You wanna know what’s so great about clarifying shampoo? It deeply cleanses the hair and scalp from all the yucky dirt, product buildup, chemicals, and impurities in 1-2 washes.
It gives your hair the reset it needs to breathe again and prepare for the next round of products and styles it’s about to endure.
So if you are curious about clarifying shampoos and want to learn more about them, here is a guide to what it is, what to look for, why use it, what makes it different, when to use it, and how to use it here.
In a rush? Jump to a section that sparks your interest below.
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What is a Clarifying Shampoo?
A clarifying shampoo is usually the first shampoo you use to remove all the dirt, impurities, and product buildup on the hair, and it gives you a clean canvas of hair to work with.
So if you are constantly using hair sprays, hair grease, oils, gels, hair cutters, curling creams, and edge control, I’m talking to you sister girl.
Using a clarifying shampoo will remove ALL product buildup in 1-2 shampoos.
Besides the normal usage of products, it is also great for removing hard water impurities and chlorine. So if you’re a swimmer, a clarifying shampoo will remove chlorine water.
If you have hard water or well water, it will remove any harmful minerals and impurities from your hair.
In return, this will give your hair the reset it needs to welcome more products and manipulation until the next wash day. You will notice your hair will be shiner, softer, and easier to work with.
Signs You Need This Shampoo
- Hair is dull and lacks shine
- Hair is limp-like and weighed down
- Hair isn’t responding well to products you regularly use
- Hair has a greenish tint from swimming in a chlorine pool
- Hairstyles aren’t lasting as it should
7 Reasons To Use It
Now that you know the signs to look for, here are 7 reasons to use clarifying shampoo.
- Removes product buildup and dirt
- Removes hard water impurities
- Removes chlorine chemicals out of the hair
- Creates more volume in the hair
- Creates shinier hair
- Prepares hair for a silk press
- Prepares hair for a color treatment
Isn’t Clarifying Shampoo The Same As Others?
Nope. Clarifying shampoo is completely different from other shampoos because they all have a specific job to do. Here are a few different shampoos and their jobs.
- Clarifying Shampoo – deeply cleans hair and scalp.
- Moisturizing Shampoo – adds moisture back into the hair.
- Daily Shampoo – a generic, yet gentle shampoo safe to use every day.
- Thickening Shampoo – adds
- Anti-Itch Shampoo – stimulating shampoo that treats the scalp.
- Color-Treated Shampoo – protects your hair color from fading.
- Color Depositing Shampoo – adds color to your hair to stay vibrant.
What Makes It So Different?
The key reason that makes clarifying shampoo different is the active ingredients listed. Most have a blend of surfactants and chelating agents that have the power to attract all dirt and impurities, turn them into foam, and rinse away with water.
Active Ingredients Included
Sulfates are the key ingredient to giving clarifying shampoo its power. That’s because it acts as a stripper. No, not that kind of stripper. 😂
It strips away anything and everything it comes in contact with such as oils, grease, fats, dirt, and everything else. That’s why it’s also listed in dish detergent, soaps, laundry detergents, car wash solutions, and some toothpaste.
As for shampoo, it can be listed a little differently. The active ingredients of sulfates are listed as Sodium laureth sulfate, Sodium lauryl sulfate, TEA lauryl sulfate, Ammonium laureth sulfate, Ammonium lauryl sulfate, DEA lauryl sulfate, and Sodium olefin sulfonate.
Best Time To Use It?
The best time to use a clarifying shampoo is being the absolute first product you use on wash days. That way every product afterward will replace anything moisture lost that the clarifying shampoo may have taken away, such as your moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
However, if you are a fan of pre-pooing, you can use it after your pre-poo to prevent the shampoo from stripping too much from the hair and scalp.
How often Should You Use It?
My professional recommendation is to use it either once a week, twice a month, or once a month. It all depends on your hair type, texture, and density.
If you have naturally straight hair or wavy hair, I would recommend once a week. Using it every day can cause an overly dry hair and scalp.
Though when you have curly hair to coily hair, I recommend twice a month or once a month. If you use a lot of products in your hair between wash days, use this shampoo every two weeks.
However, if you are a minimalist and don’t use many products, you can use this shampoo once a month. So if you love washing your hair once a week, it’s fine to use a moisturizing shampoo every single time. But using a clarifying shampoo should be only used twice a month.
Best Clarifying Shampoos To Buy
Looking to be steered in the right direction when it comes to this shampoo? I got you, girl. Here are some shampoos to look into that I personally used or heard awesome reviews about them.
CHI CleanCare Clarifying Shampoo
I love everything CHI. So when I saw they had a Cleancare Clarifying Shampoo, I hopped on board. I love how it’s very natural with a neutral pH balance. It also has aloe vera and blue camomile that hydrates and strengthens the hair against split ends and breakage.
Kenra Clarify Shampoo
Kenra, the brand is a hairstylist’s go-to for silky, healthy hair so it’s no guessing when I hear my stylist peers rave about this Kenra Clarifying Shampoo.
It’s great because it removes everything from product buildup to hard water impurities that are making the hair dull and limp. Afterward, your hair will be deeply clean, and lightweight, with crazy movement.
And let’s not forget that it’s color-safe.
SheaMoisture Strengthen and Restore Shampoo
This is my favorite clarifying shampoo to use in my household. I love this Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo because it clarifies but doesn’t strip the hair to perfection.
It has apple cider vinegar, which is one of the key ingredients that clarifies the hair naturally and gently.
When I apply it on my scalp, I can feel a mild tingling sensation from the peppermint ingredient. And the moisture from the shea butter. I always give this shampoo a 5-star rating.
I hope this helps you, my love.
– Much love, Ash ❤️
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