishes the scalp and strengthens the hair, leaving it healthier and softer than ever.

Best Exfoliant

Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub

$40 at Amazon $40 at Sephora $40 at Ulta

Type: Scrub | Good For: Dryness, flakes | Key Ingredients: Sugar crystals, coconut oil, glycerin, panthenol | Size: 8.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This dual-action exfoliant from Ouai is one of the most popular scalp scrubs available. It harnesses the power of sugar crystals to gently exfoliate the scalp—removing dirt, flakes, and product buildup along the way—while glycerin, coconut oil, and panthenol nourish and hydrate. The scrub boasts the brand’s signature Melrose Place scent—a blend of rose, cedarwood, bergamot, and white musk—so massaging it into your scalp feels as luxurious and indulgent as it does functional. And the best part about this exfoliant? You can use it from head to toe.

Best Shampoo

Kevin.Murphy Scalp Spa Wash

$32 at Amazon View on Com.au

Type: Shampoo | Good For: Sensitive skin, dryness | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, panthenol, witch hazel | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

According to hairstylist Angel Mendez, “It’s important to remember that your scalp is part of your skin, and many reasons why the skin on your face and body become dry are the same for a dry scalp.” So, if you have sensitive skin on the rest of your body, your scalp should be treated accordingly. This cleanser from Kevin Murphy is formulated with hydrating coconut oil and panthenol, and antibacterial witch hazel to create an incredibly gentle wash specifically for sensitive skin. The lightweight formula clarifies and nourishes the scalp and hair without making it heavy or greasy. Plus, this shampoo is color-safe, so it won’t strip your hair of its dye.

Best Oil

Moroccanoil Dry Scalp Treatment

$40 at Amazon $40 at Sephora $40 at moroccanoil.com

Type: Oil | Good For: Dryness, flakes | Key ingredients: Argan oil, salicylic acid, geranium oil | Size: 1.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Moroccanoil’s Dry Scalp Treatment features a slew of impressive ingredients, including argan oil (an intensive hydrator loaded with vitamin E) and sebum-balancing geranium oil, to soothe and nourish the scalp, as well as salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and prevent buildup and flaking. The oil is formulated with the brand’s signature fresh scent and keeps the scalp and hair moisturized and soft for several days after use.

Best Detox

Briogeo Mask for Dry Scalp

$34 at Sephora

Type: Mask | Good for: Painful irritation, itchiness | Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil, peppermint oil, charcoal | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This hydrating mask from Briogeo provides instant relief for dry scalp sensitivity and itchiness. Clinically shown to increase scalp hydration by up to 144%, it uses tea tree and peppermint oils to calm irritation and refresh the scalp, charcoal to detoxify and clear buildup, and coconut oil to moisturize. Leave this mask on for 10 minutes—ideally after using a scrub—and after rinsing thoroughly, follow with your favorite conditioner. You should see results after just the first wash.

Best for Curly Hair

Fable & Mane Soothing Serum

$38 at Amazon $38 at Sephora View on Beautybay.com

Type: Serum | Good for: Curly hair, irritation | Key Ingredients: Amla (Indian gooseberry), bakuchi, aloe | Size: 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This soothing scalp serum from Ayurvedic's haircare brand Fable & Mane is great for all hair types, especially curly hair. The lightweight serum is formulated with amla (aka Indian gooseberry) to relieve itchiness and encourage hair growth, bakuchi (an anti-inflammatory plant) to address dandruff, and aloe to hydrate. The best part is that you only have to use this treatment once every two weeks—though, you can use it more frequently if needed.

Best for Itchiness

Klorane Soothing Scalp Serum

$24 at Amazon $24 at howl.me

Type: Serum | Good for: Itchiness, irritation | Key Ingredients: Peony extract, glycerin | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A dry scalp is often much more than a little flakiness and can include painful irritation and continued itchiness. For those times, reach for this soothing scalp spray from Klorane. It’s enriched with moisturizing glycerin and antioxidant-rich peony extract, which work harmoniously to relieve scalp discomfort quickly. With a few sprays using the targeted applicator, this serum will restore the scalp’s natural balance and leave it protected and hydrated for up to 24 hours. Plus, the light peony scent smells amazing.

Best for Flakes

Vanicream Medicated Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

$11 at Target

Type: Shampoo | Good For: Dandruff, flakes, itchiness | Key Ingredients: Zinc pyrithione, glycerin | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Despite being formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this Vanicream packs a punch. Designed to treat dandruff and flakiness, it contains a maximum over-the-counter strength of zinc pyrithione, an antifungal used to treat seborrheic dermatitis and to kill the bacteria that can contribute to dry, flaky scalp. Nevertheless, it’s a very gentle shampoo that is free of fragrance and other harsh ingredients that might agitate irritation-prone scalps.

Best Natural

Gisou Scalp Treatment Serum

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $41 at selfridges.com

Type: Serum | Good For: Flakes, dryness | Key Ingredients: Honey, ectoine, prebiotic complex | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Gisou, the haircare brand founded by influencer Negin Mirsalehi, calls on the power of honey in all of its products, and this Scalp Treatment Serum is no exception. As a natural humectant, honey helps hydrate the scalp and moisturize hair in one fell swoop. The serum also calls on ectoine to treat dryness and flakiness and a prebiotic complex to rebalance microflora, boosting scalp health for the long term.

Best Fast-Acting

Neutrogena Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

$11 at Amazon $17 at Walmart $7 at Walgreens

Type: Shampoo | Good For: Dandruff, flakes | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, Apple cider vinegar | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Recommended by Dr. Robinson, this therapeutic shampoo from Neutrogena helps treat flakes and itchiness. “I often recommend starting with an over-the-counter shampoo that contains ingredients to address flakes and itching, such as the Neutrogena Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff collection,” she explains. This targeted shampoo contains 2.5% salicylic acid to control sebum production and prevent dry scalp, and it starts working after just one use.

Best Pre-Wash Treatment

Act + Acre Scalp Detox

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora View on Actandacre.com

Type: Pre-wash oil | Good For: Dandruff, dryness | Key Ingredients: Baobab oil, sunflower oil, basil leaf hairy root blend | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you love your current shampoo and conditioner and want to avoid switching them up, a pre-wash treatment like this oil from Act + Acre might be the solution. Designed for weekly use before your usual hair-washing routine, the formula uses sunflower oil to remove product buildup and impurities, baobab oil to hydrate skin, and basil leaf blend to protect the scalp’s dermal structure. With regular use, you should notice a calm, soothed scalp that’s free from flakes and debris. Act +Acre even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose. 

Best Chemical Exfoliant

Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $48 at Ulta

Type: Serum | Good For: Dandruff, flakes, scalp breakouts | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

So, you’re familiar with using AHAs and BHAs on your face, but did you know these common skincare ingredients can also help with scalp issues? This clarifying serum from Sunday Riley calls on a blend of chemical exfoliants (AKA acids and enzymes that help shed dead skin and unclog pores) like glycolic acid and salicylic acid to tackle excess oil, product buildup, and flakes, leaving the scalp clear and healthy. It also contains niacinamide, another dermatological powerhouse ingredient known to tackle acne and soothe inflammation—ideal if you suffer from scalp breakouts.  

Best for Shredding

The Nue Co. Supa Thick Scalp Serum

$55 at Amazon $55 at Sephora $55 at thenueco.com

Type: Serum | Good For: Shedding, flakes | Key Ingredients: Rosemary, probiotics, peppermint, Redensyl™ | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Unfortunately, a dry scalp can go hand-in-hand with excess hair shedding. This “topical supplement” from The Nue Co. aims to address that problem, encouraging hair growth and reducing flakiness in the process. The serum is formulated with a blend of essential oils, including rosemary and peppermint, to stimulate circulation and refresh the scalp, along with a probiotic that helps tackle dandruff in less than two weeks. Plus, the brand’s patented follicle protection technology claims to increase the anagen (hair growth) phase and reduce the telogen (hair loss) phase, giving you fuller, longer strands with consistent use.