Sweet Relief! The 12 Best Dandruff Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair

The formula includes vegetable-derived micro-exfoliators to physically remove dead skin cells and product buildup from the scalp. It not only sounds cool, it feels cool, too, thanks to the soothing tea tree oil, which pulls double duty to eliminate flakes. And because it's made with all natural ingredients, it's totally safe for all hair types.

"Where do I begin? If I could give this 100 stars I would," writes one review. "This particular product is amazing and makes my scalp very healthy and clean."

L’Oreal’s line of EverPure products are all sulfate-free. So no matter which you choose, you can rest assured that your color will stay intact (and the $15 price tag is a nice bonus too). A helpful tip: Test out the Microexfoliating Scrub first. It helps to gently loosen flakes so the shampoo can better do its job.

"This shampoo really treated my scalp," one reviewer says. "I didn't see results right away though, but I didn't give up and I kept using it. After a few months, I started noticing that my scalp became less and less itchy. I even don't need to wash my hair every other day, now I wash it every three days!" 

When gently massaged into the follicles of your hair, this formula produces a delicate lather to restore moisture (the one downside of sulfate-free products). The signature ingredient, bee propolis, has antiseptic properties to help prevent further scalp conditions. It's more expensive than other shampoos on this list, but reviewers think it's worth it: "I absolutely love this product! I have tried some of their other products but this is my fave—although it's quite pricey, and I try to save money, I continue buying this because it actually works!"

Using a blend of jujube bark and cherry-flower extracts, this little ditty works particularly well on greasy roots and dry ends, and is free from sodium laureth sulfate, parabens and silicone. You’ll find you see visible results within just a few weeks. (In fact, in a 20-person clinical study the brand conducted, 80 percent of people noticed reduced flakes after 14 days' time, when used alongside the Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt.)

"My scalp has definitely improved but this shampoo also decreased the frizz I usually have, especially in the humid NY summer," says one review. "Wish this came in a larger size! I don't really enjoy the "herbally" scent but I will definitely be repurchasing given the results."

Safe for color or keratin treatments, this shampoo features a laundry list of active plant concentrates (they’re strong yet gentle) to not only normalize an itchy scalp but also prevent bacterial growth that can further aggravate the situation.

"My scalp was always dry, itchy and flaky in the winter. It was so annoying and not to mention embarrassing!" says one reviewer. "I read about this shampoo on a blog and figured I didn't have much to lose. I'm happy to say that it really helped! I no longer had the constant itch and my flakes all but went away."

Biolage has always been a gentler and more natural alternative to harsh shampoos. It uses zinc pyrithione for dandruff fighting and mint leaf for anti-bacterial and calming properties. P.S. It smells amazing.

"I've been having really dry scalp for some time, and have tried everything…weekly hair masks, I started looking out for certain ingredients on shampoo bottles and I've tried various products for dandruff and nothing helped. My scalp would also become itchy on top of the dryness," explains one review. "I found this product, decided to give it a try. The dryness and itchiness went away after my second wash using this shampoo, and I have been free from dry scalp and itchiness since I started using this product."

Sulfate-free, this shampoo from Oribe is meant to strip your hair from flakes without stripping color. It's infused with salicylic acid that exfoliates away flakes and helps soothe itchiness. Plus, you'll get a boost from caffeine to energize and rejuvenate hair follicles.

"As someone who has suffered from dandruff and scalp issues my whole life, I have tried most every shampoo under the sun," says one review. "This is the absolute best. It leaves my hair snd scalp super refreshed. I can use it every single time I wash without it stripping my color or damaging my hair."

OK, so it's not a shampoo (although, we do recommend coupling with the Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Shampoo), but we tested this product and saw such outstanding results that we had to include it in our list. Also, is it just us or is there something oddly satisfying about exfoliating your scalp?

The vegan shampoo vows to combat dandruff with natural ingredients. But check the label (and the raving reviews) you'll find peppermint oil, aloe vera and green tea extract can also relieve psoriasis. (And pairing it with their repair conditioner can soothe the scalp even more.)

"I am very sensitive to fragrances, but do great with this one," says one review. "One bottle lasts me 6 months, and I wash my hair two to three times a week. I see hair growth, and overall, my scalp feels healthier, too!"

The key ingredient—pyrithione zinc—is going to make sure dandruff is a distant memory. Whether you have oily, greasy or dry hair, this $26 pick cleanses and softens hair after a wash.

"It actually works wonders," says one review. "I’ve suffered with dandruff all winter due to the weather, and I decided to try this, and my hair looks great! It does not look like it is snowing anymore, and this is my first week using this product."

When tea tree, peppermint oil and lavender are involved, expect the tingling sensation your scalp needs. The cooling means the shampoo is going to work to clean up any product buildups, flakes or over irritation. Plus, it makes your color pop with shine and strength.

"This shampoo has a deep-cleansing formula that leaves your scalp feeling squeaky clean," writes one review. "I have naturally oily hair, so finding a shampoo that can actually remove all the excess oil is a struggle. But Tea Tree Special Shampoo manages to do it without leaving my hair feeling stripped or dry. It's like a miracle in a bottle."

With nearly 89,000 five-star reviews, this anti-dandruff shampoo is a fan-favorite. Ketoconazole is the star ingredient for relieving any irritation or flakes.

"I woke up the next morning and no flakes, no white stuck in strands of my hair, no grossness falling out of my hair onto my sink or clothing when I ran my hands through my hair or brushed it—nothing!" says one reviewer. "I was so excited, but hesitant because I said, 'let's give this the day test.' Checked back at night, nothing. Checked the next morning, nothing. I went four days without one single flake before my head was a little itchy because of just needing to be washed."