Do you experience a constant itchiness on your scalp that never seems to go away? Or maybe you have encountered embarrassing moments when you noticed white flakes falling onto your dark-colored top whenever you casually run your fingers through your hair. If that’s the case, you might be suffering from a dry scalp issue.
Dry scalp is triggered when there is too little moisture in your scalp. Picture this, the skin on your scalp is just like the skin on the rest of your body. Without sufficient moisture, your scalp will inevitably experience dryness which then causes it to itch and feel uncomfortable. The solution? Replenish the moisture levels in your scalp with a hydrating conditioner that will soothe the itch and keep dryness at bay. To help you bid adieu to this annoying scalp condition, read on for the 15 best conditioners that can treat your dry scalp effectively.
Reviews of the Top Conditioners for Dry Scalp
Pureology Hydrate Conditioner
This 100% vegan conditioner is formulated with moisturizing Jojoba, Green Tea, and Sage that penetrates deeply into your hair and scalp to nourish and strengthen them. Infused with an AntiFade Complex, it promises to protect the vibrancy of your hair color which makes it ideal for those with color treated hair. It also has refreshing Peppermint and Corn Mint Essential Oils in it, which accounts for the slight tingly sensation on your scalp when you slather on this conditioner. Users love it for providing their dry scalp symptoms with soothing comfort, as well as keeping their locks healthy and shiny.
Redken Scalp Relief Dandruff Control Conditioner
This gentle, non-drying conditioner is designed for those battling dry scalp and dandruff concerns. Leveraging on its Hydro-Zone System which consists of Lavender Extract and Glycerin, this conditioner seeks to soothe scalp irritation and itchiness, and keeps the moisture levels balanced to prevent further flaking on your scalp. The end result is a clean and refreshing feeling that keeps your scalp comfortable all day.
Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Hair Repair Conditioner
An award-winning hair conditioner for dry scalp, it bagged Allure’s Best of Beauty Award Winner in 2017. It uses 3x Hair-Identical Keratin in its conditioning formula to provide intense repair and nourishment for damaged, dry hair so that the lustrous shine and health of your hair will be restored. Its ultra-moisturizing formula left users’ hair feeling soft and moisturized without an oily residue on the scalp. In fact, one user even mentioned that after a couple of uses with this conditioner, the dandruff-like flakes caused by her dry scalp had completely disappeared!
Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and Lavender de Provence Daily Moisturising Conditioner
Formulated with a nourishing blend of French Lavender and French Lemon Extract, this conditioner soothes itchiness while the added Glycerine resolves dryness. Its light, refreshing, herbal scent wraps around your hair and scalp so that you smell good all day. Moreover, it does its job well of resolving dry scalp problems as it softens red scaly bumps for a smooth and healthy scalp texture. Additionally, this conditioner does not contain mineral oil, parabens, phthalates or propylene glycol which eliminates the chances of further irritating your scalp.
LivSo Moisturizing Conditioner
LivSo cleverly uses Hydrolyzed Oat Protein as oat has anti-inflammatory properties, and is great at calming down irritated, red patches. To keep your scalp smooth and hydrated, Abyssinian Oil and Silk Extract are further added to the conditioner. Lastly, to get rid of those pesky white flakes that mess up your shirt, Glycolic Acid gently exfoliates your scalp to remove the buildup of dead skin cells. Due to its quality ingredients, this conditioner has become a proven favorite among users as they noticed a vast improvement in the condition of their scalps over time.
Maple Holistics Tea Tree Oil Conditioner
This natural, sulfate-free conditioner has been a godsend among those suffering from dry scalp symptoms. As we all know, Tea Tree Oil is renowned for its medicinal benefits and this conditioner has taken full advantage of that. It soothes redness and itchiness, and has antimicrobial properties to eradicate the growth of harmful bacteria on your scalp. The conditioner also contains moisturizing Aloe, Argan Oil, and Shea Butter to rebalance the skin’s moisture levels for a healthy scalp. Users were wowed by the product’s effectiveness in helping them to stay itch-free and flake-free.
John Paul Mitchell Systems Tea Tree Special Conditioner
Another Tea Tree-based hair conditioner to kill your dry scalp problems once and for all. The brand is known for its salon-quality products, and this conditioner is no different. Using the herb’s antifungal properties, this conditioner unclogs hair follicles and clarifies your scalp, thereby fighting off itchiness and dry, flaky texture. It also moisturizes your hair without making it feel greasy. The added Lavender and Peppermint Extracts will relax your senses and leave an invigorating, cooling sensation on your scalp.
TRESemmé Botanique Nourish and Replenish Conditioner
This intensely hydrating conditioner is infused with Coconut Milk to replenish your scalp with the essential moisture in order to maintain its healthy state. Furthermore, it nourishes your hair follicles and keeps your tresses shiny and soft. Further fortified with skin-soothing Aloe Vera, this conditioner relieves the uncomfortable sensation of constant itching caused by dry scalp. It also has an addictive scent composed of Waterlily, Plum, Sandalwood, and White Musk.
OGX Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner
Using an age-old hair recipe of moisturizing Vitamin E and Moroccan Argan Oil, this conditioner is sure to restore your dry and damaged scalp to its original, robust condition. Due to the rich concentration of antioxidants present in Argan Oil, this conditioner is able to alleviate scalp irritation, rebalance your skin’s nutrients level, and heal damaged skin. It has become a one-stop wonder among countless users for fighting off scalp dryness and itchiness completely.
Head and Shoulders Dry Scalp Care with Almond Oil Dandruff Conditioner
This dermatologist-recommended household brand might just be what your dry scalp needs for lasting relief. Its gentle and pH-balanced conditioning formula helps to rebalance your scalp’s moisture levels and eliminate flaky, dry skin. In fact, thanks to the Zinc and Almond Oil infused in this conditioner, it has helped many users stamp out itchiness and dandruff-like flakes within a few uses. It also keeps your scalp feeling clean and smooth, and leaves your hair smelling great.
Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner (Invigorating Mint)
Dove uses Mint in its 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner to leave your hair well-cleansed and moisturized. This key ingredient effectively sheds off the buildup of dead cells on your scalp to prevent flaking. It also promotes natural blood circulation to your hair follicles to stimulate healthy hair growth. As such, many users were satisfied with the impressive performance of this conditioner in alleviating their symptoms of dry scalp. An added benefit is that the Mint in it will leave your scalp with a cool, tingly sensation to beat the summer heat, and the price is rather affordable.
Biolage Scalpsync Conditioner
This other higher-end Mint-based conditioner has also wowed the masses in resolving and preventing dry scalp from occurring again. Its fast-acting formulation clears up the relentless itching and flaking immediately to provide your scalp with instantaneous relief. In fact, it is so effective that users reported no more dry scalp symptoms after using this conditioner for a while. Those with chemically treated hair will also be happy to know that this conditioner will not dull or fade your hair color after washing off.
L'Oréal Paris EverFresh Balancing Conditioner Sulfate Free
If you are allergic to sulfate and suffering from dry scalp, give this sulfate-free conditioner from L'Oréal a try. Its rich, creamy texture feels sublime on your hair and scalp without making them greasy. Reviewers felt that this conditioner has helped bring back moisture to their scalps and hair after the first wash. More importantly, it has helped them to stay flake-free and stop scalp itchiness. It also has a smooth, runny consistency that makes it easy to spread over your hair, thereby requiring a small amount of the product each time.
Derma E Scalp Relief Conditioner
This conditioner is fortified with a blend of scalp-nourishing ingredients to fight dry scalp symptoms once and for all. It contains Salicylic Acid to slough off the buildup of dry skin flakes, Tea Tree and Menthol to cleanse and purify the scalp, as well as Sweet Almond Oil and Organic Argan Oil to replenish the much-needed hydration in your scalp. Most users have credited a decrease in scalp itchiness, white flakes, and scaly bumps thanks to this miracle product.
All of the abovementioned conditioners have helped users, like you and me, sought relief from dry scalp condition. It’s time to take an active stand against the uncomfortable symptoms so that you won’t have to let dry scalp rule your life anymore.
Dry Scalp vs. Dandruff
As the symptoms of dry scalp and dandruff are quite similar, some of us might be confused about which scalp ailment we are experiencing.
Dry scalp is normally characterized by small flakes that feel dry and papery. Usually, it is accompanied by an itchy scalp that may feel scaly or has red bumps on it. This is because your scalp is irritated due to the lack of moisture in order to maintain a healthy skin state. Conversely, dandruff is a skin condition of the scalp, also known as seborrheic dermatitis in medical terms. Dandruff is usually observed in the form of relatively larger, yellow flakes that can feel oily to the touch. The reason for this is due to a buildup of oil on your scalp which prevents the skin from shedding like it normally does. Those suffering from dandruff also usually complain from constant scalp itchiness and flaking.
No matter the causes of dry scalp or dandruff, the fact remains that both scalp conditions can undermine your self-esteem, and cause you unnecessary emotional stress and worry. As such, it is important to find out which scalp condition you are facing now in order to procure the right treatment plan for it.
Other Dry Scalp Treatments to Consider
To treat dry scalp and keep its symptoms at bay, a moisturizing conditioner is one of the various solutions you can try. We will look at what are the other options that have proven great effectiveness in treating this scalp condition:
- Dry Scalp Shampoo: like conditioners, the right shampoo is important for managing the symptoms of dry scalp on a daily basis. You can try out hydrating, sulfate-free shampoos to relieve the itch without exacerbating your condition. Look for shampoos that contain Zinc, Salicylic Acid or Tea Tree Oil which are great removing excess dead skin cells to reduce flaking.
- Hot Oil Treatment: using hot oils on your scalp will resolve the root cause of dryness as the oils replenish and seal in your skin’s moisture levels. Choose nourishing oils like Jojoba, Almond, and Coconut as they can soften and soothe those red, scaly bumps. After shampooing your hair, heat the oil until it feels warm, and then massage the oil onto your scalp. To lock in the heat, cover your head with a shower/plastic cap and wrap a towel around it for 15 minutes to allow the mixture to take effect. After that, rinse out the oil and go about your normal routine.
- Scalp Massage: the act of massaging stimulates blood circulation in the scalp. This opens up the hair follicles and pores which can trigger the natural cycle of skin shedding to prevent a buildup of dead skin cells. Scalp massages can be done anywhere and anytime, but for the best results, try massaging your scalp as you shampoo or when you carry out the hot oil treatment mentioned above.
These treatments are highly affordable and are safe to use on your scalp without further aggravating your condition. Give them a try today to see an immediate improvement in your scalp condition.
Wrap Up
Dry scalp may be something that has been bugging you lately. But with the proper tools and maintenance, you can manage its symptoms so that they don’t cause you discomfort anymore. In fact, there is a likely chance that these symptoms will completely subside if you adhere to the right products and routine over time. As such, press on and good luck!