Balding and Itchy? The Best Shampoo to Fight Dandruff and Hair Loss Is Only $16

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

If I leave any legacy as a grooming writer, let it be: Let’s all stop believing that there is such a thing as “shampoo for hair loss .” Think about how briefly any shampoo actually sits on your head; it would be so difficult for most active ingredients to absorb into the scalp and deliver on their promise.

But there is one ingredient I make an exception for (sort of). Even better, it will prevent dandruff, too. In fact, it's the best anti-dandruff shampoo that's also the best shampoo for hair loss (in fact, maybe the only one that works on that count).

You may have noticed that some hair care brands promise the sun and the stars in terms of hair regrowth with shampoo ingredients like saw palmetto. (Yes, that one works to reduce DHT levels when ingested in a supplement like Nutrafol , but in a shampoo? Nay.) Above all, when combating hair loss , you need to build a hair retention routine around ingestible or topical remedies , like finasteride or minoxidil .

Related: 9 Best Dandruff Shampoos to Rid You of Pesky Flakes

The one recommendation I make in this category, however, is for one of the best anti-dandruff ingredients: ketoconazole. An antifungal medication, ketoconazole kills the dandruff-inducing yeast Malassezia and can reduce inflammation around your dome. And, as numerous studies suggest , it may even reduce the presence of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) around the hair follicles. DHT is a byproduct of testosterone, and the culprit behind your follicle miniaturization in male-pattern baldness. (It’s also the thing that finasteride targets, whether applied topically or taken orally.)

These studies vary. Most were conducted using 2% ketoconazole, and they aren’t usually using shampoos to test the ingredient’s efficacy. But the collective evidence points to ketoconazole being a true foe to any DHT accumulation. You can find ketoconazole shampoo over the counter in 1% formulas that primarily target dandruff—or get a prescription for a 2% formulation for extreme cases of seborrheic dermatitis (read: chronic flaky, scaly scalp skin). The ketoconazole shampoo I keep in rotation is, and always will be, Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, aka Nizoral A-D. It’s probably your dermatologist’s favorite option, too—and your wallet’s.

The Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo That Also Fights Hair Loss

Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Still, let’s temper expectations once more: Yes, ketoconazole can neuter dandruff-causing yeast in a mere 30-second rinse, but I put low to medium expectations on its ability to interfere with DHT, and thus prevent further hair loss (especially when it comes to the 1% over-the-counter options readily available to us). Now, low to medium is actually a pretty good level for shampoos and hair loss, since most will do you zero favors toward actual hair retention. The DHT itself isn’t just sitting there atop the scalp waiting to be rinsed away, but if you let the shampoo set on your scalp for a couple minutes, you give it more chance to absorb and interfere with DHT buildup. So: Longer showers may be in your future.

I would suggest using this every two weeks as a way to fight dandruff (for which it's very effective) and, as a little side bonus, temper DHT buildup in whatever way is possible with a quick-rinse effort like shampoo—assuming you aren’t already taking finasteride for DHT intervention. I wouldn’t rely on a ketoconazole shampoo (or any dandruff shampoo) to be my singular everyday rinse. That ingredient can severely dry out your strands. For this reason, be certain to follow its use directions, with a minute or two of conditioner after the shampoo. (Even better if that conditioner is thickening to help visibly plump the strands.) And then use a more hydrating or stimulating shampoo for any other washes you do between ketoconazole-based rinses.

Managing expectations is imperative when it comes to hair loss, retention, and regrowth. So I do not want to give you any false hope—the big brands do way too much of that already. But, if there is any one shampoo I would say is going to be worth incorporating into your routine specifically to go to battle with male-pattern hair loss/balding and pesky dandruff flakes, it would be one with ketoconazole. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, specifically.

Remember, any effective hair loss solution needs to absorb into your scalp or circulate through your system. Telemedicine sites like XYON , Hims , Feel Confident , and Ro all have prescription and OTC solutions for hair loss .

Related: The Best Hair Loss Treatments of 2024, Tested and Reviewed