The 23 Best Soothing Scalp Treatments for Dryness and Irritation
Clara Hendler / Allure
If your scalp is itchy, inflamed, and constantly sheds white flakes, you're not alone. In fact, it's much more common than you'd think. "Some causes of dry scalp include [dead cell] buildup from products, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and truly dry scalp skin," Mona Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine tells Allure. "Some [cases] have nothing to do with what you do or put in your hair, and the others do," she adds, pointing out that irritation can stem from using hair dye or even a new dry shampoo or overwashing your hair with sulfate-based products.
People with a history of eczema or psoriasis are also more likely to experience flakes, Gohara adds. She recommends making an appointment with your board-certified dermatologist to determine whether or not your dry scalp is caused by a skin condition.
The good news, though, is that brands are starting to realize this, and thankfully, they're taking action by bringing us innovative solutions to help remedy or ease our scalp issues at home. Powerhouses like Head & Shoulders, Ouai, Bread Beauty Supply, and Dove have developed tonics, oils, and exfoliators (both chemical and physical, just like skin-care products for your face), all of which are specifically designed to soothe the scalp and maintain a healthy balance so that the hair can flourish. Because a happy scalp equals happy hair — period.
But when it comes to scrubs, in particular, heed one piece of important advice: Be conservative with how often you use a scrub — no more than two times a week for very oily hair. Scrubs "can strip the skin on the scalp of its natural oils and can aggravate an itchy scalp if used improperly," Jeanine Downie, a board-certified dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey, previously told Allure. In terms of maintaining a healthy scalp, Gohara recommends using sulfate-free products and reaching for moisturizing scalp oils or hair masks to soothe your scalp on the regular.
If you've been struggling with any of the scalp concerns mentioned above, we've got you covered. Ahead, find the 23 best scalp treatments available, according to experts and Allure editors.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Ouai's Scalp and Body Scrub picked up a 2021 Best of Beauty Award because its benefits are two-fold in terms of body and scalp exfoliation. Sugar crystals gently remove all of the dirt and flakes clogging your scalp, while a nourishing team of panthenol, glycerin, and coconut oil leaves your skin feeling very buttery and soft. Not to mention, the delicious scent is based on the brand's Melrose Place scent, which consists of a blend of rose, bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, and white musk. Be back soon — we'll be slathering our entire body in this 2021 Best of Beauty-winning formula in the meantime.
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Gohara says that her favorite ingredients for nourishing a dry scalp are argan oil and other antioxidants like vitamin E and fatty acids. "They repair the scalp barrier while hydrating simultaneously," she explains. Moroccanoil Dry Scalp Treatment happens to be loaded with all of the above, and also contains salicylic acid to slough away irritation-causing buildup.
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We love mud masks for our face, so why not apply the same concept to your hair and scalp? Carve out 20 minutes before your usual shampoo or wash-day routine and slather on Bread Beauty Supply's Mud-Mask from root to tip to cleanse and enhance the definition of your curls (but it works for all hair types.) This pre-wash treatment is infused with soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like rhassoul clay, broccoli seed extract, Australian sandalwood powder, and matcha tea leaf extract to bust buildup, fight free radicals, and kick-start scalp stimulation.
Check out the brand's tingly, lightweight Scalp-Serum as an overnight leave-in treatment if you're a morning shower person (since you need to wash it out).
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Specifically formulated for protective styles, braids, locs, wigs, and weaves, Royal Oils by Head & Shoulders' Nighttime Scalp Tonic Lotion is infused with peppermint and hemp oils, as well as aloe water, to soothe dandruff-related itch and lock in moisture. This no-rinse treatment picked up a 2021 Best of Beauty Award because the nozzle tip effectively addresses scalp buildup in a no-mess format.
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New York City-based colorist Nikki Ferrara recommends the Act + Acre Cold Processed Scalp Detox, which is great for all hair types and contains moringa extract, which she says is a great anti-inflammatory agent, as well as soothing aloe. Together she says they make "a great combo that can also be used on color-treated hair" for those who are concerned that a scalp treatment will strip away their expensive hues.
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Fable & Mane is shaking up the hair-care industry with a lineup of Ayurvedic-inspired products that seriously soften and nourish hair like no other. (And it shows, especially after an Allure contributor waxed poetic about the HoliRoots Hair Oil.) SahaScalp Amla Soothing Serum is a weightless oil serum that can be applied and massaged into a dry scalp every two weeks right before bed. (One full dropper is perfect for thick hair, while fine hair can benefit from just a few drops.) The formula itself is chock-full of vitamin C-rich amla (otherwise known as Indian gooseberry) to soothe itchiness, bakuchi (an ayurvedic herb) to nourish your sensitive scalp, and aloe to intensely hydrate. For a deeper treatment, you can even up the dosage and rinse off afterward.
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If you like the feel of hair oils, you'll love Kiehl's Magic Elixir, which is another recommendation of Ferrara's. This ultra-nourishing treatment, which works wonderfully on all hair types, contains antibacterial rosemary leaf and moisturizing avocado oil (a Kiehl's staple) to bump up your hair's shine, smooth texture, and hydration levels.
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All it takes is two to five minutes Aveda's Invati Advanced Intensive Hair and Scalp Masque to work its magic and deeply nourish your scalp. Plant-based styling polymers and molecules, as well as kukui seed oil, strengthen and plump up thin, fragile pieces of hair — resulting in thicker, fuller-looking hair. Consider this 2021 Best of Beauty winner as a fancy salon treatment… but one that takes place in the comfort of your own shower and home.
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The key ingredient in Biolage's All-In-One Shampoo Scrub is none other than collodial oatmeal, which is so soothing that it's often used to treat and relieve symptoms of eczema. "Oatmeal is an emollient, which helps moisturize the skin by protecting the skin barrier and providing moisture to the skin," says Orit Markowitz, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. "It is also an anti-inflammatory, which targets and helps treat inflammation and redness." Together with jojoba and castor oils, your scalp will feel cleansed, soothed, and supple. And despite its name, you can use this multitasking scrub all over your body as well.
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If you thought The Inkey List only offered affordable skin-care products, we've got some (good) news for you. Meet the Glycolic Acid Scalp Scrub, a lightweight serum that gently exfoliates in order to kick dry flakes and itchiness to the curb and balance oil production — and only costs $13, to boot. Once or twice a week, shake the bottle before each use and apply to your wet or dry scalp using the nozzle before leaving it alone for 10 minutes and washing your hair as normal. Physical exfoliation in the form of castor beads (made from hydrogenated castor oil) also join in on the party and slough away dead skin cells without irritating your scalp.
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Hair Rituel by Sisley offers luxe products that truly prioritize the health and ecosystem of your scalp. One such treatment is the Soothing Rebalancing Cure, which curtails feelings of discomfort and irritation in a matter of a few drops (that you don't rinse out). These benefits come courtesy of a potent blend of antioxidant-rich celery seed extract, itch-relieving piroctone olamine, and anti-inflammatory alpha-bisabolol. Additionally, pro-vitamin B5 visibly strengthens your hair and leaves it feeling softer than ever. You can pair this serum with the Hair Rituel by Sisley Soothing Rebalancing Shampoo for even more effective results.
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To combat a dry scalp, Adams previously recommended Philip Kingsley's Flaky Scalp Calming Scalp Toner. While the moisturizing leave-in formula is spiked with soothing aloe vera and cooling camphor to coddle your scalp in comfort, it's important to start (or continue) your gentle hair-care routine in the shower. That means using a gentle, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner under warm (never hot) water to prevent dehydration.
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Living Proof's Scalp Care Dry Scalp Treatment is so darn innovative, partially because the clear, serum-like formula creates a microscopic, hyaluronic acid-based "patch" on your scalp to help it maintain moisture for days. Section your clean, damp, and detangled hair, apply directly to your scalp, and massage it in up to three times a week — it's as easy as that.
You can also try the brand's Scalp Care Revitalizing Treatment for a daily boost of root-strengthening yeast proteins, zinc salts, peptides, and jojoba esters for fuller-looking hair.
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There's a reason Kristin Ess's namesake hair-care line is so popular. In 2017, Ess, a hairstylist whose clients include Lucy Hale and Lauren Conrad, launched a salon-quality line (which includes a curly-care collection and gorgeous hot tools) at affordable Target prices to much fanfare. The brand's Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub is a keratin- and color-safe formula that uses gentle sugar crystals to remove flakes and product buildup without drying out your hair.
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Super-gentle exfoliating crystals assist NatureLab. Tokyo's sulfate-free Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub remove product buildup often leftover from products like dry shampoo. But that's not all this triple threat does. It's also formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid to help add shine to hair, and antioxidants (grape stem cells and pearl extract) to repair damaged scalp cells. Our tester said her perspective on scalp scrubs totally changed since the sugar crystals dissolve easily in the shower, never leaving behind a sticky mess on her long head of hair.
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Los Angeles-based stylist Carla Zuniga is a fan of the Rene Furterer Paris Complexe 5 Stimulating Plant Extract, which is a pre-shampoo treatment aimed at healing dry, itchy, and flaky scalps. "It’s applied after the scalp has been exfoliated, and then the treatment [helps] cleanse and purify the scalp," she says. "My clients who have tried it say it does help soothe any irritation they had." As a bonus, the orange and lavender essential oils make your hair smell absolutely divine.
The three-pronged applicator on the TPH by Taraji Master Cleanse Scalp Treatment Wash doubles as a scalp scrubber. It's ideal for getting in between braids and protective styles, and is made witch hazel water and tea tree oil to get rid of buildup on both the hair and scalp while it soothes any itchiness. All good reasons for why this treatment takes home a 2020 Best of Beauty Award.
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Himalayan sea salt and apple cider vinegar combine to cleanse your hair but still leave it feeling super soft. This dpHue Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub is a favorite of hairstylist Tippi Shorter. "The scrub dissolves into pure moisture that not only gives my scalp an amazingly fresh and clean feeling but the light lather hydrates my curly strands," she says.
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If you typically co-wash, weave a monthly refresh into your mix using the 2020 Best of Beauty-winning Hask Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair and Scalp Treatment Mask. The tea tree oil and rosemary clear away any buildup and gunk that makes your scalp feel itchy, while glycerin puts back any moisture that was lost while you shampooed.
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Dove's DermaCare Scalp Dryness & Itch Relief Conditioner helps nourish and soothe itchy and dry scalps. A standout product within the collection is this anti-dandruff conditioner formulated with active pyrithione zinc, which effectively tackles flakes and won't leave your scalp feeling terribly dry.
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When board-certified dermatologist Shari Hicks-Graham's patients with super-curly hair came to her with open scalp wounds, hair loss, or extremely itchy scalps (aka seborrheic dermatitis), she only had two options: prescribe a product that heals the scalp but destroys their textured hair, or offer products that only help damaged hair. She knew there had to be a better way to moisturize and solve these issues.
That's why Hicks-Graham invented a gentle, effective solution for dry scalp and brittle hair. The LivSo Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Scalp's long list of soothing ingredients includes coconut oil, glycolic acid, hydrolyzed oat protein, and Abyssinian oil in a three-step hair-care system. We love this moisturizing lotion that can be used alone or with the shampoo and conditioner.
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Bumble and bumble's Bb. Scalp Detox effectively loosens dead skin cells and any existing gunk immediately when you massage the airy, fizzling foam in so that when you rinse in the shower, you're left with an incomparably clean (and not stripped) feel. Salicylic acid breaks up flakes and unclogs pores without drying the hair, while glycerin moisturizes and tangerine extract refreshes (and makes your hair smell divine).
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Banish excess buildup and unwanted flakes with Biologique Recherche's Hair Lotion P50 Capillaire. New York City-based dermatologist and hair expert, Francesca Fusco, highly recommends it for anyone whose scalp desperately needs a reset. "This acts on the scalp as toner and works on skin, too," she says. "Apply with fingers or a cotton ball on a freshly shampooed (or not) scalp to purify, refresh, and balance."
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