10 best shampoo for itchy scalps tried and tested, including a ‘mirror like shine’ for just £7

A flaky, itchy scalp tin beryllium painful, embarrassing and downright irritating - but the close shampoo tin truly assistance to calm things down. 

"Dandruff is simply a mild imbalance to the scalp", advisor trichologist Eva Proudman explains.

"It tin beryllium itchy, but not often, and is simply a definite motion that the scalp is not balanced.

Increasing the frequence of washing and perchance changing shampoo volition usually wide this comparatively mild scalp condition."

When it comes to uncovering an effectual shampoo for an itchy scalp, choosing 1 with the close ingredients is key.

Exfoliating AHAs – often called citric acerb successful the ingredients lists – salicylic acerb and anti-microbial piroctone olamine are each effectual successful treating a delicate scalp.

Botanical extracts with calming properties similar lavender, coconut and shea food volition besides assistance soothe irritation, portion earthy anti-microbial ingredients similar beverage histrion and rosemary volition assistance power scalp bacteria. 

Leading UK trichologist Steven Goldsworthy besides weighed successful connected things to cognize earlier purchassing a shampoo for an itchy scalp.

"For aesculapian conditions, you request to look for ingredients specified arsenic piroctone olamine," helium explained.

"Things containing intoxicant volition adust the scalp retired more, truthful debar those," helium added.

Thankfully, there’s a immense scope of shampoos connected the marketplace that people an itchy and delicate scalp, truthful I’ve tested immoderate of the champion to spot however they perform. 

Best shampoo for itchy scalps astatine a glance:

• Best overall: Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
• Best value: OGX Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint Shampoo
• Best mid-range: Odylique Hydrating Lavender Shampoo
• Best premium: Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath
• Best natural: Dr Organic Aloe Vera Shampoo
• Best exfoliating: Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo

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, mildly cleansing look with AHAs

Cons: More expensive 

Rating: 5 / 5 

Perhaps 1 of the astir celebrated trichology-based hairsbreadth attraction brands successful the world, Philip Kinsley products enactment scalp attraction first. 

Philip Kingley’s Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is primitively based connected the clarifying shampoo look that the brand’s trichologists created for Oscar-winning histrion Sir Laurence Olivier.

Dubbed the ‘hair doctor’ to the stars his aboriginal clients were said to see Mick Jagger and Audrey Hepburn.

Formulated with anti-microbial piroctone olamine, which has anti-fungal properties that get to the basal origin of dandruff, the brand’s iconic Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo has a scalp-soothing look that deals with the basal causes of a delicate scalp. 

The look besides contains citric acid, a benignant of alpha hydroxy acerb (AHA), which is recommended by trichologists to mildly exfoliate the scalp.

It’s surely an esteemed choice, but does it unrecorded up to the claims? It’s a yes from me. 

As good arsenic boasting thousands of glowing reviews online, from idiosyncratic experience, I tin accidental this clarifying shampoo provides alleviation from a choky and itchy scalp portion being gentle capable to usage regularly. 

The scent is caller and pleasant and the shampoo easy builds into a heavy lather that’s casual to administer done the hair.

Afterwards, my hairsbreadth felt soft, nourished and precise clean. 

It’s a small pricer than immoderate shampoos for itchy scalps connected the list, but good worthy 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, heavy cleansing, affordable

Cons: The tingling could beryllium overpowering for some

Rating: 4/5 

The OGX marque has a immense scope of shampoos for each hairsbreadth benignant and hairsbreadth contented imaginable, with galore that volition suit aggregate ailments, similar the OGX Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint Shampoo. 

As good arsenic tackling greasy locks, this almighty botanical shampoo heavy cleanses the scalp with purifying teatree and mint.

As trichologist Eva Produman recommends, teatree is simply a almighty constituent good known for its antimicrobial effectiveness that volition assistance region buildup and dormant tegument cells. 

If you’re looking for a shampoo that feels invigorating, this is it.

After lathering, the look creates a mildly tingling sensation. 

While this sensation mightiness not beryllium for everyone, I enjoyed the feeling of a heavy cleanable – a large enactment for a post-workout ablution oregon washing distant merchandise residue aft an evening out.

After use, my scalp felt squeaky cleanable and refreshed, though the look is possibly a small beardown for those who are suffering from a precise delicate scalp oregon an contented similar sunburn.

In that case, a milky look with soothing ingredients specified arsenic lavender oregon oats would beryllium advisable.

Having said that, if you’re looking for a heavy clean, this shampoo volition decidedly present 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 different shampoos

Rating: 4.5/5

This sulphate-free shampoo is packed afloat of progressive ingredients that travel with soothing properties and are gentle connected the scalp. 

The marque prides itself connected offering nutrient-rich, vegan, ammonia-free formulas that are benignant to the hairsbreadth and scalp – and this shampoo delivers connected its promise.

While utilizing the shampoo, I noted however gentle the look felt connected some my hairsbreadth and scalp. 

The Josh Wood Miracle Shampoo is besides infused with a Colour Shine Complex of quinoa extract, greenish walnut and UV filters to support coloured hairsbreadth portion you shampoo and code down immoderate brassiness. 

As I’m regularly subjecting my hairsbreadth to bleach with highlights, immoderate shampoo that gives coloured hairsbreadth a boost earns other points for me. 

The bottle’s pump dispenser is besides a useful diagnostic erstwhile connected the spell – I recovered this a utile shampoo to instrumentality to the gym for a post-workout hairsbreadth wash. 

The Miracle Shampoo is simply a bully enactment for scalp care, arsenic not lone is it sulphate-free and derived from earthy ingredients for little irritation, but it’s besides 1 of the astir gentle cleansing shampoos I’ve tried, leaving your scalp to heal and repair itself. 

If your scalp issues are much severe, you whitethorn privation to look astatine a shampoo with progressive ingredients similar AHAs, salicylic acerb oregon teatree, arsenic recommended by trichologist Eva Proudman, to wide 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, integrated with earthy ingredients, affordable 

Cons: None

Rating: 5 / 5 

The Odylique scope has been a godsend for maine erstwhile it comes to soothing an itchy scalp. 

After navigating precocious temperatures abroad, adding successful the other stressors of brackish water, chlorine and suncream, I recovered this nourishing shampoo some gentle and effectual astatine calming irritated tegument connected the scalp.

As a large advocator for earthy products, Odylique Hydrating Lavender Shampoo’s credentials of being 62.6% integrated and having ingredients of 100% earthy root were already reassuring. 

After utilizing the shampoo, I tin corroborate it’s a marque that delivers connected its promises, utilizing a blend of avocado, coconut, horsetail, nettle and rosemary to soothe an itchy scalp and mildly cleanse the hair. 

The proposal is to permission the shampoo connected for 2 to 3 minutes to absorb, which is capable clip to soak up the uplifting lavender fragrance. 

Afterwards, my hairsbreadth felt soft, shiny and mildly cleansed – it’s a large enactment for regular usage arsenic the mildly detoxifying ingredients aren’t harsh connected the scalp.

Plus, the relaxing lavender scent means it’s large arsenic portion of an evening ritual that volition assistance 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, caller botanical scent

Cons: More expensive 

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Recommended by trichologist Tiffany Hall, Davines is simply a specializer haircare marque that places scalp attraction astatine the forefront. 

Founded successful Parma, Italy successful the ‘80s by the Bollati Family, the Davines Group started arsenic a probe laboratory, formulating high-end hairsbreadth attraction products. 

Their attack is science-led, with a absorption connected improving the scalp and hairsbreadth connected a deeper level – and it shows successful the shampoos and conditioners they produce. 

The Davines NaturalTech Purifying Shampoo is specifically targeted astatine reducing dandruff – whether that’s with an oily oregon adust scalp – with a botanical-led look that balances and hydrates. 

This refreshingly scented shampoo provides a airy tingle connected the scalp and gentle foam to cleanse the hair, leaving down a subtle, caller scent.

Everything from the packaging to the soothing look 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 assistance equilibrium an itchy scalp with a blend of biotin, liquorice, and panthenol, alongside African & Amazonian botanicals.

If your scalp contented is deeper than sunburn oregon a deficiency of hairsbreadth washing, this look is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antibacterial to tackle inflammation. 

For those struggling with much intensive scalp conditions, persistence is cardinal with this shampoo, but users should commencement to spot results aft a fewer weeks of use. 

The summation of menthol to the look means there’s a flimsy tingle erstwhile the shampoo is lathered – but thing overpowering.

The shampoo feels gentle and soothing connected the scalp, providing a heavy cleanable that helps supply alleviation from inflammation and bacteria buildup.  

I personally similar a fresher scent similar teatree oregon lavender, but this is mostly down to idiosyncratic preference.

Afterwards, my hairsbreadth inactive felt brushed and nourished contempt 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 somewhat much clinical 

Rating: 4/5

Dr Organic offers affordable skincare and hairsbreadth attraction products that champion earthy ingredients. 

Aloe Vera is wide known arsenic a skin-soothing constituent and this shampoo is simply a superb prime for those with a delicate scalp who privation a gentle, moisturising look that feels nourishing the scalp.

The shampoo has a gel-like consistency, which immoderate users whitethorn find much unusual, but this rapidly builds into a airy foam.

Aloe Vera is simply a people anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredient, meaning it volition calm and mildly dainty inflamed tegument connected the scalp.

After utilizing it, my scalp felt cleanable and immoderate itching had subsided. 

The look besides has a cooling effect, meaning this was a utile merchandise to person connected vacation and usage aft a blistery time astatine 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 worthy it!)

Rating: 5/5

Innersense’s scope of targeted shampoos person transformed my dull hairsbreadth implicit time, helping support brassiness astatine bay and restoring earthy radiance – truthful I was already a steadfast instrumentality of the brand. 

The formulas are gentle with a luxurious scent – orangish blossom successful this lawsuit – and gentle foam for a salon-like acquisition astatine home.

The Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath has been formulated to equilibrium the scalp with quinoa, atom extracts, shea food and coconut and avocado oils sourced from orchards and farms astir the world.

It goes without saying that natural, integrated ingredients are much gentle connected delicate scalps.

While those with much terrible scalp issues whitethorn request to opt for a much progressive constituent similar salicylic acerb to summation compartment turnover, for those suffering from a choky scalp from excessively overmuch oversea and prima similar me, this shampoo provided instant alleviation and near my hairsbreadth feeling brushed and shiny. 

The lather isn’t arsenic instant, nor arsenic foamy, arsenic immoderate of the shampoos connected the database acknowledgment to its all-natural constituent list, truthful it’s worthy persisting with a circular question implicit the scalp successful the ablution to guarantee the merchandise is evenly distributed. 

I’d besides urge leaving the merchandise connected for a fewer moments to respire successful the uplifting citrus scent – a large mode to commencement the day. 

The formula, portion nourishing, is weightless, truthful this shampoo is besides a large prime for those with a delicate scalp who privation to make immoderate measurement successful the hair, leaving it glossy and weightless aft washing with the matching conditioner. 

The terms tag is the higher extremity of the standard – but the merchandise does consciousness premium and it besides comes successful 295ml, making it 1 of the biggest bottles connected 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 hairsbreadth out 

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Head and Shoulders is 1 of the biggest mass-market brands erstwhile 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 adust irritated scalp mightiness privation to opt for a gentler formula. 

While the caller tingling sensation connected my scalp was pleasant and did consciousness similar it was heavy cleansing the skin, afterwards my hairsbreadth felt dryer than accustomed – and combing through, adjacent aft applying conditioner, wasn’t arsenic casual arsenic usual. 

For me, the scent is simply a objective citrus that smells synthetic and the ingredients are mostly much chemical, truthful it’s not a large prime for earthy quality fans.

Having said this, the look contains some anti-microbial piroctone olamine and AHAs for a targeted attack for scalp care, truthful if you’re looking for a fund anti-dandruff shampoo this should output immoderate calming benefits to the scalp – I’d conscionable spell heavier connected the conditioner aft usage to replenish the hair. 

It’s besides advisable to usage this shampoo arsenic a shorter-term hole for dandruff and power to thing much nourishing, if possible, erstwhile scalp issues person 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, caller scent

Cons: May beryllium excessively abrasive for delicate scalps 

Rating: 4.5 / 5

As recommended by trichologist Tiffany Hall, Davines products spell the other mile erstwhile it comes to scalp attraction – and 1 of the latest products from the NatualTech scope is this revitalising scalp scrub. 

For a much intensive scalp treatment, the Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo works arsenic some a shampoo and a scalp scrub, profoundly exfoliating the scalp portion the look builds into a affluent lather. 

If you’re looking to refresh your scalp, destruct grease and look from the ablution with bouncier locks, this is simply a merchandise to put in.

If you’re looking for a profoundly nourishing shampoo to soothe and calm an irritated scalp, I’d suggest a much gentle formula. 

The Davines NaturalTech Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo has a protective look to combat against escaped radicals and pollution, enriched with almighty antioxidant artichoke extract and nourishing jojoba oil.

For me, this is simply a cleanable once-a-week attraction to region buildup, grease and dormant skin, portion inactive 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 astatine slightest 1 period (and immoderate for longer, drafting from erstwhile experience) by washing my hairsbreadth connected aggregate occasions and noting the consistency of the formula, smell, lather, effect connected the scalp and however my hairsbreadth and scalp felt afterwards.

I utilized the shampoos successful respective antithetic scenarios to enactment their effects connected my hair, including connected holiday, aft swimming, aft the gym, earlier an evening retired and aft utilizing heavier styling products. 

Where to bargain these items:

You tin bargain shampoos for an itchy scalp astatine galore online retailers including:

• Amazon
• LookFantastic
• Beauty Bay
• Boots
• Cult Beauty
• John Lewis
• Sephora
• Superdrug

Should radical with an itchy scalp lavation their hairsbreadth much oregon less?

It tin beryllium a communal misconception that washing the scalp much often tin inflame it, but arsenic trichologist Eva Prodman, FIT IAT of UK Hair Consultants explains, regular washing tin assistance wide the scalp. 

"If the scalp is itchy, past this is simply a motion that determination is simply a problem: washing regular would beryllium advised and with a shampoo that tin dainty the problem," she notes. 

Eva besides advises to enactment distant from adust shampoo arsenic an alternate to washing if you’re suffering from an itchy scalp.

"Try not to usage products that physique up connected the scalp similar adust shampoo," she adds.

"Using a adust shampoo erstwhile to agelong the play of washing is good and is however it should beryllium used.

"But utilizing it for respective days and not washing it, volition origin it to beryllium connected the scalp, soaking up the earthy oils and it tin truly irritate the scalp."

What other tin beryllium done to tackle an itchy scalp?

"Try shampooing with a scalp brushwood to guarantee a thorough shampoo, and switching to a filter connected your ablution caput if you unrecorded determination with hard water," trichologist Tiffany Hall, of Trichology by Tiffany Hall recommends. 

It’s besides important not to scratch the scalp, arsenic you could extremity up with a secondary infection.

"Don’t scratch! Easier said than done," Eva Produman reiterates.

"You tin bargain soothing lotions that tin assistance to interruption the itch-scratch rhythm – Eurax tin beryllium precise effectual and is disposable successful pharmacies."

Steven Goldsworthy, manager astatine Goldsworthy’s salon successful Swindon besides weighed in.

"Determining what has caused your itchy scalp volition assistance you travel up with a prevention plan," helium said

"For example, if it’s sunburn – deterioration a chapeau oregon usage sunscreen adjacent time. If it’s a aesculapian information you whitethorn request to consult your GP oregon a trichologist for a due diagnosis and a attraction plan."