Is Summer Causing Your Itchy Scalp? Meet The Best Shampoos To Soothe It (2025)

From last minute fan purchases to sleeping above the sheets, there's no doubt that heat waves can be bothersome. But, did you know that summer can literally make your scalp itch? And whether your hair is coloured, bleached or stacked with extensions, the last thing that you want when irritation strikes is your everyday shampoo leaving your head feeling tight, dry and flaky.

Whether your hair is oily or fine, we consulted the trichologists on how to tackle itchy scalp with your shampoo and the big no's when it comes to triggering ingredients.

What Are The Causes Of An Itchy Scalp?

'A dry scalp occurs when the top layer of skin (the epidermis) lacks moisture (water),' says Consultant Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley. 'It is commonly due to environmental factors, such as weather. It is likely to occur when your scalp is not producing enough sebum (oil) – which tends to happen as we get older.'

While a dry scalp is common, it’s not quite as common as having dry skin elsewhere. This is because your scalp is a highly sebaceous environment (i.e. it contains more oil glands, and therefore produces more oils, than most other parts of your body), she explains.

'A dry scalp is more common in the summer months as the scalp can become sunburnt.  A dry and itchy scalp is usually a transient scalp problem that’s caused by an external aggravator – like the temperature and weather and is linked to seasonal or environmental fluctuations like cold weather, high altitudes, central heating and sun exposure.'

How To Treat An Itchy Scalp

What Ingredients Should You Avoid With An Itchy Scalp?

'Do not apply oils directly to the scalp,' says Kingsley. 'Every hair follicle on your scalp has an oil gland attached to it and these are continually producing sebum, which you do not need to compensate for. It can cause adverse scalp issues, such as dandruff.'

However, she notes that if your hair isn't cleansed frequently enough, said sebum can harbour bacteria, dead skin cells and sweat, causing an imbalance in the scalps microbiome and an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast – the root cause of dandruff.

Shop The Best Shampoos For Itchy Scalps

Mild enough for daily use, this dedicated shampoo works to reduce dandruff and product build-up on the scalp. It harnesses the powder of anti-microbial piroctone olamine (an anti-fungal treatment), which works to relieve your scalp of irritation while sloughing away stubborn flakes.

This cult shampoo for target dandruff teams up salicylic acid and piroctone olamine for the ultimate deep scalp cleanse. With a gentle, breathable lather, it exfoliates flakes and dead skin cells, leaving itchy scalps relieved and balanced.

Best for sensitive scalps, this balancing foam targets dryness and itchiness using soothing ingredient allantoin. The best part? It's entirely fragrance-free, making it perfect for those triggered by scented irritants.

Looking to target your itchy scalp at its roots? This professional formula aims to reduce sebum oxidation and micro cracks on the scalp surface which lend themselves to stubborn irritation down the line.

This affordable, medicated shampoo is formulated with a unique coal tar extract that soothes itching and calms scalp redness. Apply a liberal amount to scalp and massage into a rich lather before leaving for a few minutes and rinsing.

Did you know that the irritation to your scalp could be caused by unbalanced pH? This soothing peppermint shampoo invigorates the scalp while using amino acids to promote moisture. This is our winner for oily yet sensitive heads.

Fan of Mineral 89? Vichy's haircare line is taking a skin-first approach to shampooing. It champions skincare ingredients like salicylic acid to refresh, exfoliate and balance itchy, dandruff prone hair, while using piroctone olamine to prevent future irritation.