A product minimalist at heart, I never thought much about clarifying shampoo until a few years ago when I began working out regularly and testing tons of haircare products with the goal of bringing you the best of the best (all bought with my own money) in a world of shady, sponsored-but-not-disclosed ads disguised as “advice.”

Clarifying shampoo is one of the few haircare products where once I tried it, I knew I’d never live without it again. I used to wash my hair daily in pursuit of being/ feeling clean, but it ultimately caused more damage than good. A clarifying shampoo, when used weekly (or every other week) is what is going to give your hair that good reset I was always hoping for.

Designed to remove product build-up, excess oil from sweat, and other environmental pollutants (like hard water mineral build-up), adding the right clarifying shampoo to your haircare regimen will absolutely transform your hair, because scalp health = hair health. That said, it’s easy to overdo it, and the wrong clarifying shampoo can unfortunately dry out your hair, causing more damage than before. For my full guide on how to use clarifying shampoo, tips on how often to use it, how to prevent dryness, and the best clarifying shampoos for all budgets, keep reading.

how to use clarifying shampoo

what is clarifying shampoo and what does it remove?

A clarifying shampoo is a deep-cleansing shampoo designed to remove buildup that your regular shampoo can’t fully wash away. Think of it as a reset button for your hair.

Over time, hair collects residue from styling products, dry shampoo, natural oils, hard water, and even environmental pollutants. Clarifying shampoo uses stronger cleansing agents to break down and lift that buildup off the hair shaft and scalp. Clarifying shampoos work to remove product build-up, silicone residue, excess oil, hard water minerals, and environmental pollutants.

Because it’s a stronger formula than your typical shampoo, you should use a clarifying shampoo every 5-10 washes, never daily.

pros

Provides a deep clean for your hair and scalp (and scalp health = hair health)
Balances natural oils
Adds shine
Removes product buildup
Removes excess oils, dirt, or silicone residue
Some formulas also remove hard water build-up

cons

Can dry out hair
Can cause breakage
Does not hydrate hair

how to use clarifying shampoo

You use clarifying shampoo just as you would normal shampoo, but in order to get the most out of it, here are my tips:

Completely wet your hair.
Start small; you only need a dime-to-quarter sized amount (depending on your hair thickness and length).
Apply to your scalp, and focus on scalp to mid-length, rather than your ends.
- Concentrate on build-up occurs, and allow the suds/ shampoo to wash down to your ends. Going hard on the ends of your hair with clarifying shampoo will dry them out and make your hair more prone to breakage.
Give your scalp a good massage. This is where most of the product build-up occurs, not to mention that hair health starts with scalp health! If you need more suds, add more water, not shampoo (this is true for all shampoos, not just clarifying).
Let the shampoo rinse down to your ends, and wash out thoroughly.
Follow-up with a hydrating (or your normal) conditioner. If you have dry or fragile hair, I recommend using a hair mask for extra hydration).
- If you have color-treated hair, don’t follow-up with a toning conditioner. Stick to something hydrating to prevent breakage. Saving toning products for another day.
You can then follow your normal dry and style routine.
- I like to add a leave-in conditioner because it also works as a detangler and heat protectant, but you know what your hair likes best!

clarifying shampoo vs detox shampoo

You’ll see both of these terms thrown around, but they’re quite similar.

Clarifying shampoos typically use stronger surfactants than your regular shampoo. Meant to be used weekly, they remove product-buildup (including silicone residue), excess oil, and hard water build-up. If you use a lot of hair products or have an oily scalp, you’ll benefit from using one.

Detox shampoos focus more on purifying the scalp and removing environmental impurities like pollution, sweat, and toxins. Slightly gentler, these shampoos use ingredients like apple cider vinegar and prioritize scalp health.

But here’s the catch: they’re really not that different when it comes to what you’re buying. There’s no regulated definition of “detox” in haircare, just like there’s no universal definition for “clean beauty.” Many detox shampoos function similarly to clarifying shampoos; the difference is mostly branding and ingredient positioning. You’ll see both terms used in the products I recommend (detox shampoo and clarifying shampoo), and I find that they both function similarly.

Choosing between the two should come down to your hair type and goals, not the word or phrasing on the label. I focus on what is going to give you a balanced scalp, healthy hair, and remove build-up without drying your hair, so whether you gravitate more towards “clarifying” or “detox” I promise you’ll notice a difference with my recommendations.

best clarifying shampoos

I have quite a few posts on this topic:

If you want a quick tl;dr, here you go:

Ouai Detox Shampoo - the best universal detox shampoo. Gentle enough to use weekly, but heavy-duty enough to get all the product build-up out of your hair. A mild, clean scent that is gender neutral and for all ages; my boyfriend uses this weekly and I’ve used it on my little cousins after a couple days at the beach with zero complaints (a rare feat, let me tell you). Worth the $34; a bottle will last you at least a few months, since you don’t need much to get that good sudsy, deep clean.
Kristin Ess Deep Clean Clarifying Shampoo is the best budget-friendly clarifying shampoo (and the only drugstore option that doesn’t dry out my hair). The bottle itself feels a little flimsy, but has never leaked or spilled; I think it’s recycled plastic, so I’m not knocking it at all. You get a great lather with this shampoo, and it removes all product build-up without leaving your hair feeling stripped or drying out your scalp. Cruelty-free, vegan, sulfate-free, and safe for all hair types, this is a universal winner, but make sure to follow-up with a leave-in conditioner if your hair is on the drier side or prone to damage.

FAQ

how often should you use clarifying shampoo?

Depending on your hair type, you should use a clarifying shampoo weekly or every 5-10 washes. Here’s my best advice:

Hair that is fine or has minimal product build-up: every other week
Hair that is thick, coarse, or oily scalps: every week
If you work out heavily/ sweat a lot: weekly
If you have a dry, itchy, or sensitive scalp: every other week
If you swim (ocean or pool) and your hair has that greasy, weighed down feeling: every week, but also use a deep conditioner on your ends to prevent breakage. Sometimes I’ll put the conditioner on my ends before shampooing (focus on scalp) for added protection from breakage.

signs you’re overusing clarifying shampoo

While I love the feeling of squeaky-clean hair, you can absolutely overdo it with clarifying shampoo, and instead of even cleaner hair, you’ll have damaged hair. Some signs to look out for:

Dry, itchy, or flaky scalp
Hair feels like straw or extremely dry/ brittle
More split ends, breakage, or damage

Remember, clarifying shampoo is designed to remove build-up; it’s not the magic product to make your hair feel cleaner. If you don’t feel like your shampoo is doing the best job, some tips to keep in mind:

Really work your shampoo into your hair and take your time massaging it in.
Use more water, not shampoo, for more suds, especially if you’re using a sulfate-free shampoo.
Get a scalp scrubber (they’re under $10, no need to go to Sephora) to give your scalp that extra TLC.

does clarifying shampoo strip hair color?

The bad ones can. The right ones won’t, but even then, make sure to find one that is specifically color-safe to ensure your hair color isn’t harmed. I love this for highlights/ light coverage or this one if you have all-over color or lots of bleach/ lighted hair.

who should use clarifying shampoo?

I think everyone could benefit from a clarifying shampoo; the key differentiator is how often.

With air pollution, environmental factors, and UV damage, or skincare migrating from your face to your scalp, even those who do not color their hair or use heat styling products can still benefit from a deep clean every few weeks.

If you use a ton of product throughout the week, sweat a lot, or swim in the ocean/ pool, I recommend using a clarifying shampoo more often (weekly).