Beauty As I Am Dry Hair Products Compared: Which Moisturizes Best
As I Am sells moisturizers, scalp oils and shampoos that all fight dryness in different ways. We compare the Double Butter Cream against the Dry and Itchy line. You will know which bottle solves your specific problem.
| Factor | As I Am Double Butter Cream (8 oz) | As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Care Oil Tre |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Dry curls and coils needing lasting moisture | Itchy, flaky scalps |
| Price Point | Check price | Check price |
| Top Strength | Rich shea and cocoa butters seal moisture | Salicylic acid fights flakes at the source |
| Main Drawback | Too heavy if over-applied on fine hair | Medicated formula, not a daily moisturizer |
| Standout Feature | Shea butter plus cocoa butter | 1.8 percent salicylic acid |
| Second Highlight | Pro-vitamin B5 for strength | Olive and tea tree oils |
| Third Highlight | Daily moisturizer formula | Leave-on scalp treatment |
| Overall Winner | As I Am Double Butter Cream (8 oz) | As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Care Oil ... |
Our Verdict
Double Butter Cream wins for hair dryness because its rich butter blend seals moisture for days on curls and coils. The Dry and Itchy Oil Treatment wins for scalp itch, since it targets flakes and irritation directly at the skin. The Dry and Itchy Shampoo is the best cleanser of the three for flaky, dry scalps. Buy the cream for thirsty strands, the oil for itchy scalp, and the shampoo to start the routine right.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Flaky scalps needing gentle cleansing
As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Care Shampoo (12 oz)
- 1 percent zinc pyrithione
- Sulfate and paraben free
- Olive, tea tree and peppermint oils
Pros
- Zinc pyrithione fights dandruff gently
- Sulfate-free cleansing keeps moisture
- Olive and tea tree calm irritation
Cons
- Lathers less than sulfate shampoos
- Medicated scent is mild but noticeable
Want the Full Picture?
Medicated Washing on a Curly Wash Day: The Full Integration
Nobody gives a real wash-day routine for using medicated shampoo on curly and coily hair, so here is how the As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Care Shampoo fits into one. The dermatology guidance for textured hair is medicated washing about once a week, not the two to three times weekly prescribed for straight hair, because frequent medicated cleansing dries out coils. On medicated wash day, start with a light pre-poo oil on the lengths only, which shields the ends from the shampoo's cleansing action while leaving the scalp exposed for treatment.
Apply the shampoo to the scalp itself, working in sections and massaging with fingertips or a silicone scrubber, and let the lather sit for three to five minutes so the 1 percent zinc pyrithione gets its contact time. Rinse thoroughly, then follow with a deep conditioner, because even a sulfate-free medicated shampoo leaves textured hair thirstier than usual. On non-medicated wash days, use your regular gentle cleanser or co-wash and skip the active entirely. This alternating structure treats the scalp without sacrificing the moisture curly hair needs, and the best anti dandruff shampoos roundup compares other medicated options by active if you ever need to rotate beyond zinc.
When Natural Oils Irritate: Tea Tree, Peppermint, and Sensitive Scalps
The olive, tea tree, and peppermint oils in this formula are a double-edged sword that no roundup addresses head on. For many scalps they feel soothing and smell fresh, but tea tree and peppermint are also genuine contact allergens, and the tingling they produce can mask the early signs of irritation. The distinction matters: pleasant cooling that fades within minutes is normal, while itching, redness, or a tight burning sensation that builds means the "natural" ingredients are the problem, not the solution.
Fragrance-free and allergen-safe medicated options exist for exactly this situation, though they rarely get ranked head to head. If you react to the botanical oils here, look for a zinc pyrithione formula without essential oils or added fragrance rather than abandoning medicated washing altogether. Patch test behind the ear before committing to a full wash day, since scalp reactions hide under hair until they are advanced. Our anti dandruff guide covers the causes and fixes in full, including how to tell an irritant reaction apart from the dandruff you are trying to treat.
Seasonal Flare Management: Winter Dryness vs Summer Oil
Dandruff is seasonal for most sufferers, and the medicated routine should shift with it instead of running on autopilot. Winter brings dry heated air that tightens the scalp and increases flaking, which tempts people to medicate more often, but over-washing a dry winter scalp with an active shampoo worsens the dryness driving the flakes. The winter adjustment is counterintuitive: keep the medicated wash at once weekly, add a moisturizing scalp oil on the off days, and make sure indoor heating is not the real culprit behind the flare.
Summer flips the pattern. Heat, sweat, and heavier oil production feed the yeast behind most dandruff, so summer is when stepping up to twice-weekly medicated washing makes sense, paired with more thorough rinsing after workouts. Watch which season triggers you and adjust the active and the frequency together rather than changing products blindly. If winter flaking persists despite proper medicated care, the ketoconazole vs zinc comparison shows when stepping up from zinc pyrithione to ketoconazole is the right move, since some seasonal flares need the stronger antifungal to break the cycle.