No, the best shampoos for a bald head is not an oxymoron. Whether you’ve got a full head of hair or nary a one, you still need shampoo. That’s because shampoo is massaged into the scalp to remove the build-up of dirt and oil. When done right, it shouldn’t even go on the length of the hair, just wash through as it’s rinsed out.
But this is about shampoo for bald men after all, so the focus here is on the scalp and maintaining a healthy, hydrated skin barrier. Like the skin on your face, taking care of it is a little different than the rest of the body. And because it’s so exposed, the skin on the head is more vulnerable to things like sun and pollution, thus deserving of special treatment.
Of course, no two heads are alike. Some bald guys suffer from dry, flaky, and itchy scalps, while others can’t seem to get rid of shine caused by an overproduction of oil. The lucky ones are balanced, yet still need a shampoo to cleanse the pores daily. Either way, the best shampoo for bald men will keep your skin both clean and nourished.
Key Takeaways
In my search for the top contenders for men, I scoured the internet, interviewed colleagues, and consulted the experts until I narrowed it down to the 8 selections on this list. I needed to find shampoos that thoroughly cleansed without stripping to maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Ultimately, I chose C3 Head Wash as my top pick because it’s hypo-allergenic, won’t clog pores, and contains no harsh ingredients, not even fragrances. It soothes all skin types, even if you have razor burns, while properly cleansing the pores on the head. If your bald head is flaky and dry, check out Briogeo Scalp Revival Exfoliator to clarify and detoxify an itchy scalp.
C3 Head Wash at Amazon
Aveeno Farm-Fresh Oat Milk at Amazon
The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo at Amazon
Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo at Amazon
Bee Bald Clean Daily Cleanser at Amazon
Jack Black All-Over Wash at Amazon
Mountaineer Brand Bald Head Care at Amazon
1. Best Overall: C3 Head Wash
Why it’s Great: C3 Head Wash is easily the most approachable because it’s designed for all skin types, even highly sensitive skin. It’s intended to cleanse your head, face, and beard each day, but it’s truly unlike any traditional shampoo or soap. It’s non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, and sulfate-free, without any phthalates or parabens. No unnecessary irritation here. And I love that it’s specifically designed for bald, shaved, and buzzed heads. That means it works hard to prevent razor burns and bumps, helping the skin on the head to heal faster.
How to use it: Gentle enough for both morning and night, apply to the head, face, and even beard after shaving and rinse with lukewarm water for a clean, hydrated feeling.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: As much as I love a good lather, don’t expect one. Dismayed by this, some reviewers use more and end up wasting product. Remember, it’s the harsh, drying additives in soap that create lather. This product is different.
Form: Cleanser | Skin type: All | Size: 6.8 oz | Cruelty free: Yes | Special Feature: Non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic | Product Benefit: Hydrates and balances the skin and hair on the head and face
2. Best Budget: Aveeno Farm-Fresh Oat Milk
Why it’s Great: From wind and sun to pollution, the bald skin on your head is exposed to a lot. This non-stripping shampoo is perfect for restoring the optimal pH balance for skin health with a name as hydrating and gentle as it sounds. Colloidal oatmeal, almond milk, and vitamin E soften the skin, which is perfect for soothing sensitive skin and those prone to dryness. Many reviewers suffering from eczema say it helped. Alternatively, their apple cider vinegar shampoo is great for oily scalps.
How to use it: Gently massage the pearlized gel to a lather on the scalp and rinse. Expect a light, lovely smell.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you want something natural, look elsewhere. But it’s easily the best shampoo for bald head at a low price. And it is free of stripping sulfates, phthalates, and dyes.
Form: Gel | Skin type: All | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty free: No | Special Feature: Paraben-free | Product Benefit: Nourishes bald heads by gently removing build-up
3. Best Luxury: Briogeo Scalp Revival Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
Why it’s Great: There’s a reason why reviewers cry over the efficacy of this shampoo. As a brand, Briogeo is relatively new and focuses on high-quality natural ingredients that work—and wins them countless awards. Specifically, the Scalp Revival shampoo is an incredible detox shampoo that’s perfect for bald heads because it gently exfoliates to remove build-up and stimulates the hair follicles for optimal health. It clarifies an itchy scalp and works wonders at treating dandruff. Three key ingredients work together here—charcoal that detoxifies, peppermint oil that soothes, and coconut oil that nourishes.
How to use it: This bad boy exfoliates gently enough to be used daily, leaving behind a light coconut scent.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Because it’s solely meant for cleansing the head, I find the price to be steep, although you do get what you pay for. It’s a very high quality item to add to your grooming kit.
Form: Cream | Skin type: Dry, sensitive | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty free: Yes | Special Feature: 95% naturally derived | Product Benefit: A soothing, hydrating, micro-exfoliating scalp detoxifying shampoo for dry bald heads
4. Best on Amazon: The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo
Why it’s Great: Flaky scalps, rejoice! This is the best bald head shampoo that suffers from dry skin. Initially, I thought ginger an odd choice for shampoo, but once I learned it’s used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for stimulating the scalp, it made sense. Ginger does have that zingy quality to it. This, combined with white willow bark extract and vegan silk protein make for a revitalizing, nourishing experience. And it’s worth noting that The Body Shop is a fair trade brand, even if it’s not fully natural.
How to use it: Treat your scalp to this daily to keep it clean. Be sure not to get any of that ginger in your eyes though!
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although they present like a natural brand, there are some chemicals here, like sulfates. If you have some color-treated hair left, look elsewhere.
Form: Gel | Skin type: Dry | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty free: Yes | Special Feature: 90% ingredients of natural origin | Product Benefit: A soothing and revitalizing shampoo wash for dry bald heads
5. Best for Dry Skin: Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo
Why it’s Great: Salicylic acid i most commonly found in facial skin care, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it in Neutrogena Therapeutic Shampoo. This ingredient is clinically proven to cleanse the pores and dissolve build-up, whether your skin is flaking off or you produce too much oil.
How to use it: Use this even if you’ve got a condition that’s more serious, like dandruff, psoriasis, or dermatitis. It should provide relief and clear up your skin.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: A lot of reviewers complain about the small size, which can be troublesome if you wash your bald head daily. There is an option to purchase a pack of six to ease that problem.
Form: Gel | Skin type: Dry | Size: 4.5 oz | Cruelty free: No | Special Feature: 3% salicylic acid | Product Benefit: Cleanses and gently relieves build-up on bald heads.
6. Best Everyday: Bee Bald Clean Daily Cleanser
Why it’s Great: Created by bald men for bald men, Bee Bald understands the needs of its customers. Even if you prefer another head cleanser, I think the pre-shave exfoliator belongs in every bald guy’s bathroom cabinet. As for the cleanser, it’s cheap and solid.
How to use it: Even though it’s a scrub, I think it’s gentle enough for everyday use—all thanks to bees, interestingly enough. Honey enzymes exfoliate dead skin cells and bee pollen soothes and treats surface damage for one smooth and sexy bald head.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Though it’s gentle, I’m not crazy about daily exfoliation for those with particularly sensitive skin. You would be better off with the C3 Wash, if that’s the case.
Form: Gel | Skin type: All | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty free: Yes | Special Feature: Exfoliator | Product Benefit: A gentle, all-over scrub for nourishing both the face and head
7. Best 3 in 1: Jack Black All-Over Wash
Why it’s Great: If you’re a simple guy, then you need a hair product that can do it all. Not only does it wash your body and face, but this is the top consideration for bald men thanks to nourishing ingredients like jojoba protein, panthenol, sea kelp, and shea butter that cleanse dirt and sweat without stripping the skin. It’s not specifically designed for sensitive skin, but it’s definitely considered to be gentle.
How to use it: Just as it says in the name, this wash is gentle enough to use everywhere. Go nuts!
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Because it’s an all-over product, it’s not quite hydrating enough for those with some hair left. If you’re only partially bald, I recommend following it up with a good conditioner.
Form: Gel | Skin type: All | Size: 33 oz | Cruelty free: Yes | Special Feature: Sulfate-free | Product Benefit: A gentle, pH balanced cleanser meant for the body, face, and bald head
8. Best All-Natural: Mountaineer Brand Bald Head Care
Why it’s Great: Though it’s part of a 5-step program, Mountaineer Bald Head Care works great as a stand-alone cleanser. It uses natural ingredients, plant extracts, and essential oils like sunflower, coconut, and jojoba oil to hydrate as it cleanses the skin on the head and regulates sebum. But what makes it the best shampoo for shaved head is the scent—a gorgeous blend of eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, and cedar for a subtle manly smell.
How to use it: For a totally natural product, there’s a lot of lather here. Apply a dime-sized amount over a wet head and face and rub in circular motions for 30 seconds to one minute.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Some customers have noted a slight variation in formulation from one purchase to the next, though this is likely due to testing and improvements.
Form: Gel | Skin type: All | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty free: Yes | Special Feature: 100% Natural | Product Benefit: Uses natural ingredients to remove oil, dirt, and sweat while moisturizing skin and regulating oil production
Buying Considerations For a Clean, Moisturized Head
Skin type
Is your skin dry, flaky, itchy and prone to dandruff? Or, is your scalp oily and bald head shiny? The best shampoo for a bald head should be tailored to your specific needs, so finding out your skin type is crucial. You don’t want to throw off the skin’s delicate pH balance.
Oil control & moisturization
You don’t want a shiny scalp, but you also don’t want one that’s dry and flaky. Look for ingredients that soften the skin, like vitamin E and panthenol as well as those that regulate oil production, like tea tree oil or salicylic acid.
The top shampoo for you should be balanced and will contain both astringent and moisturizing properties.
Ingredients
The endless skincare debate: natural vs. chemical? Natural ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter add moisture without harm.
On the other hand, chemicals like sulfates can strip the skin, but some formulations are excellent and provide specifically targeted results. At the end of the day, the cleanser needs to work and you need to feel comfortable with ingredients. I do recommend avoiding parabens, phthalates, and anything too stripping.
Why you should trust us
As a fashion and grooming writer at Fashionbeans, I use my 15 years of expertise in the industry to inform all of my research.
I scour my own bathroom cabinet and closet and consult with the experts in the business to guarantee that the best products are conveyed to you. I analyzed dozens of products before narrowing it down to the 8 best shampoos to help maintain a healthy scalp, taking individual needs and concerns into consideration, so there is a best fit for everyone.
Final Verdict
The best shampoo for bald head should cleanse the pores without clogging or overstripping and deliver moisture to retain a healthy skin barrier. C3 Head Wash is my favorite pick because it’s non-comedogenic, appropriate for all skin types, and heals and prevents razor bumps and burns.
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- How often should you shampoo a bald head?
With no hair to distribute oil and build-up, it can accumulate fast on a bald head. I recommend washing daily.
- What makes a bald head shiny?
Oil, whether applied or produced by your body, makes your head shiny. Look for cleansing ingredients like tea tree oil, but be careful not to over-strip the skin as this will only ramp up the body’s oil production further.
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