Two of the most popular haircare brands these days are Ouai and Dae. Both offer aesthetic-looking, results-driven haircare products for all hair types, yet are very different. Ouai is a little more polished, with a minimal vibe and floral-based fragrance, whereas Dae creates girly, brightly colored products with citrusy, fresh fragrances.

I love products from each of these brands, and it’s always fun to compare how their products stack up against each other, so it was a no-brainer to compare their clarifying detox shampoos.

Everyone needs a good clarifying shampoo; they remove product-build up, give your scalp a good refresh, add shine, and promote overall hair health. Yet some formulas can be overly drying, irritate your scalp, and leave your hair feeling like straw rather than deeply cleansed, so my standards are high for what I consider to be a quality clarifying shampoo.

I’ve reviewed each of these clarifying shampoos on their own, but today’s post is all about how the Dae and Ouai clarifying shampoos compare to each other in regards to ingredients, price, how they make your hair feel, and how effectively they clean your hair. I break down which is best for each hair type, and which shampoo is actually worth it- Dae’s or Ouai’s.

New to clarifying shampoo? Check out my guides on How to Use Clarifying Shampoo or How to Fix Product Build-Up.

dae vs ouai detox shampoo

ouai detox shampoo: quick review

I have a full review of the Ouai Detox Shampoo and have raved about it here many times already, but for a quick recap, I love it. The Ouai Detox Shampoo effectively removes product, mineral, and hard water build-up without stripping your hair or irritating your scalp. It doesn’t tangle my fine hair like other clarifying shampoos do, and I’m surprised at how well it works for all hair types. My mom (thick, coarse grey hair) and boyfriend (medium hair that skips conditioner) also use this shampoo and love it, so it really does work for everyone.

A little goes a long way, and while I don’t love the fragrance, it’s still worth it and I’ve repurchased numerous times over the years.

pros

For all hair types
Safe for color-treated hair
Gives your hair and scalp a deep clean without stripping your hair
Makes your hair feel clean and fresh
Adds shine
Removes heavy product build-up
Lightweight yet strong formula; a little goes a long way
Sulfate-free

cons

Not my favorite scent (floral with hints of apple cider vinegar, but not overpowering)
Can cause tangles if you don’t follow-up with a hydrating conditioner
Not for daily use (use once a week or every other week)
Can feel stripping if overused

how often to use it

Ouai Detox Shampoo has a stronger formula, so it’s best to use it once a week. Scale back to every other week if you have dry hair, a sensitive scalp, or are more prone to breakage.

dae desert detox shampoo: quick review

While I haven’t loved every Dae product in the past (check out my full brand Dae Review for all of their products ranked), I was pleasantly surprised by the Dae Desert Detox Shampoo. The brand’s signature shampoo was super drying and left my hair feeling like straw, so I was afraid of what this clarifying shampoo would do, but it’s actually much more nourishing and hydrating. I go into more detail on my Dae Desert Detox Shampoo Review, but this truly is one of the most gentle clarifying shampoos that I’ve tried. If you find that regular clarifying shampoos irritate your scalp or make your hair more tangle prone, check out Dae Desert Detox Shampoo instead.

pros

Gentle formula that is safe for all hair types
Does not dry out hair or strip natural oils
Ideal if you want a gentle clarifying shampoo or have minimal product build-up
Makes your hair feel soft, not stripped
More hydrating than most clarifying shampoos
Adds shine and softness

cons

Not the strongest formula, especially if you have heavy product build-up or hard water residue
May require a double-cleanse if you have extra-oily hair

how often to use it

The Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo is a gentle formula, so you can use it 1-2x a week.

dae vs ouai detox shampoo: which is better?

I wouldn’t say one is clear-cut better than the other; they both are pretty different and thus serve different hair types. There’s a time and place to use each one, but you do not need both in your haircare routine.

The biggest difference between the Dae and Ouai clarifying shampoos comes down to cleansing power.

The Dae Desert Detox Shampoo gently removes build-up, doesn’t fully “strip” the hair, and leaves some moisture behind. I recommend it over Ouai’s if your hair feels dry or damaged easily.

Conversely, Ouai Detox Shampoo is the deep clean that addresses everything - an oily scalp, product build-up, hard water build-up, and the residues that can be left behind after swimming in a chlorine pool or the ocean. It has a stronger clarifying effect, and leaves your hair feeling very light and your scalp refreshed. Get the Ouai Detox Shampoo instead of Dae’s if your hair gets greasy easily or you use a lot of styling products, especially heavier ones like dry shampoo.

Another factor to consider is how often your wash your hair. If you wait as long as possible between washes, you’ll probably prefer the stronger formula of Ouai, but if you prefer something gentle that you can use more often, get Dae.

price

Both the Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo and Ouai Detox Shampoo come in 10oz bottles, but there’s a $6 price difference between them. The Ouai Detox Shampoo retails for $34, whereas Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo costs $28. Up front, Dae is the cheaper shampoo, but there are two key factors to consider: how much shampoo you need, and frequency of use.

Because it’s a gentler formula, you can use Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo more often. The directions also specify that use you a “generous” amount, which I equate to one pump. As such, I personally go through Dae’s clarifying shampoo more frequently than Ouai’s, where a little goes a long way and you can use it just 2x a month and see results.

I don’t have exact measurements or dates to share, but I personally find one bottle of Ouai Detox Shampoo lasts longer and while it is $6 more initially, it is the better deal in the long-term. That said, if you have a very sensitive scalp or need a gentler clarifying shampoo the Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo is one of the better formulas on the market, so I think it’s worth the $28 price tag.

ingredients

The Dae Desert Detox Shampoo focuses on hydrating ingredients, giving you a gentle yet balanced refresh. On the other hand, Ouai Detox Shampoo contains apple cider vinegar and chelating ingredients that do a better job of removing mineral build-up.

Both formulas are sulfate-free, but do contain fragrance.

how your hair feels after

I love that both of these clarifying shampoos make your hair feel noticeably cleaner after using them. That said, there are subtle differences that might make one better than the other for your hair type.

Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo makes your hair soft and smooth; it feels clean but still hydrated. The shine is more subtle than what you get with Ouai, and I’d consider Dae’s clarifying shampoo to be a subtle step away from traditional shampoo, rather than completely different.

Ouai Detox Shampoo is gives you a more traditional feel that you expect from clarifying shampoos. Your hair feels lightweight, shiny, and super clean but not stripped. If you overuse it, though, your hair may feel a little dry. If your hair feels heavy or grimy, you will prefer the more noticeable results you get with Ouai.

which is better for your hair type?

While they are both clarifying shampoos, they serve different purposes and thus meet different needs. I’d consider Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo to be more of a maintenance detox, whereas Ouai Detox Shampoo is a total reset for your hair and scalp.

Choose Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo, if you have:

Dry hair
Color-treated hair
Fine hair that gets weighed down but still needs moisture

It’s also better if you want a gentler formula you can use more often.

Choose Ouai Detox Shampoo if you have:

Oily scalp
Heavy product build-up
Hard water exposure

I also prefer using Ouai Detox Shampoo when I want a good scalp/ hair reset, like after traveling.

Put simply, if your hair feels dry, go with Dae. If your hair feels heavy, greasy or, coated, stick with Ouai.

dae vs ouai detox shampoo faq

is dae or ouai better for fine hair?

This depends. If you have fine hair with mild build-up, you will prefer the Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo. If you find that your fine hair feels heavy or is easily weighed down with more oil at your scalp, the Ouai Detox Shampoo does a better job of removing that.

Also consider how often you want to use a clarifying shampoo. I have fine hair, and prefer using Ouai every other week, but if you want a clarifying shampoo you can use weekly, Dae is gentle enough for more frequent use.

which is more drying?

The Ouai Detox Shampoo is more drying when compared to the Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo, but overall I would not consider it to be an overly-drying formula.

which removes build-up better?

The Ouai Detox Shampoo removes build-up better.

can you use ouai detox shampoo every week?

Yes, but not more than that, especially if your hair is dry. It is a stronger formula, so unless you are using a ton of heavy styling products (like lots of dry shampoo plus hairspray), once a week is plenty.