Best Shampoo for Dry Scalp in Summer 2025: A dry, itchy scalp can absolutely ruin your summer vibes. Summer sun, sweat, saltwater, and washing your hair mean stripping your scalp of natural oils and, in turn, leaving your scalp irritated, dry, and uncomfortable.

The tricky part is, while you want moisture, you do not want a greasy scalp while you’re at it. Choosing the right shampoo for your dry scalp during summer 2025 is important.

In this article, we’ll identify some dermatologist-approved shampoos and some user-approved shampoos that restore moisture to your scalp without leaving your hair greasy. We will show you shampoos that contain great moisturizing ingredients, are free from harsh and harmful chemicals, and restore your scalp’s natural moisture barrier. So, let’s get started on the best shampoos to get your scalp feeling cool, calm, and dry this summer!

What Causes Dry Scalp in the Summer?

Before you grab any ol’ “moisturizing shampoo” off the shelf, there can be some key causes of your dry scalp during the summer months:

Dehydration: The heat and sun can suck the moisture right out of your scalp.

Washing Too Often: You may be washing your hair more often to remove excess sweat and in turn, are stripping the natural oils from your hair and scalp.

Frequent washing: Bacteria and/or sweat on the scalp can cause you to wash hair more often. While washing often is great for removing that bacteria and/or sweat, frequent washing strips away the natural oils from your scalp.

Chlorine and saltwater: Both chlorinated water and saltwater can dry out and irritate the scalp.

AC or artificial coolness: Artificially cooling your body, either by fan or air conditioning, dries you out. Your scalp, if nothing else, is exposed and subjected to this artificial drying process.

Product buildup: On your scalp and in your hair, sunscreen, styling sprays, or no-rinse shampoos can all create a residue on your scalp that will clog your pores and leave flakes.

All we need is a dedicated summer shampoo that will clean, hydrate, and calm your irritation from bacteria or sweat, while also being light enough that it won’t weigh down your hair.

Summer 2025: Top 10 Best Shampoos for Dry Scalp

1. Ouai Detox Shampoo

Best for: Cleansing the scalp without stripping the moisture

Why you’ll love it: Made with apple cider vinegar, Ouai Detox is the best shampoo to remove sweat, oil, and product buildup, without stripping or drying out your scalp. Made with keratin ingredients, Ouai Detox also helps protect the hair from home, while keeping the scalp in a balanced pH.

Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed keratin

Free of: Sulfates, parabens, phthalates

2. Aveeno Scalp Soothing Oat Milk Blend Shampoo

Best for: Sensitive, itchy scalps

Why you’ll love it: Oat milk is a natural calming agent. Aveeno Scalp Soothing Shampoo utilizes oat milk to soothe your dry and irritable summer scalp with gentle ingredients that allow everyday use without residue.

Key ingredients: Oat milk, almond oil

Free of: Sulfates

3. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Shampoo

Best for: Exfoliating a flaky scalp

Why we love it: The micro-exfoliating charcoal pulls impurities out while the coconut oil adds moisture. This shampoo is essentially a little detox/day spa for your scalp.

Key ingredients: Binchotan charcoal, tea tree oil, coconut oil

Free from: Sulfates, silicones, parabens

4. Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost Shampoo

Best for: Lightweight moisture

Why we love it: If oily roots are a concern, this gel-based formulation adds moisture with hyaluronic acid without weight.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, water-based gel formulation

Free from: Any kind of sulfated surfactants

5. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Best for: Cooling refreshment from sweat and irritation

Why we love it: The peppermint and tea tree oil combination leaves a refreshing, tingling feeling that brings your scalp back to life in the summer heat.

Key ingredients: Tea tree oil, peppermint, lavender

Free from: Parabens, gluten

6. The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo

Best for: Dry scalp prone to dandruff

Why we love it: Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that not only help combat flakes but also calm irritation. It’s loved by the masses for a reason!

Key Ingredients: Ginger essential oil, birch bark extract

Free from: Silicones, animal testing

7. Kérastase Specifique Bain Riche Dermo-Calm Shampoo

Best for: Luxe hydration for sensitive scalps

Why we love it: This is a salon-grade product, and we all deserve to treat ourselves sometimes! This shampoo soothes, hydrates, and protects without clogging pores or creating excess oil.

Key Ingredients: Calophyllum oil, glycerin, menthol

Free from: Silicone

8. Head & Shoulders Bare Pure Clean Dandruff Shampoo

Best for: Flake control with clean ingredients

Why we love it: This is not your average Head and Shoulders. The Bare line is made with minimal ingredients and no dyes or heavy fragrance, making it perfect for dry, reactive scalps.

Key Ingredients: Pyrithione zinc, coconut water

Free from: Sulfates, silicones, parabens, dyes

9. Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Shampoo

Best for: Encouraging growth while moisturizing

Why we love it: Rosemary oil promotes circulation and encourages hair growth, while mint chills your scalp. This shampoo hydrates without buildup, meaning no oily roots or heavy hair in the heat of summer.

Key Ingredients: Rosemary, mint, biotin

Free of: sulfates, parabens, mineral oil

10. Eucerin DermoCapillaire Calming Urea Shampoo

Best for: ultra-dry, eczema-prone scalp

Why we love it: Dermatologist-approved and fragrance-free, this gentle urea shampoo for sensitive, dry, and irritated scalps provides some serious moisture and refreshment.

Key ingredients: urea, lactate, polidocanol

Free of: fragrances, alcohol, colorants

How to Choose the Right Shampoo for Your Dry Scalp in the Summer

When choosing a shampoo, you want to look for:

Hydrating Ingredients

If you find that your scalp is on the dry side, look for products with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, oat extract, coconut oil, urea, etc. These hydrating ingredients are humectants to help pull moisture into your scalp.

Not Harsh Surfactants

If you’re dealing with a dry scalp, you’ll want to avoid harsh surfactants, and sulfates (SLS and SLES) are very harsh surfactants that strip oil from the scalp. Gentle cleansers like cocamidopropyl betaine are better options for rinsing without stripping oils.

Anti-Itch, Soothing Properties

We’ve all experienced nasty, persistent itching due to sensitive or afflicted scalp/scalp conditions. Photo-responsive triggers to the scalp can be soothed with anti-itch, soothing agents like tea tree oil or peppermint, ginger, and chamomile to calm the inflammatory response that provokes itching.

Lightweight Formulas

In the summer, you’ll want to use gel-based or water-based shampoos that rinse clean and don’t weigh your hair down.

Fragrance-Free Products

If you have a sensitive scalp, fragrance-free options or natural scented fragrances based on essential oils would be preferable options to avoid triggering a response.

Expert Strategies for Better Scalp Care This Summer

Even the best shampoo alone won’t do the work.

You can use these expert strategies and incorporate them into your scalp hair care routine:

1. Choose to wash every 2–3 days (not every day)

Washing every day can dry out the scalp even more! Use a gentle shampoo as needed for washing, and use a co-wash or just rinse with water in the meantime.

2. Use a Scalp serum.

Aloe, niacinamide, tea tree, or even just a hydrating lightweight serum can do wonders in between washes.

3. Don’t wash your hair with hot water.

Rinse your hair with cooler or lukewarm water to prevent your hair from losing natural oils.

4. Protect your scalp from the sun.

Wear a hat or use a sunscreen product (scalp sprays) to protect from sun damage.

5. Rinse Weekly.

Use a clarifying shampoo (or at the very least sulfate-free) once a week to remove sweat, SPF, and product buildup!

Summer Scalp Care Routine Sample

Step 1- Shampoo (with hydrating, sulfate-free formula)

Step 2- Scalp serum or mist (extra moisture)

Step 3- Leave-in conditioner (mid-length to ends)

Step 4- Use a silk scarf or hat if you are going out in the sun!

Conclusion

A lack of scalp in the summer doesn’t just feel uncomfortable—it’s a signal that your skin needs a little extra TLC. The best shampoos for dry scalp summer 2025 are going to be gentle, hydrating, and refreshing, without suffocating your locks. Whether that’s deep nourishment, dandruff relief, or everyday hydration, there’s a product out there for you.

So say goodbye to flakes, itchiness, and greasy roots, and hello to healthy, summer-ready hair that’s as nice as it feels.

FAQs

Is Head & Shoulders a good product for dry scalp?

Yes, but choose the right version. Some Head & Shoulders products are designed to moisturize the scalp, while others may be marketed for oil-control or dandruff.

Head & Shoulders Supreme Moisture with Argan Oil

Great for dry scalp + dandruff

Contains pyrithione zinc (anti-fungal) + hydrating agents

Head & Shoulders Clinical Dry Scalp Rescue

Specific for dryness with bad flaking or itching

Standard formulas (like Classic Clean) may still be too drying for people with very dry or sensitive skin.

Check labels for “moisture”, “nourishing”, or “hydration”.

Is Baby Shampoo Bad for Dry Scalp?

Yes, in some cases, but not all baby shampoos were created equal.

Pros:

Very gentle, mostly tear-free, and free of harsh chemicals.

Oftentimes, sulfate and paraben-free.