10 Best Dandruff Shampoos For Kids 2024 in the United States

There are vintage TV ads for “Head & Shoulders” about how embarrassing dandruff can be, stating: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression!” But toddlers, young children, and even tweens and teens can also suffer from dandruff, and itchy, flaky scalp. And there is also a scalp even in infants, known as “cradle cap”. Fortunately, there are dandruff shampoos that are specially formulated for children, and safe enough even for infants!

Some people suffer from dandruff during the winter, from being exposed to cold, dry weather. In other cases, dandruff can be due to a fungus, or even just stress. We’ll look at some of the offerings in the MSN list of the top 10 dandruff shampoos for kids. Depending on how serious your child’s case is, you’ll see that some products are good enough to get rid of dandruff and keep it from coming back. Other cases might require switching off between several products. With this information, you’ll be able to make an informed decision!

Looking at the MSN top 10 dandruff shampoos, you’ll see a few formulas and modes of attack to combat dandruff:

• Natural ingredients: Some dandruff shampoos rely mostly on various essential oils to nourish the scalp and keep it from flaking. One such product is the Maple Holistics Honeydew Kids Dry Scalp Care Formula. It contains botanical extracts such as rosemary leaf oil, tea tree oil, argan oil, and lavender oil.

Maple Holistics Honeydew Kids Dry Scalp Care Formula

• Medicated shampoo: These will use a chemical such as pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, or salicylic acid to combat dandruff. An example is Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Baby Shampoo. It has pyrithione zinc, which is effective against both dandruff and cradle cap.

Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Baby Shampoo

An example of cradle cap seborrheic dermatitis 

• With a fungicide: There are dandruff shampoos that are expressly for killing fungus. An example is Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. It contains 1% ketoconazole, a known antifungal medicine. However, it’s not recommended for children under age 12, without consulting a doctor first.

Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

• Shampoo with conditioner: Some dandruff shampoos have ingredients that fight dandruff, but also dry out the scalp. It’s best to use conditioner after shampooing with dandruff shampoo. Some products combine conditioners with their shampoo. An example is the SheaMoisture Kids Mango & Carrot Shampoo and Conditioner. It contains shea butter to hydrate and moisturize dry hair. Satisfied customers said that it helped remove dandruff and red patches on her daughter’s scalp. Also, using a conditioner will ensure longer-lasting results.

Shea Moisture Kids Mango & Carrot Shampoo and Conditioner

What Are Some Tips For a Successful Treatment?

• Avoiding salicylic acid in young children: There are dandruff treatments that use salicylic acid. This is effective against dandruff due to a yeast infection. However, doctors say not to use salicylic acid on children under age 2, because it can be absorbed in the skin to the point of toxicity in such young children. If you want a product for toddlers, you should look for a product that uses pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfide instead or one that uses natural moisturizers.

• Leave-in or rinse-out: Check the directions on the particular dandruff shampoo that you purchase. Some are “leave-in” products: they work best when you lather up and leave them for a few minutes before rinsing. Others are “rinse-out” products, that you can use as a regular shampoo: immediately after lathering up, you should rinse out the shampoo. (This is especially the case with products that contain coal tar extract, such as Neutrogena T/Gel Extra Strength Dandruff Shampoo. It stops the scalp from flaking by slowing the rate at which skin cells die, but it can also discolor your hair if left in too long.)

Neutrogena T/Gel Extra Strength Dandruff 

• Alternating products: Since there are several different treatments for dandruff, experts recommend alternating between different products, with different active ingredients. When you tend to use the same product all the time, dandruff may become “resistant” to one type of treatment. Also, you can try using an anti-dandruff shampoo 3 times a week, and a regular shampoo or shampoo/conditioner the other times that you wash your hair.

• When to know it’s not working: Experts say that if dandruff doesn’t go away in 4-6 weeks, you should try a formula with a different active ingredient. Also, you should consult a doctor if the dandruff and itching get worse, if the scalp becomes red or swollen, or if flaky skin starts to develop in other parts of the head and face.

Wrap Up

We went through some of the main ingredients in the MSN list of the best dandruff shampoos for kids. Some kids’ shampoos are appropriate even for toddlers, while others are primarily for young teenagers. You should be aware of what are encouraging signs that the shampoo is doing its job, and when it’s time to try something else. Look over the MSN list, and choose out a shampoo that’ll solve your dandruff problems!