There are few hair and scalp issues which are as annoying as a dry, itchy scalp. A dry, itchy scalp can irritate you during the day and keep you up at night. Worst of all, many of the products and treatments may actually exacerbate the problem.
We know how frustrating it can be shopping around for the best shampoo for itchy scalp. That is why we have done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the most effective itchy scalp shampoos on Amazon.com. Below is a comparison table you can use as a quick guide.
Looking for more information on choosing a shampoo for dry scalp, or looking for shampoo for itchy scalp reviews? Scroll down past the table for our complete guide.
| Picture | Name | Unique Feature | Amazon Rating | Amazon Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Maple Holistics Argan Oil Shampoo | Sulfate-free. Ingredients include botanical keratin. | 4.5 stars with 3,030+ reviews | Read Reviews On Amazon.com! |
  | Art Naturals Daily Organic Argan Oil Shampoo | Paraben and sulfate-free. Vanilla fragrance. | 4.5 stars with 4,950+ reviews | Read Reviews On Amazon.com! |
  | Art Naturals Scalp 18 Coal Tar Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | Contain coal and tar to effectively remove dead skin cells, dryness, and itchiness. | 4.5 stars with 2,570+ reviews | Read Reviews On Amazon.com! |
  | Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo | Infused with tar as the active ingredient. | 4.5 stars with 1,100 reviews | Read Reviews On Amazon.com! |
  | Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo For Dry Hair | Specifically formulated for a dry, flaking scalp and hair. | 4.5 stars with 1,000+ reviews | Read Reviews On Amazon.com! |
Top Recommendation:
Our top pick for the best shampoo for dry itchy scalp is Maple Holistics Argan Oil Shampoo. We love this shampoo both for its effectiveness and its low price. Read on to learn more about choosing a dry scalp shampoo, or skip down to the reviews to learn all about this shampoo and other top choices on Amazon.com!
What To Look for in a Good Shampoo for Dry Scalp
Before we can even talk about the best shampoo for dry scalp, it is important to understand that dry scalp can have a number of different causes. Sometimes your scalp is dry because you are eating an imbalanced diet or not getting enough sleep. Other times it can result from stress, an allergy, or a hormonal imbalance in your body.
Still other times your scalp may be dry because of the shampoo you are currently using; just switching away from it could be sufficient to solve the problem. Shampooing too often may also dry out your scalp.
As a quick aside, often what we think is a dry, itchy scalp is actually an oily scalp with dandruff. Nobody is entirely sure what causes dandruff (it seems to be a combination of factors). Whether a dandruff shampoo helps you or not with your “dry” scalp depends largely on whether you actually have dandruff—or just really dry, flaky skin.
It can be helpful to try and figure out what is actually causing your dry scalp—you want to tackle the root of the problem (pun intended).
Regardless, when choosing a dry, itchy scalp shampoo, here are some quick guidelines:
• If you can, steer clear of sulfates. Sulfates are very common shampoo chemicals that may irritate skin and strip oils away from your hair. When your hair is stripped of its natural oils, it is going to end up becoming dry and brittle. The same goes for your scalp.
• Consider a shampoo which contains a safe, natural ingredient such as green tea or tea tree oil to treat dryness.
• Salicylic acid is a good option for treating a dry scalp, and can even help to pull away dead skin cells. Be careful not to overdo it though, since it is an acid and if you use too much of it, it can actually dry your scalp out more.
• Shop for your scalp situation, not your hair situation. If you can correct the balance of oils in your scalp, your hair should end up looking and feeling much better. So ignore shampoos that are advertised for adding body, volume, and strength to your hair. Instead, focus on shampoos that specifically are supposed to provide hydration to your scalp.
I recommend before buying any shampoo, that you look it up in EWG’s Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database. You will not find every product in here, but most shampoos manufactured by major brands have been evaluated.
Try to purchase products that rate anywhere from 0-4 on the scale. Stay away from those with higher ratings, as they contain more potentially harmful ingredients. The lower the EWG score, the safer and more natural a shampoo is.
Now that you have some idea what you are looking for (and what to avoid), we can check out some of the most popular and highly rated dry scalp shampoos on Amazon.com.
Top Products
1. Maple Holistics Argan Oil Shampoo
This is one of the most popular and reasonably priced shampoos for dry and itchy scalp on Amazon.com as of right now. Currently, there are more than 3,030 customer reviews for this product and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. You can buy this shampoo in the $8-$30 range. At the lower end, that is an amazing deal!
Ingredients include argan oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, peach kernel oil, almond oil, camellia seed oil, and botanical keratin. This shampoo is sulfate-free. What do customers say about it? It is very gentle on your hair and can not only help restore a dry scalp, but, as one reviewer states, “converts straw to silk!”
Click here to find the best price on Maple Holistics Argan Oil Shampoo
2. Art Naturals Daily Organic Argan Oil Shampoo
This shampoo is even more popular than the previous one, with more than 4,950 customer reviews and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. You can purchase it in the $15-$30 price range (a much higher range is listed on Amazon.com, but it does not seem to reflect real prices).
This product is paraben and sulfate free, and contains argan oil, peach kernel oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, camellia seed oil, avocado oil, and honey and vanilla for fragrance. As you can see, it is very similar to the previous product.
Buyers say that this product took their hair from feeling like straw to becoming soft, smooth and manageable. Buyers also comment that it lathers up effectively and just a little bit goes a long way.
Click here to find the best price on Art Naturals Daily Organics Argan Oil Shampoo
3. Art Naturals Scalp 18 Coal Tar Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
As mentioned previously, dandruff actually typically occurs in conjunction with an excessively oily scalp—but your scalp may feel dry and itchy. For that reason I am including a couple of dandruff shampoos on this list. They may very well be what you are looking for.
You can buy it in the $10-$30 range. It includes coal and tar which can effectively remove dead skin cells, dryness, and itchiness. At the same time, it moisturizes your hair.
So this may be a good option if you are shopping for something balanced which may assist with either a dry or oily scalp, flaking, and itching. Customers have reported that it is effective for both situations.
Click here to find the best price on Art Naturals Scalp 18 Coal Tar Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
4. Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo
Like the Art Naturals shampoo above, this shampoo is infused with tar as the active ingredient. Note that it is not sulfate free, so watch out on overuse or you could dry out your hair. You can purchase it in the $10-$30 range.
What to buyers say? This is a powerful treatment against dandruff and associated conditions. As with the Art Naturals shampoo, it may be used to treat either an excessively oily or excessively dry scalp. It is very soothing and may provide results after the very first wash.
Click here to find the best price on Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo
5. Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo For Dry Hair
This shampoo has more than 1,000 customer reviews and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, making it yet another popular choice in the $10-$30 range. As the name of the shampoo indicates, it was specifically formulated for a dry, flaking scalp and hair. The formula contains no sulfates. Ingredients include lavender, carrot and parsley seed, argan oil, jojoba oil, and botanical keratin.
Customers report great results for dry, flaky scalp as well as conditions like dermatitis and psoriasis. Many buyers commented that they love that this shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates or other unwanted additives.
Click here to find the best price on Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo
Now you know five of the top choices on Amazon.com you can consider while shopping for the best dry scalp shampoo! Whether you are suffering from dry, flaking skin or you have dandruff, these shampoos will help to balance the oil production for a healthy scalp that is free of itching and discomfort.