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Head & Shoulders

BARE Itchy Scalp Relief Serum

Scalp treatment

  • Scalp treatment
  • serum
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
  • Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size4.2 fl oz
Price$12.97seen at one store · 4.2 oz
Price / oz$3.09/ozat 4.2 oz
Where to buy1 store

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

Reviewers describe it as menthol, mint.

Manufacturer page: headandshoulders.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.

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  • Every product matched against your hair across the 20 factors we check.
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  • Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
  • Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.

$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates

$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.

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Lower cost than most scalp treatments

$3.09/oz at 4.2 oz, less than 82% of the 280 scalp treatments , which mostly run $3.84–19.05/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

Flaking scalpsit has an over-the-counter active
no fragrance (parfum) on the label, but still scented
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Short ingredient listsfifteen ingredients or fewer

Maybe skip if

this product has a scent
Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Silicone-free routinesit does contain silicones, the water-soluble kind
Non-medicated routinesthis is an over-the-counter drug as well as a cosmetic
Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here

Whether this much richness suits you depends on your strand thickness, porosity and how easily your hair goes flat. We work that out in the consultation.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Slip and detangling Some

Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners.

Oils and butters None

No oils or butters in the list.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Water-binding (humectants) Moderate

Humectants in the working part of the formula.

Protein None

No protein or amino acids in the list.

Needs detergent to remove Rinses with water

The silicones here are the water-soluble kind.

Hard-water defence None

No chelating agent in the list.

Fragrance None listed

No fragrance is listed.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
Zinc PyrithionePyrithione Zinc (0.1%) active The over-the-counter active Active
Alcohol Denat.Ethanol drying alcohol Speeds drying but can leave hair feeling dry Drying
Water solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Niacinamide vitamin A marketed vitamin addition Detangles
Peg/Ppg-20/23 Dimethicone emulsifier Keeps oil and water mixed Shine
Glycerin humectant Pulls water into the hair Moisturizes
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer thickener Sets the texture Holds
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil botanical extract A trace plant extract Fragrance
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates or fragrance. No protein: a moisture formula, not a repair one. Carries an over-the-counter scalp active (pyrithione zinc 0.1%). Contains fast-drying alcohol.
Full ingredient list (9)

In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.

  • 1 Zinc Pyrithione · Pyrithione Zinc (0.1%)
    General function

    An over-the-counter anti-dandruff active that reduces the yeast associated with flaking. Its percentage is stated in the drug facts panel.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    PubChem
    • active
  • 2 Alcohol Denat. · Ethanol
    General function

    Fast-drying alcohol used to make sprays set quickly. In leave-on products it can leave hair feeling dry, especially in high position on the list.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Evaporates on contact, which is how a spray sets almost instantly and leaves no weight behind it.

    May not suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Porous hair gives water up easily as it is; a fast-evaporating solvent high on the list accelerates that.

    May not suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    It evaporates quickly and takes some water with it. On hair already short of moisture, a formula built on a lot of it can finish drier than it started.

    PubChem
    • drying alcohol
    • solvent
  • 3 Water
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 4 Niacinamide
    General function

    Vitamin B3, used in scalp products for conditioning claims.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Deposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.

    PubChem
    • vitamin
    • conditioning agent
  • 5 Peg/Ppg-20/23 Dimethicone
    General function

    An ethoxylated or propoxylated formulation aid. Ingredients of this family keep oils, silicones and fragrance evenly dispersed in a water-based product.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • emulsifier
    • silicone
    • water-soluble silicone
  • 6 Glycerin
    General function

    Glycerin, also called glycerol, attracts moisture and mixes completely with water.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    High-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Binds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    Water moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.

    Scientific Reports
    • humectant
  • 7 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
    General function

    A gel-forming thickener that also keeps oils suspended. It contributes a little hold.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Synthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Some acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.

    • thickener
    • polymer
    • film former
  • ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
  • 8 Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
    General function

    Peppermint essential oil, used for scent and the cooling feeling on the scalp.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    Essential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.

    • botanical extract
    • essential oil
    • fragrance
  • 9 Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine

What the whole list adds up to

  • 2 solvents
  • 1 active
  • 1 drying alcohol
  • 1 vitamin
  • 1 conditioning agent
  • 1 emulsifier
  • 1 silicone
  • 1 water-soluble silicone
  • 1 humectant
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 polymer
  • 1 film former
  • 1 botanical extract
  • 1 essential oil

Drug facts actives

  • Pyrithione Zinc 0.1%

This product is an over-the-counter drug as well as a cosmetic. It treats a cosmetic scalp condition; it does not diagnose or treat disease.

Ingredient list captured 2026-09-06. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 4.2 oz

Seen at $12.97 1 store · checked Sep 6
Good value under $11 Under $2.55/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $11 line; products that do this job typically go for about $18 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it1 listing · 1 store

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out
  1. 4.2 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
  2. Seen at $12.97 is the price we have observed for the 4.2 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $11 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.55/oz; at 4.2 oz that is $11. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $18 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 4.2 oz.

Formula

Formula score
2 of 10

Low cost per ounce, with a short formula: there is no conditioning agents up front here, and that is a system most scalp treatments carry.

How the score is counted
  • 1 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs less per ounce than 82% of the 280 scalp treatments we’ve priced
  • No conditioning agents up front in the formula
  • No oils or butters in the working zone either
  • Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.3 pts
  • Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
  • Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
  • A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.

NeutrogenaLowest cost per oz Hair Restore Triple Action Scalp Detox Cleanser $1.25/oz $1.84/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
· Close function
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Film formers
Also
  • Drugstore tier
  • 8 oz bottle
Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

Only for a specific need
Best user

Flaking scalps, for an over-the-counter scalp active and a formula with no added fragrance

Biggest tradeoff

Less suited to anyone sensitive to fragrance, very dry or high-damage hair, or very dry or very humid climates

Best alternative if not

Neutrogena Hair Restore Triple Action Scalp Detox Cleanser, for similar results at a lower price

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, and what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.

1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
3
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Instant cooling relief

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Absorbs instantly, non-greasy

Light silicones and low wax content help it avoid visible residue.

  • Alcohol Denat.
  • Water
  • Peg/Ppg-20/23 Dimethicone
Supported

Less likely to weigh hair down.

Use on wash OR non-wash days

These are the brand’s directions for use, not a claim about the formula.

—

Stated by brand

How to use it, not a claim.

Instantly soothes scalp

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.

The pointed applicator tip is called out as making it easy to target itchy or flaky sections directly on the scalp, especially through thick hair.

reviewers with thick or hard-to-reach hair

Reviewers repeatedly praise the lightweight, non-greasy feel and how quickly it absorbs into the scalp without weighing hair down.

general reviewers using it between washes

The cooling, minty tingle on contact is a divisive sensory trait: most reviewers describe it as pleasant and soothing, but at least one disliked the menthol scent outright.

general reviewers

Some reviewers with very sensitive or dry scalps found it only okay, noting mild irritation, and said it soothes itch without visibly reducing dandruff itself.

reviewers with sensitive or dry scalp

More from Head & Shoulders

How this page was made

  • Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 7 sources consulted for this product (3 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 3 editorial), last checked 2026-10-10.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 3 of 5 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
  • We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
  • Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
  • Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-09-06.

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