9 Top Piroctone Olamine Shampoos for Dandruff and Hair Loss

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Is your head feeling itchy? Do you notice white flakes falling on your shoulders all the time? You most probably have dandruff.

While this is a common problem, it can cause adverse effects like hair loss when not treated immediately.

Truly, the itchiness and the loss of volume that come with dandruff are not just annoying, but they also affect your self-esteem.

A woman is washing her hair in the shower.

Good thing there’s a variety of solutions to this problem, and most of them are products you can easily buy at your local beauty store or online.

Such are piroctone olamine shampoos, the most effective anti-dandruff shampoos designed for everyday use.

However, we know that checking the ingredient list of every product to see if it contains piroctone olamine and trying out if it works can be challenging. That’s why we’ve taken the liberty of researching for you.

Below, you’ll see our list of the 10 top shampoos with piroctone olamine and discover why they’re effective in removing dandruff.

But first, check out our top three picks here.

Truss Therapy Shampoo
Editor's Choice
  • With nanorepair formula and vegetable complex
  • Controls dandruff
  • Promotes hair growth
  • Repairs damaged strands
Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo
Premium Pick
  • Made with natural, scalp-friendly, and nourishing ingredients
  • Clarifies the hair and scalp
  • Soothes and refreshes
  • Keeps the scalp’s natural balance
The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo
Budget Pick
  • Contains ginger oil, birch bark, and white willow extracts
  • Hydrates and nourishes the hair
  • Soothes dry, itchy scalp
  • Clears visible flakes

What Is Piroctone Olamine?

Piroctone olamine is a chemical compound known by its trade name, Octopirox. It was first developed in 1979 by the company Schwarzkopf-Henkel in Germany.

It is one of the active ingredients used in anti-dandruff shampoos and topical skin products to treat seborrheic dermatitis and other fungal infections of the skin and scalp.

That’s because this ingredient can stop the fungi Malassezia (which commonly causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis) from multiplying and spreading. And there are studies that support its effectiveness in doing so.

Aside from that, piroctone olamine also has antimicrobial properties, so it is also used as a preservative in cosmetic products.

It replaces harmful parabens in preventing the growth of bacteria in the product, extending its shelf life while making it safer for users. 

Benefits of Piroctone Olamine

Almost everyone encounters hair problems, and one factor for these issues is an unhealthy scalp.

That’s where piroctone olamine comes in. It has scalp-friendly properties that can help prevent or solve issues like dandruff. Aside from reducing flakes, it stops dandruff at the source to prevent a recurrence. 

Plus, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the redness and itch of your scalp.

When your scalp is healthy and itch-free, you tend to be less susceptible to hair follicle damage. Studies show that this reduces hair fall by 16.5%.

Additionally, shampoos with piroctone olamine can be great for hair regrowth. This is because this ingredient promotes scalp health, which promotes the growth of stronger, thicker, and healthier hair.   

What To Look for in Piroctone Olamine Shampoos

Aside from looking for piroctone olamine in your piroctone olamine shampoo, there are other factors you need to consider to ensure the ingredient works as effectively as possible in combatting dandruff and other scalp issues. 

Here are a few other features you should look for in your piroctone olamine shampoo:

Added Ingredients

Piroctone olamine can also work with other substances for a stronger dandruff-removing effect. These ingredients typically also have beneficial effects on the hair.

Look for ingredients like the following:

All of these help in removing flakes and soothing the scalp. They also maintain the scalp’s pH balance, which is particularly beneficial for those suffering from dandruff as a pH imbalance in the scalp can cause itching and flaking. 

Moisturizing Formula

It’s also vital to look for moisturizing ingredients that can counteract the drying effects of piroctone olamine.

Examples include the following:

  • Glycerin
  • Shea butter
  • Coconut oil

Top Piroctone Olamine Shampoos

More and more hair products use innovative piroctone olamine as their active ingredient. But which one would work best for you?

We’ve reviewed the top shampoos that contain piroctone olamine to help you make the right choice.

1
Truss Therapy Shampoo

You don’t have to wash your hair every day when you use the Truss Therapy Shampoo. It keeps your hair and scalp clean and fresh for longer, so you can skip washing for a few days.

Primary Benefits: Promotes hair growth; controls dandruff; repairs damaged strands

Features:

  • Nanorepair formula
  • Clinically tested
  • Cool menthol fragrance

This shampoo with piroctone olamine is ideal for all hair types and textures!

 

The Truss Therapy Shampoo promises effective treatment of your scalp problems.

And this product has a wide array of natural ingredients combined with piroctone olamine to help fulfill that.

With consistent use, Truss Therapy Shampoo can reduce excess oils on your scalp by 75% and remove 95.8% of your dandruff, eliminating the flakes and itchiness that come with it.

It also removes the excess oil from your scalp while keeping your hair moisturized.

Not only that, but its nanorepair formulation uses amino acids from ostrich egg yolks to repair damaged cuticles, restore the elasticity of your strands, and encourage healthy hair growth.

This makes it a great piroctone olamine shampoo for hair loss. 

Moreover, the shampoo leaves your scalp with a refreshing minty scent. With a scalp so clean and fresh, you can wait three days before washing your hair again instead of shampooing it every day.

2
The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo

When something is used for hundreds of years, you know it can be trusted. Such is ginger, a little root with surprising power when it comes to scalp care. That is the key ingredient in this shampoo.

Primary Benefits: Hydrates and nourishes hair; soothes dry, itchy scalp; helps clear loose flakes

Features:

  • 100% vegan formula
  • Paraben-free
  • Zingy ginger smell

Care not just for your hair but for your scalp as well with The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo.

 

Second on our list is the bestselling anti-dandruff shampoo from The Body Shop.

It’s made with 90% ingredients of natural origin, including the following:

  • Ginger oil — Used in traditional Chinese medicine for its soothing and purifying properties; helps improve the blood circulation of your scalp and nourishes the hair follicles.
  • Birch bark extract — Rich in vitamin C that assists in building collagen; boosts hair growth by thickening and strengthening the hair fibers
  • White willow bark extract — Armed with exfoliating properties that make it effective at removing dirt, product buildup, and flakes from the scalp

And of course, The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care shampoo also contains piroctone olamine to treat dandruff.

Several users vouch for the effectiveness of this product in getting rid of flakes and preventing them from returning. Some even claim that it can also treat other scalp conditions like psoriasis.

What’s more, the bottle is made with 100% recycled plastic. So this shampoo is good for both your hair and the planet.

Use the Ginger Scalp Care product line with shampoo, conditioner, and serum for healthier hair and scalp.

3
Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo

Unlike other clarifying and dandruff-fighting shampoos, the Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo won’t dry your hair out.

Primary Benefits: Cleanses and clarifies the hair; soothes and refreshes the scalp; clears flakes

Features:

  • Safe for color-treated hair
  • Developed by trichologists
  • Green apple scent

Refresh your itchy scalp with the Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo.

 

The Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo is an award-winning clarifying shampoo for good reason.

For one, it effectively helps calm your scalp while clearing hair buildup.

It does so with the help of powerful ingredients like the ones below:

  • Aloe leaf juice — Soothes the scalp and conditions the strands
  • Cocomidopropyl betaine — Gently but effectively cleanses the hair and scalp.
  • Castor oil — Acts as a humectant that attracts and locks in moisture
  • Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate — Acts as a chelating agent that clears buildup and cleanses hair thoroughly
  • Piroctone olamine — Fights dandruff

Moreover, this shampoo has a gentle formula developed by trichologists or hair and scalp doctors. This assures us that the product is designed to target the needs of our hair.

And speaking of the gentle formula, even though this is a clarifying shampoo, it can cleanse the hair while keeping the scalp’s natural balance. It also doesn’t strip the scalp’s natural oils.

Plus, it’s mild enough to be used on colored or textured hair.

Overall, the Philip Kingsley shampoo is pricey but very much worth the price.

4
Alpecin Dandruff Killer Shampoo

For the worst kind of dandruff, you’d need a fast-acting shampoo with the most effective ingredients. That’s the Alpecin Dandruff Killer.

Primary Benefits: Stops dandruff; keeps the scalp’s natural balance; gives instant long-lasting dandruff prevention

Features:

  • 4 active ingredients
  • No silicones
  • Minty scent

Add the Alpecin Dandruff Killer Shampoo to your hair care regimen for a healthy, itch-free scalp.

 

The team at Dr. Wolff Research, who came up with the famous Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo, now delivers a newly formulated product designed with the same German engineering.

The Alpecin Dandruff Killer is an effective anti-dandruff shampoo.

Aside from piroctone olamine, it has three other active ingredients that help remove dandruff and promote a healthier scalp.

  • Fumaric acid — Assists the piroctone olamine by loosening the crusty buildup so the piroctone olamine can easily penetrate the scalp
  • Panthenol and allantoin Prevent irritation and stabilize the scalp’s balance.

With those ingredients, we are assured that Alpecin Dandruff Killer is highly effective in removing dandruff and preventing it from coming back.

It also prevents residue that may cause buildup in the future.

As for its minty fragrance, some find it strong and masculine but still a lot more pleasant than the scent of other tar-based dandruff shampoos.

The minor drawback of using this product is though it claims to be gentle on the scalp, some people find it too drying, so they don’t recommend it for daily use.

We believe this is an effect of having strong active ingredients.

So if this is a problem for you, use a conditioner after washing your hair or shampoo with this product and use it every other day.

5
Sebamed Scalp Balancing Shampoo

Struggling with an oily and flaky scalp? You may need a shampoo that not only cleanses but balances the scalp’s pH level as well.

Primary Benefits: Gently cleanses and soothes oily, irritated scalp; minimizes flaky skin buildup; stabilizes the scalp’s natural balance

Features:

  • Soap- and alkali-free
  • Dermatologically tested
  • Light floral scent

Remove visible signs of dandruff with Sebamed Scalp Balancing Shampoo.

 

Sebamed, one of the leading brands for medicinal skin and hair care, dedicates time and research to creating products that promote healthy skin.

With this in mind, the Sebamed Scalp Balancing Shampoo is formulated with botanical extracts. It doesn’t contain soap or alkali that can alter your scalp’s pH level.

Instead, it has mild active ingredients that combat scalp problems, including piroctone olamine.

The result? Gentle cleansing. It doesn’t sting, and it has a mild scent. Your scalp will feel refreshed afterward without the dry, itchy feeling.

And though it won’t give you an instant effect, you’ll have 50% fewer flakes after 14 days.

Plus, your scalp’s surface is balanced and healthy, making you less prone to dandruff.

The Scalp Balancing Shampoo is the most doctor-recommended product from Sebamed.

6
Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo

As if piroctone olamine is not enough, this shampoo from Sachajuan added climbazole, another antifungal agent, for a more effective treatment against dandruff.

Primary Benefits: Soothes irritated scalp; removes dandruff; maintains the hair and scalp’s moisture balance

Features:

  • No parabens
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Mild, clean scent

If you have an oily scalp and dandruff, try Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo.

 

Sachajuan hair care products are straightforward and performance-driven. They are made with functional ingredients and have honest and easy-to-understand benefits.

And one of these products is their Scalp Shampoo.

Everything in this shampoo is used to treat the scalp. Its ingredients include the following:

  • Rosemary oil, menthol, and ginger extract — Soothe scalp itch and irritation
  • Piroctone olamine and climbazole — Remove dandruff caused by fungi
  • Salicylic acid — Gently sheds dead skin cells to promote new cell growth
  • Lactic acid — Helps regulate the oil production of the scalp.

These ingredients work together to give you an itch- and grease-free scalp for healthier hair growth.

When you regularly use the Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo, you’ll see noticeable results in 2 weeks.

7
Flexitol Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner

Can’t find the perfect conditioner to match the cleansing effects of your anti-dandruff shampoo? Why not try this 2-in-1 product? Not only does it clean your hair, but it also leaves the strands soft and manageable.

Primary Benefits: Relieves and soothes dry scalp; gently removes buildup; conditions strands

Features:

  • Tar- and SLS-free
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Mild scent

Heal and hydrate your dry, itchy scalp with Flexitol Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner.

 

Flexitol Scalp Relief treats constant scalp itch caused by dandruff, scalp eczema, psoriasis, or an allergic reaction.

What it first does is gently remove oil, dirt, and product buildup on your hair and scalp. Then it hydrates the scalp and conditions the hair.

This product has the following active ingredients:

  • Colloidal oatmeal and Canadian willowherb — Have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the scalp
  • Urea — Acts as a keratolytic agent that traps moisture in the skin
  • Allantoin — Helps heal and balance the scalp
  • Piroctone olamine — Protects the scalp from dandruff
  • Cationic surfactants — Condition the hair

Now all those ingredients may get you thinking this shampoo would be too harsh on your hair and scalp, but that’s not the case.

The Flexitol Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner is hypoallergenic and gentle. It’s safe to use on bleached hair, and it can also be used to treat skin conditions like scalp eczema or psoriasis.

8
Rausch Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

This shampoo is vegan with 92% ingredients of natural origin, so you know it’s very gentle on your hair and scalp.

Primary Benefits: Inhibits fungal growth; nourishes the strands; soothes the scalp

Features:

  • Made with natural ingredients
  • Paraben- and silicon-free
  • Mild honey scent

Rausch Anti-Dandruff shampoo gives gentle, long-lasting protection against dandruff.

 

Healthy hair starts at the roots. That’s why Rausch developed a shampoo that would target hair problems on the scalp.

The Rausch Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is made of natural herbal substances like the following:

  • Coltsfoot — Helps fight both dry and oily dandruff and repairs the hair shaft
  • Burdock — Soothes irritated and inflamed scalps and helps improve blood circulation in the scalp

The two ingredients, along with piroctone olamine, treat the root source of dandruff by inhibiting fungi growth. This helps prevent dandruff from coming back.

The effect is mild but long-lasting. When used three times a week for four weeks, you’ll see your dandruff decrease significantly.

And since this shampoo is vegan and gentle on the hair, it is suitable for all hair types.

9
Moo Goo Natural Dry Shampoo

Washing your hair too often can worsen your dry, itchy scalp. Good thing you can freshen up your hair in between washes while still fighting dandruff.

Primary Benefits: Absorbs excess oils; makes hair light and manageable; won’t buildup on the scalp

Features:

  • Vegan and cruelty-free with no harmful chemicals
  • Non-aerosol
  • Has Moo Goo's signature scent

The Moo Goo Natural Dry Shampoo is your natural solution for scalp problems.

 

Last on our list is a dry shampoo that’s best used on days when you want to skip the shower.

Moo Goo Natural Dry Shampoo is a product you wouldn’t think twice about using as it’s made with healthy, natural ingredients.

Instead of talc, it uses high-quality microfine powders like tapioca starch and kaolin. It also has no phthalates or artificial fragrances.

This means you’ll be comfortable using this dry shampoo no matter what your hair type or color is.

And, of course, it has a scalp-friendly formula with piroctone olamine to prevent itch and irritation while keeping the scalp hydrated.

Furthermore, the product comes in a non-aerosol shake bottle to avoid aerosol nasties like CFC, which can harm the environment.

However, this packaging can be a bit messier than the usual aerosol can. But if it means helping the environment, we don’t mind going through the extra effort of powdering our hair and scalp.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Side Effects of Piroctone Olamine?

You may read in some articles online that piroctone olamine can cause skin wrinkling and bruising, but that is for topical ointments with a higher concentration of piroctone olamine.

On the other hand, most piroctone olamine shampoos use only a tiny percentage of the ingredient, so there have been no records of side effects from using these rinse-off products.

Piroctone olamine is generally safe to use in moderation but can cause itch and irritation if used too frequently, so it’s best to use a shampoo with this ingredient two to three times a week.

Is Piroctone Olamine Better Than Other Anti-Dandruff Ingredients?

Studies show that piroctone olamine is equally effective as zinc pyrithione — a chemical compound commonly used in many commercially available anti-dandruff shampoos — in reducing dandruff.

But the former is more gentle on the scalp. It also has hair-conditioning properties that increase manageability and thickness.

Say Goodbye to Scalp Itch and Hello to Healthier Hair Growth

Dandruff and itch can be annoying. Good thing there are piroctone olamine shampoos that can help us solve this problem.

They’re gentle on your hair and scalp, so they can be used every day.

So when your head starts to itch, but the dandruff breakout isn’t bad enough to warrant medication, you can use one of the shampoos with piroctone olamine above.

Just follow it up with a conditioner to keep dryness at bay.

Looking for Other Shampoos To Try?

Check out our recommendations:

Author

  • Rachelle Velasco

    Rachelle, is a sought-after freelance hair and makeup artist, shines particularly in the world of hair color. From subtle ombres and balayages to vibrant hues and intricate root work, she crafts unique styles tailored to individual preferences. Beyond her artistic talents, Rachelle also holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, showcasing her diverse skill set and dedication to learning.

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