Dandruff can be a pain, but at least there are plenty of dandruff shampoos out there. But what do you do if you color your hair? You want to be able to treat your flaky scalp, without messing up that beautiful but expensive hair color you’ve worked so hard on.
If you’re in this boat, read on for the best color safe dandruff shampoo choices that will treat your scalp without destroying your color.
What Is Dandruff?
Dandruff is a scalp condition that causes itchy and flaky skin. You can even get dandruff on your eyebrows. It’s usually not serious, but can be a nuisance, especially if you wear a lot of black because the flakes can seem to get everywhere.
What Causes Dandruff?
Dandruff is related to another skin condition called Seborrheic Dermatitis, but only occurs on the scalp, or other places that hair grows, like eyebrows.
Dandruff can be caused by so many things, and affects about 50% of the population worldwide.
It can be caused by a number of things. Here are a few:
- Over shampooing,
- Under shampooing,
- Using irritating products,
- Wearing hats,
- Fungus,
- Yeast,
- Over brushing (Make sure to use the right brush if you have curly hair vs straight hair.)
While dandruff is not contagious, it can be embarrassing and difficult to get rid of.
What Are The Symptoms of Dandruff?
Dandruff is small pieces of dead skin that fall from the itchy scalp. The symptoms of dandruff include an itchy and scaly scalp. Dandruff can also be accompanied by redness, inflammation, and a burning sensation. If you have dandruff, you may find that your hair is greasy or oily.
What To Look For in a Color Safe Dandruff Shampoo
There are a number of dandruff shampoos on the market that can help to treat and prevent dandruff. These shampoos typically contain ingredients like zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide, which help to control the growth of fungus on the scalp and reduce inflammation.
When choosing a dandruff shampoo, look for one that contains gentle ingredients and is sulfate free. You may also want to select a shampoo that is specifically designed for color-treated hair, as this will help to prevent color fading and damage.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best dandruff shampoos on the market, both drug store and salon varieties. These products have been selected based on their effectiveness, safety, and ability to protect color-treated hair.
This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is sort of boring, but you can find it here.
Top Drug Store Choices for Color Safe Dandruff Shampoo
Color-safe dandruff shampoo can help to reduce the symptoms of dandruff and keep your hair looking healthy. There are a variety of dandruff shampoos on the market, so it is important to choose one that is right for you.
The good news is that there are plenty of color-safe dandruff shampoos on the market that can help you get rid of those pesky flakes. We’ve rounded up the best shampoos available so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
Head & Shoulders Supreme Color Protect
Head & Shoulders contains 3 different active ingredients that work together to fight dandruff and leave your hair looking and feeling great. The sulfate free formula is gentle enough for color-treated hair and safe for daily use.
L’Oreal Paris Ever Pure Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
L’Oreal Paris contains pyrithione zinc, an ingredient that has been shown to be effective in reducing dandruff. The formula is also infused with menthol, which leaves your scalp feeling refreshed and cool. It’s also sulfate free which can help your color treated hair stay vibrant longer.
Dove Dermacare Scalp Invigorating Mint Shampoo
Dove contains mint extract and pyrithione zinc, two ingredients that work together to fight dandruff and leave your scalp feeling refreshed. The formula is gentle enough for color-treated hair and safe for daily use. I like that this one is a time-saving 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner combo.
Pantene Pro-V Hydra Scalp Shampoo
Pantene contains zinc pyrithione, an ingredient that has been shown to be effective in reducing dandruff. The formula is also infused with pro-vitamin B5, which leaves your hair looking and feeling healthy.
Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Nizoral contains ketoconazole, an ingredient that has been shown to be effective in reducing dandruff. The formula is also safe for daily use and gentle enough for color-treated hair types.
These are just a few of the best color-safe dandruff shampoos on the market. Be sure to choose one that’s right for you and your hair type. With regular use, you’ll be able to get rid of those pesky flakes and get your oily scalp back to normal.
Best Color Safe Salon Dandruff Shampoo Products
Here are the top picks for color safe dandruff shampoo products that are available in salons.
Baebody Tea Tree Shampoo
This cruelty free formula is vegan and sulfate free. If you suffer from itching, this tea tree oil shampoo is a great choice because it can really calm an itchy scalp.
Oribe Serene Dandruff Shampoo
Oribe Serene shampoo is a great choice for both color treated and keratin treated hair. It’s sulfate free, vegetarian, and smells lovely. If you’re tired of medicinal looking packaging, this one looks like it belongs in a spa.
Mizani Scalp Care Shampoo
If you’re a curly girl who colors her hair and has dandruff, this is the choice for you. It’s soothing and cooling on your scalp without drying and stripping your hair.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Coconut Oil + Charcoal Shampoo
This is a great upgrade to your regular shampoo. It adds vegetable-derived micro exfoliators to physically remove skin cells and product buildup. It feels cool thanks to soothing tea tree oil. Allow the shampoo to sit on your scalp for 5 minutes, then rinse off.
Leonor Greyl Bain Traitant a la Propolis Gentle Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
This calming complex is loaded with great ingredients. It uses a variety of active plant concentrates, amino acids, and even some unique ones, such as “garlic bulb extract to increase circulation and moisture levels and prevent flaking.”
Matrix Biolage Scalp-Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Matrix’s Biolage products are a great alternative to harsh shampoos. It uses a mixture of zinc pyrithione, mint leaf and other natural ingredients to provide anti-bacterial and soothing properties. It’s safe for color-treated locks as well as chemically processed hair.
The Takeaway: Don’t despair if you Have Color Treated Hair and Dandruff.
If you’re struggling with dandruff but love your color treated hair, be sure to give one of these shampoos a try. Everyone’s hair and scalp is different so you may need to try more than one to get your tresses looking their anti-flake best.