Best Shampoo for Sensitive Scalp

The best shampoo for sensitive scalp is one that cleans properly and leaves out the extras your scalp doesn't need. If your scalp itches, stings or feels tight after washing, your shampoo is the first thing worth changing. This page puts gentler shampoos in one place, so you can compare them side by side and pick with a clear head.

What to look for on the label

A sensitive scalp reacts to more things than most. The shorter the list of extras, the fewer chances it has to react. Here is what we check first:

• Little or no fragrance. Fragrance is one more thing a sensitive scalp can react to. If yours reacts easily, less is better.
• Gentle cleansers. Sulphate-free shampoos lather less. That's normal, and less foam doesn't mean less clean.
• No cooling or scrubbing extras. Menthol, peppermint and gritty bits feel fresh on an easy-going scalp but can sting a sensitive one.
• A short, plain promise. A shampoo that sells itself on a big tingle, a deep detox or extra volume is usually not where a reactive scalp should start.

You don't need a "sensitive" label on every bottle you buy. You need the one that touches your scalp most often to be gentle.

Sensitive scalp or something else?

These get mixed up a lot, and they need different shampoos. If flakes are the main thing bothering you, an anti dandruff shampoo is made for that job. If it's your lengths that feel dry and rough rather than your scalp, the best shampoo for dry hair is a better place to start. And if you want to avoid animal-derived ingredients, our best vegan shampoo covers that. Vegan doesn't automatically mean gentle, though, so still check the scent and the cleansers.

How to wash a sensitive scalp

How you wash matters almost as much as what you wash with. A few habits to keep:

• Use lukewarm water, not hot.
• Use a small amount and work it in with your fingertips, not your nails.
• Rinse well. Product left sitting on the scalp can add to the itch.
• Keep conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends, away from the roots.
• Change one product at a time, so you know what's working and what isn't.

If your scalp settles down with a new shampoo, stick with it. Swapping every few weeks makes it hard to tell what helped.

What to pair it with

A shampoo only sits on your scalp for a minute or two. If your scalp wants more care between washes, look at our best hair treatment for sensitive scalp. For conditioners and other products picked with easily upset scalps in mind, browse our sensitive scalp range. It makes sense to keep the rest of your routine just as gentle.

Comparing your options

Start with how your scalp behaves, then look at your hair. A sensitive scalp with fine, oily roots will want a lighter shampoo than a sensitive scalp with thick, dry lengths. Salon brands and everyday brands both make gentle formulas, so it comes down to what your scalp is happy with and what suits your budget. If you'd like to see everything side by side, you can shop all shampoo across the full range we stock, with Australia-wide delivery.

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