Best Tea for Dandruff: 3 Options to Consider

Green tea, black tea, and chamomile tea are the best teas to consider for dandruff, but none is proven to treat it. They are choices for a pleasant drink, not a replacement for scalp care. For a broader look at beverages, see the best drinks for dandruff.

3 teas to consider for dandruff

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These three teas are practical options rather than an evidence-based ranking. There is no good clinical evidence that drinking any of them reduces dandruff flakes, itch, or the yeast associated with dandruff. Choose the one you enjoy and tolerate, without expecting it to work like a medicated shampoo.

Dandruff can involve the scalp’s response to naturally occurring yeast and skin oil. A tea’s plant compounds may sound promising, but their presence in a cup does not establish that they reach the scalp in useful amounts or change that response.

Green tea

Possible mechanism and evidence: Green tea contains plant compounds called polyphenols. Researchers have studied these compounds in other settings, but there is no clinical evidence here that drinking green tea treats dandruff. Its main practical benefit is that it provides fluid; hydration alone is not an established dandruff treatment.

How to brew it

• 240 mL (1 cup) water
• About 2 g (1 teaspoon) loose green tea leaves

1. Heat the water until hot, then let it cool slightly after boiling.
2. Add the green tea leaves and steep for 2–3 minutes.
3. Strain and let the tea cool to a comfortable drinking temperature.

Green tea can become bitter if steeped too long. If you prefer tea bags, follow the brewing instructions on the package instead; the amount of tea in a bag can vary.

Cautions: Green tea usually contains caffeine, although the amount varies with the product and brewing method. Choose another drink if caffeine makes you feel jittery or disrupts sleep. If you take warfarin or another medicine with dietary restrictions, ask your clinician or pharmacist about making regular changes to your tea intake.

Drink the tea rather than treating it as a proven scalp rinse. There is no established brewing strength or application schedule for using green tea on dandruff, and putting hot liquid on the scalp can burn it.

Black tea

Possible mechanism and evidence: Black tea is made from tea leaves and contains polyphenols as well as caffeine. Neither ingredient has been shown, in a trial of the drink, to clear dandruff. Drinking black tea should not be expected to control scalp yeast or replace an antifungal shampoo.

How to brew it

• 240 mL (1 cup) water
• About 2 g (1 teaspoon) loose black tea leaves

1. Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the black tea leaves.
2. Steep for 3–5 minutes, depending on the strength you prefer.
3. Strain and allow the tea to cool before drinking.

You can adjust the steeping time for taste, but a stronger cup has not been shown to work better for dandruff. Adding milk or a sweetener is a matter of preference, not a scalp treatment.

Cautions: Black tea contains caffeine, and individual tolerance varies. If you are sensitive to it, consider a decaffeinated version or avoid it near bedtime. Caffeine can also matter during pregnancy and for children; the safety section below explains when to seek advice.

There is no established benefit to pouring brewed black tea over a flaky scalp. If your scalp is already irritated, adding an untested rinse may make it harder to tell which product is helping or causing discomfort.

Chamomile tea

Possible mechanism and evidence: Chamomile is an herbal infusion rather than tea made from tea leaves. It contains plant compounds, but there is no clinical evidence here that drinking chamomile tea improves dandruff. Its naturally caffeine-free character may make it a convenient choice for someone avoiding caffeine, not a stronger dandruff remedy.

How to brew it

• 240 mL (1 cup) water
• About 2 g (1 tablespoon) dried, food-grade chamomile flowers

1. Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the dried flowers.
2. Steep for 5 minutes.
3. Strain and let the infusion cool to a comfortable temperature.

Use chamomile sold for drinking, and follow the package directions if using a tea bag. Do not assume that a concentrated infusion or more frequent cups will improve dandruff; no effective amount has been established.

Cautions: Chamomile can cause an allergic reaction, particularly in people sensitive to plants in the daisy family, including ragweed. Check with a clinician or pharmacist before regular use if you take warfarin or other medicines, because herbal products can interact with medications. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your clinician before using chamomile regularly.

Chamomile is sometimes used in skin products, but a cup of brewed tea is not the same as a tested product. Avoid applying it to an already inflamed scalp, especially if you have a plant allergy.

Which teas should you avoid for dandruff?

Avoid products sold as detox or laxative teas for treating dandruff. There is no evidence that they address its cause, and laxative ingredients can cause diarrhea or dehydration. Dandruff is not a sign that the scalp needs toxins flushed out: the liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste.

Also, do not confuse drinking tea with tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is not the same plant as green or black tea, and it must not be swallowed. Undiluted essential oil can irritate skin, so do not put it directly on the scalp or mix it into a homemade drink.

A randomized, single-blind trial of a 5% tea tree oil shampoo found improvement compared with a placebo shampoo in people with mild to moderate dandruff. That is evidence about a formulated shampoo, not about drinking tea or applying homemade tea infusions. Tea tree oil has antifungal activity, but the trial does not establish a benefit from the beverages listed above.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your clinician before regularly using herbal teas; safety information for individual herbs can be limited. Be mindful of caffeine from green and black tea, and ask a pediatric clinician before offering caffeinated or herbal teas to a child. People with plant allergies should check tea ingredients, especially in blends.

If you take medication, particularly warfarin or another blood thinner, ask your clinician or pharmacist about regular herbal tea use and significant changes to your diet. Do not stop or adjust prescribed medication because of dandruff or a tea recommendation.

For persistent flakes, a medicated dandruff shampoo may be more useful than changing drinks. Products may contain ingredients such as ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, or zinc pyrithione; follow the label’s directions, including how long to leave the shampoo on before rinsing. Hair type and scalp sensitivity can affect which product is practical, so ask a pharmacist or clinician if you are unsure.

See a clinician if flakes or itching do not improve with appropriate over-the-counter care, or if the scalp is very red, painful, or associated with patchy hair loss. Seek prompt medical advice for pus, rapidly spreading redness, or fever. Conditions other than dandruff can cause scalp scaling, and they may need different care.