Ever had dandruff? We’ve been there. The last thing anyone wants is to have flakes on their head. It’s even worse if you have a wardrobe full of black and blue clothing.
Assuming scratchiness and flakiness weren’t annoying enough, wearing dark clothes adds embarrassment to the list of growing concerns because everyone can now see white flakes on your shirt. Sadly, some folks may think you’re not taking good care of yourself, but that’s often not the case.
Thankfully, there are numerous good shampoos on the market that can keep your strands shining and dandruff-free. So, we’ve decided to share our experience.
Continue reading to find what we learned while looking for the best dandruff shampoo for black hair!
The 7 Top-Rated Dandruff Shampoos for African-American Hair
When compared to others, certain shampoos were discovered to include ingredients that are safe to use and good for the environment. The people’s favorite, though, was Jack Black’s shampoo and conditioner combo.
| Best for | Dandruff Shampoo for Afro Hair |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Jack Black Shampoo & Conditioner |
| Color-Treated Hair | Just For Men Control GX Shampoo |
| Natural Hair | Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo |
| Organic Shampoo | Virgin Hair Fertilizer Shampoo for African American by The Roots Naturelle |
| Curly Hair | Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo by Shea Moisture |
| Budget Shampoo | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Shampoo |
| Oily Hair | Shampoo for Dandruff Relief by Jason |
We have also put together a detailed guide to help you find the best dandruff shampoos, as well as a list of important tips to help you choose the right one.
Let’s get this ball rolling, shall we?
How to Choose the Best Dandruff Shampoo for Black Hair
These are some of the factors to consider when choosing the best dandruff shampoo for African-American hair. It has to contain good, effective ingredients that will rejuvenate the hair. It doesn’t have to be very expensive, and you should be comfortable with the scent.
1. Search for Good Ingredients
This is probably the first thing that you should do. Go through the list of ingredients that the shampoo contains. Find out if it is capable of dealing with dandruff. Verify if the shampoo actually does what it claims.
Here are some of the ingredients you should look out for:
Biotin
You may be wondering why biotin made it to our list of important components of dandruff shampoo. This is because it helps in the formation of keratin, which is a primary structural protein of hair. Hence, it is found in shampoos to enhance existing hair strands and the formation of newer strands.
Zinc Pyrithione
Shampoo containing zinc pyrithione may be the best solution for people with severe dandruff. Whether the dandruff is a result of bacterial or fungi infection, zinc pyrithione tends to limit such growth.
For that reason, those suffering from seborrhoeic dermatitis need a shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione. The molecule is a pyrithione complex of zinc, and so is commonly found in dandruff shampoos for extreme cases.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is another nutrient we like to find in shampoos. It relaxes and refreshes black hair, and that is something we want with afro hair. It can even out skin tone, hydrate, and reduce irritation.
If you have a dry scalp, then this is an ingredient that should be in your shampoo. Doubt there’s any other nutrient that works as well as it does for dryness. It is also natural, so a shea butter shampoo is a good call.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, and that is why we absolutely love it. It has both antifungal and antibacterial properties. Thus, it protects the scalp from fungi and bacteria.
If you are looking for a natural remedy for dandruff, this is the one. A shampoo containing tea tree oil would not irritate your scalp like the chemical ones. That’s not all, it encourages hair growth by healing up clogged or damaged hair follicles.
Coal Tar
Coal tar is an ingredient in shampoo that has been proven to be extremely beneficial. It has been recommended by many in the health sector. While it is a sticky black mass in its natural state, it does a lot of wonders when applied to your scalp.
It also has some amazing hair-regenerating benefits! It helps shed off the dry skin that causes dandruff and delays further development. Like many others, we would recommend you have coal tar components in your shampoo.
2. Consider the Scent of the Shampoo
There are some dandruff shampoos that made it to our list that are very effective but have a not-so-pleasant smell. So if you care about your scents, you could ignore those with strong and overwhelming aromas.
The way a shampoo smells is usually directly related to the chemical it contains. If you’re sensitive to offensive scents, it is better to stick with a product that smells good. Whether you use a shampoo with a strong odor or one that smells good, the scent tends to dissipate after a few minutes.
3. Keep an Eye on Your Budget
Though this suggestion may seem obvious, you may be astonished to discover yourself spending hundreds of dollars per month on a pricey shampoo if you don’t keep track of your expenditures.
When you can afford it, it’s good to indulge yourself now and again, but it’s unhealthy to become addicted to an expensive shampoo that may bankrupt you!
Make sure to pick a product that has a reasonable price and won’t leave your bank account empty.
What Is the Best Dandruff Shampoo for Black Hair?
The best dandruff shampoo for black hair is Jack Black Shampoo, closely followed by Tea Tree Shampoo and Roots Naturelle Virgin Hair Fertilizer Shampoo.
As you continue reading, you’ll get to discover why they are the best dandruff shampoos for African-American hair. We would also mention why we like them, what can be improved upon, and answer some frequently asked questions.
If your preference is quality over quantity, this is one option that you should have in your hair care kit. The shampoo helps to keep the scalp hydrated for a reasonable period of time. While it is some cents above market rates, it gives a good value for money.
Best Overall
Keep in mind that dandruff is almost always caused by a dry scalp. This shampoo and conditioner combo is creamy and sulfate-free. It also contains blends of several plants.
The lather produced by this shampoo removes buildup from other products while hydrating and conditioning your scalp. This helps strengthen hair follicles and reduce unwanted oil buildup.
A hair care routine that involves regular use of shampoo would attain the dark and beautiful hair that we all desire. We particularly like that it cleanses the hair while retaining your scalp’s natural oils.
This reduces the possibility of flaking occurring since your hair remains moisturized. Being sulfate-free is another selling point. This contributes to a more nourished, healthier, and lustrous scalp and hair.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
We’re not the only ones who like this shampoo, many around the world love Jack Black’s Shampoo. You can see that from the high ratings it has in most stores. You can buy this shampoo for your hair’s sake. While it could be pricey, a bottle lasts a long time and is well worth the money.
Just for Men is popular for its hair dyes, but not as many are familiar with the company’s haircare line. Despite this, the quality of their hair care products is always high, as shown by their Just For Men Control GX Shampoo.
Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Colored Hair
With each wash, the CGX Innovative Hair Color anti-dandruff shampoo reduces grey hair. If you’d like to get rid of some grey hair, this is a product that you can consider.
It cleanses and revitalizes the hair gently and completely, adding volume for a fuller, thicker appearance. Unlike other shampoos that contain dye, this one progressively reduces grey hairs for natural-looking results.
If you want to progressively diminish your sparse grey hair, simply follow the directions and you will be satisfied. If you’ve completely gone gray, leave it for a significantly longer period of time. Your hair will turn a very dark brown as a result of this. The major purpose of the upkeep is to allow the roots to peek through. The average maintenance time is 5 to 10 minutes.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
While the Just For Men GX Control Shampoo contains some chemical compounds, there is no ammonia or peroxide in this solution. It makes your hair look healthier with every wash. It also contains a three-patented mix. If you simply want shiny black afro-looking hair, this product does that. You can also use it in combination with other shampoos.
Maple Holistics is a company that provides holistic services. While there are several natural oils in Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo, lavender, and tea tree are the essential oils in it.
Best Tea Trea Shampoo for Natural Hair
This is a clarifying shampoo with a floral scent that isn’t overpowering. It smells really good. You would also notice the aroma of lavender, a scent we find very appealing. We’d never miss a chance to have good scents on our hair.
If you have been searching for a product that does not use an excessive amount of synthetic chemicals to fight dandruff, then this one is for you. It is completely green, with over 90 natural components.
Interestingly, it contains no sulfates or parabens. Argan oil and rosemary are only available in smaller amounts. Hence, it guarantees that even when your hair is dyed to any color, it still gets the treatment it deserves. Also, it soothes an itchy, dry scalp.
In general, this shampoo is a good option if you care about green products and affordability. The 16-ounce jar is one that will last a long time.
On the other hand, Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo might not be the best choice for individuals with severe dandruff. While it can help with small problems, there have been a few cases where customers have said their scalps didn’t get any better after using it for a long time.
Hence, if your dandruff is severe, it’s advisable to get a shampoo that is rich in zinc pyrithione. Unfortunately, this shampoo lacks this highly powerful component.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
The Maple Holistics tea tree shampoo is a great product due to its numerous benefits. It can help prevent dandruff, promote hair growth, and keep lice at bay. If you have curly hair, I would suggest you wash it once a week to prevent it from drying out and becoming frizzy. However, this infrequency can contribute to dead skin build-up and dandruff-causing scalp.
The Roots Naturelle Virgin Hair Fertilizer Shampoo is another amazing shampoo that made it to our list. If you’ve got dry or brittle hair or your hair has been subjected to a lot of processes in the past, the Virgin Hair Fertilizer Shampoo will thoroughly clean and condition your hair, leaving it light and soft.
Best Dandruff Shampoo for African-American Hair
You’ll notice enhanced strength, feel, manageability, and shine from the roots to the tips if you use it on a regular basis, or as frequently as you choose. Apply it to damp hair and lather. Rinse the dish well.
Aloe vera, tea tree oil, honey extract, and jojoba seed oil, are all found in the Roots Naturelle Virgin Hair Fertilizer Shampoo. Sadly, the rest of its components are unknown, which might be problematic for anyone with severe allergies. This shampoo, on the other hand, is developed to revive and nourish African-American hair. It would make your dreadlocks or curls look far more beautiful.
The aroma is quite natural, not offensive at all. That is one reason we would assume that there are not many chemical components. This is another shampoo that won’t assist individuals with severe dandruff, it does a great job with only minor instances.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
The Virgin hair shampoo is, without a doubt, one of the best conditioners on the market. It controls the frizz in your hair, leaving it silky and smooth. The shampoo wasn’t at the top of my review till we learned it genuinely removes all the chemicals and products from your hair, leaving it completely clean. We can’t say enough good things about this product. Quality hair products for men of color aren’t always easy to come by, but this ranks among some of the best.
Black Jamaican Castor Oil Shampoo is worth a second look for anybody looking to promote their hair growth by hydrating dry, damaged, or stressed hair.
Best Dandruff Shampoo for Curly Hair
It moisturizes and hydrates hair while fighting breakage and restoring strength and elasticity to the strands. It promotes hair development and length retention for longer, stronger hair.
Another advantage of the Black Jamaican Castor Oil Shampoo is that it enables the circulation of hair products. It stimulates hair follicles, resulting in faster hair growth. It also nourishes the scalp and reduces dandruff, resulting in hair that is fuller, healthier, and stronger.
You can also use it on damaged hair because its vitamins replenish the hair strands. It provides smoothness, sheen, and manageability to hair.
If you were using a nasty, chemical-heavy dandruff shampoo, you can consider this shampoo as an alternative as it has no harsh chemicals and no synthetic substances.
While it is sulfate-free, it contains sulfonate. Sulfonate is related to, but not identical to, sulfate. The sulfur in sulfonate is directly bonded to a carbon atom, whereas the sulfur in sulfate is linked directly to the carbon chain via an oxygen atom. Hence, the shampoo has no sulfates.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
The Okay shampoo smells great and lathers up well, and if you have a sensitive scalp, you shouldn’t be worried as it does not contain chemicals that could cause irritation. This is a very nice option for people of color who are looking for a great shampoo to get.
Shea Moisture is also well-known for producing African Black Soap. The Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo by Shea Moisture is a dandruff shampoo that smells great, feels great, looks amazing, cleans well, and is really affordable.
Best Affordable Shampoo for Dark Hair
Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo is a rich, dark brown blend of bamboo charcoal, tea tree oil, willow bark extract, and African black soap that comes in a 13-ounce package.
Aloe leaf juice, jojoba seed oil, and shea butter are also included in this shampoo. The blend of all three ingredients smells wonderful. Simply put, it smells like perfection. If you are dealing with light cases of dandruff, then this is a product that can provide the needed relief.
Sadly, because this is another shampoo that does not contain zinc pyrithione, consequently, it may not be the most helpful treatment for severe instances. Those with sensitive skin, on the other hand, will appreciate the sensation that this shampoo produces. This is a result of the natural ingredients that it contains.
If you have oily skin yet experience signs of dandruff, this shampoo helps when regularly applied to the scalp. It effortlessly removes grime and grease, leaving just a mild, pleasing aroma that dissipates soon. People with very dry hair might not be able to enjoy this advantage. If you fall in that category, you might want to try another dandruff shampoo on our list.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
While this great shampoo thoroughly cleanses the hair, it sometimes leaves the hair feeling dry. That aside, the Shea Moisture shampoo contains high-quality components that are genuinely good for your hair and stimulate development. If you are looking to restore your hair, We would not recommend this.
The Shampoo for Dandruff Relief by Jason is another one you can try out if you don’t mind the chemicals that it contains. Despite it doesn’t contain sulfates, petroleum, phthalates, and parabens, it is one of the most chemically intensive on our list. There is also a possibility that it can be unstable when used.
Best Treatment for Severe Dandruff
This is one of the most effective treatments for severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. That is a condition characterized by the presence of a greasy scale on parts of the head.
The sulfur and salicylic acid content are the major constituents that help those dealing with this condition. While these substances are effective in reducing skin inflammation and irritation, it doesn’t have a pleasant scent.
The fragrance of this shampoo is pretty comparable to that of bitter rotten eggs. That’s something the users have to endure. However, finding a more effective, potent, and medicinal shampoo for dandruff isn’t easy.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
Jason Dandruff Relief Treatment Shampoo is one of the most cost-effective medicated dandruff shampoos for black hair. If you choose this option, ensure the shampoo doesn’t get into your eyes while you’re using it. If you unintentionally get this shampoo in your eyes, it might cause severe eye irritation, so please be cautious. When it comes to dandruff shampoos, enormous power comes with huge potential peril.
Note: Bear in mind that we will maintain this list as up-to-date as possible in order to present you with the finest dandruff shampoo for black hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
According to our research and testing, the best dandruff shampoo for black hair is Jack Black Shampoo. While every shampoo on the list offers something unique, Jack Black offers more than just a shampoo.
Most of the products mentioned can effectively deal with moderate dandruff and work on even the curliest or most compressed strands, making them soft, silky, and revitalized. They are best when used with an essential oil or shea butter conditioner, but they also work nicely on their own.
While searching for the best dandruff shampoos for African-American hair, we took these into consideration. Nevertheless, the best dandruff shampoo for you will be determined by your needs and tastes as well as the texture of your hair. We hope you found this guide helpful.
About the Author
Dante Morton
Grooming ProfessionalDante Morton is a grooming professional and fashion expert. He has a jovial personality and a passion for skincare, as well as styling the hair and beards of black men. Before joining GroomHour, Dante worked with several big players in the beauty industry. Join Dante and several monthly readers on GroomHour.com, and enrich your lifestyle with reliable grooming resources.
