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RoyceDerm’s 2% coal tar shampoo felt calming on my irritated scalp, foams from a small squeeze, and smells nothing like tar. I didn’t test it against dandruff, so I won’t promise the flakes disappear. If your scalp gets itchy and irritated now and then and you want a medicated wash you don’t have to brace yourself for, this one is easy to like.
This was sent to me to try. My scalp isn’t a constant problem, but a few times a year it gets irritated and I want something on it besides my regular shampoo. Coal tar was new to me, and I’ll admit the words “coal tar” on a shampoo box didn’t exactly make me want to hop in the shower. I saved it for the next week my scalp acted up.
Quick Verdict
- Buy it if: your scalp gets itchy or irritated from time to time and you want a medicated wash with a scent you won’t dread
- Skip it if: you want one bottle for every single wash, or you need proof it clears dandruff (I didn’t test it for flakes)
- My favorite feature: how calm my scalp felt while it was on. No sting, no tightness.
- Would I buy again? Yes
Why doesn’t RoyceDerm smell like a coal tar shampoo?
Because the tea tree oil wins. Coal tar has a reputation for smelling like a freshly paved road, and the older formulas earned it. This one is built around tea tree oil, peppermint, and fleeceflower root, so what you get in the shower is herbal and a little sharp, closer to a spa product than a medicine cabinet.
If tea tree makes you wince, you’ll notice it. But there’s no burnt, industrial note hiding under it, and I went in fully expecting one.
RoyceDerm Coal Tar Scalp Relief Shampoo 2%
Medicated gel shampoo with 2% coal tar extract, tea tree oil, peppermint, and fleeceflower root. Made for itchy, irritated scalps and sold as a treatment for dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis.
RoyceDerm coal tar shampoo specs
- Active ingredient: 2% coal tar extract
- Size: 8.45 fl oz (250 mL)
- Texture: Translucent amber gel
- Sold for: Dandruff, scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis
Who should buy RoyceDerm coal tar shampoo?
Anyone whose scalp flares up now and then, gets itchy or tender, and wants a wash made for it instead of whatever’s in the shower caddy. It’s a treatment shampoo you reach for on the bad days, and it feels good on the days you reach for it. If your scalp is fine and your hair is the problem, a leave-in like the Remilia Cosmocap hair serum I tested is the better place to start.
Two limits. I didn’t test this for dandruff, so if flakes are your whole reason for shopping, read this as a scent-and-feel review and not a before-and-after. And if you have diagnosed psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, the label says it’s made for you, but I can’t speak to how it handles a real flare. Ask the person who diagnosed you.
What does it feel like on your scalp?
I squeezed out way more amber gel than I meant to, on camera, because it’s thinner than it looks and moves fast. Worked it in anyway, and my scalp settled down while it was on. I’d braced for a tingle or a sting, the kind medicated products use to convince you they’re doing something. Nothing. Just calm, the whole time, which isn’t a sentence I’ve said about a medicated shampoo before.
Then I rinsed and followed up with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. I do this because a hairdresser friend of mine always recommends it, medicated wash first, moisturizing wash second, and at this point I can’t not do it. I don’t know if it’s necessary. The formula has its own moisturizers, so you don’t have to. It’s my choice, and I like how it turns out.
Two things I noticed in the shower
- It foams from less than you think: my accidental over-squeeze turned into a rich, creamy lather with plenty to spare, so a normal amount goes far and the bottle should last, especially if you only use it on flare-up days.
- The scent is strong, and I adore it: not a subtle, background kind of herbal. It announces itself. I’m into it, but I’d rather you know before you buy.
What I liked
- The strength is printed right on the front of the box, so you aren’t hunting through the ingredient list to find out what you bought
- A little rabbit icon on the bottle, for those of you who check for cruelty-free
What to know before buying
- This is a treatment wash, not an everyday shampoo. I keep it for the weeks my scalp acts up and use my regular stuff the rest of the time.
- If you’re fragrance-sensitive, go in knowing the herbal scent doesn’t fade into the background.
Questions I’d have googled before buying
Does RoyceDerm coal tar shampoo smell like tar?
No. It smells like tea tree oil with some peppermint behind it, herbal and clean and a bit sharp. There’s no burnt or industrial note, which is the thing I was most nervous about.
How often should you use RoyceDerm coal tar shampoo?
I use it only when my scalp is irritated, a few times in a bad week, then go back to my regular shampoo. It’s a medicated wash, so treat it like one. Follow the directions on the box for your own scalp, and check with a doctor if you’re managing a diagnosed condition.
Is 2% coal tar stronger than a regular dandruff shampoo?
Yes. Common drugstore coal tar shampoos sit around 0.5%, so this is four times the coal tar. Whether the extra strength clears flakes faster I can’t tell you, because I didn’t test it for dandruff. What I can say is the higher number didn’t come with a harsher feel.
Do you need a conditioner after RoyceDerm coal tar shampoo?
Not strictly. The formula has moisturizers built in. I follow it with a gentler shampoo and a conditioner anyway, out of habit, and I like how it turns out.
Other coal tar shampoos to compare
- Pete & Pedro Control Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: The closest match on scent, with a similar herbal oil blend plus menthol in an 8.5 oz bottle. It’s 0.5% coal tar, a quarter of RoyceDerm’s strength, with a menthol tingle RoyceDerm doesn’t have. For someone who wants the herbal smell and a milder dose.
- Denorex Severe Itch Anti-Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner: A 1.8% coal tar shampoo and conditioner in one 10 oz bottle, with cooling agents and no SLS or parabens. Pick it if you’d rather skip the separate conditioner step I do out of habit.
- DHS Tar Gel Shampoo: A refined coal tar gel in an 8 oz bottle, mildly scented and paraben free, with no botanical blend. The plain option if strong scents are the deal breaker.
Would I buy RoyceDerm again?
Yes. It’s staying on the shelf for the weeks my scalp decides to be difficult, and I’ll replace it when it runs out.
If you’ve been avoiding coal tar because of what you assume it smells like, this is the bottle to try first.
