# Shampoo for dandruff

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/shampoo/for-dandruff/
Category: Beauty > Shampoo. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 315 counted first-hand reports from Ulta and Sephora shopper reviews, Jan 2018 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which shampoo works for dandruff?

**Short answer:** Briogeo Scalp Revival Scrub Shampoo has the best record on dandruff: 21 of 26 reviewers who brought it up said it cleared or reduced their flakes. Biolage Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo come next, both at 17 of 22. The weakest record here is Bondi Boost HG Shampoo for Thinning Hair at 18 of 41, and it is sold for thinning hair, not dandruff.

**What stands out:** Two OUAI shampoos made the list, and the clarifying one has the better record: OUAI Detox Shampoo at 30 of 45 against OUAI Anti-Dandruff Shampoo at 8 of 15, though the second is the one sold as anti-dandruff.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Flakes cleared | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Briogeo Scalp Revival Scrub Shampoo | 21 of 26 | 81% | yes |
| 2 | Biolage Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | 17 of 22 | 77% | yes |
| 3 | Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo | 17 of 22 | 77% | yes |
| 4 | OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo | 30 of 45 | 67% | yes |
| 5 | Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo | 12 of 19 | 63% | no |
| 6 | OUAI Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | 8 of 15 | 53% | no |
| 7 | Bondi Boost HG Shampoo for Thinning Hair | 18 of 41 | 44% | no |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Briogeo Scalp Revival Scrub Shampoo

62% of its reviews say flakes cleared up, and 17% say hair stays clean longer. Complaints are few: 7% saw no difference. All counted reviews are from Sephora.

- Praised for: Hair stays clean longer (17%), Gentle on scalp (14%), Nice scent (14%)
- Reports counted: 29

### 2. Biolage Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Reviewers like it for flakes (54%) and for leaving hair soft (11%). The complaints are scattered: 7% call it drying, 7% say their scalp got itchy and 7% saw no difference. All counted reviews are from Ulta.

- Praised for: Hair stays clean longer (11%), Leaves hair soft (11%)
- Complaints: Itchy or irritated scalp (7%), Drying or stripping (7%)
- Reports counted: 28

### 3. Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo

Sold for hair fall, but 52% of its reviews say it cleared flakes. The trade-offs are dryness (13%) and an itchy scalp (13%), and 9% say it costs too much. All counted reviews are from Ulta.

- Praised for: Less shedding (9%)
- Complaints: Drying or stripping (13%), Itchy or irritated scalp (13%), Too expensive (9%)
- Reports counted: 23

### 4. OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo

The most reviewers weighed in on this one, 45 in all, and 44% of its reviews say flakes cleared. Some found it drying (15%) or itchy (11%), and 13% like the scent.

- Praised for: Nice scent (13%), Good value (5%), Hair stays clean longer (4%)
- Complaints: Drying or stripping (15%), Itchy or irritated scalp (11%), Too expensive (4%)
- Reports counted: 55

### 5. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

23% of its reviews like the scent and 41% say flakes cleared. Dryness is the main complaint, at 23%. All counted reviews are from Ulta.

- Praised for: Nice scent (23%)
- Complaints: Drying or stripping (23%), Too expensive (9%)
- Reports counted: 22

### 6. OUAI Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Reviewers like the scent (28%) and call it gentle on the scalp (17%), but 7 of 15 who brought up dandruff said it didn't help. 22% of its reviews report no difference and 17% say it costs too much. All counted reviews are from Sephora.

- Praised for: Nice scent (28%), Gentle on scalp (17%), Leaves hair soft (11%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (17%)
- Reports counted: 18

### 7. Bondi Boost HG Shampoo for Thinning Hair

Sold for thinning hair rather than dandruff. 18 of 41 said it cleared or reduced their flakes, the weakest record here, and 21% of its reviews say hair gets greasy fast. It splits by store, with 12 of 21 at Ulta and 6 of 20 at Sephora.

- Praised for: Nice scent (13%), Less shedding (11%), Leaves hair soft (9%)
- Complaints: Hair gets greasy fast (21%), Drying or stripping (15%), Itchy or irritated scalp (11%)
- Reports counted: 47

## Questions

**Which shampoo works for dandruff?**

By these reviews, Briogeo Scalp Revival Scrub Shampoo has the best record at 21 of 26, followed by Biolage Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo at 17 of 22 and Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo at 17 of 22. These are shoppers' own reports, so your results may differ.

**Does OUAI Anti-Dandruff Shampoo work?**

Reviews are mixed. 8 of 15 reviewers who brought up dandruff said it helped, and 22% of its reviews report no difference. The brand's clarifying shampoo, OUAI Detox Shampoo, has the better record at 30 of 45.

**Does Bondi Boost shampoo work for dandruff?**

Less often than the others here. 23 of 41 reviewers who mentioned dandruff said it didn't help, which is the weakest record on this page. 38% of its reviews do say flakes cleared, but 21% say hair gets greasy fast.

**What if my dandruff doesn't go away?**

Reviewers' results varied, even on the same shampoo. If the problem is severe, painful or came on suddenly, a doctor or dermatologist is the right call.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/