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12 best clarifying shampoos that'll give hair its shine back
Detox that scalp...
If you've noticed that your hair is a little greasier than usual, lacking shine, or you have a dry, itchy scalp, there's a good chance you'd benefit from a clarifying shampoo.
While we give the skin on our face plenty of TLC – with our multi-step morning and evening skincare routines – we don't tend to show our scalps the same love.
But, just as dirt, sweat and pollution can affect your skin, they can affect your scalp too. And, just like you use an oil-based cleanser to remove your makeup, sometimes you need something a little heavier to dislodge all that grime at your roots.
And it's not just daily grime, haircare and styling products can also build up on your strands over time. Trust us when we say those layers of dry shampoo you spritzed a few days ago will come back to haunt you.
Intrigued? Here's what you need to keep in mind when it comes to investing in a clarifying shampoo...
What is a clarifying shampoo and what does it do?
The formula will normally be clear, not creamy. If you battle with greasy hair it's also worth sticking to a clear shampoo as these tend to be more lightweight on the strands.
Some clarifying shampoos are more powerful than others and most are only designed to be used once a week. Make sure you don't overuse them, as this could strip the scalp of moisture and stimulate even more oil production.
Also, not all clarifying shampoos are colour-safe or good to use on textured hair, so make sure you read the label thoroughly to avoid stripping your freshly dyed locks or drying out your curls.
If you love the that swishy, bouncy feeling a clarifying shampoo gives you, look out for formulas that can be used daily. We've included a couple in here from Aussie and Aveda that are safe to use on the regular.
What's the best clarifying shampoo?
Well, we're glad you asked! Now that you've done your swotting up, here's our edit of the best clarifying shampoos on the market...
Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo 250ml
Olaplex is the favourite child of haircare and their recent launch *cough* see above *cough* does not disappoint.
While it may seem spenny for a shampoo, this formula is worth every penny for its smart technology in safely removing damaging impurities from the surface of the hair; that is, without stripping or drying.
Plus, it's colour-safe, too! And that's coming from a hair dye enthusiast – who, also, reaches for this product on the daily.
This clarifying shampoo has been designed to remove all build-up from your strands, including chlorine, hard water minerals, and styling residue.
The formula is one of the very best, containing Apple Cider Vinegar, Activated Charcoal, Moringa Seed Peptides and ColourPlus Amino Acids, it cleans strands without stripping colour or moisture.
If you thought clarifying shampoos and coloured hair were an unlikely pair, think again. Living Proof's gentle formula is colour-safe, whilst still removing excess scalp build-up caused by pollution, products and hard water. It deeply cleanses without stripping hair, leaving locks soft and shiny.
OUAI Haircare OUA Haircare Detox Shampoo
Apple cider vinegar is the key component in this detox shampoo as it’s known to gently lift oil and dirt without stripping moisture. This one also includes hydrolysed keratin to strengthen weaken strands.
The clue really is in the name with this guy, especially if you have textured or chemically-treated hair.
That's because rather than just straight-up cleaning, Brilliant Shampoo also injects moisture back into the hair, making it brilliant for people with oilier scalps and drier ends. Even better, it can be used on the daily.
Kerastase Kérastase Specifique Bain Divalent Shampoo
Specifically targeted towards oily roots and dry ends, this formula is ideal for balancing the hair. The ingredients work to remove excess sebum without giving you that overly stripped, squeaky-clean feeling.
Both Glycine and Vitamin B6 help strengthen the hair fibre, giving you thicker, fuller strands.
If pollution is a worry, this shampoo is well worth checking out thanks to its detoxifying properties. It contains vitamin E for a pristine scalp and the centella asiatica’s antibacterial qualities help to lift, dirt, grim, pollution and reverse the effects of hard water.
Aveeno Itchy Scalp Soothing & Clarifying Shampoo with Apple Cider Vinegar for Greasy Hair
Apple cider vinegar is once again a key player in this soothing blend. It aims to restore the natural pH balance of your scalp to help curb the need to itch.
It banishes excess oil, without compromising on shine. So much so, we could skip a wash day. I know, it's that good. It might not be the most attractive to look at or the most luxe item on your shower shelf, but for under a tenner, what more could you ask for?
Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo
If you feel like your hair is weighed down, limp, and kinda lifeless, chances are, you have product build-up on your strands. Everything from dry shampoo to heat protection sprays can cling to the hairs and over time, leave them flat and brittle.
Bumble and Bumble describe their Sunday Shampoo as "a weekly detox to rid hair of product residue, hard water minerals, pollutants, you name it." Dry shampoo addicts, this one's for you.
Christophe Robin Purifying Shampoo with Thermal Mud
As you might have guessed from the name, this formula contains nutrient-rich thermal mud, which essentially acts like a mud bath for greasy scalps.
It's not the most frothy shampoo we've ever come across, but despite this, still manages to sweep away dirt and grime from root to tip like a pro.
This offering from Tracee Ellis Ross's haircare brand is designed to thoroughly cleanse coils and curls, without leaving strands desert-dry.
This is a star at gently removing product build-up, without upsetting sensitive scalps. It's packed with antioxidant matcha green tea and aloe vera, which may make for a subtle scent, but it also soothes and replenishes stressed strands.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Gentle Radiance Cleansing Oil
Those clever people at Shu Uemura have somehow managed to formulate a shampoo that actually slows future oil production by balancing our pesky sebaceous glands. Genius, huh?
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
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