The best shampoo for dandruff is one that contains a recognised anti-dandruff active, used as directed. The NHS names ketoconazole, coal tar and salicylic acid, and says to try a shampoo for up to 4 weeks, then see a GP if the flaking has not eased. Everyday cosmetic shampoos, ours included, are not that. Evera shampoos contain no anti-dandruff active and we do not claim they treat dandruff. Below is what the evidence says about each option, how to tell dandruff from a dry scalp, and where a gentle daily wash fits alongside a medicated one.
Best shampoo for dandruff: what the data says
What dandruff actually is
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) describes dandruff as seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp and says it affects almost half of all adults. A harmless yeast, Malassezia, is found on normal skin but in higher amounts in seborrhoeic dermatitis. Current thinking, the BAD says, is that skin barrier abnormalities and increased sensitivity to oleic acid, a fatty acid the yeast produces, cause the inflammation. A 2005 review reached a similar three-part picture: the yeast, the skin’s own oils and individual sensitivity.
It is not a hygiene problem. The NHS says dandruff is not caused by poor hygiene, although it may be more obvious if you do not wash your hair regularly, and that stress and cold weather can make it worse. There is no cure; the aim of treatment is to improve or clear the skin, and it can flare again when treatment stops.
Dandruff or a dry scalp? Flake colour will not tell you
Many guides say dandruff flakes are oily and dry scalp flakes are white. The research is less tidy. A 2015 comprehensive review says flaking in dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis is usually white to yellowish and may be oily or dry. So the look of the flakes is a weak clue. The NHS lists the look-alikes:
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis: scaly, itchy, red patches on the scalp, face or body.
- Tinea capitis (ringworm): red or silver rash, sometimes with patchy hair loss.
- Eczema: dry, red, flaky and very itchy skin.
- Contact dermatitis: red, irritated skin after hair dye, sprays, gels or mousses.
- Psoriasis: red, crusty, sore patches covered with silvery scales.
If your scalp is red, swollen, sore or patchy, or you also have patches on your face or body, that is a job for a GP, not a shampoo aisle.
The actives, side by side
| Active | What the sources say | Status for a UK shop shampoo |
|---|---|---|
| Ketoconazole | NHS lists it for dandruff. A Cochrane review of 51 trials found 2% ketoconazole cut the risk of failed clearance by 31% against placebo at 4 weeks (low-quality evidence). In a 575-person trial, 88% responded to a twice-weekly 2% shampoo. | Prohibited as a cosmetic ingredient in the GB cosmetics regulation (Annex II, entry 1528), so by our reading a shampoo containing it is sold as a medicine. Ask a pharmacist. |
| Coal tar | NHS lists it. Also used for psoriasis, which can look like dandruff. | Crude and refined coal tars are on the same prohibited list (Annex II, entry 420), so again a medicine. |
| Salicylic acid | NHS lists it. The BAD describes keratolytics as a way to lift thick scale so other treatments reach the skin. | Permitted in rinse-off hair products up to 3.0% (Annex III, entry 98). |
| Selenium sulphide | Named by the BAD among antifungal shampoo agents. | Permitted in anti-dandruff shampoos up to 1% (Annex III, entry 49). |
| Climbazole | An antifungal azole; we found no trial in the sources we read. | Permitted in rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoo up to 2.0% (Annex III, entry 310). |
| Zinc pyrithione | The BAD names it. A 2005 review reports it kills Malassezia, the yeast linked to dandruff. | Banned in cosmetic products in Great Britain from 15 October 2022 (S.I. 2022/659), with sell-through of existing stock to 15 December 2022. Older advice that lists it as the default is out of date for UK cosmetics. |
| Tea tree oil (5%) | One 126-person, single-blind trial: 41% improvement against 11% for placebo after 4 weeks of daily use. | A cosmetic ingredient; the trial concentration is high, so check what a product actually contains. |
Two points stand out. First, the 2015 comprehensive review says the sole mechanism the effective agents share is antifungal activity. Second, the cosmetics regulation sorts the options: some actives are allowed in cosmetic anti-dandruff shampoos up to a stated limit, ketoconazole and coal tar are not allowed in cosmetics at all, and zinc pyrithione is now off the cosmetic list in Great Britain. We could not check every shelf product, so read the active ingredient on the pack, not a brand name you remember.
What the evidence cannot tell you
The Cochrane antifungal review is the most complete body of trials, and it is candid. Of its 51 studies with 9,052 participants, 45 measured results at five weeks or less, 24 had some form of conflict of interest such as pharmaceutical funding, and no study assessed quality of life. It found ketoconazole and ciclopirox beat placebo but could not show that any one antifungal beats another in its class. So there is no proven single “best” brand. The NHS says you might need to try more than one type.
The honest Evera position
Evera shampoos are cosmetics made in Italy, used every day in the four London salons of GA Salons. On the label of Frequent Use Shampoo N1, sodium coco-sulfate is second after water, followed by cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside and niacinamide, with green tea, orange blossom and basil extracts (organic-farmed). It is silicone-free, paraben-free, vegan and fragranced, and contains none of the actives in the table above.
What that means for you. If you have confirmed dandruff, use an anti-dandruff active first. A gentle daily shampoo can be what you reach for on other days or once the scalp is calm, but that is a routine choice, not a treatment, and we have no trial showing our shampoo helps or hurts dandruff. One caution is worth knowing: a 1992 forearm study found people with seborrhoeic dermatitis were significantly more susceptible to irritation from sodium lauryl sulphate than people without it. That tested a different sulfate on forearms, not our shampoo on scalps, but if your scalp is easily irritated, ask a pharmacist. Fragrance matters too, as fragrances remain the most prevalent cosmetic allergens, according to a 2025 review.
Our evidence is modest. We hold 36 customer reviews, all five stars, and none mentions dandruff or flaking. Caroline wrote of Frequent Use Shampoo N1: “This shampoo makes such a difference to the shine and condition of my hair. Blow drying is much more manageable.” That is about shine and ease of styling, nothing about the scalp.
How to choose a dandruff shampoo
- Make sure it is dandruff. Run through the look-alike list above. Red, swollen, sore or patchy skin means see a GP.
- Pick a product with a named active. The NHS suggests ketoconazole, coal tar or salicylic acid. A pharmacist can tell you how to use the shampoo and which suits you.
- Use it properly. The BAD advises massaging medicated shampoo into the scalp, then waiting 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing. Following the pack matters more than the brand.
- Give it 4 weeks, then judge. That is the NHS timeframe. If it has not worked, try another active before concluding nothing will.
- Mind your colour and scent. A Journal of Cosmetic Science paper reports that most hair dyes are water soluble, that red dyes are removed more and that bleached hair loses colour faster. We found no study of anti-dandruff shampoo and dye fade, so we cannot rank products for coloured hair. If you react to fragrance, choose fragrance-free.
The BAD adds that a doctor may offer a mild steroid scalp treatment for short periods, and a keratolytic first for thick scale. Those are not cosmetic shampoo jobs.
When to see a GP
The NHS says see a GP if you still have symptoms after at least 4 weeks of anti-dandruff shampoo, if the dandruff is bad or your scalp very itchy, if your scalp is red or swollen, or if you have flaky, itchy patches on your face or body. The BAD notes that prescribed antifungal shampoos can safely be used long term.
Evera picks for the days between
None of these treats dandruff. They are for a gentle, everyday wash and conditioning.
- The Daily Duo N1: Frequent Use Shampoo N1 plus Frequent Use Conditioner N1 for £63 instead of £70, a saving of £7 (£12.60 per 100 ml).
- Frequent Use Shampoo N1, £35 for 250 ml (£14.00 per 100 ml): made for frequent washing, fragranced, contains sodium coco-sulfate.
- Frequent Use Conditioner N1, £35 for 250 ml: its label lists no sulfate cleanser, and it is silicone-free and paraben-free. Use it on the lengths.
More in our scalp care collection. EVERA10 gives 10% off a first order and ROUTINE10 gives 10% off two or more items until 11 November 2026. UK delivery is free on every order, and our 30-day returns promise covers unopened, sealed products returned within 30 days of delivery (you pay return postage). Full ingredient lists are on each product page. If your flaking is more about dryness than dandruff, read our guide to shampoo for a dry scalp, and for why we are open about sulfates, is sodium coco sulfate bad for hair. If dandruff keeps returning, see how to prevent dandruff recurrence.
Frequently asked questions
Is dandruff contagious?
No. The NHS says dandruff is not harmful and you cannot catch it. It is linked to a yeast that lives naturally on skin, not to poor hygiene.
Is it dandruff or a dry scalp?
Flake colour cannot settle it. A 2015 comprehensive review notes that flaking in dandruff is usually white to yellowish and may be oily or dry. The practical test is the NHS one: try an anti-dandruff shampoo for up to 4 weeks, and see a GP if there is no improvement, if the scalp is red or swollen, or if you have flaky patches on your face or body.
How often should I use anti-dandruff shampoo, and for how long?
The NHS says to use it for up to 4 weeks to see whether it helps, and a pharmacist can explain the directions for the product you choose. The British Association of Dermatologists adds that, once the scalp is clear, an antifungal shampoo once or twice a week reduces the chance of the rash coming back. We found no evidence for a single number that suits everyone, so follow the label.
Do natural remedies such as tea tree oil work?
One randomised, single-blind trial of 126 people found a 5% tea tree oil shampoo used daily for 4 weeks improved a dandruff severity score by 41%, against 11% for placebo. That is one trial of one concentration. We did not find comparable trials for other plant extracts, and Evera shampoos contain no tea tree oil.
Can Evera shampoo treat dandruff?
No. Evera shampoos are cosmetic, not medicated, and we make no claim that they treat dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis. They contain a gentle, coconut-derived cleanser (sodium coco-sulfate), which is a sulfate, and fragrance. They are a daily wash for people who want one, not a substitute for an anti-dandruff active.
Sources
- NHS: Dandruff (symptoms, treatment with ketoconazole, coal tar or salicylic acid for up to 4 weeks, causes, when to see a GP, look-alike conditions)
- British Association of Dermatologists: Seborrhoeic dermatitis patient information leaflet, January 2023
- Okokon et al., 2015, Cochrane Database Syst Rev: topical antifungals for seborrhoeic dermatitis
- Peter and Richarz-Barthauer, 1995, Br J Dermatol: 2% ketoconazole shampoo in scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff
- DeAngelis et al., 2005, J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc: three etiologic facets of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis
- Borda and Wikramanayake, 2015, J Clin Investig Dermatol: seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, a comprehensive review
- Satchell et al., 2002, J Am Acad Dermatol: treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo
- Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 as it applies in Great Britain, Annex II (prohibited substances: coal tars entry 420, ketoconazole entry 1528, pyrithione zinc entry 1669)
- Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 as it applies in Great Britain, Annex III (salicylic acid entry 98, selenium disulphide entry 49, climbazole entry 310)
- The Toys and Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2022, S.I. 2022/659 (pyrithione zinc moved to the prohibited list)
- Cowley and Farr, 1992, Acta Derm Venereol: irritant reactions to sodium lauryl sulphate in seborrhoeic dermatitis and atopic eczema
- Sukakul and Svedman, 2025, Curr Allergy Asthma Rep: what is new in contact allergy to cosmetics
- Zhou et al., 2009, J Cosmet Sci 60(2): protection of oxidative hair colour fading from shampoo washing
- Evera ingredient lists, prices and customer reviews: product pages, checked 13 October 2026.
