Selsun Blue vs Nizoral (The Definitive Guide)

Selsun Blue and Nizoral are best known for their anti-dandruff shampoos, but which brand is better?

Come with us as we compare the Selsun Blue Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo side-by-side to help you decide which is best for you. Enjoy!

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Selsun Blue vs Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

First and foremost, it's worth establishing the fact that both shampoos are intended to "control the symptoms of dandruff".

What mainly sets them apart, though, is the difference between their active ingredients (with the Selsun Blue Shampoo containing Selenium Sulfide and the Nizoral Shampoo instead containing Ketoconazole).

In essence, this comparison boils down to a question of "which anti-fungal ingredient works best against dandruff?", but there are a couple of other differences to explore first.

Diving into their formulas, we discover that the Nizoral Shampoo contains SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) and the Selsun Blue Shampoo contains ALS + ALES (Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate).

These are known as 'surfactants' and they give shampoo that thick lather that we associate with cleansing hair, but with them being Sulfates they are known for not being particularly gentle to the scalp.

ALS is *much* less irritating than SLS, though, due to its larger molecular size, so the Selsun Blue Shampoo definitely pulls ahead in this regard.

Returning to the topic of their active ingredients, it's worth noting that Ketoconazole (found in the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo) cannot be found in *any* other over-the-counter dandruff shampoos, and according to Nizoral it is 10x more effective than the alternatives.

In reality, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that there is no significant difference between Ketoconazole and Selenium Sulfide effectiveness-wise, but it is significantly more well-tolerated (i.e. it is far less irritating to the scalp).

Even taking into account the previous point regarding Sulfates, this would make Nizoral the gentler choice (which is never, ever a bad quality to look for).

In practice, Nizoral lathers better, smells better (clean & fresh, not 'medicinal' like the Selsun Blue Shampoo), and just feels so much more like a nice, regular shampoo while gently and effectively taking care of the frustrating symptoms of dandruff.

The sheer volume of overwhelmingly positive reviews that can be found online in favor of Nizoral, demonstrating its cult-like popularity—and dwarfing the otherwise impressive number that Selsun Blue boasts—only seals the deal for us.

Ultimately, our preference is fairly clear, and it's not even that Selsun Blue is bad per se, it's just that the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is so much better.

Looking for the best anti-dandruff shampoo?
Try the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

This article was originally published on July 14th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 12th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.