5 Best Beard Dandruff Shampoos: Defeat the Flakes in 2024

Picture this: you have been growing your beard out. With the help of the new lengthy follicles, you are now beginning to take the shape of a wisened dude. A dude who’s seen the world. A dude who’s come up against hardship and been hardened by it. However, the little flakes of skin betray this steely masculine image.

Time to get the vacuum out? No. You must learn the way of the best beard dandruff shampoos. Conveniently, that’s all laid out in this article by yours truly.

If your dandruff is serious, it can be emotionally draining. I’ve been on the receiving end of facial seborrheic dermatitis (the same condition as dandruff).

I used to rock up to photo shoots with raw red skin, dry skin, and spots and explain it to the make-up artist via Google Translate as they scratched their heads, wondering what to do.

Though distressing, beard dandruff can be alleviated by normal hair dandruff shampoo, which opens up a wide range of chemicals, oils, blends, and natural ingredients that can be used to put the condition to bed or at least leave it manageable and largely invisible to the outside world.

In this list, I reveal the best beard dandruff shampoos currently available. Whether that’s achieved through natural ingredients, beard-specific shampoos, or just the finest and most effective dandruff shampoos on the market, FashionBeans has the ideal route for you toward a flake-free future.

So please, read on below.

Key Takeaways 

For this arduous task, I used my own experience dealing with seborrheic dermatitis. Then I fortified it by sifting through Reddit’s gnarliest pages, Amazon’s most banal comments, and the internet’s finest articles to arrive at this 5-part list of the best beard shampoos for dandruff.

The top overall of the best beard dandruff shampoos is Nizoral. It was recommended by a dermatologist to me, and it worked. But it also worked for countless other people online. There are a few other chemicals that are similarly effective.

Plus, beard-specific products and brands that use natural ingredients. These all come at various price points, strengths of formula, and ease of use.

The runner-up best beard shampoo for dandruff is Dr Squatch Pine Hair Care. This product uses natural antifungal and anti-inflammatory ingredients. It’s easy to use each day. It has a wonderful scent. Finally, it is a conditioner  + shampoo combo, so you can feel like you’re in the salon at home.

Why it’s great: Nizoral is, as one Reddit user on r/notstupidquestions put it, “spensive”, but that is because of the 1% ketoconazole. It is a veritable dandruff blaster.

The ketoconazole reduces yeast fungi Malasezzia that causes itchiness, dryness and inflammation of the skin. It is one of the most effective chemicals out there, and doctors prescribe it for seborrheic dermatitis (as I had). This, along with the strong online support, makes it the best beard shampoo for dandruff.

Who is this for? This is for severe dandruff and facial seborrheic dermatitis. I was diagnosed with dermatitis and dandruff, and so, as a model, I was desperate to find solutions. The dermatologist recommended Nizoral and it helped with flare-ups.

As a fun bonus, Nizoral has been linked to reducing hair loss, too. Ketoconazole is thought to reduce 5-AR action, which in turn reduces DHT production, the main chemical associated with hair loss. Some studies therefore link ketoconazole shampoo application to hair growth.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Because of its strength, be strict about application. Follow your doctor’s orders, or use this Mayo Clinic guide: “Use every 3 or 4 days for up to 8 weeks. Then use only as needed to keep dandruff under control.”

Scent: Fresh | Form: Liquid | Size: 7 fl. oz | Benefits: Required just two washes a week | Hair Type: All | Feature: Proven in clinical studies and gentle on hair

Why it’s great: There are two main reasons why this Dove DermaCare Dandruff is one of the best beard dandruff shampoos. First is its alluring price tag. Yesterday, Amazon was offering 15% off the already cheap list price of $5.69. Today, for some utterly baffling reason, it is $2.00. This puts the $ per fl oz at a minuscule $0.17.

The second reason is the use of pyrithione zinc. This is an antimicrobial, anti-bacterial, and (most crucially) antifungal chemical that targets natural fungi that cause inflammation and skin dryness associated with seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff).

Who is this for? If you’re someone who knows that they need a solid daily routine to effect a real change in their life (definitely me), then use this best anti-dandruff beard shampoo. It smells delightful, suits all beards, and is budget-friendly.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Not every manly bearded man will want a coconut and shea butter-scented beard. No judgment here, though.

Scent: Coconut and Shea Butter | Form: Liquid | Size: 12 fl. oz | Benefits: frizz control and pH balanced | Hair Type: Normal | Feature: PETA cruelty-free, safe to use on color-treated hair

Why it’s great: Are you messing? Pine tar beard shampoo? This is all sorts of manly, refreshing and natural. This Dr. Squatch package combines a conditioner of shea butter, avocado oil, and pine tar, with a shampoo of oat protein, jojoba oil, and (of course) pine tar.

It’s an indulgent and luxurious self-care routine that’ll leave your beard feeling restored and will help tackle the dandruff. BeanDom in r/beards uses pine tar shampoo three to four times a week, and his problem has completely vanished.

The fact that the ingredients make me want to bathe in the stuff might have something to do with its being crowned one of the best beard dandruff shampoos.

Who is this for? It’s for the bearded men who suffer from dandruff but would rather attempt to tackle it with natural ingredients. The oils in these tinctures will leave the skin smoothed, calmed and less irritated.

It will also leave a refreshingly natural scent akin to if one had been out all day chopping pine trees in mid-winter. A soothing, natural smell.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: The soft, nature-first approach might not fix more severe forms of dandruff and might leave some needing a more chemically potent mix. Not necessarily, though.

Scent: Naturally-derived scents | Form: Liquid | Size: 8 + 10.6 fl. oz | Benefits: Hydrating, soothing | Hair Type: Fine/all | Feature: Paraben + sulfate free, multiple oils, conditioner included

Why it’s great: This shampoo has been specifically crafted for facial hair. Argan oil is naturally an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal, and has anti-inflammatory properties.

It also helps to moisturize the skin. These are all crucial in fighting the dandruff battle. As well, it comes with an ergonomic pump on top that will reduce shampoo wastage.

Who is this for? If you are so passionate about your beard that you’d rather enter your grave than shave, you may have stumbled on a similarly enthusiastic brand.

If you’re going to lug an upside-down hair-do for the rest of your life, then you’ll also want to make sure there’s no dandruff. So, this product is for men who love their beards, love morbid-cartoonish imagery, and hate dandruff.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: The Hell’s Angels-esque aesthetic might put a few customers off. But it shouldn’t, for this is a phenomenal beard-first product.

Scent: old-time barbershop | Form: Liquid | Size: 16 oz | Benefits: Hydrating, reduces itches,  | Hair Type: All | Feature: Argan Oil

Why it’s great: Selsun Blue Medicated Strength Dandruff Shampoo uses selenium sulfide to help fight dandruff. Although it does have antifungal properties, it also encourages your body to produce less dead skin. Dead skin is essentially an indication of dandruff, and this is a particularly effective method of attack.

In terms of the product, you gotta love the no-nonsense branding and packaging on this shampoo. It’s not hiding what it is, which is a medical-grade anti-dandruff shampoo of the highest order.

Who is this for? For those who have tried natural remedies/shampoos and want to work into the chemical remedies, this is a more affordable alternative to Nizoral, which is expensive to use in perpetuity. Plus, the shampoo comes with a menthol scent to hide its medical roots.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some people (I’d probably count myself in this category) just don’t vibe with menthol shampoos. I don’t want a cold head while showering. But, each to his own.

Scent: menthol | Form: Liquid | Size: 11 fl. oz | Benefits: maximum strength | Hair Type: Dry | Feature: cools and invigorates scalp while remaining gentle

Buying Considerations for the Best Beard Dandruff Shampoos

Ingredients

Although seborrheic dermatitis is the cause of dandruff, it isn’t fully understood. Some combination of the common yeast found on the skin (Malassezia), excess oil, and an autoimmune reaction is thought to be the cause. This makes the antifungal property a high priority for an anti-dandruff shampoo.

Ketoconazole is found in Nizoral and is thought to be one of the most effective. Zinc pyrithione in the Dove DermaCare product and selenium sulfide in the Selsun product. The UK’s NHS also recommends salicylic acid and coal tar.

That’s not to say natural ingredients, like argan oil, can’t help with dandruff. If it’s anti-inflammatory and antifungal, it is good to go.

Scent

Do people regularly get complimented on their beard scent? Well, you don’t want it smelling bad, so washing your beard with shampoo is the first step. And adding scent isn’t a bad idea.

Perhaps you don’t want it to be the centerpiece of your essence, but a little scent that complements your aftershave might be nice. Equally, unscented means uncomplicated.

Size

Dandruff is a fickle beast. It comes, it goes, it returns randomly, and leaves again just as brazenly as it came. Now. When trialing out new anti-dandruff shampoos, buy the smallest size first, just to see if it works properly. If it does, then you can slap on the economies of scale and purchase in bulk.

How We Chose 

As a one-time sufferer of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, I understand the irritation of both scalp and emotions. It can be a horrible experience. So, I’ve also been through the process of taming it and calming it, and I have some understanding of finding the right product.

Wherever possible, I chose brands using safe, tested and approved anti-dandruff chemicals but also sought options from brands using natural ingredients too. That way, a wide range of approaches can be catered for.

Ingredients: Is the chemical ingredient proven to be effective? Ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, and coal tar are all a good start. Naturally occurring ingredients can also achieve similar results, but do your research for that.

Every person reacts to a different chemical or ingredient differently, so you might have to work through a few until you find one or a combination that works for you.

Customer Reviews: I’ve opted for products with only an average of 4.5 stars or above on Amazon. Although the majority of products I chose have a large survey dataset, Nizoral and Grave Before Shave didn’t. That’s because they were highly rated on either blog sites, articles, or Reddit.

Plus, Nizoral is highly regarded across the internet and is the effective choice of my dermatologist to combat my dandruff.

Price: Nizoral is expensive and awkward to use (having to remember to use it on specific days). So, that’s why I wanted to provide a range of prices for consumers to best choose their budget.

Why Trust Us?

Harvey, a seasoned grooming and fashion expert at FashionBeans, brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to the table. His extensive background in evaluating grooming products ensures that his recommendations, like those for the best beard dandruff shampoos, are both trustworthy and reliable.

Harvey’s meticulous approach to product selection is evident in his in-depth analyses and reviews. Harvey’s articles are more than just reviews; they are comprehensive guides that help readers make informed decisions based on thorough research and personal testing.

His commitment to providing valuable insights makes him a trusted voice in the grooming and fashion community.

Final Verdict 

Often, people come to this problem in a state of panic, discomfort, or anxiety. That’s why I’ve chosen Nizoral as tops among he best beard dandruff shampoos. The ketoconazole tackles the dandruff at its root and is approved by doctors.