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Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
You want the flakes gone and the itch to stop, and the right coal tar shampoo can do that by slowing the rapid skin cell turnover that causes scaling. Your choice depends on how strong a formula your scalp needs. Here we compare the leading medicated shampoos using their published formulas and the real patterns in thousands of owner reviews, so you can pick without guessing.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
To match a treatment to your flaking and itching, you need to sort the strongest formulas from the gentle daily options. Here is the honest breakdown of the best coal tar shampoo choices, backed by real owner experiences.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Coal Tar Shampoo
Coal tar is one of the oldest and most trusted ingredients for stubborn scalp conditions, but not every bottle works the same. You need to match the strength of the active ingredient, the supporting formula, and your own scalp’s sensitivity to find the treatment that actually clears your flakes.
Understand the strength you’re buying
The active ingredient amount — usually written as a percentage like 0.5% or 2% — is the first thing to check. A standard 0.5% formula is the common over-the-counter strength, while a 2% version is considered extra strength and is typically reserved for stubborn cases that don’t respond to weaker treatments. If your flakes are mild, the lower percentage often works with fewer side effects like dryness.
Look at the supporting ingredients
Many formulas pair coal tar with other medicated ingredients. Salicylic acid helps lift and remove visible flakes from the surface, while sulfur works alongside tar to control flaking and support scalp comfort. Some brands add soothing oils like tea tree, peppermint, or argan to reduce the harshness and help with smell.
Prepare for the smell
Coal tar has a strong, medicinal, often tarry scent that is a normal part of the active ingredient. It usually fades after you rinse and condition, but it’s something you should expect with any genuine treatment. If smell is a major concern, look for formulas with added fragrance or herbal oils that help mask it.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Coal Tar Strength | Key Additives | Bottle Size | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHS Coal Tar (Pack of 3)★ Best Overall | Best Overall Relief | Refined Formula | Unscented, Dye-Free | 8 oz (x3) | Amazon |
| Clark’s MedicatedBest Full Spectrum | Full Spectrum Value | 0.5% | 3% Salicylic Acid, 1.5% Sulfur | 8 oz | Amazon |
| Berk’s Triple ActionStubborn Flake Fix | Stubborn Flakes | Coal Tar | 3% Salicylic Acid, 1.5% Sulfur, Rosemary | 8 oz | Amazon |
| Medicasp (2 Pk) | Fast First Wash | 0.5% | Medicated Care | 6 oz (x2) | Amazon |
| Artnaturals Argan | Dry & Colored Hair | Coal Tar | Moroccan Argan Oil | 16 oz | Amazon |
| DHS Tar Shampoo | Sensitive Skin | Therapeutic | Fragrance-Free, Dye-Free | 8 oz | Amazon |
| DHS T Gel | Rich Lather Gel | Refined Coal Tar Gel | Paraben-Free | 8 oz | Amazon |
| Pete & Pedro Control | Cooling Scent | 0.50% | Tea Tree, Peppermint, Menthol | 8.5 oz | Amazon |
| RoyceDerm | Extra Strength | 2% Extract | Tea Tree, Herbal Extracts | 13.12 oz | Amazon |
In-Depth Reviews
1. DHS Person & Covey Coal Tar Shampoo, Unscented, 8 Fl Oz, Pack of 3
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 850+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
Three unscented bottles of refined coal tar therapy that wins over even the toughest psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis cases.
Buy this when you are tired of flakes on your shoulders and want the itch to actually stop. Its formula uses refined coal tar to loosen scales and soothe the itching, redness, and irritation tied to psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff. It has no fragrance, dye, or PABA (a common sunscreen ingredient that can irritate skin), so it suits sensitive scalps.
Owners typically start with daily use, then settle into a 3-times-a-week maintenance rhythm that keeps flare-ups at bay. Buyers report visible results within the first week, with one owner calling it “a life saver” for ending shoulder flakes. The tar smell is present but mild to most, and it generally doesn’t linger once you condition.
What wins people over here is the effectiveness — it’s the single most-discussed trait, and it consistently outshines other tar brands in owner comparisons. One owner cleared chronic ear and throat infections with daily use for 2-3 weeks, then maintained results with 2-3 washes weekly. It manages flare-ups rather than curing the condition, yet it holds the highest owner rating on this list.
What wins owners over
- Fast visible flake reduction, often within the first week
- Unscented and dye-free for sensitive skin
- Three-bottle pack means you’re stocked for months
- Milder tar smell than many competing formulas
Who should look elsewhere
- Some find the tar scent strong, revealing the mixed feedback
- It manages flare-ups rather than permanently curing scalp conditions
The crowd favorite: If you want the highest-rated, most consistently effective tar treatment, this three-pack delivers the relief and the value.
Fair warning: Expect a medicinal tar note during washing — conditioner usually masks it, but it is not a fragrance-free miracle.
2. Clark’s Medicated Dandruff Shampoo with 0.5% Coal Tar, 3% Salicylic Acid & 1.5% Sulfur
The triple-medicated formula that tackles flakes, itch, and scaling at once for a no-nonsense clinical price.
Clark’s stacks three active ingredients — 0.5% coal tar, 3% salicylic acid, and 1.5% sulfur — into one budget-friendly bottle, and that combination is what makes it effective for people whose dandruff resists single-ingredient shampoos. The salicylic acid works to lift visible flakes off the scalp, while the coal tar and sulfur team up to control flaking and calm the itch.
The formula is deliberately no-frills: it has no added fragrance or cosmetic extras, just the active medicine. A professional hairdresser who tested it found it works on thick, oily, flaky hair without drying it out — a rare balance for a medicated wash. The flake control earns heavy praise, with some owners noting their flakes dropped to nearly nothing after regular use.
The trade-off is the scent, which draws the most divided feedback. Some call it tolerable and mild compared to other coal tar options; others describe it as intense. A recurring note is that you may need to shampoo twice to feel fully clean, since the lather runs thin. Shake the bottle well before every use, as the ingredients can settle.
Clinical and cheap: For the price, you get three active ingredients that outperform what many owners tried for 30+ years — just expect a medicinal scent and a thin lather.
3. Berk’s Medicated Coal Tar Dandruff Shampoo – Triple Action Formula with 3% Salicylic Acid & 1.5% Sulfur
Built for persistent dandruff that refuses to go away, with a full spectrum of medicated strength under the hood.
Berk’s markets itself directly to anyone whose regular anti-dandruff shampoo stopped working — the formula pairs coal tar with 3% salicylic acid and 1.5% sulfur to target flakes at the source and calm recurring irritation. That’s the same full-spectrum approach as Clark’s, but with rosemary oil added to help balance the formula and leave hair feeling fresh.
Long-term users are the loudest advocates here. The effectiveness is enough that people keep coming back for a second bottle, even with the smell.
The scent is the honest catch: it’s a strong medicinal note that some say even rosemary oil can’t fully hide. As one owner put it, the liquid isn’t very thick and the smell isn’t as strong as others they’ve used — it works well but they wished it were a little stronger. Most agree a 10-minute sit before rinsing delivers the best flake control, and following with your regular shampoo helps cut the odor.
Built to persist: If your dandruff has laughed off weaker shampoos, this triple-action formula is the stronger support your scalp has been waiting for.
4. Medicasp Coal Tar Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, 6 fl oz, 2 Pk
A big-name treatment that promises symptom relief from the very first wash, backed by a massive following.
Medicasp is the volume pick on this list, with by far the largest base of owner experiences behind it. It’s powered by 0.5% coal tar, an ingredient used for over 200 years, and it’s formulated to address the root causes of dandruff rather than just mask the symptoms. The label directs you to massage it in, leave it for several minutes, rinse, and repeat, using it twice weekly or as a doctor directs.
The effectiveness is what everyone talks about — it’s the clear #1 mentioned trait, and the flake relief is close behind. Flakes typically disappear within a week, and owners mention a cleaner, quickly relieved scalp. It also earns strong marks for value, since the two-pack gives you a good run of use.
The fragrance is the one thing that splits the room, and it’s the most negative aspect in the data — a significant number of owners describe the smell as unpleasant, with comparisons to nicotine or mothballs. Owners with long hair advise applying it only to the scalp and washing the lengths with a scented shampoo. A practical note from experience: the bottle can leak if you store it upside down, and a few report dryness, so a conditioner is a smart pairing.
Why it’s a crowd pick
- Visible flake reduction reported within the first week
- Two-pack format stretches the value
- Works for scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis
The honest trade-offs
- The medicinal smell draws the most criticism
- Some find it drying, making conditioner essential
- A few report slight scalp irritation
Reach for it if: you want the most-tested 0.5% formula with a proven track record and the convenience of a two-pack.
Keep in mind: the smell is the main hurdle — be ready to follow up with your regular shampoo.
5. Artnaturals Therapeutic Argan Shampoo with Coal Tar, 16 fl oz
The gentle coal tar wash that soothes a flaky scalp while argan oil rescues dry, color-treated hair.
If your scalp needs coal tar but your hair can’t handle a harsh strip, Artnaturals is the compromise you’ve been looking for. It pairs a coal tar treatment with Moroccan argan oil, which helps restore shine and repair damage from heat and styling. The formula works by encouraging the skin to shed dead cells, which decreases the scaling and dryness behind flaky, itchy hair.
What stands out in owner experiences is how little product you need. A small amount does the job with no second wash required, making the 16 oz bottle last a good while — a fact owners praise as economical. Results are fast, with persistent scalp flakes clearing in about a week when used every other day, and hair coming out soft and healthy even without conditioner.
The scent is the mixed note. Several owners describe a tea tree-like or tarry smell, though most say it’s milder than the generic coal tar options and doesn’t linger. The more honest long-term feedback is that over months of exclusive use, it can dry out the ends of your hair — so alternating with a non-medicated shampoo and using conditioner keeps things balanced. This one isn’t a daily-everything shampoo; it’s a treatment to rotate in.
The gentle repairer: The best pick when you need medicated flake control without sacrificing moisture, shine, or your color treatment.
6. Person & Covey DHS Tar Shampoo 8 Ounce
A fragrance-free therapeutic wash from a family-owned lab that’s been making dermatological care since 1941.
This is the single-bottle version of a formula that’s been trusted for generations. Person & Covey has been crafting dermatological and hair care since 1941, and this tar shampoo is built for people with sensitive skin who can’t tolerate added fragrances or dyes. It’s a therapeutic, clarifying wash that removes built-up residue without stripping your scalp’s moisture.
The scent is what you’d expect from a fragrance-free tar product: a strong medicinal, industrial note that some find intense, though it typically fades once you condition. The honest catch is the price — owners describe the small 8 oz bottle as “a little pricey” for the size, even while praising the quality of the ingredients. You also want to stick to about twice weekly, since overusing a clarifying tar wash can dry your hair out.
The allergy-safe treatment: If dyes and perfumes are off-limits for your scalp, this is the gentlest effective tar formula on the list.
7. DHS Person & Covey T Gel Shampoo, 8 Fl Oz
The refined coal tar gel that deep-cleans with a rich lather and a lighter scent than classic T-Gel.
DHS took their coal tar formula and made it a gel that lathers richly while deep-cleaning the scalp. It’s designed to control chronic scalp conditions, calm itching and irritation, and rinse clean with a light, pleasant smell. As a paraben-free formula, it’s a solid daily scalp-care essential for people managing psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
Owners frequently compare it directly to the discontinued Neutrogena T-Gel, and it tends to come out ahead. One owner found it better for clearing thick, oily, patchy dandruff and stretched their wash interval from every 2-3 days to every 4-5 days. Another owner called it a standout for scalp psoriasis, clearing up after about four gentle uses. For beard dandruff, a single 8 oz bottle reportedly lasts nearly a year since you only need a dab or two.
The gel also solves a common tar complaint: it’s notably less smelly than the original formula, and the odor rinses out completely. The dryness debate is the one mixed note — some find it drying with regular use, so pairing it with conditioner is the smart move. It doesn’t fully eliminate flakes for everyone, but owners are quick to note that nothing does.
The T-Gel successor: Buy this for the deep-cleansing, rich-lather feel and a milder scent experience than the classic tar wash.
8. Pete & Pedro Control Anti Dandruff Anti-Itch Shampoo With Coal Tar, 8.5 oz
The coal tar wash that trades the chemical stench for a crisp peppermint cooling tingle on your scalp.
Pete & Pedro built this around a simple idea: you shouldn’t have to smell like a chemical lab to treat dandruff. It uses coal tar solution at 6.25% (which delivers 0.50% coal tar) alongside tea tree oil, peppermint, and menthol. That menthol provides a cooling sensation and pleasant tingle that helps with itch — a totally different feel from every other pick here.
The itch relief is the standout, with owners calling it the best soothing relief they’ve found, even compared to the discontinued Denorex Mentar. The dandruff control gets strong marks too, and several owners note it outperforms products they’d been using for years. As one owner put it simply, “I was hesitant but now i’m a believer!” It’s a therapeutic wash that also cleanses and moisturizes via glycerin, and it’s free of parabens, silicones, and formaldehyde donors.
The honest split is on the scent experience — while the brand’s whole pitch is a great peppermint smell, that minty note gets mixed reactions, with some saying it takes getting used to. There’s also genuine disagreement on scalp response: some get relief while a few report increased itching or greasy hair by day two, meaning it may not suit every scalp type. It’s also the priciest way to get 0.5% coal tar, so you’re paying for the premium feel and the fragrance.
What stands out
- Cooling menthol tingle gives fast, soothing itch relief
- Peppermint scent beats the chemical smell of most tar washes
- Paraben and silicone free
Consider this first
- The minty scent is polarizing — some never adjust to it
- A few scalps react with more itching instead of relief
- Premium price for a 0.5% coal tar strength
Choose this if: the cooling tingle and peppermint experience matter as much as the flake control — it’s the most pleasant-feeling medicated wash here.
Think twice if: your scalp is easily irritated by strong scents or you’d rather spend less for the same 0.5% strength.
9. RoyceDerm Coal Tar Dandruff Shampoo: Extra Strength 2% Coal Tar Extract Medicated Gel
The only true extra-strength 2% coal tar gel on this list, designed for scalps that need the big guns.
If standard 0.5% shampoos haven’t cut it, RoyceDerm brings the highest coal tar strength available here — a 2% coal tar extract — in a medicated gel. It’s paired with tea tree oil and herbal extracts like fleeceflower root and peppermint, targeting dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis with a formulation meant to soothe sensitive scalps while it works. The larger 13.12 oz bottle is also the biggest single-bottle option in this lineup.
Owners with long-running psoriasis are the most enthusiastic. One owner described years of scalp misery relieved “better than anything I’ve tried,” even cutting their reliance on a prescription steroid. Another with thick hair followed the directions — leaving it in for the recommended time, three times a week — and noticed flakes decreased significantly within a week. The cooling sensation is a repeat theme, with one owner noting it lacks the “burnt tire smell” of normal coal tar shampoos.
Value gets mixed reviews. Some find the higher strength worth the price; others see it as unnecessarily expensive. One owner felt the actual coal tar level made it less than fully effective compared to a pricier competitor, and a few flag the bottle’s containment as a weak point. The consensus: it is an excellent everyday shampoo that keeps mild psoriasis in control with a couple of uses per week, especially if you want a cooling, pleasant-smelling experience.
The strongest option: At 2% coal tar with a cooling herbal blend, this is the pick for stubborn cases that need maximum strength without the harsh chemical smell.
Understanding the Specs
Coal Tar Percentage
The active ingredient amount, written as a percentage, is the single most important number on the bottle. A 0.5% coal tar concentration is the standard over-the-counter strength found in most brands here, while RoyceDerm’s 2% extract is the extra-strength tier for stubborn cases that don’t respond to weaker formulas. Higher strength usually means faster or stronger relief, but it can also increase the risk of dryness, so match the percentage to how severe your flakes actually are.
Leave-On Time and Frequency
Coal tar needs contact time to work — it’s not a rinse-and-go product. The instructions across these brands consistently tell you to massage it into the scalp and leave it for several minutes, often around 5 to 10, before rinsing. Most treatments are used twice weekly or three times a week, with many owners shifting to a maintenance routine once symptoms calm down. Skipping the leave-on time is the most common reason a coal tar shampoo seems to “not work.”
FAQ
What percentage of coal tar should I look for?
Does coal tar shampoo actually get rid of dandruff or just hide it?
How long does coal tar shampoo take to show results?
Why does coal tar shampoo smell so bad?
Can I use coal tar shampoo every day?
Is coal tar shampoo safe for color-treated hair?
What is the difference between coal tar shampoo and salicylic acid shampoo?
Will coal tar shampoo stain my hair or pillows?
Why is coal tar shampoo more expensive than regular dandruff shampoo?
Can coal tar shampoo help with scalp psoriasis on other parts of the body?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the coal tar shampoo winner is the DHS Pack of 3 because it pairs the highest owner satisfaction with an unscented, dye-free formula that soothes psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and everyday flaking — and the three-bottle set keeps you stocked for months. If you want the full-spectrum triple-medicated approach at a budget-friendly price, grab the Clark’s Medicated. And for the strongest extra-strength coal tar on the list, the RoyceDerm 2% is the one to reach for when gentler washes just aren’t enough.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, Gardening Beyond earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.