The 3 Best Dry Scalp Shampoos for Men

Do you find yourself scratching your scalp often, without reason? You could be suffering from a dry scalp. Accompanied by itchiness, discomfort, and other problems, a dry scalp can be quite a menace if left untreated.

If these problems resonate with you, continue reading as we deep dive into what causes itchy scalps and which are the best dry scalp shampoos for men that you can use to remedy the condition.

What is a Dry Scalp?

A scalp that feels itchy, irritated, and flakey is considered to be dry. Dryness occurs when your scalp loses more moisture than it should, dehydrating the outer layer of the skin. While it’s a common skin condition that affects both men and women, dry scalp requires immediate attention. Otherwise, it can be quite painful.

A dry scalp is not a disease — it’s a symptom with many underlying causes. Identifying the right cause for men is necessary for finding the best dry scalp shampoo for men or the appropriate men's treatment products.

What Causes Dry Scalp?

From relatively harmless to medical, a dry scalp could have the following causes:

Scalp Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that results in the rapid reproduction of skin cells. While the condition can affect skin in any part of the human body, 45-56% of affected individuals suffer from scalp psoriasis.

The excess skin cells tend to form discolored patches on your scalp that can be itchy and painful. In extreme cases, scalp psoriasis can even develop painful fissures or start bleeding.

When left untreated, a severe case of scalp psoriasis can spill over onto your face, forehead, or neck.

The biggest problem of getting psoriasis is that it has no permanent clinical treatment and can easily relapse.

Dermatitis

A dry and flaky scalp could also be caused by some variation of dermatitis. You could either develop a case of atopic dermatitis, a.k.a eczema or suffer from contact dermatitis. Any exposure to environmental triggers or direct contact with potentially hazardous products could cause an acute case of dermatitis.

Or, it could be dandruff causing an itchy and flaky scalp. After all, it is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. Dandruff is not contagious, but those pesky white or yellow flakes in your hair can be very embarrassing and cause discomfort in your scalp.

These three major types of scalp dermatitis can result in a dry scalp.

Scalp Ringworm

In rare cases, you could suffer from an uncontrollably itchy scalp because of a ringworm infection. The fungus Tinea capitis can be transmitted easily via direct contact with an infected person, animals, or objects that have been exposed to it.

While it’s usually common in children under 10 years of age, it could affect adults too. Apart from dryness accompanied by itchiness and flaking, scalp ringworm could cause bald patches and brittle hair.

Actinic keratoses

Lastly, a dry scalp could also be an outcome of severe sun damage. While genetics make some men predisposed to this condition, you’re also susceptible to actinic keratoses if you have thinning hair and spend a lot of time in the sun without any protection.

We think it’s also important to mention that, apart from clinical causes, simple things like not drinking enough water or using products that strip your hair of moisture can also dry out your scalp. So, you need to be wise when choosing your hair care products to prevent that from happening.

The 3 Best Dry Scalp Shampoos for Men

Shampoos come in direct contact with your scalp, unlike some other products like conditioners that you only apply on the lengths of your hair. So, you need to make sure the ingredients in your shampoo are hydrating and moisturizing. The simple act of shampooing your hair should not worsen the dryness in your scalp.

Keeping these factors in mind, here are our top picks for the best dry scalp shampoo for men:

NuMe Dandruff Shampoo

This dandruff defense shampoo is formulated to soothe irritation in your scalp, cleanse it of dead skin cells, and strengthen brittle hair. It helps reduce dandruff with every wash, rejuvenates your hair from the roots, and replenishes moisture in your scalp. It’s safe to use this shampoo on color-treated hair.

Ingredients: Tea tree leaf oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), Argania spinosa kernel oil

Benefits: Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, frizz-control, shine enhancement, scalp soothing, cleansing, detoxifying, hair strengthening

How to Use: Thoroughly wet your hair. Now, take the required amount of shampoo on your palm, work up a lather, and massage into your roots. Wash off the product and repeat as needed.

NuMe Peach Shampoo

Made with real peach extract, this shampoo stimulates the production of natural oils to prevent dryness in your scalp, boosts collagen production, and provides protection against free radical damage. Our Peach Shampoo has soothing benefits that can significantly reduce discomfort in dry scalps while adding shine and softness to your tresses.

Ingredients: Peach extract, amino acids

Benefits: Soothing, moisturizing, softening, shine enhancing, fragrant, antioxidant-rich pH-balancing formula

How to Use: Apply on wet hair and gently massage the shampoo into your roots. Rinse well and repeat as needed. We recommend using this shampoo regularly (by that, we mean a few times a week) for the best results.

NuMe White Truffle Shampoo

This is the best dry scalp shampoo for men from NuMe. Fortified with white truffle, a plant-derived hydrating ingredient known for its excellent moisture-locking benefits, this shampoo has a gentle but clarifying action. It helps remove skin flakes, which are common in those with dry scalps but does not strip the hair of natural oils. Because of this, the White Truffle Shampoo nourishes your hair from the root to the tip.

Ingredients: Summer white truffle, aloe leaf juice, bamboo leaf extract, Dead Sea water, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, jojoba seed oil, argan oil, sage-chamomile-jasmine extract, and purple orchid

Benefits: Cleansing, nourishing, repairing, and strengthening

How to Use: Wet your hair thoroughly. Divide it into parts and massage the shampoo on your scalp, working it into the roots. Rinse off and repeat as needed.

5 Tips to Get Rid of Dry Scalp in Men

Now, let’s talk about what you can do to tackle dry scalp.

1. Be Mindful of Daily Hair Care: Go easy on that hot shower because washing your hair with hot water can often strip your hair of its natural oils and make your scalp dry. It’s also a good practice to shield your head from the sun, especially if your lifestyle requires you to spend long stretches in the sun. Anything from a hat to hair care products that protect against the sun (like our Thermal Heat Protectant for Hair) can be useful to prevent a dry scalp.
2. Don’t Wash Your Hair Too Often: Frequent shampooing can disturb the moisture levels of your scalp. So wash your hair with a good shampoo only when needed. We also recommend massaging your scalp with your fingertips during the hair wash to loosen and get rid of the skin flakes. Do be gentle — don’t scratch your scalp with your nails. It’s only going to make matters worse.
3. Drink Plenty of Water: Dry scalps lack moisture and hydration. So if you suffer from it, increase your water intake. We recommend adding plenty of fruits like watermelon, kiwi, peaches, etc. into your diet to enhance your daily water consumption, and try to drink at least one gallon of water every day.
4. Focus on Managing Stress Levels: Stress is a silent killer that affects your body and may even impact your hair health. You can experience stress-induced hair fall, thinning, or graying. Thin hair, in turn, can make your scalp more vulnerable to environmental factors like sunshine. Excessive exposure to sunshine can make your scalp dry.
5. Consult a Doctor: Since a dry scalp can have many underlying reasons with overlapping symptoms, it’s best to consult a dermatologist to get to the root cause. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the correct reason and prescribe the best solutions for tackling the problem.

Key Takeaway

Try our shampoo recommendations and hair care tips if you're suffering from a dry scalp. While it can be irritating, a dry scalp is treatable with the right products. Choosing the best dry scalp shampoo for men that is suitable for you can make a significant difference in your hair's health.

Don't forget to follow us for more product recommendations and hair care tips @NuMeHair.

FAQs

How to Hydrate Dry Scalp at Home?

The best way to hydrate a dry scalp at home is to drink lots of water, stop using hot water for washing your hair, and switch to hydrating shampoos. Also, work on quitting bad habits like smoking and drinking.

How Long Does It Take for Shampoos for Dry Scalps to Start Working?

Shampoos don’t show results overnight. It usually takes 2-3 weeks for hair care products to start showing results.

Can Dry Shampoo Cause Scalp Problems?

If you’re cautious and use dry shampoo sparingly while spraying from at least a 6-inch distance, dry shampoos should not affect your scalp health.

What Vitamins Are Good for Dry Scalp?

In recommendation for the best dry scalp shampoo for men, there are always ingredients like vitamins A, C, D, and E. These vitamins are good for tackling a dry scalp. In addition, Omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, iron, and collagen are also beneficial.

Is Dandruff the Same as a Dry Scalp?

No, although dandruff does cause your scalp to flake. Other problems like psoriasis, ringworm, dermatitis, etc. can also lead to a dry scalp.