If you have an itchy scalp, you need one of these soothing shampoos (2024)

If you're on the lookout for soothing shampoos for an itchy scalp – no need to worry, you're not alone. Although flaky and itchy scalps aren't exactly the sexiest of beauty topics, these are issues that affect a lot of us – whether it's because you're trying to stretch out the time between wash days (no judgement!), have been washing too much, or just suffer with dry skin.

While any good shampoo should hydrate and nourish, the best soothing shampoos should calm itchy, dry scalps, too. After testing numerous formulas, we've compiled a list of the very best shampoos for itchy, irritated heads, featuring highly reviewed options, editor favourites, and expert advice. Your search for the best shampoo is over.

Meet the expert:

• Eleanore Richardson, Consultant Trichologist at the Fulham Scalp & Hair Clinic.

A study commissioned by Head & Shoulders in 2020 revealed that Brits are much more likely to clean their kitchen surface daily than their hair (66% vs 27%). While this might not sound surprising, your scalp carries 6,000 types of microbes in comparison to your kitchen surface which carries on average 100-300. Then there's the 2023 study commissioned by Batiste, which found 44% of women avoid exercise to save washing their hair.

So what does this mean? Not all microbes are bad of course – as is the case with most of our bodily processes, a healthy scalp needs good bacteria. However, an overgrowth of bad bacteria can often lead to dandruff, dryness, itchiness and in severe cases, hair loss.

Bad bacteria isn't the only reason your scalp could be itchy, though it is a major one. Your diet, a skin condition, a lack of filaggrin in your body, addiction to dry shampoo, or even seasonal changes and stress can also come into play. And both an overly dry or overly oily scalp can bring forth a chronic itch while also stunting hair growth. Much like the skin on your face, your scalp boasts a delicate surface that needs to be nurtured – not too oily, but not so cleansed that it's stripped of moisture and dry – and it's hard to get the balance just right.

If the itch is just a mild irritation, it’s still worth sorting, especially if you're working on length retention. Consultant trichologist at the Fulham Scalp & Hair Clinic, Eleanore Richardson, tells GLAMOUR: “As with any skin, if there is any inflammation on the scalp, it will be felt and it will be visible. An unhealthy scalp will not get you the best hair.”

You can first tackle the problem by adding a soothing shampoo that's specifically made for itchy scalps to your hair care regime. There are a few ingredients you should look out for in your mane care wardrobe:

1. Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. It's most appropriate for dry skin. Due to its acidic pH, it’s best used in a shampoo/conditioner rather than being used naked, as that can lead to further drying, which would make the hair follicles more prone to breakage and ultimately making it itchier.
2. Peppermint oil can be effective at reducing dandruff and soothing the scalp, in turn calming down any itchiness. Again, restrain from using peppermint oil in its pure form, as it can adverse effects like causing further itching.
3. Tea tree oil is another antimicrobial, antifungal and antiseptic oil. It’s resulting anti-inflammatory effects can help reduce or eliminate all sorts of itching as long as it’s diluted in a product.
4. Salicylic acid shouldn't be restricted to skincare. Shampoos containing this BHA are effective at treating itchy scalps caused by psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. It also exfoliates the scalp, making it a great haircare ingredient against irritation.

How we test the best soothing shampoos for itchy scalps:

For the GLAMOUR team, it is of huge importance that we provide our readers with trustworthy, honest and unbiased reviews of every product we write about – shampoos included. To this end, we aim to review each product in person wherever possible. So, as soon as our Commerce Contributor, Humeara Mohamed, told us she'd had an appointment with a straight-talking trichologist ("Wow you're really scaly, huh?") for her itchy scalp, we knew we needed to rope her in.

Ahead, Humeara and other members of our team review each formula based on their price, feel, scent, packaging and final result on various hair types and colours. Some formulas might not have made their way to our desks – for those, we consulted customer reviews and our little black book of expert contacts to give you a truthful review nonetheless. Find out more about how we test here.