After a week of filling our hair with styling products, having it come into contact with environmental toxins, dirt, oil and grime, not to mention the chlorine and impurities in our water, we need to give our hair a break. This break comes in the form of a high quality clarifying shampoo. These shampoos are designed to free your hair from this buildup, so you can start the week afresh, and do it all over again. Our review of the best clarifying shampoos will give you just the input you need, to find just the right solution for your own hair care needs.
Top 5 Clarifying shampoo Products of 2018
While it’s true that searching for the perfect hair care product can get a little perplexing at times, it need not be so. We’ve assembled a fabulous collection of clarifying shampoos just for you. Each of the shampoos on our list come from companies which excel at what they do, and also come with high customer satisfaction ratings. When going over these products, it may help to consider your personal hair type, scalp type, plus the amount of styling products you use.
Fekkai Apple Cider Shampoo
Leave your shower or bath with your hair feeling light, smooth, moisturized and shiny with Fekkai’s Apple Cider Shampoo. Frederic Fekkai Salons developed this shampoo, basing it on an old, tried and true French formula. Apple cider vinegar has been used for decades by women who wish to add life and vibrancy to their hair, while cutting down on flakes.
This silicon-free shampoo will work to remove buildup caused by environmental toxins, grime and oil using the power of nature’s own including apple, rosemary and sage extracts. Your hair and scalp will feel rejuvenated, and the pleasant fragrance of apples and pears will fill your senses, leaving you feel relaxed and your hair free from the excess weight of weekly oil and buildup.
- Contains apple cider vinegar
- Formulated with rosemary and sage extracts
- Eases flakiness
- Pleasant fragrance
- Fragrance may be too much for some users
- May dry out color-treated hair
Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo
Moroccanoil was a leader in the research and development of oil treatment hair care products including argan oil. Argan oil is high in vitamin E, and has been found to moisturize and nourish regular as well as damaged hair. It’s the environmental toxins, chlorine, and buildup of hair care products which causes your hair to look lifeless and dry.
This paraben, sulfate and phosphate free clarifying shampoo removes this excess buildup, leaving your hair look bright, soft and silky. Formulated with avocado, argan and jojoba oils, along with lavender, keratin and chamomile extracts Moroccanoil’s Clarifying shampoo works well on color treated hair.
- Infused with argan oil
- Formulated with avocado, jojoba oils
- Contains lavender, keratin and chamomile extracts
- Removes chlorine from hair
- May dray your hair out too much
- Can make color-treated hair feel brittle if used too frequently
Pureology Purify Shampoo for Color Treated Hair
The hair care products which we use to style and beautify our hair also cause it to become dull and dingy. To restore our hair to its original health and brilliance, Pureology Purity Shampoo works to remove the buildup caused by these products.
Formulated with antibacterial ingredients, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and baking soda this 100 percent vegan, sulfate free shampoo protects your hairs color. In fact, Pureology’s very own AntiFade Complex ensures that your color treated hair will retain its vibrant color and body.
- Removes styling product buildup
- AntiFade Complex for color-treated hair
- Contains antibacterial ingredients
- 100 percent vegan
- Fragrance might not be pleasant to some
- May leave your hair and scalp feeling dry
Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo III
Paul Mitchell has been developing excellent, high quality hair care products for many years. It shouldn’t surprise you that Paul Mitchell’s Clarifying Shampoo III is a favorite among swimmers. This clarifying shampoo works wonders to remove chlorine and everyday buildup from your hair.
The researchers at Paul Mitchell found a way for their shampoo to soak into each hair strand, cleansing it from the inside out. As a result, your hair will be hydrated, rejuvenated clean and fresh smelling. If you have color treated hair, note that this shampoo is not for you.
- Removes chlorine buildup
- Cleans hair from the inside out
- Hydrates and moisturizes
- Perfect for swimmers
- Fragrance might not be pleasant to some
- May leave your hair and scalp feeling dry
Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo
For an affordable, high quality clarifying shampoo, you simply cannot go wrong with Suave’s Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo. This shampoo works to remove the impurities and styling product buildup from your hair, and does it without stripping moisture from your hair.
This lovely smelling shampoo revitalizes your hair, returning it to its original beauty. In fact, Suave Essentials comes in a variety of different fragrances for your pleasure, including Strawberry, Aloe Waterlily and Everlasting Sunshine.
- Very affordable
- Your choice of fragrance
- Removes impurities and styling buildup
- Does not dry out your hair
- Contains sulfates
- May leave hair dry and frizzy for some users
What Exactly is a Clarifying Shampoo and When Should I use it?
Clarifying shampoos are designed and developed to remove both environmental toxins, dirt and styling buildup from your hair. The combination of these factors plus your hairs natural oils weigh your hair down, making it lifeless and dull.
Clarifying shampoos are usually used once a week, or once a month to help give you the healthy hair you desire. How often you choose to use a clarifying shampoo depends on your situation. If you are a frequent user of styling products, live in an area with hard water or enjoy swimming, you may elect to use one once per week or more frequently. If not, you may decide to use this type of shampoo once per month, or on an as needed basis when your hair feels weighed down.
Remember clarifying shampoos are designed to give you a deep clean, so you’ll need to use a conditioner afterwards. Some of the shampoos on our list, such as Fekkai Apple Cider Shampoo, have their own accompanying conditioners such as Fekki Technician Color Care conditioner. Once clarified and conditioned, proceed to style as usual.
What Makes a Great Clarifying Shampoo?
A great clarifying shampoo is one that gives you a nice, deep clean, leaving your hair feeling light and fresh. They handily remove buildup from styling products with ease. A good clarifying shampoo will not strip your hair of its natural oils or leave your scalp feeling dry or itchy. Look for a clarifying shampoo that is paraben free, and contains natural oils such as argan oil, which has been known for decades to be a healthy asset to any hair care routine.
Conclusion
Many steer clear of clarifying shampoos based on a few negative reports given by some users. However, if you do your own research and read the product reviews, plus how and when a clarifying shampoo should be used, you’ll find that these shampoos can actually liven up your hair. The important point to remember, is to read the directions carefully, know exactly what a clarifying shampoo is and to not over do it. If you have color treated hair, make certain that you only use a clarifying shampoo developed for color-treated hair.