10 best shampoo for itchy scalps tried and tested, including a ‘mirror like shine’ for just £7
A flaky, itchy scalp can be painful, embarrassing and downright irritating - but the right shampoo can really help to calm things down.
"Dandruff is a mild imbalance to the scalp", consultant trichologist Eva Proudman explains.
"It can be itchy, but not often, and is a sure sign that the scalp is not balanced.
Increasing the frequency of washing and possibly changing shampoo will normally clear this relatively mild scalp condition."
When it comes to finding an effective shampoo for an itchy scalp, choosing one with the right ingredients is key.
Exfoliating AHAs – often called citric acid in the ingredients lists – salicylic acid and anti-microbial piroctone olamine are all effective in treating a sensitive scalp.
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Botanical extracts with calming properties like lavender, coconut and shea butter will also help soothe irritation, while natural anti-microbial ingredients like tea tree and rosemary will help control scalp bacteria.
Leading UK trichologist Steven Goldsworthy also weighed in on things to know before purchassing a shampoo for an itchy scalp.
"For medical conditions, you need to look for ingredients such as piroctone olamine," he explained.
"Things containing alcohol will dry the scalp out more, so avoid those," he added.
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Thankfully, there’s a huge range of shampoos on the market that target an itchy and sensitive scalp, so I’ve tested some of the best to see how they perform.
Best shampoo for itchy scalps at a glance:
- Best overall:
- Best value:
- Best mid-range:
- Best premium:
- Best natural:
- Best exfoliating:
Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £30 from Philip Kingsley
Pros: Improves the scalp’s microbiome, delicate fragrance, gently cleansing formula with AHAs
Cons: More expensive
Rating: 5 / 5
Perhaps one of the most famous trichology-based hair care brands in the world, Philip Kinsley products put scalp care first.
Philip Kingley’s Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is originally based on the clarifying shampoo formula that the brand’s trichologists created for Oscar-winning actor Sir Laurence Olivier.
Dubbed the ‘hair doctor’ to the stars his early clients were said to include Mick Jagger and Audrey Hepburn.
Formulated with anti-microbial piroctone olamine, which has anti-fungal properties that get to the root cause of dandruff, the brand’s iconic Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo has a scalp-soothing formula that deals with the root causes of a sensitive scalp.
The formula also contains citric acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which is recommended by trichologists to gently exfoliate the scalp.
It’s certainly an esteemed choice, but does it live up to the claims? It’s a yes from me.
As well as boasting thousands of glowing reviews online, from personal experience, I can say this clarifying shampoo provides relief from a tight and itchy scalp while being gentle enough to use regularly.
The scent is fresh and pleasant and the shampoo easily builds into a thick lather that’s easy to distribute through the hair.
Afterwards, my hair felt soft, nourished and very clean.
It’s a little pricer than some shampoos for itchy scalps on the list, but well worth the investment.
- Size: 250ml
- Hair type: All
- Scent: Fresh
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
OGX Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint Shampoo
OGX Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint Shampoo, £6.99
Pros: Refreshing formula, deep cleansing, affordable
Cons: The tingling could be overpowering for some
Rating: 4/5
The OGX brand has a huge range of shampoos for every hair type and hair issue imaginable, with many that will suit multiple ailments, like the OGX Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint Shampoo.
As well as tackling greasy locks, this powerful botanical shampoo deep cleanses the scalp with purifying teatree and mint.
As trichologist Eva Produman recommends, teatree is a powerful ingredient well known for its antimicrobial effectiveness that will help remove buildup and dead skin cells.
If you’re looking for a shampoo that feels invigorating, this is it.
After lathering, the formula creates a gently tingling sensation.
While this sensation might not be for everyone, I enjoyed the feeling of a deep clean – a great option for a post-workout shower or washing away product residue after an evening out.
After use, my scalp felt squeaky clean and refreshed, though the formula is perhaps a little strong for those who are suffering from a very sensitive scalp or an issue like sunburn.
In that case, a milky formula with soothing ingredients such as lavender or oats would be advisable.
Having said that, if you’re looking for a deep clean, this shampoo will definitely deliver and afterwards it creates a mirror-like shine.
- Size: 385ml
- Hair type: Normal and oily
- Scent: Teatree and mint
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Josh Wood Miracle Shampoo
Josh Wood Miracle Shampoo, £42.75
Pros: Highly nourishing for softer locks, salon-like texture, affordable
Cons: Less lather than other shampoos
Rating: 4.5/5
This sulphate-free shampoo is packed full of active ingredients that come with soothing properties and are gentle on the scalp.
The brand prides itself on offering nutrient-rich, vegan, ammonia-free formulas that are kind to the hair and scalp – and this shampoo delivers on its promise.
While using the shampoo, I noted how gentle the formula felt on both my hair and scalp.
The Josh Wood Miracle Shampoo is also infused with a Colour Shine Complex of quinoa extract, green walnut and UV filters to protect coloured hair while you shampoo and tone down any brassiness.
As I’m regularly subjecting my hair to bleach with highlights, any shampoo that gives coloured hair a boost earns extra points for me.
The bottle’s pump dispenser is also a handy feature when on the go – I found this a useful shampoo to take to the gym for a post-workout hair wash.
The Miracle Shampoo is a good option for scalp care, as not only is it sulphate-free and derived from natural ingredients for less irritation, but it’s also one of the most gentle cleansing shampoos I’ve tried, leaving your scalp to heal and repair itself.
If your scalp issues are more severe, you may want to look at a shampoo with active ingredients like AHAs, salicylic acid or teatree, as recommended by trichologist Eva Proudman, to clear the issue.
- Size: 250ml
- Hair type: Dry to normal
- Scent: Clean
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Odylique Hydrating Lavender Shampoo
Odylique Hydrating Lavender Shampoo, £14.50
Pros: Fragrant, organic with natural ingredients, affordable
Cons: None
Rating: 5 / 5
The Odylique range has been a godsend for me when it comes to soothing an itchy scalp.
After navigating high temperatures abroad, adding in the extra stressors of salt water, chlorine and suncream, I found this nourishing shampoo both gentle and effective at calming irritated skin on the scalp.
As a big advocate for natural products, Odylique Hydrating Lavender Shampoo’s credentials of being 62.6% organic and having ingredients of 100% natural origin were already reassuring.
After using the shampoo, I can confirm it’s a brand that delivers on its promises, using a blend of avocado, coconut, horsetail, nettle and rosemary to soothe an itchy scalp and gently cleanse the hair.
The advice is to leave the shampoo on for two to three minutes to absorb, which is enough time to soak up the uplifting lavender fragrance.
Afterwards, my hair felt soft, shiny and gently cleansed – it’s a great option for regular use as the gently detoxifying ingredients aren’t harsh on the scalp.
Plus, the relaxing lavender scent means it’s great as part of an evening ritual that will help you unwind.
- Size: 200ml
- Hair type: All
- Scent: Lavender
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Davines NaturalTech Purifying Shampoo
Davines NaturalTech Purifying Shampoo, £23.25
Pros: Healing formula, fresh botanical scent
Cons: More expensive
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Recommended by trichologist Tiffany Hall, Davines is a specialist haircare brand that places scalp care at the forefront.
Founded in Parma, Italy in the ‘80s by the Bollati Family, the started as a research laboratory, formulating high-end hair care products.
Their approach is science-led, with a focus on improving the scalp and hair on a deeper level – and it shows in the shampoos and conditioners they produce.
The Davines NaturalTech Purifying Shampoo is specifically targeted at reducing dandruff – whether that’s with an oily or dry scalp – with a botanical-led formula that balances and hydrates.
This refreshingly scented shampoo provides a light tingle on the scalp and gentle foam to cleanse the hair, leaving behind a subtle, fresh scent.
Everything from the packaging to the soothing formula and glossy effects feels premium.
- Size: 250ml
- Hair type: All
- Scent: Botanical
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Fabriq Soothe Shampoo
Fabriq Soothe Shampoo, £25
Pros: Soothing formula, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties
Cons: More expensive
Rating: 4/5
Fabriq’s Soothe Shampoo has been specially formulated to help balance an itchy scalp with a blend of biotin, liquorice, and panthenol, alongside African & Amazonian botanicals.
If your scalp issue is deeper than sunburn or a lack of hair washing, this formula is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antibacterial to tackle inflammation.
For those struggling with more intensive scalp conditions, persistence is key with this shampoo, but users should start to see results after a few weeks of use.
The addition of menthol to the formula means there’s a slight tingle when the shampoo is lathered – but nothing overpowering.
The shampoo feels gentle and soothing on the scalp, providing a deep clean that helps provide relief from inflammation and bacteria buildup.
I personally prefer a fresher scent like teatree or lavender, but this is largely down to personal preference.
Afterwards, my hair still felt soft and nourished despite the cleansing ingredients.
- Size: 250ml
- Hair type: All
- Scent: Liquorice and menthol
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Dr Organic Aloe Vera Shampoo
Dr Organic Aloe Vera Shampoo, £6.99
Pros: Natural ingredients, soothing, affordable
Cons: Feels slightly more clinical
Rating: 4/5
Dr Organic offers affordable skincare and hair care products that champion natural ingredients.
Aloe Vera is widely known as a skin-soothing ingredient and this shampoo is a brilliant choice for those with a sensitive scalp who want a gentle, moisturising formula that feels nourishing the scalp.
The shampoo has a gel-like consistency, which some users may find more unusual, but this quickly builds into a light foam.
Aloe Vera is a naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredient, meaning it will calm and gently treat inflamed skin on the scalp.
After using it, my scalp felt clean and any itching had subsided.
The formula also has a cooling effect, meaning this was a useful product to have on holiday and use after a hot day at the beach.
- Size: 265ml
- Hair type: All
- Scent: Fresh
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath
Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath, £9
Pros: Calming and colour-friendly, luxurious feel, fragrant scent
Cons: Expensive (but worth it!)
Rating: 5/5
Innersense’s range of targeted shampoos have transformed my dull hair over time, helping keep brassiness at bay and restoring natural shine – so I was already a firm fan of the brand.
The formulas are gentle with a luxurious scent – orange blossom in this case – and gentle foam for a salon-like experience at home.
The Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath has been formulated to balance the scalp with quinoa, rice extracts, shea butter and coconut and avocado oils sourced from orchards and farms around the world.
It goes without saying that natural, organic ingredients are more gentle on sensitive scalps.
While those with more severe scalp issues may need to opt for a more active ingredient like salicylic acid to increase cell turnover, for those suffering from a tight scalp from too much sea and sun like me, this shampoo provided instant relief and left my hair feeling soft and shiny.
The lather isn’t as instant, nor as foamy, as some of the shampoos on the list thanks to its all-natural ingredient list, so it’s worth persisting with a circular motion over the scalp in the shower to ensure the product is evenly distributed.
I’d also recommend leaving the product on for a few moments to breathe in the uplifting citrus scent – a great way to start the day.
The formula, while nourishing, is weightless, so this shampoo is also a great choice for those with a sensitive scalp who want to create some volume in the hair, leaving it glossy and weightless after washing with the matching conditioner.
The price tag is the higher end of the scale – but the product does feel premium and it also comes in 295ml, making it one of the biggest bottles on our list.
- Size: 295ml
- Hair type: Oily to normal
- Scent: Orange blossom
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
Head and Shoulders Deep Cleanse Oil Control Shampoo
Head and Shoulders Deep Cleanse Oil Control Shampoo, £3.80
Pros: Targeted, affordable
Cons: Clinical scent, dries the hair out
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Head and Shoulders is one of the biggest mass-market brands when it comes to tackling dandruff, and its Deep Cleanse Oil Control Shampoo is formulated to tackle an oily and irritated scalp.
However, those with a dry irritated scalp might want to opt for a gentler formula.
While the fresh tingling sensation on my scalp was pleasant and did feel like it was deep cleansing the skin, afterwards my hair felt dryer than usual – and combing through, even after applying conditioner, wasn’t as easy as usual.
For me, the scent is a clinical citrus that smells synthetic and the ingredients are largely more chemical, so it’s not a great choice for natural beauty fans.
Having said this, the formula contains both anti-microbial piroctone olamine and AHAs for a targeted approach for scalp care, so if you’re looking for a budget anti-dandruff shampoo this should yield some calming benefits to the scalp – I’d just go heavier on the conditioner after use to replenish the hair.
It’s also advisable to use this shampoo as a shorter-term fix for dandruff and switch to something more nourishing, if possible, when scalp issues have cleared.
- Size: 300ml
- Hair type: Oily
- Scent: Citrus Sulphate free? No
- Recyclable? Yes
Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo
Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo, £23.25
Pros: Deep cleansing, exfoliating, fresh scent
Cons: May be too abrasive for sensitive scalps
Rating: 4.5 / 5
As recommended by trichologist Tiffany Hall, Davines products go the extra mile when it comes to scalp care – and one of the latest products from the NatualTech range is this revitalising scalp scrub.
For a more intensive scalp treatment, the Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo works as both a shampoo and a scalp scrub, deeply exfoliating the scalp while the formula builds into a rich lather.
If you’re looking to refresh your scalp, eliminate grease and emerge from the shower with bouncier locks, this is a product to invest in.
If you’re looking for a deeply nourishing shampoo to soothe and calm an irritated scalp, I’d suggest a more gentle formula.
The Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo has a protective formula to fight against free radicals and pollution, enriched with powerful antioxidant artichoke extract and nourishing jojoba oil.
For me, this is a perfect once-a-week treatment to remove buildup, grease and dead skin, while still protecting and nourishing the delicate scalp area.
- Size: 250ml
- Hair type: Normal to greasy
- Scent: Fresh
- Sulphate free? Yes
- Recyclable? Yes
How we tested these products
I tested these shampoos for at least one month (and some for longer, drawing from previous experience) by washing my hair on multiple occasions and noting the consistency of the formula, smell, lather, effect on the scalp and how my hair and scalp felt afterwards.
I used the shampoos in several different scenarios to note their effects on my hair, including on holiday, after swimming, after the gym, before an evening out and after using heavier styling products.
Where to buy these items:
You can buy shampoos for an itchy scalp at many online retailers including:
Should people with an itchy scalp wash their hair more or less?
It can be a common misconception that washing the scalp more often can inflame it, but as trichologist Eva Prodman, FIT IAT of explains, daily washing can help clear the scalp.
"If the scalp is itchy, then this is a sign that there is a problem: washing daily would be advised and with a shampoo that can treat the problem," she notes.
Eva also advises to stay away from dry shampoo as an alternative to washing if you’re suffering from an itchy scalp.
"Try not to use products that build up on the scalp like dry shampoo," she adds.
"Using a dry shampoo once to stretch the period of washing is fine and is how it should be used.
"But using it for several days and not washing it, will cause it to sit on the scalp, soaking up the natural oils and it can really irritate the scalp."
What else can be done to tackle an itchy scalp?
"Try shampooing with a scalp brush to ensure a thorough shampoo, and switching to a filter on your shower head if you live somewhere with hard water," trichologist Tiffany Hall, of recommends.
It’s also important not to scratch the scalp, as you could end up with a secondary infection.
"Don’t scratch! Easier said than done," Eva Produman reiterates.
"You can buy soothing lotions that can help to break the itch-scratch cycle – Eurax can be very effective and is available in pharmacies."
Steven Goldsworthy, director at salon in Swindon also weighed in.
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"Determining what has caused your itchy scalp will help you come up with a prevention plan," he said
"For example, if it’s sunburn – wear a hat or use sunscreen next time. If it’s a medical condition you may need to consult your GP or a trichologist for a proper diagnosis and a treatment plan."