The 15 Best Clarifying Shampoos, Vetted by Editors, Experts and Reviewers
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In recent years, it’s become somewhat of an (albeit odd) bragging right to see how many days you can last before washing your hair. And whether that’s two days or five, the fact is most of us are shampooing less frequently, which can lead to dulling buildup on your scalp and strands. This is where a clarifying shampoo comes in.
What is a Clarifying Shampoo?
A clarifying shampoo is formulated to remove stubborn buildup (think oils, silicones, dry shampoo, hair spray and even residual shampoo and conditioner) from your hair. It’s also used to lift the chlorine that’s left on hair after swimming and removes the mineral deposits that result from hard water. If you’re looking to implement a clarifying shampoo into your routine, we compiled a list of the best recommendations, straight from hairstylists and PureWow editors. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly pick like Andalou, a salon-worthy find like Christophe Robin or our overall pick (ahem, Bumble and bumble), keep reading to find the right clarifying shampoo for you.
The Best Clarifying Shampoos at a Glance
Meet the Experts
How We Chose the Best Clarifying Shampoos
We asked our editors for their top recommendations and their honest opinions on products they’ve tried and tested. We also tapped hairstylists, dermatologists and trichologists, who shared the clarifying shampoos they love to use on their clients. After reaching out to our experts and editors, we dug deeper into each shampoo’s key ingredients and benefits. From there, we categorized each one to fit specific hair types and needs, so it would be easier for our readers to find the right formula for them. Keep reading to find the 15 best clarifying shampoos.
1. Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo
If you have the type of hair that falls flat within hours of stepping out of the shower, consider this part of your new Sunday ritual. Shoppers claim this deep cleansing formula lifts away excess oils and mineral build up swiftly. The rosemary leaf extract supports scalp health, while sage cleanses the shaft of each strand. “[This is an] absolutely fantastic clarifying shampoo for someone with a very oily scalp! It cleans everything off my hair, gives me a little boost in volume in the days after I've used it and [it] doesn't irritate my scalp,” says one Sephora reviewer.
2. Mizani Moisture Fusion Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
If you have a coarser texture, this clarifying shampoo should be on your radar. Formulated with charcoal and coconut oil, the gentle formula works to get rid of product buildup and impurities without drying out your strands. “I love that it gets the job done without completely stripping my hair and scalp of its natural oils. As an added bonus, it doubles as a deep-moisturizing treatment and leaves my hair feeling so soft and shiny,” says Nakeisha Campbell, associate editor of News and Entertainment at PureWow.
3. Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
With over 1,000 5-star reviews, this clarifying shampoo removes everything from product buildup to heavy metals, while adding softness and shine back to locks. The formula features bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, a molecule that’s specifically designed to repair broken bonds for stronger strands. “This is my go-to shampoo! I love it because it really gets all the gunk and ick out that you don't see but you know is there (because where else would it go?) My scalp feels totally refreshed [after shampooing], with no dandruff in sight,” says Destinee Scott, assistant sales and deals editor at PureWow.
4. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Scalp Scrub Shampoo
Part scalp scrub, part shampoo, this pick from Briogeo gets a stamp of approval from me. I love how it lifts and removes stubborn dirt, oil and buildup from my scalp. As someone with a very oily scalp that’s prone to flakes and itching, this scrub is a nice addition to my wash routine. It has binchotan charcoal to detoxify and draw out impurities, as well as coconut oil to moisturize the scalp and prevent dryness. Plus, the oil blend of peppermint, spearmint and tea tree oil, offers a cooling sensation that soothes my scalp and reduces any itchiness on the spot.
5. Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo
Dr. Garshick recommends this clarifying shampoo for all hair types and textures, but especially those with oily scalps. It’s formulated with volcanic ash to gently exfoliate the scalp and green tea extract to strengthen and protect your hair against damage. As Dr. Garshick shares, "This shampoo works to increase shine, while helping to purify and deeply cleanse the scalp without stripping away natural oils or leaving the scalp feeling dry or irritated.”
6. Virtue Purifying Shampoo
Are you dealing with weak and brittle strands? This purifying shampoo, which aims to remove residue and repair damaged tresses, can help. Dr. Garshick recommends this shampoo for its key ingredient, Alpha Keratin 60ku, a protein that “repairs damage and offers a moisturizing effect to prevent dryness.” Along with charcoal powder, hops extract and a coconut blend, the formula claims to increase color vibrancy, reduce frizz and strengthen strands overtime.
7. Andalou Naturals Argan Stem Cell Shampoo
Dr. Garshick also loves this shampoo for thin hair. According to the dermatologist, the sulfate-free formula helps “support the hair follicles, reduce breakage and nourish the hair and scalp. It also helps to deeply cleanse the scalp without leaving it dry.” It has argan oil, aloe vera and grape stem cells to strengthen and nourish strands, helping them appear fuller and healthier after every wash.
8. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub
A favorite of the French and our editors, this sea salt scrub turns the rigmarole of shampooing into a spa-like experience. Massage a dollop onto your scalp to quell any itchiness and clear up flakes without causing any further irritation. The creamy lather spreads evenly across your head and rinses out easily. “The Christophe Robin scrub lathers really well and leaves my hair feeling so clean,” says Katherine Gillen, senior food editor at PureWow.
9. Alodia Organic Black Soap Wash
Shoppers can’t stop raving about the natural ingredients in this soap wash. As Dr. Isfahan explains, “It's made from natural organic and raw black soap, which acts as a natural clarifying agent without using harsh sulfates like most other clarifying shampoos. It cleanses the hair without over stripping and contains lavender, spearmint and plantain, which helps soothe and stimulate the scalp.”
10. It’s a 10 Scalp Restore Miracle Charcoal Shampoo
No one enjoys having an irritated, flaky scalp, Luckily, this charcoal-based shampoo vows to cleanse, refresh and restore your locks. The rich blend of kaolin clay and charcoal removes excess oil, pollution and buildup without stripping away any natural oils and moisture. The formula also has seascalp, a biomarine ingredient known to reduce itchiness, flakes and greasiness. Caspara tells us she likes how it soothes, moisturizes and deeply cleanses her clients’ hair.
11. Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo
If you fear that a clarifying shampoo will be too stripping for your already parched ends, we recommend giving this nourishing formula a whirl. Infused with argan oil, keratin and jojoba seed extract, it hydrates and strengthens strands while delivering a deep clean. “It made my hair super silky, soft. I have very damaged hair and it made my hair feel restored almost instantly,” shares one Sephora reviewer.
12. Ouai Detox Shampoo
With over 1,000 5-star reviews, this detox shampoo is praised by reviewers for its nourishing formula. It has apple cider vinegar to exfoliate and remove any residue, along with keratin to improve shine and softness. The viral sensation is also loved on TikTok, where shoppers are constantly showing off their clean and moisturized locks after using it. As one Sephora shopper shares: “I've been using the detox shampoo for over a year and whenever I run out, I can see the difference in my hair. It's so much cleaner when I use it because it cleans out the buildup. It's worth it and you won't have to wash your hair every day, which is something I used to do.”
13. Pattern Cleansing Shampoo
The catch-22 of caring for curly hair is that you want to regularly remove buildup to keep your curls springy, but you also don’t want to zap your strands of moisture, which can cause major frizz. Thankfully, this cult-favorite clarifier gets both jobs done using clean ingredients like matcha green tea, aloe vera and panthenol. “This made my hair feel SO clean without making it dry. I usually have a flaky scalp that gets oily really fast. I only wash my hair twice a week and I used this for the first time this week and what a difference it made. My curls are gorgeous and my hair feels like it just came out of the salon. Buy it. That's my review. Just buy it,” says one Ulta shopper.
14. Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo
Clarifying shampoos may seem like a big no-no for color-treated locks, but this one by Living Proof will put those worries to rest. It has activated charcoal and a magnetic polymer to wash away any product buildup, heavy metals (caused by hard water) and impurities. The formula also promises to improve your color vibrancy, add shine and make hair more manageable. As one Ulta reviewer notes, “The formula is cleansing without being stripping and does a good job of leaving hair feeling lightweight and free from excess product. I really liked that it didn't strip color from my hair, nor did it dry my hair out. It did a good job of cleansing and worked well for my once-a-week shampoo routine.”
$36 At Ulta
15. K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
ICYMI: The brand behind the celebrity-loved K18 hair mask also has a detox shampoo. The formula has activated charcoal to absorb any excess oils and toxins, salicylic acid to clear up any buildup and peptides to protect and strengthen strands. For one Sephora shopper, the shampoo did wonders for their fine locks: “I have very fine oily hair that needs to be washed almost every day…and wow! I don’t remember a shampoo that made an impression on me. This made my scalp and hair SO CLEAN without drying my hair out. Absolutely love.”
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Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
