15 Best Clarifying Shampoos That Deep-Cleanse Your Hair (Without Drying it Out)
Lather, rinse, repeat. Washing your hair seems pretty simple, but for those who are buildup-prone, using the best clarifying shampoo is key to getting the deep cleanse they need. Sure, there are plenty of options on the market, but these intensive (yet gentle!) formulations literally get to the root of scalp concerns while providing the freshly cleansed feel that flaky scalps and oily hair types want. But what really makes them better at removing buildup than any regular shampoo? For answers, we chatted with experts in the know for insight as to what "clarifying" really means, and why these cleansing shampoos are better than the rest.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: 4U By Tia The Clarifying Shampoo, $10
- Best for Oily Hair: Bumble and Bumble Sunday Clarifying Shampoo, $32
- Best for Buildup: Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo, $36
- Best for Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo, $26
- Best for Natural Hair: Pattern Cleansing Shampoo, $21
- Best for Dull Hair: Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two, $18
- Best for Bleached Hair: Olaplex No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo, $30
- TikTok-Viral Shampoo: K18 Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo, $38
What are clarifying shampoos?
First off, clarifying shampoos are deep cleansers that aim to remove the buildup of product residue, dead skin flakes, and oil and boost overall hair health. New York City-based hairstylist Cash Lawless notes that your stylist may suggest one based on these factors: the amount of buildup you've got, your porosity (how well your hair can absorb moisture), how often you use product, your natural sebum production, styling routine, heat usage, and if your hair is color-treated.
"Do you use leave-in hair products like dry shampoo? Do you heat style? Most importantly, does your hair feel dull, limp, heavy, or dirty after washing it? If so, then it’s time to clarify," says Lawless. Those with color-treated hair should be extra careful with clarifying shampoos. Many formulas can change your color — especially deposited color — so Lawless suggests clarifying if needed before getting a dye job.
Similar to dandruff shampoos, clarifying options have a bad rep for stripping hair, because, well, they're meant to be intensive. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King says that many clarifying shampoos use chelating agents like EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, which latch on to metal ions that may be in your water. "[Their] function is to 'chelate' (form a bond with) metal ions in water so that the water is softer and better for the hair," she says. She notes that while EDTAs are less harsh on your strands than other surfactants, that doesn't mean they can't be stripping and drying. This is why some brands add moisturizing agents to their shampoos or even skip surfactants altogether by going sulfate-free with their formulas.
Who should use clarifying shampoos?
King mentions that EDTAs can cause sensitivity for some people over time (so, sensitive scalps, proceed with caution), but other than that, "there are no health concerns." So, the point remains: use clarifying shampoos sparingly and only when you need them. "It's a personal decision, but in general, I recommend once every two weeks for those who use styling products, [as well as] heat and who don't wash every day," says Lawless.
Now that you've got the lowdown on clarifying shampoos, check out the best clarifying shampoos that'll leave you with healthy hair and a freshly-cleansed scalp for days on end.
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